Clayton City Council — April 28: A new member is seated, security paneling is approved, and a cafe permit is delayed
On a reorganization night, the council seated Betsy Meyland-Smith, adopted contracts for the Wydown median design and council-chamber paneling, and postponed a Wydown Boulevard cafe permit to May 12.
What happened
April 28 was a reorganization night for the Clayton City Council, run as two back-to-back sessions with a swearing-in between them. Over the two sessions the council adopted two ordinances — a design contract for the Wydown median and a ballistic-paneling contract for the council chambers — approved its consent agenda, and postponed a conditional use permit for a Wydown Boulevard cafe.
What the council decided
- The council approved its consent agenda on a roll-call vote, all six members present voting aye.
- Council Member Buse introduced a professional services agreement with LJC Design and Engineering for the Wydown Median Restoration Project as Bill No. 7150 and Council Member Patel seconded. Staff recommended the agreement in the amount of $220,100 plus a $25,000 contingency, for a total of $245,100. After first and second readings, the bill passed on a roll-call vote, all six members present voting aye, and became Ordinance No. 7011.
- Council Member Buse introduced a contract with Executive Wood Products for ballistic-resistant paneling in the council chambers as Bill No. 7153 and Council Member Patel seconded. Staff recommended the complete bid package of $38,375 plus a 10 percent contingency of $3,837, for a total of $42,212. After first and second readings, the bill passed on a roll-call vote, all six members present voting aye, and became Ordinance No. 7012.
- The council opened a public hearing on a conditional use permit for Gigi's Cafe at 7645 Wydown Boulevard — an application by Tom McGraw on behalf of Box Hill Group-Hanley LLC, in a space most recently occupied by a Starbucks. On the city manager's advice to set a date certain and close the hearing to avoid re-advertising, Mayor McAndrew closed the hearing and the council voted to postpone Resolution No. 2026-10 to its May 12, 2026 meeting.
Who was there
The minutes record that the first session (7:02 p.m.) had Council Members Susan Buse, Becky Patel, Gary Feder, Rick Hummell, and Jeff Yorg sitting with Mayor Bridget McAndrew; Kami Waldman was absent. After a swearing-in, the second session (7:54 p.m.) seated Betsy Meyland-Smith in place of Hummell — Buse, Patel, Feder, Yorg, and Meyland-Smith with Mayor McAndrew, Waldman again absent.
What they debated
On the Wydown Median Restoration, City Manager David Gipson told the council that nine firms answered the city's request for qualifications, a five-member staff committee interviewed three, and LJC ranked highest; the city plans to seek up to 85 percent reimbursement from FEMA and SEMA for eligible construction items. A council member pressed on when residents would actually see new streetlights — a standing safety concern on Wydown. Staff answered that the consultant's schedule targets operational streetlights by the end of October, subject to lighting lead times.
On the council-chambers security contract, Assistant City Manager Burr presented a contract for ballistic-resistant paneling in the City Hall council chambers, meant to add protection discreetly while keeping the room's appearance. The minutes note the project is not funded in the FY26 budget and will be covered by a future budget amendment. Staff said the item's details were kept off the public agenda for security reasons, and that a single sealed bid was received. One member called it "a very heavy bill to vote on" as the new council's first vote.
On the Gigi's Cafe conditional use permit, staff said the proposed hours ran 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. Monday through Saturday, and the plan commission had voted unanimously on April 20 to recommend approval. Council members raised concerns about the late hours and about outdoor dining noise, and noted the applicant was not present to answer questions. One member suggested limiting operations to 11 p.m. as a better fit for the neighborhood.
Also at the meeting
- In end-of-meeting reports, Council Member Buse noted a Bird Migration Day event and Sustainability Committee discussions on bird-safe windows and vehicle idling; Council Member Feder reported on a regional real-estate summit at Washington University and on the Economic Development Committee's new subcommittees on small-business incentives, tax incentives, and parking.
- Council Member Yorg noted the Citizen Finance Committee's April 24 discussion of revenue options and a fire training facility ribbon-cutting.
Public comments
Three residents addressed the council during the first session's open forum, per the minutes. Nathan Mai-Lombardo, of Westwood Drive, announced his candidacy for Missouri House District 99; in the transcript he noted the local firefighters' union had endorsed his campaign. Natalie Dowd, of Parkdale Avenue, and Edward Fisher, of Roxburgh, each raised concerns about the city's use of Flock Safety cameras — data sharing, misuse of information, and surveillance. One speaker asked the council to pause interagency sharing of Flock data while the system is evaluated. The second session's open forum drew no speakers.