QuikTrip Relocation May Come One Meeting Closer to Law Tonight

When Maplewood City Council meets tonight, an ordinance the mayor tried unsuccessfully to table, may pass and one many residents oppose may come one reading closer to passing.

Councilman Tim Dunn introduced BILL 5877, a bill to include sexual orientation and gender identity in several sections of the city code. It passed with dissenting votes at the last meeting and is on the agenda for its final reading.

Bill 5878 is the bill that would approve the relocation of QuikTrip from its present location on South Big Bend to the northwest corner of Big Bend and Manchester. The bill in its first of three readings at the previous meeting. Its second of three readings is on the agenda.

At the Sept. 11 meeting the council tentatively agreed to allow food trucks in Maplewood for a 6-month trial period. More discussion is on the agenda.

The council will also vote on the 2012 tax rates.

Following is the agenda notes for the Maplewood City Council meeting, tonight at 7:30 at city hall.

• ITEM NO. 9, is a resolution authorizing the City Manager to accept the donation from St. Louis Investment Properties Incorporated, a Missouri Corporation of a single family property located at 7548 Folk Avenue. This is a derelict property that was foreclosed upon and the present property owner is willing to donate this property to the city. It is the city’s intention to demolish the property and put the lot up for sale.
• ITEM NO. 10, is an ordinance approving an amended petition to establish the Deer Creek Center Community Improvement District. The City Council originally approved a Community Improvement District petition at their June 26, 2012 Council meeting. The subsequent redevelopment agreement and intergovernmental cooperation agreement that was approved by the City Council conflicted with some provisions of the original Community Improvement District petition. This amended petition corrects all conflicts. A public hearing on this amended petition will be held at the October 9, 2012 City Council meeting.
• ITEM NO. 11, Bill 5877 is an ordinance amending the Maplewood Code of Ordinances to include sexual orientation and gender identity in various sections of the Maplewood Code regarding discrimination. This bill has been read two times and tabled and is now ready for final Council action.
• ITEM NO. 12, Bill 5878 is an ordinance authorizing a planned unit development district and approving a Preliminary Development Plan and Preliminary Subdivision Plat for approximately 1.29 acres of land bounded on the north by 2633 Big Bend Boulevard, on the west by Martini Drive, on the south by Manchester Road and on the east by Big Bend Boulevard. This is the proposed QuikTrip site. The PUD ordinance has been amended to include the amendments that were proposed and approved by the City Council at their September 11, 2012 City Council meeting. A public hearing has already been held on this matter. The bill has been read one time and it is requested that it only be read for a second time at this Council meeting.
• ITEM NO. 13, Bill 5879 is an ordinance authorizing the City Manager to execute Special Business District Forgivable Loans as provided by appropriations in the Special Business District budget. The previous ordinance authorizing the City Manager to sign these loans has expired. This bill has been read two times and tabled and is now ready for final Council action.
• ITEM NO. 14, Bill 5880 is an ordinance establishing the tax rates for the City of Maplewood and the Maplewood Special Business District on all real, personal, tangible and intangible property within the City of Maplewood, Missouri, for 2012. The residential property tax rate is set at 1¢ less than last year and represents a reduction of 14.2¢ over what the city could legally levy. The commercial tax rate represents an increase of 2.8¢ and the personal property tax rate remains the same. A public hearing has been held on this matter and the bill has been read two times and tabled and is now ready for final Council action.
• ITEM NO. 15, Bill 5881 is an ordinance establishing new ward boundaries as required by Section 8.6 of the City Charter after each 10-year census. The difference between the largest ward, Ward 3 with 2,690 and the smallest ward, Ward 1 with 2,677 residents is 13. This bill has been read two times and tabled and is now ready for final Council action.
• ITEM NO. 16, Bill 5882 is an ordinance authorizing the City Manager to execute an agreement between St. Louis County Emergency Communications Commission (ECC) and the City of Maplewood for subscriber radios and interoperable radio system. An increase in sales tax has been previously passed to finance a new regional radio system and St. Louis County created the Emergency Communications Commission to administer these sales tax dollars. The new system will allow agencies to communicate for both routine and emergency operations anywhere within the region. The Commission will also provide new radio equipment to all participating agencies. This bill has been read two times and tabled and is now ready for final Council action.
• ITEM NO. 17, is a continued discussion of rules and regulations to allow food trucks to operate in Maplewood for a 6-month period. The City Council, at their September 11, 2012 meeting, tentatively agreed to allow food trucks to operate in the City of Maplewood for a 6-month period pending approval of rules and regulations for the operation of food trucks.