April 2015 General Meeting Minutes
APRIL 2015 SRG GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
April 1, 2015
Location: Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church Parish Hall, South 8th Street and Allen Avenue
Meeting started at 7:07 p.m.
Board members in attendance: Nancy Kelly, Beth Bennett , Sean Cochran, Luann Denten, Jeremy Mehrle, Jackie Parker, Steve Parker, Michael Pastore, Alicia Stellhorn, Jill Weissgerber, Mike Ziemann
Aldermen in attendance: Ken Ortmann, 9th Ward. Also present was Jack Coatar, who is running unopposed for 7th Ward Alderman in the April 7 election.
Voting for Incoming SRG Board:
The following candidates introduced themselves:
· Bill Clendenin, unopposed candidate for president-Elect
· Steve Parker, unopposed candidate for secretary
· Alicia Stellhorn, unopposed candidate for treasurer (She arrived at the meeting after the introductions.)
· Beth Bennett, board of directors seat
· Luan Denten, board of directors seat
· Alison Weber, board of directors seat
· Gary Toribio, board of directors seat
· Ryan Brockschmitt, board of directors seat
Ballots were distributed, collected and counted as the meeting took place.
Secretary’s Minutes:
Minutes from the March 4 General Meeting and March 18 Board Meeting were approved.
Treasurer’s Report:
Treasurer’s Report was approved.
Police report by Officer Brian Min:
Prior to Officer Min’s report, Paul Kjorlie asked for a clarification on the difference between a burglary and a home invasion. Jack Coatar, formerly an assistant city prosecutor, explained that there are two classifications of burglary. First-degree burglary is when someone enters a home with a person inside or a burglary involving a weapon. Second-degree burglary is when entry is made with no one home.
March crime included:
· Three stolen autos (none while “warming up”)
· One burglary at a rehabbed house in the 2600 block of South 11th Street
· Four fraudulent tax returns
· Close to 30 car break-ins
· Two stolen license plates
· Five incidents of property damage
Many of the car break-ins involved juveniles smashing windows with bricks. Among items taken were a gym bag with clothing, headphones, a bowling ball and bag, sunglasses, $4. Thieves tried to steal a police radio after breaking the window of a parked county police car on a covert operation.
Office Min noted that Beth Bennett uses a “club” anti-theft device as a visual deterrent to keep thieves from being attracted to her car. Bill Clendenin said the Soulard Business Association has clubs available for free to members of the district. (Note: Clubs are also available from the Soulard Special Business District, email info@soulard-sbd.org, for those who live in the district and $13 for those outside the district, and the Five Star Senior Center, 2832 Arsenal St., has clubs for $13.)
Paul Kjorlie asked if it is legal to shoot someone who breaks into your car, similar to rights granted under the “castle doctrine.” Officer Min said that the basic criteria under that doctrine says that you must “fear for your life when someone breaks into your home.”
Officer Min offered a comparison of arrests for minors in possession of alcohol. He said there were 35 summonses in Dogtown on St. Patrick’s Day as compared to 30 in Soulard during Mardi Gras.
New Business:
Nancy Kelly briefly described a proposal by Advantes Development to rehab the old Lafayette Elementary School, 815 Ann Ave., into 47 to 52 apartments. She said the project depends on the developers receiving zoning permission and approval of tax credits. She said the SRG Board would be visiting the site of a previous Advantes project at the old Hope Lutheran School, 5320 Brannon Ave. She said anyone interested is welcome to join them at the school at 5 p.m. Thursday, April 2.
(A more detailed outline of the Lafayette School project is in the March 2015 Board Meeting Minutes.)
Michael Pastore expressed concern that the development proposal calls for the only entry to the apartments parking to be from an alley to the north of the school. He noted that he lives across the alley from the school.
Roger Power asked how much parking is envisioned and was told 11 covered spaces where the old gym was and 30 spaces at the east end of the building.
Kathy Barkey said she thought the plans calling for 47 to 52 units were “too dense.” Jay Gibbs said the plan called for pretty much one apartment unit for each old classroom. Dave Perry also voiced concern about the density.
Legion Report:
· Mr. Bill Wirtel said that four Ambucs tricycles were given to disabled veterans at a ceremony Saturday, March 21 at Legion Post 422 at 2601 S. 11th St. The event was covered by TV stations KSDK and KMOV and the Post-Dispatch. He thanked the SRG for presenting a $1,500 check as a donation for buying more tikes. He said that an additional $4,000 was donated by people at the ceremony.
· A Fish FryDay will be held from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. April 3 at the Legion.
· The Legion’s parking lot will be redone and the fence needs replacing.
Committee Reports:
Beautification:
· The committee’s next meeting will be at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 7 at R-space, 1704 S. Broadway.
· Weed Warriors will be cleaning up Pontiac Square Park at 9 a.m. Saturday, April 11.
· The fifth annual beautification fundraiser will be Tuesday, May 19 at Molly’s, 816 Geyer Ave.
Communications:
· No report.
Code & Zoning:
· Kathy Barkey had questions about the rehabbed infill house at the corner of McGirk and South 11th streets. She asked why the rehab appears complete and yet the house is not occupied nor on the market. She was told that the owner took the house off the market during the winter. Alderman Ken Ortmann said the project had had issues with the city regarding the parking garage but those have been resolved.
Residential Promotion:
· The historic afghans are selling well.
· More Soulard merchandise has been ordered.
· Luann Denten said to look for an “imminent announcement” on the entry marker project.
Membership:
· The General Membership Meeting and Annual Party will be 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 1, at the Grizzly Bear, 1027 Geyer Ave.
Safety:
· Bill Clendenin explained the procedure for the Spring Safety Walk that followed the meeting. Participants were to accompany Bill, Scott Plackemeier, Evan Bolesta, Jim Rick or Christina Coleman. He said to be one the lookout for street lights that are out, alley lights that are out and graffiti.
· He encouraged people to attend the sentencing hearing May 14 for defendant Shaun Johnson, who pleaded guilty to three burglaries.
Fundraising:
· The Soulard Cheer Station for the Go! St. Louis Marathon will begin at 7:30 a.m. Sunday, April 12, at the corner of 9th and Victor streets. A Facebook Event Page has been created.
· iTap has designated the SRG as its recipient charity of its “Kegs for a Cause” Tuesday, April 21. All proceeds from sales of one kind of beer between 6 and 9 p.m. will go to SRG.
· Jackie Parker presented a check for $180 from the Good Luck Bar and Grill from its “Tipsy Thursday” fundraiser.
MGI:
· Billy Tomber noted that the SRG has three representatives on the Mardi Gras Inc. Board: Billy, Michael Pastore and Gary Toribio.
· The SoCo music stages at Mardi Gras will not return next year after MGI officials met with Brown-Forman (Southern Comfort) and expressed displeasure with profanity and
unruly behavior.
Election Results:
Nancy Kelley thanked outgoing Board Members Jill Weissgerber and Michael Pastore for their service.
Kelly then announced next year’s SRG Officers and Board of Directors:
· President Mike Ziemann
· President-Elect Bill Clendenin
· Secretary Steve Parker
· Treasurer Alicia Stellhorn
· Jeremy Mehrle, director
· Sean Cochran, director
· Beth Bennett, director
· Gary Toribio, director
· Luann Denten, director
· Jackie Parker, director
· Nancy Kelly, past president
Nancy Kelly was thanked for her service by Jill Weissgerber, who presented her a bottle of Angel’s Envy bourbon, and Mike Zeimann, who presented her flowers.
Adjournment:
· The meeting adjourned at 8:02 p.m.
It was followed by the Safety Walk and the Social at the home of Richard Eaton and John Durnell, 1842 S. 9th St.