SRG GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING DECEMBER 2023

SRG GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING DECEMBER 2023

December 6, 2023

by Elizabeth Henry

At 7:05 p.m. Abbey Bethel, President, called the meeting to order.

1. Opening Remarks

Abbey greeted the general membership and introduced herself along with the Board Members present. Officer Dilg and Cara Spencer were not in attendance, so there will not be a Police Liaison report or Alderperson report at this meeting.

2. Committee Updates

Membership Committee

Julie Price, Chair of Membership, commented on the excellent turnout at the meeting. She invited new members to come to the front to introduce themselves. The SRG has 438 members currently, so very close to the goal of 450 by year-end.

Please let Julie know if you are interested in hosting any after-meeting socials. In the spring, the committee might host a Fox Theater tour or a booze cruise on the river; they are open to ideas. 

Abbey took the opportunity to remind members that non-residents can still participate in the SRG as "Friends of Soulard."

Safety Committee

Aaron Terry, Board Liaison for the Committee, said a map is coming together with GroupMe block/zone groups for the Neighborhood Watch plan. The Committee is testing out several different lightbulbs for the new Dusk-to-Dawn lights.

They hope to recruit more renters to get involved with the committee.

Beautification Committee

Jeff Weitzel, Committee Chair, presented updates including that a cleaning service has been enlisted to clean up the triangle park. 

He echoed the announcement in the latest Soulard Blaster about the winter Adopt-a-Pot program for neighborhood flower pots. Adopted pots can have photos online for a contest where residents can vote. There will be a cash prize in February!

Communications Committee

Abby Goodsoon, Board Liaison for the Committee, gave a big thank you to Allyson Whipple for her first Renaissance edition. 

Last month, the committee met for three hours and wrote 85% of the new content for the new website. The goal is to have the website ready to launch in the spring. Committee chairs will have an opportunity to review content before the website goes live.

The SRG Event Calendar has been in the last three blaster with instructions to import it to your preferred app. 2024 SRG events have just been added, including general membership meetings and Mardis Gras events. Please make sure CommComm is aware of new events so that they get added to the calendar. 

Community Involvement & Events Committee (CI&E)

Brad Pitlyk, Chair of the Committee, said January will have their first event. Later in 2024, a movie series will start in early May as well as a yard sale event - a map will get put together for that.

They are recruiting new members!

Historical Committee

The committee did not present, but Abbey remarked on the success of the Parlour Tour event.

PRT

Walker Hamilton, Chair of the Committee, noted an Insomnia Cookies is coming to Russell. Two other development plans in the neighborhood are stalled at the moment.

He informed the SRG that an abandoned building caught fire recently and advised that we keep an eye on abandoned buildings, as unhoused people seek shelter in them and start fires to keep warm.

Soulard Station

Bonita, Chair of the Committee, noted the fence installation is coming soon. The Station open for rental to anyone who wants to use it.

Bonita said she also coordinates the Mardis Gras parade, and there are lots of ways to get involved, so please join her group if interested.

3. Treasurer's Report

Debby Brown, Treasurer, reported a $14,000 net income year-to-date with $95,000 in cash on hand. Those figures do not include earnings on beer sales at Oktoberfest, which have not yet come in. 

4. Secretary's Update

Elizabeth Henry, Secretary, requested a motion to approve the October and November SRG meeting minutes. Becca Gilberg made the motion. Multiple members seconded. With one abstention, the motion passed.

John Haas inquired about Board Meeting minutes going up on the website [secretary's note: they were uploaded immediately afterward – very sorry for the oversight]. 

5. Neighborhood Organizations

Soulard Business Assocation (SBA)

Mardis Gras shirts and posters are being printed for 2024 and will be available for sale soon. 

Community Improvement District (CID)

Terry Hoffman said the next round of speed humps (sixty) will be installed  in summer 2024. He recounted progress on planting hundreds of trees in the neighborhood and noted the importance of maintenance pruning for baby trees. 

Alan Jankowski, Commissioner of Forestry, is working with the CID to select trees conducive to growing in urban environments. 

For the Historical Signage project, they are still collecting information before they can bid out fabrication installation. 

John Durnell noted with appreciation that the light poles in the parks are painted and ready for historical lightheads to come in. Terry confirmed they got that done and said if anyone wants one of the old light heads being replaced, let him know.

To address trash overflowing from trashcans or in alleyways, email cleanstreets@soulardCID.org.

Special Business District (SBD)

Terry also presented for the SBD. The organization is pruning trees currently obstructing sixty lights as reported by the Safety Committee. The SBD has agreed to enter into a pilot program (2-3 block perimeter) that links camera feeds to a surveillance system used by city police. 

Mardis Gras Inc. (MGI)

Twelfth Night is the official kick-off for the Mardis Gras season! Rain or shine, come on out!

Parlour Tour Committee

Neil Putz recognized Mark Lambert for his contribution as this year's artist for the poster and merchandise. 

Neighborhood Improvement

Larry Isom, Soulard's Neighborhood Improvement Specialist and point of contact for City Services, said he can be contacted for animal control, zoning issues, all kinds of things.

6. President's Remarks

A new Nomination Committee has been appointed:

Abbey Bethel

Adriano Martinez

Debby Brown (term-limited, helping to replace Treasurer position)

Billy Tomber

Veronica Putz

Neil Putz

Abbey asks that anyone interested in joining the SRG Board in 2024 contact one of the Nomination Committee members. 

Additionally, Abbey advised that at the next meeting (January 3, 2024), Wilford Pinkney, Director of the St. Louis Office of Violence Prevention, will speak for the first 15 minutes.

With that said, Abbey requested a motion to adjourn. Walker Hamilton so moved, and Craig Markham seconded. 

The motion passed with a unanimous vote, and the meeting adjourned at 7:49pm.