Coffee with Mike McDowell: City Manager Says 'We Held Our Own'

Mike McDowell, the city manager for Olivette since April 2004, says this year has been a tough one, but one that has had its up-sides for the city.

"We've held our own," McDowell told Patch last week. "We'd like to have accomplished more in terms of development and redevelopment" in the city. But it's a mark of the strength of the city that it has remained financially sound in the wake of an ongoing poor economy.

Looking ahead to 2013, he said he hopes to continue moving forward with University City on plans to redevelop the Olive Boulevard corridor at Interstate 170. He'd like to see more walk-able development there, with mixed commercial and residential uses and a feeling that the area would be a catalyst for more development in the city.

McDowell's tenure as Olivette's chief administrator followed a stint in Creve Coeur as city manager there. The Tennessee native doesn't just run the city. He's also an instructor at University of Missouri-St. Louis, teaching public sector human resources in the university's public policy master's program.

The biggest disappointment for him this year was the defeat in August of two bond issues that voters rejected. One would have gone to purchase a new building on Olive Boulevard for City Hall, and given the city a chance to renovate its fire station. Another would have gone to park improvements.

"We were obviously disappointed by the outcome of the propositions," McDowell said. "But that was the voters' decision."

McDowell said efforts are underway now to bring those issues back before voters, because, he has said, the city's fire, police and municipal facilities are in poor shape.

But nothing will likely go to voters before 2014, McDowell said.

First step is the appointment, expected next week, of that will examine the needs and recommend a course of action for the city.

"We plan to be more comprehensive in revewing all our options, both in terms of facilities and financing," McDowell said.