Mayor Welsch's Blog: Taking That First Step

Back in my earlier life I worked in the broadcast news business, the last 10 years with ABC Network News. And in that life, my energy was spent covering governments – national and state. I was not involved in any way. In those days you stayed separate – no listener or viewer was supposed to know where you stood on any issue, what you thought about anything. You covered the government. You did not get involved.

When I left the news business, I was living in University City, and for the first time I thought about getting active in the civic life of my town. I well remember the first time I visited City Hall. I spoke with Dory Miller, who was then the City Clerk (and is now a long-time friend of mine) and she suggested I volunteer to work on a City board or commission. I filled out an application, submitted it, and a few weeks later I got a call from Dory asking if I would consider an appointment to the Municipal Commission on Arts & Letters. I said yes. I was appointed. I served for two terms. During those years I completed the transition from not-involved to involved. I was open to other possibilities, including running for public office. I ran and won. I ran and lost. I ran and won.

As Mayor, I’m trying to figure out how to convince others to take that initial step towards involvement. (Have an idea? Let me know.) We need more committed active volunteers in the U City civic pipeline – especially younger residents. It takes awhile to get comfortable with the idea of running for public office, and the people who are the best candidates (in my opinion) are those who gain knowledge in how the City works by volunteering on one of the Boards and Commissions. The people who will be Mayor or on the Council in five or ten years should really be active right now.

Following is a list of the University City Boards and Commissions:

• Board of Adjustment
• Board of Appeals
• Board of Trustees of the Non-Uniformed
• Board of Trustees of the Police & Firemen’s Civil Service Board
• Commission for Access and Local Original Programming
• Economic Development Retail Sales Tax Board
• Green Practices Commission
• Historic Preservation Commission
• Human Relations Commission
• Industrial Development Authority
• Infill Review Board
• Joint Redevelopment Task Force – U City/Olive
• Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority
• Library Board
• Municipal Commission on Arts and Letters
• Park Commission
• Plan Commission
• Tax Increment Financing Commission
• Traffic Commission
• Urban Forestry Commission

Some meet on a regular basis, some only as needed. Some need members with specific expertise. All are peopled by volunteers. And all give members an opportunity to become familiar with how the City works – although each from a different perspective.

Fill out an application to be appointed to a Board or Commission, so you can be considered when an opening comes up. You can find the application on the City’s website at http://www.ucitymo.org/index.aspx?NID=29. Or you can contact City Clerk Joyce Pumm at jpumm@ucitymo.org or 314-505-8534.

You never know where it might lead.