Ackert Project: Was This Properly Done?

There have been claims that University City did not handle the Ackert project correctly - a joint project between the city and Great Rivers Greenway (GRG) to include a greenway and bicycle path.  City Manager, Lehman Walker, claims that the project was handled properly.  Judging by the minutes of the 2/22/2010 City Council meeting, the Council voted to give authority to the former City Manager, Julie Feier, to sign a contract with Great Rivers Greenway, and it appears to have been done properly. 

GRG agreed to engineer and construct a trail along the Melville and Ackert Walk to a point 400 feet north of Delmar Blvd. and the city agreed to assume the full and total financial and administrative responsibility for ordinary operations and maintenance of the trails to allow safe and convenient public access, enjoyment and use.  The Great Rivers Greenway District provided the funding for this project.  It was this project that resulted in the removal of the Ackert Park arch to make way for a new Ackert mall, which included the bicycle path and greenway.  The official name of the park cannot be changed without a public vote, and any signage designs and renderings can be requested from Great Rivers Greenway and the city.

 The placement of the statue commemorating the father of Rock and Roll, Chuck Berry, was considered and reviewed by the Arts and Letters Commission at the Nov. 9, 2010 meeting. Notice of this presentation was properly made on the Agenda in spite of what Councilmember Lynn Ricci claimed at the June 24th Parks Commission meeting (download audio). In fact, the Arts & Letters Commission was informed in July 2009 by the Council liaison that this statue would be installed in the Loop and Joe Edwards would bring it to the Art & Letters Commission for a review.  The statue was to be placed on a public right of way, rather than on parkland, so it was not necessary to take the issue of the statue before the Parks Commission. 

Should the placement of the sculpture of Chuck Berry have been brought before the council for a vote?  There have not been many permanent statues placed on public property - off hand, only two that I can think of (other than "the Lions"): the Rain Man near the University City Post Office, and the Fish on a Bike in the pond in Lewis Park.  The temporary sculptures placed on University City property (parks included) are approved by the Arts & Letters Commission and the decision is not brought to Council for a vote.  It is not certain whether the installation of Rain Man or Fish on a Bicycle sculptures were brought before Council for approval.  It would certainly seem that something permanent on city land should be brought to Council for a decision, but if the other sculptures were not (and at this time this is unknown) then it might appear to be a precedent to have the decision made by the Arts & Letters Commission. 

The City Charter states that among the powers of the council is the power to make public improvements by ordinance.  Certainly a sculpture, which affects the appearance of the city, could be considered a public improvement.  Since (I believe) the current Council has violated the Charter on numerous occasions over the past the past 14 months, it would be very hard to hold themselves up as paragons and protectors of the Charter - and once again point to the "sins" of the past Council as they are wont to do ad nauseam. 

Lesson learned, and for the future: All issues involving policy that affect this city should be brought to the City Council for a vote... including but not limited to the issues of the lights at the Driving Range and the removal of Gloria Nickerson as a duly appointed member of the EDRST Board!!!

-Paulette Carr,  UCityCitizen.org