Politics & Government

Ellen Lawrence, Ward 2 Creve Coeur City Council Candidate

Lawrence is one of two people seeking the Ward 2 seat on Creve Coeur's City Council.

Name, Age, Address: Ellen B. Lawrence, Ph.D, 60, 501 N. Mosley Rd.
Creve Coeur, MO 63141

Family: Husband, Edward C. Lawrence, Childre Beth Susan Lawrence Meuth (28), Matthew Ronald Lawrence (26), Rachel Catherine Lawrence (23)

Education: Ph.D. and M.S. in Plant Pathology, The Pennsylvania State University
B.A. in Biology, University of Pennsylvania

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Occupation: President, The Athena Group, LLC, a retained technical executive recruiting firm Senior Consultant, Advanced Financial Consultants

Years as a Creve Coeur Resident: 30 years

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Brief Biography (100 Words)

I grew up in Pennsylvania in a family where community service was a core value. I attended the University of Pennsylvania on a senatorial scholarship and had assistantships throughout my time at The Pennsylvania State University. My work history includes being a quality controlchemist, a scientist at Monsanto’s world-class research center, and starting my own consulting practice in Creve Coeur. I am a past president and current synagogue board member, and a volunteer at the Animal Protective Association. My children are adults and I no longer work 55 hour weeks. I have long thought about running for Creve Coeur City Council.

Reasons for Running (100 Words)

A 30 year Creve Coeur resident, I want to be of service by helping to ensure that our wonderful city remains vibrant and a great place to live. I intend to be an advocate for the residents of Ward 2 and for the City. Working collaboratively with the Mayor and City Council I want to safeguard the character of our beautiful neighborhoods and see that the City fosters a business friendly environment. I would like to make a contribution to our community by strengthening what we have and adding additional value by bringing some new ideas to the table.

Why are you qualified to be on Creve Coeur City Council?

My varied professional and volunteer experiences have prepared me to be an effective City Council member. Having worked in a variety of settings from a large manufacturing plant to aworld-class research facility and a small consulting firm, I work well with a broad diversity of individuals. As a founder of a successful consulting practice, I employ solid project management skills, show attention to detail, and keep the big picture in view. A good listener, I am a goal-driven consensus builder. A former congregation board member and President, I understand how to be a successful and efficient board member.

Should Creve Coeur residents pay for rear yard service as part of the city’s next trash contract?

Currently I support maintaining the City’s full-service trash service. While there may come a time that a small fee for this service would be under discussion, that time is not now.

What should the city of Creve Coeur do with cash reserves? What should it expressly NOT do?

I think when a city has a budget surplus, which Creve Coeur does, it is holding a double edged sword. The tendency is to want to add on projects and staff, all with the best of intentions. To keep the city on a sound financial footing, I think the budget process must keep focused on using that surplus to retire our debt. The current plan is to pay off the Millennium Park debt of$2.6 Million on its January 1, 2014 call date. Since the interest rate for this debt is four times that of the city’s investment return, this is a wise move. Any tendency to spend the surplus money now and refinance this debt should be avoided. If there are surplus monies left after this debt is retired, I would look at more fully funding our pension plan. It only takes a look acrossthe river at Illinois to see what happens when these pension plans are not kept fully funded.

Some small business owners have claimed that the city of Creve Coeur isn’t friendly tothem. What would you do in your official capacity as a city council member to address that perception?

Many residents believe that Creve Coeur’s business inspection and permitting process is so difficult it prevents businesses, which otherwise would wish to do so, from locating in our city. Perhaps it is time for a thorough review to streamline this process. A healthy business community means a healthy Creve Coeur.

Under what circumstances would you support increasing taxes or otherwise raising revenues in Creve Coeur?

With our current budget surplus, I do not support any additional revenue initiatives. If a budget surplus continues, I would support exploring the possibility of a reduction in the residential electrical tax rate and substituting that revenue with a slightly higher hotel tax rate.

Describe the most significant decision made by the Creve Coeur City Council over the past 2 years that you disagreed with and explain why?

I was deeply disappointed by the Council’s decision to give the go-ahead for the Villas at Mosley. Having canvassed multiple Mosley Rd. subdivisions, over 85% of the residents I spoke with opposed this development. Most felt the very dense housing involved was not a fit for our Mosley Rd. neighborhoods. Many were concerned about water problems, especially as run-off from the Goddard School will need to be handled by the Villas at Mosley’s retention area. I have lost count of the number of residents who have subsequently stopped me to tell me they sent e-mails to the Council in opposition to this project. Most believe their voices were ignored. Offering residents housing options was given as a rational for the necessary public benefit requirement for an RDD approval. However, Creve Coeur has a wealth of housing options forthose who do not want to stay in large homes, including a number of condominium complexes, both apartments and attached homes in Ward 2. The Villas at Mosley is an example of a project that was approved over significant public opposition.

What is the most important issue facing your Ward and what would you do about it?

I believe the major issue facing Ward 2 is neighborhood preservation. Ward 2 is home to awealth of absolutely beautiful residential neighborhoods. We are facing the encroachmentof small pockets [3 to 4 Acres] of super dense housing on very small lots. In speaking with neighborhood residents, the vast majority have told me they strongly oppose these dense housing pockets which cover almost 50% of the land with hard surfaces as being a totally unacceptable fit for Ward 2. I would work hard alongside Ward 2 residents to convince Planningand Zoning and the City Council that no more of these project should be allowed to be approved for our neighborhoods through the RDD process or any other mechanism.

How will you commit to communicating with and informing residents and business owners outside of their attendance at city meetings?

One of the first things I would do as Ward 2’s City Council member is bring back regular Ward meetings. I also would work through the subdivision trustees to put together a list of those Ward members who would be interested in receiving an online newsletter so they can keep up todate on issues of interest to their neighborhoods. Attending subdivision meetings is another way to keep in touch and develop an understanding of how the folks in the Ward think about issues facing the City. Reaching out to business owners along the Ward 2 Business corridor would include them in the process. Responding to phone calls and e-mails from residents and business owners is an integral part of a City Council member’s responsibility.


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