Readers: Consolidated Government Not Too Extreme To Consider

The St. Louis region is highly fractured — lots of units of government. From numerous counties in two states you have many municipalities within each. Plus school districts, sewer districts, etc.

We can look to Indianapolis’ 1969 Unigov for one example:

Unigov was neither a complete consolidation nor a perfect remedy. For example, it did not combine fire or police departments (the Marion County Sheriff and Indianapolis Police Departments merged in 2005), and it left intact the cities of Lawrence, Beech Grove, Speedway and Southport. By far the most notable omission was the schools.

The Indianapolis Public Schools Board had preferred a unified school district, but political reality of the time would not allow it. The IPS schools were predominantly black, the township schools mostly white. “To have included schools in Unigov would have raised the specter of racial integration . and would have meant instant death for the plan,” the Rev. Landrum Shields, IPS school board president, acknowledged at the time. (Fort Wayne News-Sentinel)

Louisville Metro is another example of pros & cons. Since passing in 2000, some are still unhappy.

More than half the readers in the recent non-scientic Sunday Poll agree the consolidated government idea isn’t too extreme to consider:

Q: Agree or disagree: Agreements between St. Louis City & County or adding the city as one of many munis might be ok, but one big city-county is too extreme.

• Strongly agree 6 [13.95%]
• Agree 5 [11.63%]
• Somewhat agree 5 [11.63%]
• Neither agree or disagree 0 [0%]
• Somewhat disagree 0 [0%]
• Disagree 13 [30.23%]
• Strongly disagree 14 [32.56%]
• Unsure/No Answer 0 [0%]

Resistance to any change will likely be high.

— Steve Patterson

Design: Vehicle Headlights

As I indicated a few weeks ago when talking about the use of headlines, I promised future posts on the design of automotive lighting — headlights & taillights. No, this isn’t becoming an auto blog. Vehicles are a fact of life in urban areas. In fact, pedestrian deaths are on the increase. From March:

It’s the oldest and most basic form of transportation — walking — and more people are doing more of it to get fit or stay healthy. But there’s new evidence today that even walking across the street is getting more dangerous.

A report released today by the Governors Highway Safety Association shows that the number of pedestrians killed in traffic jumped 11 percent last year, to nearly 6,000. That’s the biggest single-year increase in pedestrian fatalities ever, and the highest number in more than two decades.

“It is alarming,” says GHSA executive director Jonathan Adkins, “and it’s counterintuitive.” (NPR)

In October 2015 the death rate was becoming a local issue, see: Rising number of pedestrian deaths has St. Louis officials concerned. Distracted driving and distracted pedestrians, of course, are partly to blame. A year ago the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) began testing vehicle headlights:

The ability to see the road ahead, along with any pedestrians, bicyclists or obstacles, is an obvious essential for drivers. However, government standards for headlights, based on laboratory tests, allow huge variation in the amount of illumination that headlights provide in actual on-road driving. With about half of traffic deaths occurring either in the dark or in dawn or dusk conditions, improved headlights have the potential to bring about substantial reductions in fatalities.

Recent advances in headlight technology make it a good time to focus on the issue. In many vehicles, high-intensity discharge (HID) or LED lamps have replaced halogen ones. Curve-adaptive headlights, which swivel according to steering input, are also becoming more widespread. (IIHS)

In the initial test only the Toyota Prius V got a good rating — out of 31 vehicles tested. Lighting didn’t improve with the price of the car.

By October 2016 IIHS released results of their truck headlight test:

Out of 11 pickup trucks (and 23 possible headlight combinations) tested, the Honda Ridgeline was the only one to earn a “Good” rating, the highest mark possible. One truck earned an “Acceptable” rating, a few were deemed “Marginal,” and a majority scored a “Poor” ratings.

As previously reported, IIHS headlight testing includes high- and low-beam performance on straight roads and curves. The tests also include glare toward oncoming traffic.

The IIHS tested all possible headlight combinations, which include halogen, high-intensity discharge (HID) lamps, and LEDs. That said, the only truck to receive the institute’s highest mark was the Honda Ridgeline equipped with LED low-beam headlights–Ridgeline trucks with halogen units earned a “Poor” rating. (Motor Trend)

Regulation is important, but it must change and keep up. From last month:

Outdated federal rules have blocked automakers from introducing adaptive beam headlamps that automatically adjust to oncoming traffic to reduce glare and help drivers see better, even though the technology is legal and available in Europe and Japan. At the same time, sleek styling and manufacturing mistakes on currently available systems has led to poor performance on the road, including excessive glare and insufficient light on the pavement.

“Regulators have not done a lot to help this through inaction,” said Greg Brannon, director of automotive engineering at national motor club AAA. “There’s technology available today that could potentially reduce some fatalities, and it would be simply a matter of regulation change to allow that in the U.S.”

Japanese automaker Toyota asked the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in 2013 to allow adaptive beam technology, which is already widely used in Europe and Japan, particularly in luxury vehicles. The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, which represents major automakers on Washington policy issues, backed the petition.But four years later, NHTSA hasn’t made a decision. (USA Today)

Here are some examples of how headlights have changed over the years.

Later cars were easier to replace the bulb. Still, US headlights differ from models sold in other countries.  They get glass, we get plastics.

Most modern headlight lenses are made of clear and nearly unbreakable polycarbonate plastic or a similar material. The lenses are treated at the factory with a special coating that protects them from the ultraviolet (UV) rays in sunlight, vehicle exhaust fumes and other environmental contaminants. In fact, to obtain government approval, plastic headlight assemblies must pass a three-year U.S. Department of Transportation durability test.

In normal use, the life of a headlight’s protective coating depends on the level of exposure to the hazards mentioned above – especially the amount and intensity of sunlight. AAA inspected a representative sample of used vehicles and determined that five years is the approximate timeframe in which visible deterioration of headlight lenses begins to appear. (AAA)

However, the quality/quantity of light is improving. From last week:

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reported Tuesday that only two of the U.S. auto industry’s 37 mid-size sport-utility vehicles offer headlight packages with “good” performance.

Safety advocates warn that poor headlight performance, including incorrectly aimed beams and excessive glare, endangers motorists and pedestrians.

IIHS, which has been gradually testing the hundreds of models sold in the U.S., concluded that 11 models offer “poor” headlights, 12 fall in the “marginal” category and 12 are “acceptable.” The organization ranked 2017 models based on the best-available headlight package on each vehicle.

By comparison, 12 of the 21 small SUV models tested by IIHS in 2016 delivered “poor” performance, while only four were “acceptable.” (USA Today)

I’ll save recent headlights, daytime running lights, and front turn signals for a future post.

— Steve Patterson

Sunday Poll: Would A Consolidation Of City & County Be Too Extreme Or The Perfect Solution?

In 1876 the City of St. Louis left St. Louis County, an act known as the Great Divorce. Four years later the city’s population was over 350k and growing rapidly. In the 140+ years since, a lot has changed in both the city & county. The two sides are open to discussing a reconciliation.

The St. Louis Mayor and St. Louis County Executive side-by-side was a signal, perhaps, of changing attitudes. The two are both now supportive of a group called Better Together.

Mayor Lyda Krewson has long been open to the idea of taking the separate entities, the city and county, and combining or merging them.

County Executive Steve Stenger says he was once skeptical of Better Together. He now says he’s willing to hear more.

“It doesn’t hurt to look. We can only benefit from the information and the data the study provides,”

Monday, Better Together released a study that says in the last five years, municipalities and fire districts around the region passed 100 new tax increases. (KMOV)

What a reconciliation could look like is still be researched, but it might be as simple as a few agreements to combine some services to a making the city & county one big consolidated government entity — eliminating all municipalities in St. Louis County. Lots of choices in between, as well as keeping the status quo are options as well.

Today’s poll seeks to find out the mood for the consolidated government option.

This poll will close at 8pm.

— Steve Patterson

St. Louis Board of Aldermen: Board Bills 62-75 (UPDATED)

There are 15 new bills to be introduced at the St. Louis Board of Aldermen today. Some further butcher the street grid, others related to development projects.

ON AGENDA FOR INTRODUCTION TODAY 6/16/17:

(Note: as of 7:30pm last night the pages with full bill language were not available). The following was updated at 7am on 6/22/17 — a few changes from the original agenda.  Looks like one bill was pulled so the last on the list was moved up so all wouldn’t need to be renumbered.

• B.B.#62 – Ogilvie –An ordinance recommended by the Board of Public Service to conditionally vacate above surface, surface and sub? surface rights for travel in the western 65 feet of the 15 foot wide east/west alley in City Block 4649?A as bounded by Eitman, Sulphur, Columbia and Clifton Park Terrace/ C. B. 4700 (aka Clifton Park).
• B.B.#63 – Coatar –An ordinance recommended by the Board of Public Service to conditionally vacate travel in the southern north/south alley in City Block 483?E as bounded by Hickory, Grattan, Park and Dolman.
• B.B.#64 – Martin –An ordinance recommended by the Board of Public Service to conditionally vacate travel in Primm Street from Reilly Avenue westwardly to a point in City Blocks 3126 and 3150.
• B.B.#64 – Muhammad –An ordinance approving a Redevelopment Plan for 4025 Shreve Ave.
• B.B.#65 – Bosley –An ordinance recommended by the Board of Public Service to conditionally vacate travel in the 20′ wide n/s alley in City Block 2485 beginning at Carter Ave. and extending southwardly to the northern line of the 20′ wide alley in City Block 2485 as bounded by Carter, Grand, Penrose and Obear.
• B.B.#66 – Kennedy/Muhammad –An Ordinance setting out regulations regarding the use of surveillance technology by the City, requiring the submission of Surveillance Program Plans and review by the Board of Aldermen before such plans can be put into practice; and containing a severability clause and an emergency clause.
• B.B.#67 – Ogilvie – An Ordinance designating a portion of the City as a redevelopment area known as the 6300 Clayton Avenue Redevelopment Area pursuant to the Real Property Tax Increment Allocation Redevelopment Act; adopting and approving a redevelopment plan, adopting and approving a redevelopment project with respect thereto; adopting tax increment financing within the redevelopment area; establishing the 6300 Clayton Avenue Special Allocation Fund; authorizing certain actions by City officials; and containing a severability clause.
• B.B.#68 – Ogilvie –An Ordinance authorizing the execution of a redevelopment agreement between The City and Hibernia Dogtown Development, Inc.; prescribing the form and details of said agreement; authorizing other related actions in connection with such agreement; and containing a severability clause.
• B.B.#69 – Ogilvie –An Ordinance recommended by the Board of Estimate and Apportionment authorizing and directing the issuance and delivery of not to exceed $3,800,000 plus issuance costs principal amount of tax increment revenue notes (6300 Clayton Avenue Redevelopment Project) Series 20__?A/B; prescribing the form and details of such notes and the covenants and agreements made by the City to facilitate and protect the payment thereof; prescribing other matters relating thereto, and containing a severability clause.
• B.B.#70 – Conway –An Ordinance designating a portion of The City as a redevelopment area known as the Municipal Courts Building Hotel Redevelopment Area pursuant to the Real Property Tax Increment Allocation Redevelopment Act; adopting and approving a redevelopment plan, adopting and approving a redevelopment project for the portion of the redevelopment area known as RPA 1; adopting tax increment financing within RPA 1; making findings with respect thereto; establishing the Municipal Courts Building Hotel RPA 1 Special Allocation Fund; authorizing certain actions by City officials; and containing a severability clause.
• B.B.#71 – Conway –An Ordinance authorizing the execution of a redevelopment agreement between The City and MCB Hotel Owner, LLC; prescribing the form and details of said agreement; authorizing other related actions in connection with such agreement; and containing a severability clause.
• B.B.#72 – Conway –An Ordinance recommended by the Board of Estimate and Apportionment authorizing and directing the issuance and delivery of tax increment revenue notes (Municipal Courts Building Hotel Redevelopment Project) Series 20__?A/B, of The City of St. Louis, Missouri, in the principal amount of not?to? exceed $9,870,000 plus issuance costs; prescribing the form and details of such notes and the covenants and agreements made by the City to facilitate and protect the payment thereof; prescribing other matters relating thereto, and containing a severability clause.
• B.B.#73 – Davis – An ordinance authorizing the honorary street name, Justine M. Petersen Pathway. Justine M. Petersen Pathway will begin at the intersection of N. Grand and Windsor Place and run west on Windsor Place to the intersection of N. Spring Avenue and Windsor Place.
• B.B.#74 – Kennedy –An ordinance approving a blighting study and redevelopment plan for Cook Ave. & Finney Ave. Scattered Sites Redevelopment Area; and containing a severability clause.
• B.B.#75 – Vaccaro – An ordinance approving a Redevelopment Plan for 3118 Watson Road.
• B.B.#76 – Muhammad –An ordinance approving a Redevelopment Plan for 4025 Shreve Ave.

The meeting begins at 10am, it can be watched online here. See list of all board bills for the 2017-2018 session.

— Steve Patterson

Readers: Remove Payroll Tax Exemption From Not-For-Profit Employers With More Than 20 Employees

Employers in the city pay a one-half of one percent payroll tax, but many have been exempted from this requirement. Ald Conway wants to end the exemptions for those with 21 or more employees:

BOARD BILL NO. 58 INTRODUCED BY ALDERMAN STEPHEN CONWAY An ordinance pertaining to the payroll expense tax, repealing, subject to voter approval, those exemptions from the tax in section nine of ordinance 60737 for religious and charitable organizations and institutions, not-for-profit civic, social, service or fraternal organizations, not-for-profit hospitals and not-for-profit educational institutions that employ more than twenty (20) employees; submitting to the qualified voters the question whether the exemptions to the payroll expense tax for religious and charitable organizations and institutions, not-for-profit civic, social, service or fraternal organizations, not-for-profit hospitals, and not-for profit educational institutions that employ more than twenty (20) employees shall be repealed and a payroll expense tax of one-half of one percent (0.5%) imposed; providing for the conducting of an election on such a question; providing, upon voters’ approval of such repeal of the exemptions, for the effective date for imposition of the payroll expense tax upon religious and charitable organizations and institutions, not-for-profit civic, social, service or fraternal organizations, not-for-profit hospitals, and not-for-profit educational institutions that employ more than twenty (20) employees; with an emergency clause.

If you look at the language in Board Bill 58 you’ll see it doesn’t mention any by name, just “religious and charitable organizations and institutions, not-for-profit civic, social, service or fraternal organizations, not-for-profit hospitals, and not-for profit educational institutions ” I’ve never been a fan of Ald Conway, but I agree with him on removing exemptions.

I’m not sure how 20 employees become his threshold. Why not 15 or 25? No threshold at all? Hopefully this will be discussed in the committee hearing on the bill. Ald Conway just happens to be Chair of the Ways & Means Committee. The committee meets at 9am this morning, but #58 isn’t listed on the event page.  Either it isn’t being considered or the website is out of space to list additional bills.

Committee members are:

• Stephen Conway, Chair
• Pam Boyd
• John Collins-Muhammad
• Marlene E Davis
• Carol Howard
• Samuel L Moore
• Beth Murphy
• Joseph Vaccaro

In the recent non-scientific Sunday Poll a majority of readers agreed these should no longer be exempt:

Q:  Agree or disagree: Large not-for-profit employers should remain exempt from a St. Louis payroll tax.

• Strongly agree 5 [16.67%]
• Agree 1 [3.33%]
• Somewhat agree 4 [13.33%]
• Neither agree or disagree 1 [3.33%]
• Somewhat disagree 3 [10%]
• Disagree 8 [26.67%]
• Strongly disagree 8 [26.67%]
• Unsure/No Answer 0 [0%]

If the Board of Aldermen approves this bill citizens would vote on removing the exemption. Just because a majority here favored removing the exemption doesn’t mean voters would do the same.

— Steve Patterson