Forest Park Council adopts budget software contract, moratorium on small-format discount stores and awards mowing contract

Forest Park City Council voted unanimously on four resolutions during new business at its Feb. 16 meeting after a brief discussion on each item.

Resolution 03 (03–2026) authorizes the city manager to contract with IGM US Holdings, Inc. (Gravity) to transition the city's budget planning software from ClearGov to Gravity. First Vice Mayor Sylvester moved the resolution and Council Member Clark seconded it. Council members said the new system will support budget planning, monitor strategic-plan alignment and enable electronic processing for transfers and reappropriations. The motion passed by roll call vote, 7–0.

Resolution 04 (04–2026) authorized payment of vendor invoices that exceeded the city's $3,000 threshold and predated corresponding purchase orders. The item was described as a housekeeping measure to ensure proper authorization of those payments. The resolution was moved and seconded and passed by roll call vote, 7–0.

Resolution 05 (05–2026) declared a temporary moratorium on the acceptance, processing and issuance of zoning, occupancy and building permits for "small-format discount retail stores" with a floor area of less than 15,000 square feet. Council Member Brown explained the moratorium's purpose: to give the city time to evaluate potential negative impacts of such stores, including concerns about wealth extraction from the local economy, adverse resident health outcomes and site-design patterns limiting future redevelopment opportunities along key commercial corridors. The resolution passed 7–0.

Resolution 06 (06–2026) authorized the city manager to award a two-year contract for mowing and maintenance services for specified city properties to Baker Land Solutions. City staff said the city issued an RFP, received six responses, and determined Baker Land Solutions was the lowest and best bidder at $2,710 per mowing cycle for more than 60 acres; staff had checked capacity and references. The resolution passed 7–0.

All motions to suspend the rules and read the resolutions by title were approved earlier in the new-business portion; all substantive resolutions were adopted with unanimous roll-call votes. The council gave brief explanatory remarks on each item prior to voting; no amendments were recorded.