Sunday Poll: How Did The Road Crews Do?

If you’re in the St. Louis region, you got snow.

St. Louis, which caught the brunt of the storm so far, recorded 10.1 inches, forcing the closure of sections of Interstates 44, 64 and 70 around the city. More than 11,000 customers were without power in Missouri as the heavy snow snapped branches and downed power lines.

Parts of central Missouri, around Harrisburg, reported up to 17 inches of snow.

Columbia, Missouri, was buried under 13 inches of snow, more than doubling a 109-year-old record for snowfall with more expected Saturday. (USA Today)

Here are some headlines before & during the storm:

• MoDot prepares for weekend winter conditions, urges motorists to be safe on roads
• Live updates: 4 killed amid largest snowstorm in St. Louis since 2014, major travel disruptions across central US
• MoDOT: Don’t travel unless it’s necessary
• Massive winter storm dumps heavy snow, tying up traffic for hours

Today’s non-scientific poll asks your impression of conditions outside during/following the storm.

Today’s poll will close at 8pm.

— Steve Patterson

St. Louis Board of Aldermen: Thirty (30) New Board Bills Week 28 of 2018-2019 Session

The St. Louis Board of Aldermen will meet at 10am today, their 28th meeting of the 2018-2019 session. This is the first full board meeting of 2019.

Today’s agenda includes thirty (30) new bills covering a wide variety of issues:

• B.B.#190 – Davis – An Ordinance recommended and approved by the Airport Commission, the Board of Public Service, and the Board of Estimate and Apportionment, establishing and authorizing a public works and improvement program St. Louis Lambert International Airport, consisting of capital improvement projects to and for the terminal complexes, airfield structures and facilities, and associated Airport structures, facilities, and environs including certain snow equipment and vehicles, and other associated Airport improvements, as more fully described in the attached EXHIBIT A, entitled “FISCAL YEAR 2019B PROJECT/EQUIPMENT LIST” at a total estimated cost of Six Million Dollars; authorizing an appropriation in the total amount of Six Million Dollars as follows: a) Five Hundred Eighty Eight Thousand Nine Hundred Sixty Four Dollars from the Airport Development Fund and b) Five Million Four Hundred Eleven Thousand Thirty Six Dollars from the Passenger Facility Charge Fund; authorizing the Mayor and the Comptroller to enter into and execute easement agreements granting such easements or right-of-ways; authorizing and directing the Director of Airports with the approval of the Board of Estimate and Apportionment to let contracts providing for mapping, appraisal, and escrow services, title work, ground maintenance, security services, legal services, and other related services for the implementation and administration of the Airfield, Building & Environs Projects; authorizing and directing the Board of Public Service with the advice, consent, and approval of the
• B.B.#191 – Davis – An ordinance recommended and approved by the Airport Commission, the Comptroller and the Board of Estimate and Apportionment, making certain findings with respect to the transfer of up to Thirteen Million Seven Hundred Twenty-Seven Thousand Seven Hundred Sixty-Nine Dollars ($13,727,769) of excess moneys that The City, the owner and operator of St. Louis Lambert International Airport, intends to transfer from the Debt Service Stabilization Fund to the Airport Revenue Fund in accordance with Section 516.B of the Lambert-St. Louis International Airport Indenture of Trust between the City, as Grantor, and UMB Bank, N.A., as Trustee, dated as of October 15, 1984, as amended and restated as of July 1, 2009, as amended and supplemented; authorizing a transfer in an amount not to exceed Thirteen Million Seven Hundred Twenty- Seven Thousand Seven Hundred Sixty-Nine Dollars ($13,727,769) from the DSSF into the Revenue Fund during the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2018, to be used to make funds available to mitigate rates on an annual basis during the term of the Airport Use and Lease Agreement commencing July 1, 2016; containing a severability clause; and containing an emergency clause.
• B.B.#192 – Davis – An ordinance establishing and creating a Planned Unit Development District for a portion of City Blocks 3926 and 4585 to be known as the “Olive West Planned Unit Development District”.
• B.B.#193 – Davis – An ordinance recommended by the Airport Commission and the Board of Estimate and Apportionment authorizing and directing the Director of Airports and the Comptroller to enter into and execute a Second Restated and Amended Lease Agreement Northern Tract Site, between the City, the owner and operator of St. Louis Lambert International Airport, which is located in St. Louis County, and Bi-National Gateway Terminal, LLC, a limited liability company organized and existing under the laws of the State of Missouri, granting to the Lessee the right to occupy and use the “Leased Premises”consisting of approximately 61.10 acres and improvements thereon commonly known as the “Northern Tract Site”, in Section 201 and EXHIBIT “A” and EXHIBIT “B” of the LeaseAgreement AL-094, in order to: a) demolish any existing improvements that are not retained improvements, b) construct new improvements in order to accommodate international cargo enterprises and other air cargo operations and distribution facilities, c) develop and operate a fixed base operator facility, and d) perform all operations and functions that are incidental or necessary to such use and development or authorized in the Lease Agreement AL-094; authorizing and directing the Mayor, the Comptroller, the Register, the City Counselor, the Director of Airports, and other appropriate officers, agents, and employees of the City.
• B.B.#194 – Moore – An ordinance approving a Redevelopment Plan for Cottage/N. Taylor/Maffitt/Cora.
• B.B.#195 – Oldenburg – An Ordinance recommended by the PlanningCommission pertaining to “The Lighthouse Area Special Use District;” repealing Section Six of Ordinance 70557 relating toConditional Use Regulations for The Lighthouse Area Special Use District and enacting in lieu thereof a new section on the same subject matter; and containing a severability and an emergency clause.
• B.B.#196 – Oldenburg – An Ordinance recommended by the Planning Commission pertaining to the Zoning Code, Title 26; amending Chapter 26.08 of the Revised Code by adding definitions for the terms micro wireless facility, small wireless facility, wireless facility, and utility stations and utility towers; repealing Section One of Ordinance 70555, codified as Chapter 26.20 of theRevised Code, pertaining to the “A” Single-Family Dwelling District, and enacting a new Chapter in lieu thereof on the same subject matter; repealing Section Five of Ordinance 64868, codified as Section 26.24.020 of the Revised Code, pertaining to the Use Regulations of the “B” Two-Family Dwelling District, and enacting in lieu thereof a new section on the same subject matter; repealing Section Two of Ordinance 70812, codified as Section 26.40.025 of the Revised Code,concerning Use Regulations for the “F” NeighborhoodCommercial District, and enacting in lieu thereof a new section on the same subject matter; repealing Section Three of Ordinance 70812, codified as Section 26.52.020 and 26.52.025 of the Revised Code, pertaining to Use Regulations and Conditional Uses of the I Central Business District, and enacting in lieu thereof a new section on the same subject matter; repealing Section Five of Ordinance 70812, codified as Section 26.60.020 of the Revised Code, pertaining to Use Regulations of the K Unrestricted District, and enacting in lieu thereof a new section on the same subject matter; and containing a severability and an emergency clause.
• B.B.#197 – Oldenburg – An Ordinance recommended by the Planning Commission pertaining to the Forest Park Southeast Form Based District; amending Ordinance 70732 by amending the definition for utility / communication uses, and repealing and replacing table 5.13; repealing Section One (C) of Ordinance 70732, and enacting a new Section One (C) in lieu thereof on same subject matter; and containing a severability and an emergency clause.
• B.B.#198 – Oldenburg – An Ordinance recommended by the Planning Commission pertaining to the Central West End Form Based District; amending Ordinance 69406 by amending the definition for utility/communication uses, repealing and replacing table 5.13 and updating the regulatory plan maps; repealing Section One (C) of Ordinance 69406, and enacting a new Section One (C) in lieu thereof on same subject matter; and containing a severability and an emergency clause.
• B.B.#199 – Davis – An ordinance approving a Redevelopment Plan for 3000 Locust.
• B.B.#200 – Roddy – An ordinance repealing paragraph (f) of Section Two of Ordinance 63780, approved on May 31, 1996, as amended in Ordinance 64550, approved January 15, 1999, and Ordinance 68236 approved January 16, 2009 and in lieu thereof a new paragraph (f) is enacted extending the period of time during which the Central West End Southeast Special Business District shall be permitted to collect a tax within the boundaries of the district and increasing the amount of such tax to an amount not to exceed $0.85 per $100.00 of assessed valuation of all real property within such district and to amend and restate the use for which the additional revenue produced by such tax may be put to include cleaning, landscaping and maintenance, security and public safety, purchase and installation of public infrastructure, public transportation, administration, and contingency fund for such categories; and containing effectiveness and emergency clauses.
• B.B.#201 – Roddy – An ordinance submitting to the qualified voters residing in the Central West End Southeast Special Business District, as established in Ordinance No. 63780, approved
  May 31, 1996, amended in Ordinance No. 64550, approved January 15, 1999, and amended in Ordinance No. 68236, approved January 16, 2009, a proposal to extend the levy of a tax on the real property located in said district for an additional ten years and increasing the amount of such tax to an amount not to exceed $0.85 per $100 assessed valuation; submitting said proposal to the voters of said district at the General Election on April 2, 2019; and containing an emergency clause.
• B.B.#202 – Cohn – An ordinance approving a Redevelopment Plan for Meramec St./S. Compton/Bates/S. Grand.
• B.B.#203 – Ingrassia – An ordinance pertaining to the permit fees established pursuant to the City Bike Share Policy established and authorized by St. Louis City Ordinance 70710; establishing a Micro-Mobility Fund, and requiring the permit fees collected pursuant to the City of St. Louis Bike Share Policy to be deposited into the Micro-Mobility Fund.
• B.B.#204 – Oldenburg – An ordinance amending Section Three of Ordinance No. 70892 pertaining to the establishment of procedures and requirements for the collocation and deployment of Small Wireless Facilities in the right-of-way and City property by adding a new subsection L to Section Three of Ordinance 70892 to permit the City to require reasonable, technically feasible, nondiscriminatory and technologically neutral design or concealment measures in a Historic District; and containing an emergency clause.
• B.B.#205 – Vollmer – An ordinance approving a Redevelopment Plan for 1929 Edwards St. & 5210 Daggett.
• B.B.#206 – Vollmer – An ordinance approving a Redevelopment Plan for 5126 Daggett & 5135 Daggett.
• B.B.#207 – Coatar – An ordinance approving a Redevelopment Plan for 200 North 4th Street.
• B.B.#208 – Ingrassia – An ordinance approving a Redevelopment Plan for 2647-2653 Locust.
• B.B.#209 – Spencer – An ordinance approving a Redevelopment Plan for 3535 Michigan.
• B.B.#210 – Roddy – An ordinance approving a Redevelopment Plan for 4325-4333 Swan.
• B.B.#211 – Guenther – An ordinance approving a Redevelopment Plan for 2821-2823 Iowa.
• B.B.#212 – Ingrassia – An ordinance pertaining to the duties of the Commissioner of Corrections and St. Louis City Sheriff, amending Title 16, Chapter 16.16 by adding to new sections to Chapter 16.16; new section16.16.350 requiring that the physical health needs of pregnant inmates, including providing for adequate nutrition, clothing, continued and adequate access to prenatal care and all other pregnancy related health services, and to limit the restraint of pregnant inmates throughout their pregnancies and post-partum period while in custody; and new section 16.16.360 requiring that adequate feminine hygiene supplies for all female and/or menstruating inmates be provided; and containing an emergency clause.
• B.B.#213 – Navarro – An ordinance pertaining to parking within the “Skinker-Fauquier Parking District;” establishing the location and restrictions for curb parking in the restricted parking zone within the “Skinker-Fauquier Parking District;” authorizing the placement of Permit Parking Only signs within the District; and prohibiting the parking, within the District, of any vehicle which does not display the authorized permit; containing definitions, a penalty clause and an emergency clause.
• B.B.#214 – Moore – An Ordinance establishing a two-way stop site at the intersection of Warne and Lexington regulating all traffic traveling northbound and southbound on Warne at Lexington and containing an emergency clause.
• B.B.#215 – Coatar – An ordinance submitting to the qualified voters of the City a gross receipts tax to be imposed on telecommunications and fiber network providers as set forth herein; providing for an election to be held therefore and the manner of voting thereat; and, upon passage of said ballot measure, an amendment to City Ordinance 67717 as codified in Section 23.34.020 of the Revised Code and Sections 23.34.010 though 23.34.030 of the Revised Code reflecting gross receipts tax to be imposed as approved by the voters of the City; establishing a Telecommunications Gross Receipts Tax Fund, and requiring the gross receipts tax collected pursuant to the Sections 23.34.010 through 23.34.030 of the Revised Code to be deposited into the Telecommunications Gross Receipts Tax Fund to be appropriated and expended to further smart city initiatives in the City.
• B.B.#216 – Kennedy – Pursuant to Ordinance 68937, an ordinance authorizing the honorary street name Homer G. Phillips Way, which shall begin at the intersection of Aubert and Fountain and run north on Aubert to the intersection of Aubert and Maple.
• B.B.#217 – Kennedy – An ordinance repealing Ordinance No. 69984 which pertains to the creation and administration of the City of St. Louis Civilian Oversight Board, codified in Section 3.140.010 –3.140.080 of the City Code of Ordinances, and creating a new St. Louis Civilian Oversight Board (the “COB”) as provided in §590.653, RSMo, which shall have the power to receive complaints, make findings, and recommend disciplinary action based upon its review and investigation of complaints by members of the public alleging misconduct by members of Division of Police involving excessive use of force, sexual harassment, abuse of authority, discourtesy, or use of offensive language, including but not limited to, slurs relating to race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, immigrant status, and disability; and containing a severability clause and emergency clause. COB will have the authority to make findings and recommendations regarding the Division of Police policy, procedure, operations and training.
• B.B.#218 – Vollmer – An ordinance approving a Redevelopment Plan for 5726 Reber Place.
• B.B.#219 – Kennedy – An Ordinance setting forth regulations for the use of surveillance technology by the City, requiring Surveillance Technology Usage Rules, Regulations and Guidelines be Established and Approved by the Board of Aldermen before such technology may be used and plans may be put into practice; and containing a severability clause and emergency clause.

The meeting begins at 10am, past meetings and a live broadcast can be watched online here. See list of all board bills for the 2017-2018 session — the new bills listed above may not be online right away.

— Steve Patterson

Readers: City & County Police Should Merge

I thought more people would respond to the recent non-scientific Sunday Poll on merging the City & County police departments.

Q: Agree or disagree: The police departments for the city & county should merge.

• Strongly agree: 6 [33.33%]
• Agree: 4 [22.22%]
• Somewhat agree: 2 [11.11%]
• Neither agree or disagree: 1 [5.56%]
• Somewhat disagree: 3 [16.67%]
• Disagree: 1 [5.56%]
• Strongly disagree: 1 [5.56%]
• Unsure/No Answer: 0 [0%]

I agree with the criticism of this plan — leaving 53 tiny unaccredited police departments in St. Louis County would be a mistake. I’m a huge fan of major consolidation, reorganization of the region, so it makes sense that I favor a more ambitious approach. That said, I don’t trust Rex Sinquefield or others in pushing for a merger plan.

I just can’t help but think it’ll be more self-serving than good for everyone in the region.

— Steve Patterson

No Longer A Downtown Resident

In my 28+ years living in St. Louis I’ve lived in different places/neighborhoods. These have been the Central West End, Old North (still officially called Murphy-Blair at the time), Dutchtown, Mount Pleasant, and, since November 2007, Downtown West. Late last month my husband and I moved to a smaller apartment within the City of St. Louis.

In the coming weeks I’ll share more about why we moved, and where. Though we’ve been in our new place over a week, we’re still in the process of removing the last of our belongings from the old place. Moving in not fun, especially when disabled.

For over a week now I’ve had many topics come to mind to blog about. Being in a new, but familiar neighborhood, has peaked my curiosity. It’s very exciting. Prior to moving I’d already looked at early 20th century Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps, historic aerials, and WalkScore.

The loft we left was the longest I’d lived at any address, other than the house I grew up in.  If not for two events in 2008 I’d have moved long ago: my stroke & the market crash.

Moving has forced me to realize how much I’d accumulated in 11+ years, nearly 6 of which with my husband. Though I despise moving, perhaps it’s an exercise I should do every 5-6 years? Still not ready for a tiny house, but I downsized in 2007 and downsized again.

Again, future posts will unveil the reasons for our move, where we’re living, etc.

— Steve Patterson

Sunday Poll: Should City & County Police Merge?

A few local news stories caught my eye last week, but one was more thought-provoking than the others:

St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar has a plan to take over policing in St. Louis, but leave the 52 municipal police departments in the county intact — a move that appears to contradict efforts underway to erase the city and county’s fractured government structure.

The goals outlined in Belmar’s plan, titled “Law Enforcement: A Regional Approach,” include: “Increase the effectiveness of police services across the region; increase the equity of police services in the region; and recalibrate the public safety image of St. Louis.”

The idea stands in contrast to a campaign to consolidate municipal governments and police departments throughout St. Louis County with the city. That effort is headed by Better Together, a nonprofit group that has spent years studying how fragmented government affects the region. The task force is expected to release its report and corresponding plan this month. (Post-Dispatch)

Today’s poll is on Belmar’s proposal:

This non-scientific poll will automatically close at 8pm tonight. Wednesday I’ll share the results and my thoughts.

— Steve Patterson