Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting - Complete

Meeting Agenda

PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION MEETING
Held at the Donald “red” loehr police and court center
300 PARK DRIVE
DECEMBER 6, 2010
7:00 P.M.

AGENDA

1. Call to Order
2. Approval of Minutes 
3. Capital Budget 
4. Adjournment

Meeting Minutes

RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
MINUTES OF THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MEETING
CITY OF BALLWIN – 300 PARK DRIVE
December 6, 2010

The meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission was called to order by Chairman Michael Wind at 7:02 p.m.  Members in attendance were:
 
PRESENT                                                           ABSENT
Chairman Michael Wind                   Commissioner Mark Weaver
Secretary Frank Karr                         Commissioner Chris Wright
Commissioner Pat Apel 
Commissioner John Schwent 
Commissioner Sue Theodore 
Commissioner Mike Utt 
Alderman Frank Fleming 
Mayor Tim Pogue 
Assistant City Administrator Thomas Aiken 
City Engineer Gary Kramer 
City Attorney Robert Jones 

Approval of Minutes

A motion was made by Secretary Karr and seconded by Mayor Pogue to approve the minutes of the No-vember 1, 2010 meeting of the Planning & Zoning Commission as submitted.  The motion received un-animous approval from the Commission members present. 

Capital Budget

Glenda Loehr, Finance Director of the City of Ballwin, presented the 2011 Capital Improvement Budget to the Planning & Zoning Commission for review per Missouri Statute.

Finance Director Loehr said the 2011 Capital Improvement Plan calls for expenditures totaling $3,674,045, which is an increase over the 2010 appropriation of $2,951,284.  This increase is primarily attributed to additional street improvements and potential park enhancements which will be offset by grants.

The transfer of $210,677 from the operating fund balance will be applied towards supplemental capital street improvement expenditures.  The budget also includes bond debt payments totaling $1,737,879 and $79,012 for TIF municipal revenue funding.

The Police Department has been allocated $80,000 for a basement remodel to enhance climate control and security for the computer and phone equipment.  The Government Center windows will be replaced with insulated energy-efficient glass at an estimated cost of $110,000, financed with a zero-interest State loan program.  $464,000 will be applied to the Parks and Recreation Department for major park improvements, with $244,000 for adjacent land acquisition and development of Ferris Park, and possible construction of a trail to serve the neighborhoods near The Pointe, at a cost of $220,000.  Both projects are contingent on offsetting grant revenue.
Finally, $1,203,154 is budgeted to the Public Works Department for application towards street improve-ments.  This compares to the $792,258 which was allocated in 2010.  The Board of Aldermen decided to use $1,000,000 of the operating fund balance to supplement street improvements, the bulk of which is in the Operating Budget.  The $210,677 referenced earlier will be used for milled and repaved streets.

Finance Director Loehr noted that several projects are contingent on grants.  If the grants are not awarded, those expenditures will not happen. 

$1,737,879 will be transferred from this budget to bond debt for two issues.  One is a G.O. (general obli-gation) bond debt issued in 1992 for streets and the construction of the Pointe.  The final payment for this will be in 2012.  The other bond debt is for a Certificate of Participation issue for the construction of the North Pointe Aquatic Center, which will be paid off in 2017.  The Old Towne project was financed by TIF and the City agreed to pay up to a cap of $250,000 per year from its portion of the sales tax revenue.

Chairman Wind commended Finance Director Loehr on working with all the departments to produce the Capital Budget.  He made a strong recommendation that the City investigate using pervious pavement for the Golf Course parking lot, and adjust the budget accordingly.  He asked why the $100,000 for the Gov-ernment Center windows is shown as both income and expense.  Finance Director Loehr said that the in-come will be the loan and the expense is when the contractor is paid.  The loan repayment is shown in the Operating Budget.

Commissioner Apel said that a maintenance facility is budgeted for Public Works in 2014.  He feels that housing the Public Works equipment is more important that some other items that have been budgeted for in the meantime, such as rubberized tiles and connector trails.  Finance Director Loehr said that there is a half-cent tax dedicated for the Parks department, and those items will be funded from that source.  Com-missioner Utt asked if the acquisition of Ferris Park property is part of the half-cent sales tax.  Finance Director Loehr said yes, and will be offset if Ballwin receives the grant.    

Secretary Karr made a motion to approve the Capital Budget for 2011 as presented.  Commissioner Apel seconded the motion, which received unanimous approval from the Commission members present.

Other Business

Chairman Wind asked about the status of the Schnucks petition.  City Attorney Jones said that the judge who heard the case was appointed to the US District Court by President Obama, pending Senate approval.  This means that he will have to clear up any old cases before he can take over the new position. 

Chairman Wind asked about the U-Gas petition.  Mayor Pogue said that it was held over to the next Board of Aldermen meeting because two aldermen were absent.  Alderman Fleming said there was mi-nimal discussion.  He asked about the wall on the west side of Seven Trails Drive, and the general feeling was to give the petitioner a perpetual easement, whereby the petitioner will have the right to use the wall, but will be responsible for its maintenance.

Adjournment

A motion was made by Chairman Wind and seconded by Mayor Pogue to adjourn the meeting.  The mo-tion received unanimous approval, and the meeting was adjourned at 7:30 p.m.

 Michael Wind, Chairman
 Planning & Zoning Commission