Crestwood Park Board Meeting – April 23, 2025

This meeting of the Crestwood Park Board was called to order at 7:01 PM in the Aldermanic Chambers. Vice Chair Laquita Ogle presided; Chair Debra Hewing was excused. All board members were present except Chair Hewing. Note: The agenda, minutes, and transcript list the meeting date as April 15, 2025; the provided metadata specifies April 23, 2025. This summary follows the metadata date.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of February Minutes: Motion by Lisa Bozdeck, seconded by Dan Krewson. Passed by voice vote.
• Agenda Order Change: Motion to move Angie Weber’s conservation presentation to the top of the agenda (Bozdeck/Koscielski). Passed.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comments were offered.

Discussion Items

• Conservation Presentation (Angie Weber, Ecological Restoration Contractor):

  • Back to Nature Program at Crestwood Park: Initiated in 2022, funded by a three‐year, $75,000 grant from the Missouri Department of Conservation ($50,000 received to date). Partners: City of Crestwood, MDC, Forest Relief of Missouri, Beautify Crestwood, and Open Space STL.
  • Seven acres of natural habitat are being created. Work includes invasive species removal (primarily bush honeysuckle), tree planting, and establishing prairie and woodland.
  • Volunteer effort: 19 events since 2022, 287 volunteers, 825 hours of service, valued at $12,375 (MDC rate of $15/hour).
  • Contractor Selection: After an RFP, Compass Native Landscape is recommended for a three‑year, $76,000 scope of work to tackle heavy invasive species and install prairie seeding (25+ species, 4–5 ft height) and tree planting. Proposal to be presented to the Board of Aldermen.
  • City Hall Garden: $7,000 project (plant cost ~$4,000; design consultant Scott Woodbury volunteering additional time). 64 species, 45 native. Volunteers needed May 5–8 (10 am–3 pm). Maintenance by Beautify Crestwood.

• Aldermanic Report (Alderman John Sebben):

  • Unified Crestwood Clause pending 501(c)3 approval; new businesses along Watson Road (Dunkin’ Donuts, Lighthouse Christian Church, Turkish American Center); purchase of flood‑prone properties on Sanders Drive for park expansion; traffic calming trial (mini roundabout) on Leggett; Crestwood Park playground opening soon; new QT and coffee shop at former mall site; election results (incumbents unopposed, Ward 4 winner Mike Allwood).

• Staff Report (Director Eilien Ramirez):

  • Whitecliff Bridge: Scheduled to open April 28, weather permitting.
  • Crestwood Park Playground: Equipment installed; surfacing to begin next day (weather dependent); inspection and ribbon cutting targeted for first week of May. Security measures (signs, trail cameras) in place to prevent unauthorized use.
  • Quarry Restroom: State approval received; production expected mid‑June; contractor ready for installation. Goal to meet June grant deadline.
  • Community Center: Bids under budget; contractor to be recommended to Board of Aldermen. Groundbreaking ceremony May 23 at 4 pm, preceding Splashtacular event.
  • Events: Puzzle Palooza (18 teams); Easter egg hunt (185 children). Kids’ triathlon rescheduled to June 29 with sponsor (Midwest Pool Management); new course design. New communications manager AJ McNaughton hired.
  • Facility Updates: Tennis/pickleball/basketball court repairs planned for fall; new netting system at Whitecliff Tennis Court (one court per year, $10,000/court).
  • Sculpture on the Move: New flower sculpture arriving in May; blue heron sculpture installed at the quarry.

• Community Center Naming:

  • Over 120 public suggestions were narrowed to 20–30 finalists. The mayor asked staff to vote, producing a short list. Board members gave their top two picks. The most frequent choices were The Cliffs and Whitecliff Community Center. Some members advocated keeping “Whitecliff” due to name recognition. Staff will convey all suggestions to the mayor for final decision. The name must fit on a landscape wall and above the doors.

• Recreation Software:

  • After an RFP, Kaizen was selected over competitors (including CivicRec, ActiveNet, RecTrack). Kaizen offers a modern, user‑friendly system with integrated credit card processing, custom website integration, and dedicated support.
  • Pricing: 5% of total city recreation revenue (estimated $45,000 based on last year) vs. current $14,000. The city currently spends ~$40,000 on credit card processing; Kaizen’s 5% fee replaces that cost. A separate credit card processing fee (2–3% typical) would also apply.
  • Discussion centered on whether to pass the 5% fee to consumers as a convenience fee or absorb it into program fees. The board expressed concern about adding extra charges to customers.
  • Motion (Dan Krewson/Brian Koscielski): Fold the entire 5% fee into program fees (i.e., embed the cost, no separate convenience fee). The credit card processing fee will be passed directly to the consumer. Motion passed by voice vote.

Key Outcomes

• Conservation contractor Compass Native Landscape recommended to the Board of Aldermen for a $76,000 contract; city hall garden volunteer planting scheduled May 5–8.
• Whitecliff Bridge to open April 28; Crestwood Park playground surfacing imminent; groundbreaking for Community Center on May 23.
• Community Center naming short list (The Cliffs, Whitecliff Community Center) submitted to mayor for final decision.
• Recreation software: Kaizen approved; 5% fee to be folded into program costs, credit card fee passed to consumer.
• Meeting adjourned at 8:26 PM. Next meeting: June 17, 2025 at 7 PM.