[R.O. 2011 Charter Art. XI § 87]
The city may establish and improve public highways of every
character and parts thereof by grading, regrading, paving, repaving,
macadamizing, surfacing, resurfacing, constructing, reconstructing,
oiling, sprinkling, curbing, guttering or repairing the same, constructing
or repairing sidewalks thereon, or by sodding the same, or planting
and caring for trees and shrubbery on or along the same, or by constructing
and maintaining bridges, viaducts, subways, culverts, drains, sewers
on or along any highway or right of way therefor; and may acquire,
construct, repair, and maintain sewers, drains and all appurtenances
thereto; improve watercourses and the banks thereof and divert and
change the channels of the same; and acquire, construct, repair and
maintain all other public improvements within the city. Such public
improvements may be paid for in whole or in part out of the general
funds, or out of a revolving improvement fund herein authorized, or
out of the proceeds of bonds, or in whole or in part out of special
assessments on benefited property, or by special tax bills evidencing
such assessments. When not otherwise limited by law, the powers enumerated
herein may be exercised by the city outside of the city limits for
the benefit of the city and its inhabitants.
[R.O. 2011 Charter Art. XI § 88]
All ordinances and contracts for public improvements authorized
to be done shall specify how the same are to be paid for, and in case
payment is to be made in whole or in part to the contractor in special
tax bills or other evidence of special assessments, the city shall
in no event be liable for or on account of the work to be so paid
for.
[R.O. 2011 Charter Art. XI § 89]
All public improvements constructed or made at the expense of
the city, including all work to be paid for by special tax bills or
special assessments, shall be let by contract to the lowest responsible
bidder; provided, however, that this shall not be so construed as
to prevent the council from providing that any such work may be done
by the city's own departments and employees when no satisfactory
bid is received therefor or when deemed advisable by the city manager.
[R.O. 2011 Charter Art. XI § 90; Ord. No. 4389, § 3]
All proceedings to make any public improvements which are to
result in a special tax billing against the owner of real property
(except emergency work or repairs requiring prompt attention, and
ordinary maintenance work, or involving an expenditure of less than
two thousand five hundred dollars) shall be begun by the adoption
of a resolution by the council declaring the necessity of such improvement,
stating the nature thereof and the method of payment therefore. When
the same is to be paid for in special tax bills or other evidence
of assessments upon real property, or out of the revolving fund as
herein provided, to be reimbursed by collection of such assessments,
the resolution shall state the proposed method of making assessments
to pay therefor. The resolution shall also state the estimate of the
probable cost of such improvement, but any error or inaccuracy in
such estimate as compared with the actual cost of the work as finally
determined shall not affect the validity of the proceedings or of
any assessments made or tax bills issued to pay for such work.
[R.O. 2011 Charter Art. XI § 91]
Upon the adoption of such resolution the council shall fix a
date for a public hearing in respect to such improvement not less
than ten nor more than thirty days thereafter, at which all persons
interested in such improvement may be heard. After such hearing the
council may determine that it is or is not in the public interest
that such improvement or any part thereof be made.
[R.O. 2011 Charter Art. XI § 92]
After such hearing, if the council determines to proceed with
such improvement or any part thereof, the city manager shall cause
plans and specifications for the proposed improvement to be prepared
by the proper officer and submitted to the council for approval. Such
plans and specifications shall not limit the materials to be used
to those of any particular producer or manufacturer but shall be so
arranged as to permit materials and processes to enter into competition.
[R.O. 2011 Charter Art. XI § 93]
When work is to be done by contract, the city shall advertise
for bids therefor upon such notice as may be prescribed by ordinance.
Any and all bids may be rejected. Except for such right of rejection,
the city manager shall let the contract to the lowest responsible
bidder and shall cause the contract to be formally executed by the
contractor and by the city manager on behalf of the city. Such contract
before it becomes binding and effective shall be confirmed by an ordinance
of the council.
[R.O. 2011 Charter Art. XI § 94]
The ordinance authorizing the making of any public improvements
shall prescribe the manner in which payment for the same shall be
made. Such payment may be either in whole or in part by the city,
or either in whole or in part by special tax bills issued to the contractor,
or by assessment of special taxes against private property. Whenever
any portion of the cost of an improvement is to be met by special
tax bills or assessments, the ordinance shall specify the portion
thereof and set forth the boundaries of the district within which
private property is to be assessed. Special assessments may be made
and collected by the city as other taxes on real estate, or special
tax bills may be issued to the contractor. Any such tax bills may
be purchased by the city from the contractor out of any funds available
for such purpose.
[R.O. 2011 Charter Art. XI § 95]
Upon the completion of any public work, the payment for which
is to be made by special tax bills, the council shall by ordinance
direct the issuance of said tax bills. When said ordinance is approved,
the tax bills authorized thereby shall become a first lien upon the
property charged therewith; provided, however, there shall be no priority
between special tax bills issued under the Charter, regardless of
the date of such bills. They shall be payable to the party entitled
thereto either at the office of the director of finance or at some
bank or trust company in St. Louis or St. Louis County, Missouri,
at the option of the party so entitled. They shall be promptly registered
in the office of the director of finance and delivered to the person
entitled. They shall be prima facie evidence of what they contain
and of their own validity, and no mere informality or clerical mistake
in any of the proceedings shall be a defense thereto. Such tax bills
shall mature at such times and bear such rate of interest as may be
prescribed by the ordinance directing the issuance thereof, and at
the request of the property owner may be made payable in annual installments,
not exceeding ten.
[R.O. 2011 Charter Art. XI § 96]
The city by ordinance recommended by the city manager may from
time to time make further provision, not inconsistent herewith, for
special assessments, the issuance of special tax bills, the collection
thereof, and all matters incidental thereto.
[Ord. No. 7007, Prop. B, passed at election on 4-5-2016]
The following land and structures, to the extent now or hereafter owned by the City or any agency or instrumentality of the City, shall not be sold, leased, given away or otherwise disposed of unless such sale, lease, disposal or gift be approved by a majority of the qualified electors voting on an ordinance to be submitted by the Council in the manner prescribed in Article XII, Section 122 of this Charter: (a) the land and buildings on the site described in the general warranty deed of May 15, 1930, deed book 1088, page 113, including City Hall at 6801 Delmar Boulevard, the Annex commonly known as the Police Station and Old Firehouse, and the Old Public Library at 630 Trinity Avenue; (b) the University City Public Library at 6701 Delmar Boulevard and the land described in the general warranty deed of June 20, 1968, deed book 6333, page 2313; (c) the Sutter-Meyer house at 6826 Chamberlain Court and the site described in the general warranty deed of October 22, 2003, deed book 15429, page 3043; (d) The Gates of Opportunity, commonly known as the Lion Gates monument on the public right-of-way near Delmar Boulevard and Trinity Avenue.
[1]
Editor’s Note — Former § 97 was repealed
by Ord. No. 4398.
[R.O. 2011 Charter Art. XI § 98; Ord. No. 5738, Prop. No. 19, 4-3-1990]
Any real estate, now or hereafter owned by the city or any agency
or instrumentality of the city, which is included in the land now
designated as a public park or recreational facility in Ordinance
No. 5737, and any real estate which may be acquired by purchase, gift
or otherwise and designated by the city council for use as a public
park or recreational facility, shall not be sold or otherwise disposed
of, and shall remain unimproved or be used only as a public park or
recreational facility, unless a sale, disposal, or change in use is
approved by a majority of the qualified electors voting thereon at
an election called pursuant to an ordinance duly adopted by the council.
As used in this section the term "public park or recreational facility"
includes, without limitation, nature study areas, gardens, playgrounds,
golf courses and all areas accommodating activities customarily associated
with park usage or outdoor recreation and the activities in the locations
specifically designated in Ordinance No. 5737.
[1]
Editor’s Note — Former § 99 was repealed
by Ord. No. 4389.
[R.O. 2011 Charter Art. XI § 100]
When any public work or improvement to be paid for in whole
or in part by special assessment is completed, the city manager shall
cause the entire cost and expense thereof to be computed, and the
council shall levy and assess such cost and expense or the part to
be paid by special assessment as a special tax, in accordance with
the requirements of this article.
[R.O. 2011 Charter Art. XI § 101; Ord. No. 5739, Prop. No. 20, 4-3-1990]
Any real estate, now or hereafter owned by the city or any agency
or instrumentality of the city, which is (a) unimproved and greater
than one acre in size, or (b) principally used or held out for use
as a public park or recreational facility, shall not be sold or otherwise
disposed of, and shall remain unimproved or be used only as a public
park or recreational facility, unless a sale, disposal, or change
in use is approved by four-sevenths of the qualified electors voting
thereon at an election called pursuant to an ordinance duly adopted
by the council. As used in this section, the term "public park or
recreational facility" includes, without limitation, nature study
areas, gardens, playgrounds, golf courses, and all areas accommodating
activities customarily associated with park usage or outdoor recreation.
[R.O. 2011 Charter Art. XI § 102; Ord. No. 4389, § 3]
There is hereby created a fund to be known as the "revolving
public improvement fund". Said fund may be established and maintained
from the following sources:
(1)
Appropriations from the general funds when available,
(2)
The proceeds from bond issues as provided in this Charter,
(3)
Collections of special assessments or special tax bills and any interest
thereon levied or issued for public work or condemnation of land theretofore
paid for out of said "revolving public improvement fund",
(4)
The proceeds from the sale of local improvement certificates or sale
of special tax bills,
(5)
Any other source permitted by law and provided by ordinance.
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Whenever the council shall authorize the cost of any public
improvement or the purchase of any tax bills issued for any public
improvement to be paid out of the "revolving public improvement fund",
any special assessment and interest thereon that may be levied and
collected on account of such improvement or the proceeds from the
collection of any such tax bills and interest thereon shall be credited
to and paid into said fund. Net revenue in excess of reserves shall
be paid to the "general revenue fund".
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[R.O. 2011 Charter Art. XI § 103]
Any property owned by the county or any other municipality located
within any benefit district established by the council shall be liable
for special assessments made or tax bills issued against such property
as private property in such district.
