LSL ALderman Highlights- June 6 meeting

George’s Alderman Highlights – June 6, 2011

Ball Field Lights:  The Board discussed the need for a new lighting system for baseball diamonds at Founder’s Park.  The current system uses components from the Cardinal’s old Sportman’s Park that was razed in 1966 or thereabouts.  Currently lights fail and have to be jury rigged to work some more.  Costs are estimated to be $375-$410K.  A new system might save about $6K/yr.  No decision was made as there isn’t any money to fund a new system.

Ward Boundaries:  The 2010 census shows about 2200 housing units in each of the three Alderman Wards for a total of 6688 units city wide including about 900 apartments.  There is no more than a 45 unit difference between any Ward.  Amazing!

Health Care:  We continue to look at ways to reduce employee Heath Care costs.  We will continue to investigate if joining the St. Louis County health care system (SLAIT) would save money.  SLAIT told us there would be no savings to join their current program in mid year but they intend to make changes next year and will keep us informed. 

Business:  In some good news, one business in our business park off LSL Blvd., MTM, is increasing staff and has a parking problem.  We are working with them to find more parking.

Liquor By Package:  We passed an ordinance allowing convenience stores (like Shell) to sell liquor by the package.  Convenience stores already can sell beer and wine.  We were the last city in St. Charles County to allow this.  The Police told us this would have no affect on DWIs in our area. 

Just for fun, I have some more reading that might interest some of you.  I’ve gotten more comments from you about last months reports and they are shown below.  Also below is my summary of a speech, primarily about the economy, from our US House of Representative Blaine Luetkemeyer given at the Lake Forest country club.

Comments- May/June 2011

Senior Advisory Committee: The City already has many committees and many members of those existing committees are seniors. What additional input is needed from this specialized group of which I am a member by default. I don’t think we need an additional layer of advisory committees.

LSL should be competitive with liquor license.

Green Disposal offered by Lowes should be posted on the City’s website and any other place that residents might be made aware of the offer.

I believe that how much and how maintained the City’s landscaping is going to be will be an ongoing debate. I think the best solution to the question is to put it on the ballot at a regularly scheduled city election and let residents choose by cost, what they want done. In other words, have the ballot issued so that an increase and what that increase in tax would be for additional maintenance. And let the voters decide.  In addition, I think that anyone that brings up the subject of maintenance should be made aware of the opportunities that exist to do the very thing that the residents are asking for. I also think that the Green Gloves Committee needs more active appreciation for the work they are doing both in Newstime and on the City’s website as well as more active recruitment for additional help. I’m sure that Lorri could use twice as many residents in this area as she currently has.

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Seniors-- I think the city should use their knowledge, experience and time.

Liquor--ok for convenience stores to sell

Budget--gardens and snow removal--times are tough and now is not the right time.

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Keep the budget low. The more we "Landscape" the more the city must maintain forever. Keep it simple avoid cost.

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Maybe some seniors with wisdom and experience can be found to offset the idea that all change is progress.  Tied in with this is the fact that our horticulturist has way too much area to cover.  I don't know whose idea it was to put all of those trees and other plantings along LSL Blvd. but it was way overdone and a maintenance nightmare.  Before that was even thought of, Founder's Park was in rough shape and still is.  We hired a horticulturist with a good attitude but she can't be expected to be a miracle worker.  I would suggest adding no more areas to plant and think some of the plantings need to come out on LSL Blvd.

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Senior Advisory Committee- If they do work (meanful) fine, if it’s advisory no.  You will have more trouble and head aches than you want to deal with.

Budget- hold the line do not add any more cost.  If citizens want additional services let them plant the trees/plants and take care of them.

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The city needs to have low maintenance decor.  Flower beds are high maintenance.  Shrubs and trees are ok even if they need to be trimmed.  I say no to stuff that needs to be planted year after year.  Make that volunteer only.  The minimum is paid by the city, extras are for if the community wants to do it.  

I kinda like the current package liquor ordinance but wouldn't fight too hard to keep it.  If you are going to change it, do it for the businesses.  DON'T do it just because everyone else got rid of it.

Seniors advisory committee sounds like a good idea.  Anytime people actually want to volunteer time for their government it’s a good thing.

Snow is bad.  I've been satisfied with the snow removal as it is.  Spending more but get it off a little quicker but I think we'd have diminishing returns.  Use this money on stormwater protection and projects instead.

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I have no problem with package liquor sales.  I’d also be in favor of prettying up the interstate exits for LSL Boulevard at 70 and 40.  I think we have something special here and using our interstate exits (Similar to what Winghaven has done) leaves behind a good impression when folks enter and exit.

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Is the Senior Advisory Committee another Watcher Group—I strongly oppose this and any other type of senior advisory group.  Most of these “seniors” do not use any of the amenities, are retirees and have their own hidden agenda. This has the strong flavor of another “watcher organization”

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Both my wife and I like the idea of a Senior Advisory Committee. We need more of their input all the way around.  They're vocal and have good constructive comments at the CA meetings.  This would spill over to the city side of things too.  If they are willing and have the time, by all means let them.

Snow can be left on the roads indefinitely.  I drive a Hummer, so it doesn't bother me.  In fact, I like snow.

Since we have islands on LSL Blvd. with plenty of landscaping, it makes sense to keep it looking good.  This is a reflection of our city.  People driving down the Blvd. will judge the city by how its roads look.  When it was like a washboard, that did not look good. Now that it's improved, we need to keep it looking good.  Can the Garden Club help?  Or perhaps have a Saturday where people can volunteer a few hours to come out and do what's needed?  Possibly serve hot dogs, chips and sodas for lunch as a thank you for helping?

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I think the people who want the British garden look should give it their personal touch.  They could "adopt" a location and take it on as their own.  They would need to make a commitment of some sort: spring through fall?

It needs to be clear to everyone, the number of "city services" is fixed.  If they want a "new" service, they need to give up a "current" service.  And it must be an even trade (cost wise).

I don't think we tie up any money for emergency snow removal.  Develop a list of potential snow removal people, but just a list.  There will be plenty of people, jumping at the chance to plow snow, should that need arise.

We are very happy with the appearance of Lake St Louis.  We are reminded whenever we come home from a trip how green it is.  Snow removal was outstanding.

I don’t think Liquor stores should sell Gas and food and I don’t think Gas stations should sell Liquor.  For the extra $3000 in city revenue I would say no thanks.  I have to stand in line while people do their gambling tickets now.

Here is a tip to cut the expense of employees and gas for the city.  Reduce the amount of people the city has driving around checking on small items wrong with people’s homes and go back to the old fashioned way of letting people ratting on each other.

Senior Advisory Committee:  I strongly oppose the concept. You know what happens with committees...sleek race horse becomes a three humped camel.  Do we really need this?  Unless you are prepared to act upon their recommendations, you will have continued suggestions from this committee, all members of whom will think their recommendations are the best thing since sliced bread for the community (read: personal interests).  Let the seniors volunteer their time elsewhere.  Lots of good programs out there that would benefit from whatever experience they think that they have to offer.  As a retired corporate VP who has attended many meetings that discussed the racehorse only to get the camel...tread carefully.

Liquor License: No problem if OK with the police.  Do we get any additional revenue from this?  This would be a plus if it impacted our tax revenues in a positive manner.

Green Disposal: Good for Lowes.  Query: My past corporate experience with WalMart demonstrated how they turned a public recycle program into a revenue stream for them.  How does Lowes plan to recycle this mercury?  Who is the recycler and how much is Lowes being paid for this from the recycler?  They are not doing this just to be a good neighbor.  Just curious.

Budget:  Time to review the costs. Bring a sharp pencil and ‘what have you done for me, lately,’ attitude. Police and public works costs at 60% are out of line.  Time for furloughs or lay-offs?  We do need snow removal, but if the folks along STL Boulevard and the HWY want more plants and maintenance, let them pay for it.  It certainly does not help my neighborhood on Charlemagne Drive where I need the streets fixed.  As a foot note, this is the kind of stuff that will swallow you up with your Senior Advisory Committee.

Perhaps, snow removal can be contracted on a sliding scale basis rather than a flat rate.   

I do want to hear more about the draft city budget.  Who put it together?  Available to the public?

It's unbelievable the way Governments treats our (the publics) money. 1200 hours of accumulated sick leave? I am glad you see the folly of past decisions and now see the light but what is left out of your report is the cost of this new sick leave pay policy, it still sounds really way to generous with our money.  What private citizen who is employed

would ever get those kind of benefits from their employer.

I also think a freeze on payroll for all city employees would be appropriate in these hard times. Private businesses are not raising pay now and are laying people off. Does government ever get smaller?  lay people off?, hardly, you take care of your own with our money..

In response to the snow issue: No they live on private streets and should have been aware of the services available.  They have enough trouble plowing out Court.

Sick leave: Sick leave is just what is says. If you are off sick you can still get paid. But it was not, nor should it be, a financial windfall. Coming to work sick endangers others. We (taxpayers) provide for employees sick leave, we didn't intend it to be a bonus. My company had excellent sick leave-BUT IT WAS INTENDED TO BE USED FOR PAY IF YOU WERE SICK, when you retired you we're paid for non use.

Budget;I can't see much reason to raise staff salaries. Lake St. Louis Blvd was rebuilt but flooded at the first heavy rain and has a fire hydrant every 100 feet or so. Who approved that? I have a constant flood down my yard every heavy rain because the city didn't meet their own standards when repouring the curb, but when I discussed the matter I was told it was my problem. I and neighbor had Maria King here to look at it and was asked to take pictures during a rain storm (which I did and e-mailed) I got the same response my problem. I asked for Derek to return a call and so far I haven't heard a word. Who exactly works for who. If I did something not to code I'm sure the city would insist it be changed.

I have attended some BOA meetings but gave it up both because of health issues and a dislike of listening to silly people who are so impressed with themselves.  I pay extra sales taxes because I live here-I do expect more in return.  You might remind the BOA who pays the money they play with.

Snow Removal: There must be some benefit to private streets, something that mitigates the snow removal issue.  They must be private for some reason, what is it? 

There should be some sort of a pathway for private streets to become public.  If it is possible for the streets to be brought up to some sort of code and the residents want to pay for that, then yes, they could become public streets and get snow removal. 

What I'm saying is private street owners shouldn't get all the bonuses for private streets and public streets.  But if there are no bonuses for them then they shouldn't pay the same taxes and not get the snow removal, in an ideal world.  If private street owners get nothing positive for being private street owners, then there's no reason why they can't become public streets and get the snow removal that way.

Sick Leave: On sick leave, those people who have accumulated sick leave up to this point should get to keep it under the old rules.  Once you have a date, the number becomes finite and the city can now quantify its liability.  Otherwise, I think the new plan is what you need.

Since the purpose of that old Sick Leave policy was to basically encourage people not to use their sick leave, you might want to consider adding an attendance reward policy of some kind - Gift Certificate, small cash bonus, etc.  Just an idea.

Lake Saint Louis & Dardenne Prairie Chamber of Commerce- June 9th, 2011

Guest Speaker- Blaine Luetkemeyer, US Representative District 9

Serving on- House Financial Services Committee: Financial Institutions & Consumer Credit and Domestic Monetary Policy & Technology

My Highlights of Blaine’s speech

1    Talked to Ben Bernanke recently about interest rates.  Blaine says interest rates are headed higher but Ben says “No.”

2    Wants to loosen Bank regulations that excessively restrict credit.  Says requirements that force banks to reclassify existing loans as bad because the property has been assessed lower, even if payments are up to date, make banks hold more capital and restrict ability to make loans.

3    We need to allow more drilling for oil in the US.  This will create jobs and reduce dependency on foreign oil.  We have more oil underground than the Saudis do.

4    Government spending must be cut.  When government spends, 20 cents of every dollar is wasted.  Government spends $1B every day on interest costs.  China buys about 17% of the debt we sell.  The House is working on several ways to limit spending; 2 or 5 year budgets, caps on spending, require a balanced budget.  The House refused to authorize/budget for 16000 additional IRS employees to monitor the new Health Care Program.  We need to let private industry do some of the government work.

5    Entitlements- All of our government’s income is spent on entitlements (primarily Social Security, Medicare, & Medicaid) or about 60% of the budget.  We then borrow the other 40% to spend on the rest of the government services like military, education, unemployment, etc.  Social Security (SS) took in less than it paid out in 2010.  SS is “solvent” for about 24 yrs.  (I don’t believe that!)  Medicare must be overhauled in 3-4 yrs and if we don’t do it sooner, changes will be drastic.

6    The tax code is too complex, not fair, and must be revised.  Loopholes need to be removed.