Kirkwood

Kirkwood is a great place to live, where we have both small-town charm and a vibrant community life. The beautiful parks, walking and biking trails, and year-round activities. Our city’s tradition of community events, live music, and local festivals has something for all of us.

There are a variety of great restaurants, cafés, and local gathering spots that give Kirkwood its unique character. Kirkwood offers a lifestyle centered on connection, tradition, and quality of life.

Now, as every generation before us, it is our turn to provide oversight and protect all that we love about Kirkwood and continue to build for the future of all residents. Many citizens have poured their time and passion into creating a: Strategic Plan, A Master Plan for Downtown Kirkwood, Envision Kirkwood 2035, and a new Master Plan for Parks and Recreation (so new it has not been completely approved yet!). These documents are available on the Kirkwood City website.

I sat in on a Downtown Kirkwood Special Business District meeting this week, the dedicated passion from our business owners was evident as they work to make Kirkwood ‘better.’ They emulate what I have seen by the people who serve on our Boards and Commissions. Please consider volunteering on a Board or Commission.

Council Meetings

May 7, 2026 was the first Council meeting for the 2026 Council. Mayor Liz Gibbons, Deputy Mayor Mark McClain, and Councilmembers Paul Schaffer, Gina Jasetic, Justin Arnold and myself, three of us serving on the Council for the first time.

You can watch council meetings live, read minutes or watch recorded videos of these meetings. Minutes from both council meetings and work sessions are available once they are approved and listed on the same page.

Several council members are in favor of the work sessions being available online (which they are not yet), either live streamed or audio, and hopefully the change will be made soon.

Safe Streets for All

One of the topics discussed in our first work session meeting was speed limits on Manchester Road. Kirkwood has a Vision Zero and Safe Streets for All programs. The initiative aims to eliminate all traffic fatalities and serious injuries by 2042 through implementation of the Safe Systems Approach, which integrates safe design, equitable mobility, and data-driven decision-making. Speed limits are certainly one of the factors of accidents. Kirkwood City Council asked MoDOT to consider lowering the speed limit on Manchester Rd. to 35 mph, as it before entering and after leaving the city boundaries of Kirkwood.

Codes and Ordinances

I am currently researching Kirkwood codes and ordinances regarding the tearing down of homes in historic districts and the pickleball courts at Greenbriar.

A 160-year-old house in the historic district on N. Taylor was torn down two weeks age. Many residents across Kirkwood were disappointed the city was unable to stop this tear down. I’m looking into what both Kirkwood’s codes tell me, and how other cities and municipalities deal with these challenges.

By summary judgement (A summary judgment is a court ruling entered by a judge before a trial, deciding a case or specific issues in favor of one party without a full trial.) Circuit Court Judge Brian May, Division 1, said Greenbriar could use their courts after failing two sound studies of its pickleball courts (using St. Louis County Health Department guidelines) that determined the noise level was not safe for nearby residents. Kirkwood Cotu Council will decide if this judgement will be appealed.

Boards and Commissions

Sixteen people have recently been appointed to various Commissions and Boards, and there are still many positions open. Several people are working to create a comprehensive list of descriptions and time commitments for all boards and commissions, and that is not likely to be available for a while. Two specific committees that have openings are the Human Rights and Architecture. If you have any interest or want to know more, please give me a call or check out the web sites.

Council Meeting

In our first meeting, $396,000 for several different budgeted items were up for approval in the current fiscal year. The largest expenses were $88,000 for two police vehicles, almost $50,000 for 3 portable ventilators for the Fire Department, several IT costs, and the purchase of beverages for both the Community center and KPAC (Kirkwood Performing Arts Center). All these items were budgeted, and because the individual cost is over $15,000 in one contract, the City Council must approve the spending.

Mitchel Park

A refurbished ‘pocket park’ had its ribbon-cutting ceremony Saturday May 9. Located at 115 Mitchel Place, the park was modernized with a grant of over $500,000. There is a pump children can operate that puts water into a ‘creek’ with the opportunity to ‘dam’ the water in two different locations so they can see what happens with a flow of water. The play structure is new with a different assortment of climbing, balancing, and sliding opportunities.

Contact Me

My official email is lavenddj@kirkwoodmo.org. Please reach out to me with suggestions, concerns or if you just want me to know your 2 cents!

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Please join me at the swearing in ceremony for newly elected councilmembers on April 29, 2026 at 7pm in the Council Chambers on the second floor of Kirkwood City Hall, 139 S. Kirkwood Rd, Kirkwood, 63122. This is a public event and you are welcome to attend.

Selection of a New Chief Operating Officer

New Councilmembers were included in the interview process last week for the selection of a new Chief Administrator Officer (CAO). I interviewed the four finalists sent to us from the search firm Colin Baenziger and Associates. I did weigh in on the final selection.

The election results indicate voters want Kirkwood to move in a direction of inclusion, attainability, fiscal responsibility, and better communication with residents. I will report regularly on council meetings and work sessions as well as what I learn about the city’s inner-workings.

Get Involved

Over the years many Kirkwood citizens have volunteered hundred of hours in service to our community on boards or commissions, volunteered in our parks, gardens and at the Kirkwood Performing Arts Center (KPAC), to mention a few. As Kirkwood starts with new councilmembers, and a new CAO, maybe it’s time for you bring your talents to the city as well.

One way you can participate is by joining your neighbors in serving on a board or commission. As a first step you may want to attend their meetings to understand what the issues are that come before each board and commission.

Boards and Commissions in Kirkwood:

· Architectural Review Board-

· Arts Commission+

· Aquatic Advisory Council

· Board of Adjustment+

· Citizens’ Finance Committee

· Civilian Pension Board

· Greentree Festival Committee

· Human Rights Commission+

· Industrial Development Authority

· Landmarks Commission+

· Library Board

· Local Housing Authority

· Park Board+

· Planning & Zoning Commission+

· Police Officers and Firefighters Pension Board

· Urban Forestry Commission

· Youth Advisory Commission

Please submit your name for consideration on a board or commission.

City Council Meetings

Kirkwood City Council Meetings are held the first and third Thursday of the month at 7 pm in Kirkwood City Hall Council chambers.

Another way you can participate is to attend City Council Meetings sessions. You may speak at council meetings to let the Councilmembers know your thoughts on what is happening in Kirkwood.

Kirkwood City Council Work sessions are held the first and third Thursday of the month. Work sessions are at 5 pm in the first floor conference center. The second Thursday of the month work session starts at 4:30 pm in the same location.

These meetings, and more, can be found on the Kirkwood web site for calendar events.

The agendas and work packets (when appropriate) for council discussions and other meetings can be found attached to the listing for the meeting.

I am looking forward to serving you in the capacity of Kirkwood City Councilmember. It is a new learning experience for me and I will be proverbially ‘drinking from a firehose’ for a while. Please reach out to me by email, text or phone. (Instant messaging on Facebook is not a good method to contact me, I often go weeks without looking at the messages.)

Thank you all again for the opportunity to serve in this new capacity.

Deb

Deblavender5@gmail.com

314-749-7777

Hope you have a great day celebrating, whether it is corned beef and cabbage, green beer, green clothing or wishing someone to have the ‘Luck of the Irish’!

We are getting closer to the Municipal Elections. Candidates are working hard, which you can see by the number of yards signs that continue to pop up all over town. Thank you to all of you who generously agreed to have one of my yard signs in your yard.

Welcome to those of you who are receiving my newsletter for the first time. If you don’t want to receive this newsletter, please click on unsubscribe at the bottom of this page. This newsletter is dedicated to topics regarding the City of Kirkwood. It is my intent to email a monthly Kirkwood Newsletter to share all the ‘goings-on’.

This newsletter will always be free, with no special additions provided by subscribing. I am using a Substack format because it allows me to send emails without paying a fee for the service.

KIRKWOOD BUDGET

In the last month our Acting Chief Administrator Officer (CAO) has been working diligently with his staff to postpone capitol expenses and cut costs in the new budget that goes into effect April 1, 2026. The city is closing out the last two weeks of the current fiscal year with a decrease of $12 M from reserves to pay for upgrades to Kirkwood’s electric grid over the past several years. Unfortunately, through inventive accounting measures, that were not as transparent as they should have been, the budget was overspent resulting in a significant loss of reserve funds. The CAO became aware of the situation when bills came due at the end of last year’s fiscal year. He alerted all current city council members who have stated they were unaware of the overspending. Late last fall citizens learned of the resignations of the Director of Electric and the CAO.

Since then, the Acting CAO has given a full accounting of all the electric spending, putting measures in place to make sure the overspending cannot be repeated and has worked with Kirkwood’s staff to cut costs in the budget.

Over the past month Kirkwood City Council has voted to approve pursuing certificates of participation to borrow up to $8 M to renovate the A-Mrazic Building on Leffingwell that Kirkwood bought to be the new home to many of our city employees.

Certificates of Participation (COPs) are considered a comparable, alternative method for municipalities to borrow money, often used when traditional General Obligation (GO) bonds require voter approval. While both provide tax-exempt income for investors and fund public projects, COPs are technically lease-financing agreements, not debt, allowing them to bypass voter approval.

WATER COMMITTEE

The Water Committee established to give the full City Council a report of the positive and/or negative impacts of selling our water department, gave their report to the City Council at last week’s City Council Work Session. The report centered around the future costs of our individual water bills and the additional revenue Kirkwood would need to make repairs to our 120 year old water systems.

There was no conclusion made by the full council at the end of the work session after receiving the committee’s report.

SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL SESSION

In a special City Council Session this past Thursday, March 12, several items specific to the FY27 budget were voted for:

Bill 11122, adopting a revised City of Kirkwood Classification and Pay Plan, effective April 1, 2026. This passed with a 6-0 vote (Councilperson Rheinnecker was absent for all votes)

Resolution 14-2026, amending and readopting the City of Kirkwood City Fee Schedules pertaining to the Sanitation Department – This is a 10% increase in sanitation fees and passed 6-0.

Resolution 15-2026, amending and re-adopting the City of Kirkwood City Fee Schedules pertaining to the Water Department – This is a 5% increase in water fees and passed 4-2. (Councilpersons Jaksetic and Schafer were a no)

Resolution 16-2026, authorizing the sale of certain real property located at 2377 Marshall Road, Kirkwood, Missouri 63122 to Kirkwood United Soccer Club for the amount of $175,000 – This passed 6-0.

Bill 1120 adopting the City Operating and Capital Budgets, operating budget $123,554,765, capital budget $22,680,955, interfund loans %782,350 and $1.363.235 for previous approved incomplete projects. This bill passed the first reading on a voice vote.

CANDIDATE FORUM

With the municipal elections approaching the Kirkwood Social Justice Coalition held a City Council Candidate Forum last Tuesday night. Kirkwood City Council makes decisions that affect zoning, infill housing, water runoff, safe streets, decisions regarding the pool, community center, KPAC and more. These local decision affect our daily lives. Kirkwood has three positions open and four candidates on the ballot. Learn who the candidates are and make a plan to vote. Thank you, Kirkwood Social Justice Coalition for arranging the forum. I appreciate your service to our community.

If you were not able to attend, please watch the video of the event.

The St. Louis League of Women have a voter guide available on line to see who is on your ballot this year.

APRIL 7, 2026 - Election Day

Democracy is made stronger when all voices are heard, especially at the local level. The election is three weeks away, PLEASE MAKE A PLAN TO VOTE.
Absentee voting, both by mail and in-person, started February 24, 2026. In person absentee can be done at the St. Louis County Board of Election at 725 NW Plz Dr, St Ann, 63074, from 8 am until 4:30 pm.

The last day to request an absentee ballot from St. Louis County Board of Elections is March 25. Early (no-excuse) voting starts Tuesday, March 24, 2026, two weeks before Election Day.

The Board of Elections will open six early voting (no excuse voting) locations on March 31, 2026.

Early Sites (listed below) are open Monday through Friday from 8:00 am-4:30 pm, March 31 - April 6.They are open on Saturday, April 4 from 9:00 am – 1:00 pm.

The last day to vote early in person is April 6 at any of these six locations.

St. Louis County Board of Elections located at 725 NW Plz Dr, St Ann, MO 63074

UMSL Millennium Student Center, 17 Arnold Grobman Dr. 63121

Mid County Branch Library, 7821 Maryland Ave, 63105

Daniel Boon Branch Library, 300 Clarkson Rd, 63011

Grand Glaize Branch Library, 1010 Meramec Station Rd, 63021

St. Johns UCC Mehlville, 11333 St. Johns Church Rd, 63123

On election Day April 7, 2026, all St. Louis County voters can vote at any polling location across the St. Louis County. The specific polling locations open in Kirkwood are:

Green Tree Community Church,

Keysor Elementary School,

Kirkwood Baptist Church,

Kirkwood Community Center,

Meramec Community College,

Tillman Elementary School,

Trinity Lutheran Church.

If you don’t want to receive this newsletter, please click on unsubscribe at the bottom of this page.

This newsletter will always be free, with no special additions received by subscribing. I am using a Substack format because it allows me to send emails without paying a fee for the service. If you want to contribute, feel free to do so with my thanks — subscriptions are not necessary to continue to receive the newsletter.

Subscribe now

(If you don’t want this newsletter, scroll to the bottom and click Unsubscribe.)

I started to run for Kirkwood City Council in September of 2025 and have been attending many different meetings since then:

• City Council meetings

• City Council Work sessions

• Citizen Finance Committee meetings

• Park Board meetings

• Landmarks meetings

• Planning and Zoning meetings

I have also been doing a fair amount of research. I

• Reviewed the budget presented for the next fiscal year, which starts April 1, 2026

• Read the newest water report

• Looked at electrical spending

• Read Kirkwood Vision Zero

• Read Envision Kirkwood 2035

• Read the Kirkwood Master Plan manual

I have met with many of you and listened to your thoughts and ideas for Kirkwood going forward. Obviously there is a lot to learn.

This past Thursday night at a City Council work session, updated budget numbers were presented to the Council. Notwithstanding the $13M expenditure from Kirkwood Electric, the city is having significant financial challenges. Expenses are up and revenue is not growing fast enough to cover the increasing expenses. Capitol purchases and selected projects will be delayed a year or two in order to allow time for Kirkwood to recover from its current financial position. It will take many years to obtain financial equilibrium again.

As you all know utilities rates have gone up substantially these past several years. For both water and electric, we are now paying slightly higher rates than Ameren and American Water (to be fair for a long time we were below the amount charged by these utilities). Raising utilities has been one raise to raise money without coming to citizens for a vote.

Kirkwood, like many municipalities, has grown faster than its financial reserves can support. As other cities, we have not adequately planned for ongoing repair and replacement of our facilities and infrastructure. Our new KPAC (Kirkwood Performing Arts Center) was built five years ago. There are no dedicated reserve funds planned to pay for the maintenance that will be required in five, ten, or twenty years.

Even with my experience with MO state budget, Kirkwood’s budget structure makes it hard to get an overall picture of the state of Kirkwood’s finances. We have about $64 million in outstanding debt. We will need to add more debt to renovate the new public works building that the city purchased 3 years ago and perhaps replace water mains, whose regular maintenance has been inconsistent for decades.

Other challenges I am finding are when meetings are scheduled and what is the agenda. The city abides by Missouri’s sunshine law. The city posts a meeting on paper 24 hours before a meeting is held on the bulletin board just inside Kirkwood City Hall. Meetings are frequently posted on the City of Kirkwood’s website, but not all of them. Some weeks I look at the Kirkwood City web site four to six times to check on meeting postings, the agenda, the time, and location. In today’s world more people could be informed with social media posting or text message notifications. Software and tools are available to meet the communication needs of the day and would also streamline our employees’ jobs as they work hard to provide services for our city.

Many Kirkwoodians have come together and volunteered their time to a create a master plan, a park master plan, an Envision 2035 plan, a housing plan, and to serve on committees and commissions to offer direction and guidance to the city administrator and elected officials. Unfortunately, these suggestions and ideas do not seem to be incorporated into results or operational changes. For the last decade, it is common to hear citizens voicing concern over in-fill housing, water run-off, and flooded basements after new homes are built. And yet the problems persist. Late last year the council started to discuss stronger building restrictions regarding water permeability on individual properties. This may be the solution to resolve water run-off issues the city has debates for decades.

With all the challenges Kirkwood has today, as I ‘poke my head under the hood and kick the tires’ I am excited about the possibility of serving this community on Kirkwood City Council. Please contact me with any questions.

The Election is April 7, 2026.

PLEASE MAKE A PLAN TO VOTE.

Absentee voting, both by mail and in-person, starts February 24, 2026. In person absentee can be done at the St. Louis County Board of Election at 725 NW Plz Dr, St Ann, MO 63074 from 8 am until 4:30 pm.

Early (no-excuse) voting starts Tuesday, March 24, 2026, two weeks before Election Day. The Board of Elections usually has 4-6 early voting locations. These locations have not been announced yet.

The last day to request an absentee ballot by mail is Wednesday, March 25, 2026.

The last day to vote absentee in person is Monday, April 6, 2026 (the day before the election).

And of course, polls will be open April 7, 2026 from 6 am - 7 pm.

Paid for by Lavender for Missouri — Katie Maginn, Treasurer

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