|
|
I want to start by wishing a very happy 28th birthday to my one and only brother and my best friend, Patrick! He's hard at work researching cancer and completing his Biology PhD out in Denver, but he still somehow finds time to read each week and quiz my parents on its contents to make sure they have too! I love you, Chunk, and I couldn't be more proud of you!
|
|
It's an otherwise pretty light week, but I'm working on some big stuff so let's jump right into some quick hits!
|
|
|
|
|
|
- Two interesting items in the November 20th Council Work Session minutes:
- City staff is drafting legislation to ban the legally grey slot machines that have popped up at local gas stations across the state, including in Kirkwood. This seems like a positive move, and I'm glad to see the Council support it
- City staff is also once again preparing to submit a Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) grant application to substantially improve safety along Argonne between Taylor and Geyer. While the city's prior STP grant application narrowly missed the cut, East-West Gateway has indicated that it would likely qualify for the slightly less generous TAP funding. The big issue is that substantial cycling safety improvements are a big part of TAP scoring and the Council is now starting to get cold feet about including a bike lane between Geyer and Clay which could once again put the project in jeopardy. Why? Well they're concerned that a bike lane would mean we might lose some on street parking. I think the project (the version with the bike lane) is one small tweak away from being legitimately great.
- Tons of great content in last week's Webster-Kirkwood Times:
- On pg. 1, a great story on the Rotary Club's efforts to restore the historic Olive Chapel AME Church. Well done! I'm hopeful that someone will find a creative way to give a second life to the beautiful 1899 building
- On pg. 4, The Kirkwood School District's enrollment is projected to shrink by another 6.6% over the next five years. What does the assistant superintendent cite as the reason? "Housing sales prices in Kirkwood have increased by 31% over the past five years compared to 11% average for St. Louis County". Sounds like we have an affordability issue!
- Also on pg. 4: a nice write-up of the Council's approval of Pitman Place
- Finally, a couple of great ways to help the community during the holiday season:
|
|
|
|
That's it for this week! Have a great weekend everyone, and we'll talk real soon!
|
|
|
|
|
