Portable On-Demand Storage Bill Still in Committee

Nearly a month ago Ald. Lyda Krewson (D-28) introduced Board Bill 191, relating to Portable On-Demand Storage better know by the trademark name, PODS. The basic idea, as I understand it, is to require a permit to place these on the street and call for fines if they are not removed within the timeframe of the permit. Seems logical and similar to the procedures for having say a construction dumpster on the street.

For weeks the bill has been stalled in the Streets, Traffic and Refuse Committee where not everyone was on the same page. You see, debates on the floor of the Board of Aldermen are rare — any differences on legislation gets worked out in committee hearings which are, of course, open to the public. Truth be told, a number of differences probably get worked out via email and phone calls that we, the public, are not privy to. Still, much of the face-to-face time between the aldermen does seem to take place in the committee meetings. Look for a revised version of this bill before the committee soon, possibly as early as next week. [Note: it is on the schedule for today but I understand the committee will not hear this bill as revisions are not yet ready.]

You likely say, “who cares?” Or, BFD. Well, to some it is a big deal when they’ve had to stare at a storage box across the street for weeks on end. But this brings up an important point. City governance is not just the exciting/controversial things — the BJC/Forest Park Lease, the Ballpark Village or a new riverfront proposal. No, city government is pretty mundane and often about the little details that really have little impact on the majority of residents.

If you’ve read enough of my posts you know I relish the details, but I’m also concerned about the big picture. Currently we have 28 aldermen trying to go at it alone in their section of the city with virtually nobody at city hall plotting an overall vision or course. At the ward or city level it is simply about the projects, the ribbon cutting, the photo op. I’m glad to see Ald. Krewson continuing to push for this portable storage legislation because this is a good example of quality of life details that are important. But I’ll be really happy when the city begins to seriously look at a vision for the city and passes some new zoning to compliment the land use plan approved in 2005.

Ald. Krewson is up for re-election next Spring.

Potential Candidates Take Note

I had a fun debate with a friend tonight over so-called “fringe” candidates. You know the ones that are neither an incumbent or have the financial backing relative to that of the incumbent. Doesn’t matter if we are talking about the US Senate, Alderman, School Board or dog catcher. These “other” candidates might all be from the same party, the non-dominant party or a “third” party with little actual success rate. The question becomes what responsibility does the media have to acknowledge the presence of these other candidates that many times have little to know chance of actually winning.

As I have demonstrated in prior posts, I think we owe it to our democracy to at least mention their names. Should other media outlets do the same? Should the media determine the others are not serious candidates and simply filter them out of the race. My friend argued, quite convincingly, these candidates filter themselves out of the race by not running effective campaigns. And I guess that is what really irks me — I want more choice in races but how far do I have to stretch to get that choice?

The Progressives (aka Green Party), and Libertarians, my friend points out, don’t run candidates for Aldermen. They always go for city-wide or bigger races. Why is that? Not that they can’t or shouldn’t run for a city-wide office but why not learn the ropes a bit on a smaller scale such as an aldermanic seat. Or, if you are going to run for a city-wide post then at least make some pretense of running a campaign.

My friend Pat Herod is running for License Collector against presumed winner Mike McMillan. But, Pat has assembled a campaign team which is sending out press releases, put together a web site, attended neighborhood meetings, and has signs and shirts for volunteers. In short, he is running a “real” campaign. Is it too little and too late? Maybe, but, I have great respect and admiration for Pat putting himself out there and giving it all he has.

The same cannot be said for the woman running as a Progressive against Gregg Daly for Collector of Revenue. I met her briefly at a recent event and although she is sweet she is not really campaigning at all — she didn’t even have a flyer. I asked why she didn’t have flyers or a website and her answer was, I kid you not, “they are too expensive.” In this day and age one can easily get a free email account and a free website (such as a blogger account) so to lack either is really sad.

Despite being a professor at Washington University, Jeff Smith was a fringe candidate when he first ran for US Congress in 2004. His hard work propelled him to nearly the top of that race, quickly dropping the fringe in favor of terms such as energetic and rising star. In August that same work ethic paid off as he won the race for 4th Senate district in Missouri (no general opponent). So what does this mean for you potential candidates and alternate parties out there?

Start small and start sooner rather than later. Field some candidates for aldermen and after you’ve elected or nearly elected a candidate for this seat look to the bigger races. Run a couple for aldermen in 2007 and when the race for mayor comes around again in 2009 perhaps one of those candidates will be ready for running in that race. Jeff Smith is the exception rather than the rule — running in a big race only to win the smaller race later usually doesn’t apply.

While I may happily list your name with the same credence as everyone else in the race, most media outlets are not going to have my sense of leveling the playing field. This means, as an alternate candidate, you are going to have to work harder to get recognition. You must send out press releases followed up by repeated phone calls. You’ve got to request meetings with the press. And don’t think sending out a release announcing a press conference is going to get anyone showing up. If you’ve got a blue dress with a stain on it maybe, otherwise good luck. Jake Wagman, Dave Drebes and Antonio French are not going to beat down your door simply because you filed for office. You will have to contact them to get any attention. Sending something my way wouldn’t hurt. Raising money to pay a consultant (or just a worker to send out press releases) is worthwhile.

Required reading for anyone thinking of getting into the municipal election next Spring are my posts from last month; Get Involved — Run for Office and How to Run for Local Office. We can do this folks. We can open up local electoral politics. It won’t be easy but nothing worth doing is.

Valet Video: New & Improved — Now Confrontation-Free!

My post from Tuesday evening with video of the owner of Copia received much attention and a fair amount of both praise and criticism. Curious if anything had changed I returned to Washington Avenue Thursday night with camera in hand. This time I did a couple of things differently — I did not talk to anyone, staying completely away from the valets and the restaurants themselves (Copia in the 11xx block and Lucas Park Grille in the 12xx block). The video is far less exciting than the confrontation on Tuesday evening but it is telling about the extent of the situation.

Every non-coned public parking space between 10th and 14th was taken last night when I was there after 9pm. The only empty spaces in this four block stretch were spaces coned off by a single valet company, Midwest Valet, while employed by Copia and Lucas Park.

The video and sound quality are a bit poor as my still camera’s video feature doesn’t do too well when moving at night. But, you’ll be able to get the idea. The first video is in the 11xx block of Washington Ave. I start at Tucker and walk toward 11th. I’m on the north side of the street looking over at the block containing Copia (it is the beautiful 2-story building with the 3 arched windows). Once the valet sees me he begins to make a few calls and eventually moves the cones from the street. Remember, the police were there just two nights ago and told them to move the cones.

The 11xx block of Washington Ave has a total of 10 marked parking spaces. Four are in front of Baseline which is to the east of Copia. The SUV parked in the far east end of the block is actually in a yellow no-parking zone. Moving to the west of the four spaces in front of Baseline we have a fire hydrant and then a single parking space directly in front of Copia. We then have another no-parking area for a buildings’ fire standpipe. Five additional spaces are on the western half of the block. The valets should be able to operate by taking the single space in front of the restaurant combined with the two non-parking spaces. I will return to measure this width to see what that would give them but it is greater than 60ft. This would leave 9 public spaces for patrons of Copia or other establishments (or friends of residents). Copia is in the 7th Ward.

In the next video I am in the 12xx block of Washington Ave where Lucas Park Grille is just as abusive by taking two sides of the street. We start off with a valet that just made a u-turn in the street to park a car across from the restaurant in a public space they had coned off. It should be noted, the Director of Streets Jim Suelmann has issued LPG a permit to have all these spaces but indicates they are only for the drop off and pickup of cars — that all cars should be moved to sites elsewhere. Clearly, that is not what is happening here. A couple of clubs are open and active in this block and several places are open late in the next block to the west. However, the only vacant spots are those coned off by the valet company for the use by LPG and the sushi place next door.

The point of all this is we do have things going on downtown and along Washington Ave but a few businesses are being overly aggressive in their use of the public street and public parking. We need balance. Lucas Park Grille is in the 5th Ward.

Currently nobody is taking any responsibility for the problem. The valets say they are doing their job. The restaurant owners say they (via the valet company) have a permit for this much space, the Treasurer’s office (which is responsible for parking revenues) has no policy, the aldermen won’t act on a complaint unless from a constituent, the Director of Streets says he doesn’t have the ability to enforce the permits he issues and in reality the police have much more important things to worry about. But the reality is we paid dearly for these streetscapes and much is riding on their long-term success. The demand for the spaces is there but they are reserved for a select few.

Chief Mokwa, Lyda Krewson and Political Activity?

This is not, in my view, a big deal. Still it is an issue worthy of exposure and discussion. It appears that St. Louis Chief Joe Mokwa may have inadvertently violated an internal police rule prohibiting officers from using their official authority in the endorsement of political candidates. At issue is an invite from the Friends to Re-Elect Lyda campaign which clearly lists “Chief Joe Mokwa” among the many supporting her campaign. The copy of the police rule I received is dated from 1994 but I talked with the St. Louis Police public relations office which verified this is still valid.

I am indifferent to Chief Mokwa and despite having been in office longer than my litmus test of 8 years, I tend to like Ald. Lyda Krewson. My posting of this information is not about trying to damage either one but simply to bring light to a reasonable rule and how it might easily get overlooked.

What I do not know is if he could be listed without the word “Chief”? It would seem it is the word “Chief” that determines his “official authority” that is prohibited. That is, if it were listed as “Mr. & Mrs. Joe Mokwa” then it would be doing so as a private citizen and not as the Chief of Police. I called Lyda Krewson for comment. Krewson said she takes responsibility, “I added the word Chief as a sign of respect.”

Again, I do not believe this to be anything but a minor oversight. This is, however, the political season for local campaigns so the lesson here is dot those “I’s” and cross those “T’s” — people are paying attention to the details.

An Urban Plan for the Grand & Gravois Schnuck’s Site

Architect, fellow blogger and friend Steve Wilke-Shapiro continues to focus his attention on the city’s 15th Ward on his blog, 15thWardSTL. His latest post looks at the aging big box Schnuck’s bounded by Grand, Cherokee, Gravois and Potomac.

A bit of background: The total area, including a couple of properties owned by others, is roughly 6 acres. The current store was built in 1989 and is listed by the city records as having just under 74,000sf. This refers to the total building area whereas when we hear talk of say, their new location in Loughborough Commons being 63,000sf, that refers to the sales floor only and thus excludes storage and prep area.

Wilke-Shapiro has re-examined the site from an urbanist perspective and is suggesting ways in which DESCO/Schnuck’s could rebuild in the future to maximize their land value, improve the feel and character of the area and add to the diversity of uses in the area. Where this is different than say the McDonald’s drive-thru battle down the street is there is no plan for the area for which this is an alternate in protest. No, this is a design exercise to show how the urbanist thinking can be applied.

Hopefully by focusing on an area not being debated over a current plan the doubters and naysayers of urbanist planning can see the potential for these ideas. Click here (or the thumbnail image) to view his excellent post.