Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Council Update topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Mayor briefs preservation commissioners on events, code updates and digitization; commission moves to fund brochures
Summary
Mayor Laura Arnold updated the Webster Groves Historic Preservation Commission on the Benny Gordon dedication, the South Elm shared-use path, parking-fine increases and a city contract to digitize archival records; the commission empowered its chair to request council funding to print historic-walk brochures.
Mayor Laura Arnold, serving as the council liaison to the Historic Preservation Commission, used the May 12 meeting to outline upcoming events and staff work and to brief commissioners on several administrative initiatives.
Arnold announced the dedication of the Benny Gordon Recreation Complex and described his role in desegregating the city pool, saying that his lawsuit “essentially desegregated the pool” and helped prompt Webster Groves’ move to a city manager–council form of government. She also described the South Elm shared-use path plan (a bicycle and pedestrian route proposed between Glendale Road and Watson Road) and said parking fines will be increased in some cases — noting an increase for handicap parking fines from about $20 to $65 — to encourage compliance.
On administrative items, Arnold and staff reported the city selected a contractor to digitize archival records so materials can be published as searchable PDFs to meet accessibility requirements; staff said important historical originals will be returned while other routine originals may be destroyed per the digitization process. Commissioners agreed to help compile the Certified Local Government (CLG) annual report and continuing-education documentation the state requires. The mayor said the comprehensive plan will be reconciled with code revisions in a year-long effort with staggered deliveries to staff and council.
Commissioners also discussed out-of-print historic-walk booklets and the need for printed brochures. After a short discussion, a motion was made and seconded to empower the chair to request council funding to print historic-walk brochures; the chair reported the motion passed with one recorded opposed in the discussion, though the transcript does not include names in the vote. Commissioners noted about $1,500 had been used previously for brochure printing and agreed to check the commission’s remaining FY funds and identify a vendor before requesting a budget amendment. The mayor encouraged the commission to submit a formal budget amendment request if needed and offered to help prepare the form.
The meeting closed after housekeeping items on CLG paperwork, brochure inventory and the digitization contractor’s next steps; commissioners moved to adjourn.
