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Florissant Approves Latest Map For Redistricting City Ward Boundaries
By Carol Arnett
The Florissant City Council Monday voted on a bill that would revise the ward boundaries in the city. The council held a public hearing to review the report of the Redistricting Commission and take public comments concerning the commission’s recommendation at the last meeting. At that point, the boundary commission presented a solution to the city.
At the previous meeting, City Attorney John Hessel explained that the city is divided into nine wards, and periodically, after a federal census, the council must appoint a redistricting commission to review the ward boundaries. The Redistricting Commission made recommendations in 2011.
Unfortunately, “the demographic data that was given to us by St. Louis County was flawed,” Hessel said. Certain blocks were identified as being in a certain ward, and they were simply wrong, according to Hessel. “As a result of that, the Redistricting Commission incorrectly made adjustments to the wards based upon the data they were given.”
“We were presented with two maps at the last meeting,” Schmidt said. “Both maps came out of the redistricting committee.” One map was dated February and one March. The March map was the one recommended by the commission. Schmidt said that he did not like the March map because it moved a lot of people, especially around his ward. “I will be endorsing the February map. It moves the least amount of people.”
Schmidt also reminded those in attendance that the data used was from the 2010 census and it will be redone again with 2020 census data in 2021. “It doesn’t make sense to move that many people around for five years,” he said. Schmidt moved to amend the bill to approve the February map instead of the March map. His motion did not pass.
“I’m going to be supporting the March map,” said Councilman Tim Lee. He said that it was the map that the boundary commission recommended and he agreed. The council approved the March map.
Public Hearings
The Florissant City Council held two public hearings Monday on a rezoning for a business and another on a kids summer camp.
The first hearing had been continued since April 26. It regarded a request by Auto Properties, LLC to rezone property at 1350 N Highway 67 from one commercial district to another to allow for the construction of a new self-storage, truck and trailer rental.
Steve Langford spoke for U-Haul, who wants to build the facility. At previous hearings, some members of the council had questions about the building materials that were to be used on the building. The front will be brick and the sides will be another material. No one spoke in opposition to the project. The council held a first reading on the bill for approval of the project.
In the second hearing, the council heard about a request from F.I.T. Kids Ministries, Inc., doing business as F.I.T Kids Camp to allow an educational development center at 2370 N. Hwy. 67.
Steve Ray spoke for the center. He said that over 40 families want to have their children at the camp over their summer break. The camp has children ages 5 – 12. Ray said that he wanted the camp to start on Thursday, May 26, so he asked the council to hold three readings and approve the measure on Monday.
Councilman Tim Lee asked how the center was different from a daycare. Ray said it was more like a summer Bible camp. He said that families could enroll for all eleven weeks of summer or for one week at a time.
Councilman Mark Schmidt asked where the outside play area was. Ray said they would use the back parking lot and a field on the side of the building. “I see no reflection of that on the plans,” Schmidt said. “No reflection about how you’re going to block the lot off.”
Lee also had questions about the parking lot and how Ray would block it off for play. “I’m concerned about kids’ safety,” he said. “I’m really uncomfortable about putting kids there,” Lee said. He said he was unsure about the safety of rubber cones blocking traffic.
Schmidt asked about drop-off and pick-up procedures for families. Ray said that parents could drop off in the back or park and walk their kids in. Lee asked about parents picking up on the same parking lot where outside activities take place. “There are a lot of questions,” he said.
No one spoke in opposition at the hearing. The council held a first reading on the bill for approving the center.
In other action, the council passed a bill that affects the police department. It will reduce the number of Bureau of Field Operations (BFO) Sergeant positions from seven to six and increase the BFO Lieutenant positions from four to five. Councilman Joe Eagan explained that this was because the police department will be going to 12-hour shifts. Eagan said that the department and officers requested the 12-hour shifts and the police chief thought it was a good proposal.
