March 2015 General Meeting Minutes

MARCH 2015 SRG GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING

March 4, 2015

Location: Sts. Peter and Paul Parish Hall, South 8th Street and Allen Avenue

Meeting started at 7 p.m.

Board members in attendance: Nancy Kelly, Beth Bennett , Sean Cochran, Luann Denten, Jeremy Mehrle, Jackie Parker, Steve Parker, Michael Pastore, Jill Weissgerber, Mike Ziemann

Absent: Alicia Stellhorn

Aldermen in attendance: Ken Ortmann. Jack Coatar, winning candidate in the March 3 Democratic Primary for 7th Ward Alderman, was also present.

New members:

Five people introduced themselves: Larry from the Boys’ Club; Erin from the Legion; and Emily, Nicole and Cat, who are doing research for their Saint Louis University Community Organization course.

Secretary’s Minutes

Minutes from Feb. 4 General Meeting and Feb. 18 Board Meeting were approved.

Treasurer’s Report

Nancy Kelly pointed out that the Treasurer’s Report notes that all Square revenue isn’t reflected  and that the actual income is higher. Report was approved.

Police report by Officer Brian Min:

February crimes reported included two auto thefts, two burglaries, three robberies, 20 larcenies and 11 destruction of private property.

·        One of the robberies involved a suspect demanding car keys but then being unable to drive the vehicle because it was a stick shift. 

·        Another involved a robbery at gun point in the 1900 block of South 12th Street of a purse and cell phone from someone leaving a bar.

·        The third was a purse snatching in the 2200 block of South 11th Street.

·        No leads.

Much of February’s crime was Mardi Gras-related. Officer Min said police responded to calls in squads of about 10 officers for safety reasons.

·        A golf cart was stolen at Mardi Gras and recovered.

·        A boyfriend and girlfriend pointed a rifle at the crowd during Mardi Gras.

·        Mardi Gras police responses included three calls for auto accidents, one trespassing, nine assaults, two careless driving, 4 destruction of private property, 15 disturbances, three fights, one holdup, six larcenies, one missing person, one lost person, one sick call, seven suspicious persons and 32 summonses for minors in possession of alcohol.

Paul Kjorlie questioned Officer Min about his statement at a previous meeting that cars parked illegally during runs through the neighborhood are “relocated” rather than towed.  Min said that if time permits, police will “just try to move a car to a side street.”

Michael Pastore noted that police had loudly made every effort to get people to move cars on Mardi Gras morning.

SRG Safety Committee Chairman Bill Clendenin distributed one neighborhood impact statement for an upcoming sentencing for auto theft.

Old Business:

Board elections will be held at the April meeting. Announced candidates to date include Wade Weistreich for Treasurer, Steve Parker for Secretary, Luann Denten and Beth Bennett for Board seats, and no one running for President-Elect. (Subsequent to the General Meeting, Bill Clendenin has said he is running for President-Elect.)

Mardi Gras Inc. will have a meeting to review Mardi Gras at 7 p.m. March 5 at the MGI headquarters, 2200 Dolman St.

New Business:

GO! STL Marathon route change:

Nancy Kelly outlined the new route the GO! St. Louis Marathon will take through the neighborhood on April 12. Jackie Parker said the Cheer Station will be at Mile 10.5, at Ninth and Victor, near the Good Luck Bar & Grill. She noted that the Facebook Event Page has a map. She encouraged everyone to again wear PJs and to bring a canned good to benefit Trinity Lutheran Church, 812 Soulard St.

Jackie Parker said she had talked to Mona Langenberg, who is director of operations at GO! St. Louis, and that she had said the route change was to get a flatter course and was not a result of neighborhood complaints.

The neighborhood will receive $1,000 from the GO! St. Louis Marathon.

Nancy Kelly said that handbills about Ninth Street Parking will be distributed to those who might be affected and that churches will be notified.  She said the event shouldn’t interfere with any church services.

Easter Egg Hunt:

Tony of the Rock Church of St. Louis said the church will hold a Soulard Community Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 4, at the Gene Slay Boys’ Club field, 2524 S. 11th St. Registration begins at noon and the egg hunt starts at 1 p.m. In the event of rain, the hunt will be moved to the church basement at 2420 S. 12th St.

Legion Announcements:

·        Mr. Bill Wirtel said the Legion’s “mini Mardi Gras” event at Mardi Gras was successful.

·        Eric Marlinghaus said two fish fries will be held this Lenten season, on March 6 and on Good Friday April 3.

·        Erin Slawinski, new Post Commander, spoke about the AmBucs fundraiser. She said 12 disabled veterans were on the waiting list for the tricycle-type vehicles. She said that three or four bikes would be given away at 3 p.m. March 21 at the Legion. A challenge for SRG members had raised about $560 for the trikes, which cost about $800 each. Eric Marlinghaus announced later in the meeting that enough money had been donated to buy another bike, plus an additional $90 was raised.

New Business:

Soulard Alliance Fundraiser:

Luke Reynolds, owner of Molly’s, invited everyone to a Soulard Alliance fundraiser featuring Miss Jubilee on Thursday March 26 from 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. at the Franklin Room, 816 Allen Ave.  Funds raised will be used to support the Soulard Neighborhood Campaign. Tickets are available at SoulardEvents.com. He said that Mayor Francis Slay will drop by.

Julie Price said the event will get media attention from STL TV, KTVI and KSDK. She said its purpose is to promote the neighborhood.

Committee Reports:

Beautification:

Richard Eaton reported that Luke Dibler, a Ladue Horton Watkins High School senior, will be working on an Eagle Scout project at Soulard Station. A gazebo-style structure (suitable for weddings) would be built at the far end of the property next to Gravois Avenue, and would serve as somewhat of a buffer. Luke is responsible for the funding and building of this project. John Durnell, Richard Eaton and Jay Morris will be Luke’s advisors.

A cleanup of Pontiac Square Park will be held April 11. An SLU sorority will help the committee with the cleanup.

Luann Denten said the Vices & Virtues Ball had made money but that final figures aren’t in yet.

The Garden Tour on June 27 will include eight gardens. Volunteers and artists are being sought.

Residential Promotion:

·        Luann Denten said 50 of the historic afghans were ordered and that 30 already had been sold.

·        She thanked Pizzeoli for hosting the Local Hour Feb. 26

Communications:

·        Renaissance deadline for the Garden Issue is June 4.

Code & Zoning:

·        Kathy Barkey asked about the renovation of the old Polar Wave Building on South Ninth Street.  Jay Gibbs said the Planning Review Board had seen the plans and approved them. He said most windows of the five-story apartment complex would face east.

·        In response to a question why the BP renovation project is on hold, Dave Perry said he had talked to the owners and that it was being slowed by weather.

·        Rick Dungey asked about delay of the 10th and Allen house renovation. Jay Gibbs said it was waiting on the approval of tax credits. Rosemary Pastore said the builders finally got an easement from neighboring properties. Jay Gibbs said it would be divided down the center, additions would be put on each side, and that it would be sold as two homes.

·        Paul Kjorlie said he had heard that the city is trying to reclassify bed & breakfasts from residential to commercial. He said that B&B business already had been hurt by media coverage of Ferguson, and that the reclassification would further hurt B&Bs.

·        Star Design’s efforts to rebuild are stalled by a lawsuit over insurance issues with AT&T.

Membership:

·        Jill Weissgerber said the next meeting will be at 7 p.m. Thursday March 12 at Soulard Station. Topics will include planning the annual meeting in May at the Grizzly Bear.

·        She thanked people who have hosted previous socials, including the Prices, the Mehrles, the Parkers, the Dinkelmanns and Richard Eaton and John Durnell.

Safety:

·        Bill Clendenin thanked committee member Jim Rick for hosting a station for police at his home during Mardi Gras. He thanked Lisa Otke for supplying jambalaya.

·        The next meeting will be at 7 p.m. Monday March 30 at Soulard Station.

·        John Durnell said that he had heard that Sean Johnson, who pleaded guilty to some brazen residential burglaries, will qualify for a drug program that “will put him back on the street.” He will have to pay restitution to the victims but will be released. Officer Min then told a story of a court case involving Lafayette Square, in which a lenient judge was able to sentence a criminal to probation but delayed the sentencing after someone from the neighborhood spoke in front of the judge. The judge, Officer Min said, apparently didn’t want to issue the lenient sentence in front of a disapproving neighborhood.  Nancy Kelly asked Bill Clendenin to determine the actual sentencing date. He said he believed it was March 21 but that he would check.

Fundraising:

·        Rick Dungey said no major fundraisers are coming up.

·        He said the committee will be seeking more members.

Adjournment:

·        The meeting adjourned at 8:09 p.m.