Wildwood Council Member James Vanek will resign his Ward 7 seat Friday, Oct. 30, because he is moving out of state.

Vanek was elected in 2025 and serves on the Planning and Parks Committee. His two-year term was set to expire in April. Mayor Joe Garritano plans to appoint a replacement, according to West Newsmagazine.

The report did not identify a proposed replacement.

Under the Wildwood City Charter, the mayor has 30 days after a vacancy to appoint a qualified person with the consent of a majority of the City Council. If the council does not consent, the mayor must propose a different candidate within 30 days and repeat the process until a majority agrees. Wildwood's council represents eight wards with two members each, totaling 16 seats.

Vanek leaves behind a string of road safety improvements on Old State Road that trace back to his advocacy. The city and county installed rapid rectangular flashing beacons (RRFBs) at the crosswalk south of Ridge Road. The city also helped fund a high-friction surface treatment on sections of Old State Road between Old Fairway Drive and Highway 109 to reduce crashes, Public Works Director Rick Brown said at the council's Oct. 12 meeting.

A shared-use path is now under construction along Old State Road between Old State Place and Nantucket Island Drive. Brown said it will create an east-west pedestrian and bicycle connection between neighborhoods. The project includes two new crosswalks at Lake Country Lane and Lakeshore Meadows Drive, both equipped with RRFBs.

Vanek's push for those projects began after his son was struck by a vehicle while riding his bike on Old State Road in 2021, Garritano said at the Oct. 12 meeting. Vanek founded Citizens for a Safer Old State, which now has 810 members. Because Old State Road is controlled by St. Louis County, Vanek traveled to Jefferson City to meet with state legislators and attended county meetings to press for changes, Garritano said.

Brown said the crosswalk beacon project was a direct result of the crash involving Vanek's son.

At the Oct. 12 meeting, Vanek spoke highly of his colleagues and city staff.

"I have never met a better group of people that I'm more proud to serve with, since my military days," he said. "It's been a pleasure and an honor."

The next Wildwood City Council meeting is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 9.