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The public will have the opportunity to vote on the objectives at a meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 2, at Budget Lodging.
Some of the goals include outlining what citizens want in parks and recreation, as well as aesthetic concerns for city homes and businesses.
Aesthetics
The city has four aesthetic goals. They are:
Goal 1: Develop an overall coordinated program of visual enhancement throughout the city.
The objectives under Goal 1 are:
* Conduct two citywide cleanup weeks per year.
* Aggressively pursue strong code enforcement efforts to keep weeds, derelict vehicles and other negative aesthetic images controlled.
* Establish a street tree program along the major thoroughfares of the city.
* Develop a standardized street and parking lot lighting program considering both fixture design and illumination type.
* Work with the utility companies to locate overhead utility lines underground to aid in both aesthetics and more reliable service.
* Work to minimize off-premise signage along the major highway corridors. * Continue to promote and expand the Community Pride program.
Goal 2: Pursue a maintenance and enforcement program which focuses on improving the appearance of St. Clair.
The objectives under Goal 2 are:
* Aggressively enforce the city's existing property maintenance code.
* Aggressively conduct street sweeping throughout the city, especially on major roadways.
* Design and maintain government and civic facilities to serve as examples to the development community of the city's commitment to high quality.
* Coordinate with business owners the establishment of a facade easement program to improve the exterior of buildings throughout the city.
* Pursue grant funding to assist homeowners with property improvements.
Goal 3: Create building and site development review which includes aesthetic considerations.
The objectives under Goal 3 are:
* Modify existing zoning and subdivision regulations to establish a methodology for architectural review as part of the city's site plan review criteria for commercial and industrial developments.
* Investigate the possibility of establishing design guidelines for various business areas of the city.
Goal 4: Review building materials and architectural styles to determine their applicability within the community.
* Consider a restriction on the construction of "plain metal" buildings in the community.
* Coordinate building materials and architectural design to create a complementary appearance for commercial and industrial buildings constructed in the city of St. Clair.
Parks, Recreation
There are four goals under parks, recreation and open space.
Goal 1: Enhance the existing, and create new, opportunities for recreational programs/services for citizens of the area.
The objectives under Goal 1 are:
* Develop a matrix of existing recreational programs/services offered throughout the city of St. Clair by both public and private sectors and place this information on the city's Web site.
* Determine where gaps exist in these recreation programs/services and work on a strategy to meet those unfulfilled needs.
* Conduct an annual assessment/survey of citizen interest in various recreational pursuits and make appropriate adjustments in the city's programming to respond to those expressed needs.
Goal 2: Explore construction of a new pool and/or recreation center for the residents of St. Clair.
The objectives under Goal 2 are:
* Discuss with school district officials, and the YMCA, the interest in cooperating on construction of a new pool and/or recreation center.
* Conduct a brief survey asking what facilities users would want in a recreation center, identify a possible location and whether they favor an indoor or outdoor pool.
* Have city officials visit other recreational centers in the St. Louis Metropolitan Area to gain a better understanding about how such facilities are constructed and operated.
* Determine an approach(es), such as TIF/GO bonds, to fund such a facility. * Educate the public about the costs associated with both the construction and operation of a pool and/or recreation center.
Goal 3: Investigate the need for additional open space throughout the community.
The objectives under Goal 3 are:
* Identify open space resources in the community.
* Identify land areas on the Future Land Use map to be set aside for future open space.
* Review the current zoning and subdivision regulations to determine whether the opportunity exists to create more open space.
* Work with the development community to create open space as part of their projects and integrate landscaped public spaces within larger projects.
* Investigate opportunities to expand/acquire additional land area around the city's existing parks.
* Identify special open space resources such as wetlands, stream corridors, and floodway areas and determine how to protect these resources.
Goal 4: Provide a superior system of park facilities which serve neighborhood and community needs.
The objectives under Goal 4 are:
* Develop a priority listing of needs to be met in the city's existing parks, and work on a strategy to address those needs.
* Investigate the establishment of an enhanced funding source to respond to these needs.
* Look for opportunities to expand park facilities in the city of St. Clair.
* Cooperate with the area school districts, sports leagues and others offering parks and recreation facilities in working on ways to improve their facilities for the benefit of the community.
* Work on efforts to maintain the status of St. Clair as a Tree City USA.
