4:00 Introductions
4:10 Review of Groundrules
4:20 "The Process" -- Don Roe, SLDC Director of Planning
4:40 What do you hope to see come from this process?
4:55 Particpants' jobs:
5: 15 Next meeting
5:30 Adjourn
Meeting opened by Emily Andrews and Karen Heitzman of SLACO
Self-introductions around room, in attendance were:
Karen Heitzman of SLACO reviewed ground rules with everyone.
Rules are as follows:
Remember that after this initiative is completed we may find ourselves working together again on other projects and that we want to be able to do so in a positive professional manner.
Brian Marston mentioned that communication should be open not only here, but among the various groups everyone here represents, time and place of meeting should be accessible, widely announce meetings and far enough in advance for others to be able to attend.
Karen responded by saying that we were going to address that later and that this initial meeting was held at SLDC to accommodate all of those of SLDC who were part of the meeting so we could all find out how the process of Request for Proposals (RFP) are handled.
Don Roe tells us that since the $16,000 for the parking study is Federal Block Grant Money there are set procedures that City agencies must follow, they must have written documents Request for Proposals (RFP) posted in two newspapers, generally have been the St. Louis American and the St. Louis Post Dispatch, for two to three weeks. A selection committee is required in City of five(5) voting members. Committee members are the head of the department doing contracting, their designee, and three others, all who are all City employees. The committee reviews the RFPs before they are made public. The written responses back from planners to be reviewed by committee expected include 25% responses from certified minority owned businesses and 5% from women owned businesses. Finalist may be asked to give a presentation. Though this is not always an effective method.
Fran Fanara asked how long does the process take
Don gave an example; 3 weeks from any given Monday, have committee reconvene about 1 week before interviews.
Cheryl Jones asked, " No one accepts request?"
Don, "try, try again"
Emily to Don, "How do you see this task force working with the committee?"
Paul Stefanski, "What is the task force's part as far as expertise?"
Pat Bannister, "counting things, (example trees, etc. in area of question) Attending meetings uses up consultants time quickly." This is reference to using up the money we have for their fee.
Lenita Moore overall group be putting together ideas for RFPs
Jennifer Florida would like a map of area, (it would be along S. Grand from Arsenal south to McDonald) we need to know what needs are for RFP
Dave McCreery wanted to know if for example if possible for consultant to attend 3 meetings and volunteers do counting and feed information back to consultant
Lenita and Don both mention that we can articulate what we want to go into RFP originally.
Michelle -consultant would want to receive information from one person, a spokesperson, not from everyone on the task force. Task force should come up with one person.
Jennifer-We need to know what needs are for RFP
Brian to Don, "Who are the five committee people who vote?" Answer, "Yet to be decided." He continues with, "Can SLACO be the agency and the 12 at the table be voting members of committee to approve RFPs?
Pat- Most contracting work done through the City
Don- Consultants expect to work with people they've worked with before
Cheryl-Is marketing coming from same pot?
Michelle- No
Jennifer- asked if Phil Hoag would be point person
Brian asked again - can we have SLACO be the agency and the 12 others at the meeting be the voting committee?
Fran asked Brian-why he feels it should be done that way.
Brian- with committee members investing time to help in counting, etc. ownership is given away; … he wants to be part of the vote. SLDC testified at the Cultural Resources Board and are biased. He wants SLACO because they are neutral and (the affected) neighborhoods are members of SLACO.
Dave Drebes is concerned about the divisions that already exist. He agrees with Brian.
Fran- we should be able to work this out, maybe this group could meet with the committee somehow.
Don-quality and specifics of RFP is important, it needs to be professional. Need to check with an attorney about duplicating proposals
Paul- want to make sure we can step in to be involved if things don't go right, all that vote sign a conflict of interest waiver.
Don-RFP can be written with input from steering committee, recommendation stage, input from group, data collection stage
Patrick Moore ask if information was available from SLDC on other parking studies?
Don- Soulard plan done by East West Gateway, use plan info gathering so as to better inform task force members. SLDC point person will help us in RFP process. "This stuff is not rocket science, but there are standards we must follow"
Emily- who will be point person?
Don- Not assigned yet
Dave McCreery- which is more important, process or results?
Dave Drebes-process needs to look open
Jennifer- wants an unbiased person
Brian wants voting privileges
Jennifer-there are different development philosophies and she wants a sympathetic consultant
Patrick- can three be added?
XXXX? mentioned that RFP should be focused to stay within $16,000
Michelle- RFP has to meet guidelines, has restrictions
Pat-what relevant expectations do you have?
Patrick-is it possible to add voting members?
Brian-are we locked into the $16,000?
Ken Ortmann-may not have additional Community Development Block Grant Money (CDBGs), may have to work on the RFP
Emily-we are relying on participants to relay all information to their neighborhoods, neighbors, organizations etc., and to solicit input.
We also discussed other ways to get the word out to the community at large. Examples, Tower Grove East and Heights newsletters, posted in library, Mekong, etc.
Don-Time limit?
Emily- Six months
Brian should take our time
Patrick-6 months is a reasonable time
Dave McCreery-we are here because of outside pressure, want study complete, results in soon, want a study plan, there is a demand for parking, want to have quality tenant, quality rent to solve parking problem. In six months have plan in hand 12/1/01, this is fair economically and historically
Don- may not all be static, questions from committee may take time to answer
Jennifer- how do they request payment?
Don-(they are) paid after work
Discussion on whom should be the media spokesperson, everyone felt Emily and Karen should be, they mention that they really shouldn't be, suggested that answers should be referred to the minutes of the meeting. Also suggested responses could/should come from the two alderpersons involved: Jennifer Florida and Ken Ortmann.
Next Meeting:
Minutes
Groundrules
June 28, 2001
5:05 Media spokesperson
June 28, 2001
Submitted by Karen Heitzmann
Dave McCreery S. Grand Business District
Pat Bannister St. Louis Development Corporation (SLDC)
Lenita Moore SLDC
Patrick Moore the Tower Grove East Neighborhood
Michelle Taylor Commercial District Manager
Craig Solberg Solberg Investments
Alderman Ken Ortmann 9th Ward
Paul Stefanski Tower Grove Heights Neighborhood
Carole Jerome Tower Grove East Neighborhood
Don Roe Planning & Development Agency (PDA)
Dave Drebes Tower Grove East Neighborhood
Fran Fanara Commerce Bank
Brian Marston Tower Grove Heights Neighborhood
Cheryl Jones Tower Grove Heights
Alderwoman Jennifer Florida 15th Ward
Agree that this is a working process therefore,
Everyone's time is to be respected
Everyone's input is valuable
This is a place for open-minded communications
This process should be allowed to be creative
Agree to disagree
Thursday, July 12, 2001
6:30 PM
at Commerce Bank on S. Grand