January 2016 General Meeting Minutes

January 2016 SRG GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING

Jan. 13, 2016 

Location: Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, 1919 S. 7th St.

President Mike Ziemann called the meeting to order at 7:08 p.m. 

Board members in attendance: Mike Ziemann, Beth Bennett, Bill Clendenin, Luann Denten, Steve Parker, Gary Toribio

Board members absent: Sean Cochran, Jeremy Mehrle, Jackie Parker, Alicia Stellhorn

Elected officials in attendance: Alderman Jack Coatar 

Secretary’s Minutes:

Minutes from the Dec. 2 General Membership Meeting and the Dec. 16 Board Meeting were approved.

Treasurer’s Report: 

Treasurer’s Report was approved.

New Members:

Ten new members introduced themselves.

Post-Meeting Social:

At Soulard Station, 1911 S. 12 St.

Police Report:

Safety Committee Co-Chairman Scott Plackemeier presented the report in the absence of Officer Brian Min.  He reported: 

On Christmas Day, two men armed with pistols and wearing facemasks robbed someone leaving a garage in the 700 block of Soulard Street, taking an iPod and $100. No arrests have been made.)

Items were recovered Dec. 17 from a suspected meth lab in a vacant building in the 700 block of Allen Avenue.

Bud Weisser was arrested Dec. 3 on a trespassing charge at the Anheuser-Busch brewery.

On Jan. 8 there was an attempted holdup at gunpoint in the 1000 block of Allen Avenue. Two victims got out of their vehicles when two men pulled up in a gray car. One suspect told one of the victims to go with him but the victim refused and kicked the suspect several times. The suspects got in their car and fled.

Bids are being sought for the installation of the new security cameras. It is hoped that a contractor will be selected by the end of January and installation of cameras will begin in February.

Mardi Gras Inc. Executive Director Tim Lorson:

Lorson said this will be his 13th Mardi Gras season as executive director. He noted that fliers listing the 2016 Mardi Gras events were available. He said a 12-pack of Bud Light or Monster Energy drinks will be available for free at the MGI office, 2200 Dolman St., for people who are willing to display a poster.

He said no vehicles will be allowed to move in the Red Zone because that area has the highest concentration of revelers and it’s simply unsafe for cars to move. There will be two Yellow Zones, one in the LaSalle Park neighborhood and one on the south side of Soulard. Cars displaying parking passes can park in the Yellow Zone. Parking passes are being mailed to residents. If you don’t receive your two passes, visit the MGI office. If you have more than two cars, visit the office with proof of ownership to get additional passes.

If you park where there’s a White No Parking sign, you will be towed. If you park where there’s a Yellow No Parking sign and don’t display a parking pass, you will be towed. You can park where there’s a Yellow No Parking sign if you display a parking pass. The Yellow No Parking zone will be in effect from 3 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Grand Parade Day. The Red No Parking zone will be in effect from 3 a.m. Grand Parade Day through 2 a.m. Sunday morning to allow more time for trash cleanup there. No golf carts are allowed in the Red Zone. 

If your car is towed, call the MGI office at 771-5110 to learn where it is. Don’t call 911 to report illegally parked cars … call the MGI office, which will then alert police. 

The duration of trash cleanup is uncertain but it will continue until it’s completed. By 2 p.m. Sunday, if you still see trash, call the MGI office at 771-5110. Your call will be added to a list. 

Trash cleanup will proceed according to that list … first-reported, first-cleaned. Be patient.

MGI has ordered more than 1,000 port-a-potties. Bar owners will provide about 300 more. If you don’t like the placement of a port-a-potty, call the MGI office. Port-a-potties will start being installed the week before Pet Parade weekend, Jan. 30-31.  

Call 911 only if you feel threatened or have a medical emergency. Call the MGI office if you see crimes like public urination or an illegally parked car. 

No cans, coolers, bottles or backpacks are allowed in the Red Zone. This will be enforced with zero tolerance. If you have guests visiting, they need to pour alcoholic drinks into cups when leaving your home. If they are staying with you, make them aware they cannot bring suitcases or backpacks into the Red Zone on Grand Parade Day. In response to a question, Lorson said it is illegal for residents to sell drinks or other items from their homes. 

The police staging area for Mardi Gras will be at Gene Slay’s Boys’ Club of St. Louis, 2524 S. 11th St. The block in front of the club will be closed to traffic.

A neighborhood forum to review this year’s Mardi Gras will be held at 6 p.m. March 3 at the MGI office. Lorson said he can be reached at 771-5110 or at director@mardigrasinc.com.

President Ziemann asked people at the SRG meeting to share the information provided by Lorson with their neighbors who weren’t in attendance or anyone who seems confused by the Mardi Gras rules. He also reminded people with parking passes that they shouldn’t try to sell them because it causes problems for the whole neighborhood. 

Old Business:

Holiday Parlour Tour and Hot Chocolate 15K/5K:

Ziemann thanked those who volunteered at these fundraising events. Parlour Tour revenues are still being tallied, but it’s estimated the event raised $13,500 to $15,000.  Jim Price said he is retiring as volunteer coordinator for Parlour Tour so someone is needed to handle those duties.

Vice and Virtues Ball Update:

After-dinner tickets are still available. All 22 tables for dinner (10 people at a table) are sold out. Second-tier admission will be capped at 50 people.

New Business:

Soulard Station Commemorative Bricks:

Kristin Kopp is now coordinating the Soulard Station Commemorative Bricks project. Bricks cost $75 for individuals and $100 for businesses. For an additional $25, the Soulard Star logo can be added to a brick. Kopp said orders are placed in bunches and she is close to placing an order. 

SRG Board Positions:

Ziemann said that anyone interested in running for a position on the SRG Board should start thinking about it. The terms of two Board members and the secretary and treasurer will be up. In addition, a President-elect is needed. 

American Legion Post 422 Report:

Mr. Bill Wirtel reported that: 

 Unit 422 Auxiliary raised their total of military wish list boxes to 424, with the last shipment of 28 going to Marybeth Wallace’s son, Army pilot Pate Butler, to distribute to troops in Afghanistan. 

 A Fifth Friday Bingo and Buffet was held Jan. 29 for rehabbing veterans at Jefferson Barracks Medical Center. 

 For the first time, Third Friday Family Happy Hours continued through December last year, two months longer than usual. Another first at the Family Happy Hours were guest bartenders.

 222 people braved a threatening weather forecast Jan. 9 to attend Mouse Races No. 3 at St. Vincent’s De Paul, 1408 S. 10th St.  One of the races took eight minutes to complete. 

An Ambucs tryke for disabled veterans was on display. 

 Three Lenten Cod Fish Fries are scheduled: Feb. 2, March 4 and March 25. 

 Since 1996, Post 422 has been serving biscuits and gravy starting at 7:30 a.m. on Grand Parade Day. This year, brats have been added to the menu. Bloody Marys and coffee also are available. Last year, Mardi Gras security crews ate at the Legion so food quantities have been increased this year.   

 Flag Day is June 14. Save your tattered and worn flags so they can be disposed of properly at the Legion. Patriotic boxes are available at BKZ for businesses and high-traffic locations that want to collect flags for proper disposal.

 Post 422 has collected $500 in its effort to provide a flag for McKinley Public Classical Leadership Academy High School, which doesn’t have a flag or flag pole in front of the school. The estimated cost for the flag, pole and concrete base is $2,000.  President Ziemann presented Mr. Bill with a $500 check from the SRG, bringing the total raised to $1,000. Mr. Bill called the donation a “complete and happy surprise.”

Soulard Business Association Report:

SBA President Dan Shields said businesses are busy preparing for Mardi Gras season.

Mardi Gras Inc. Report:

Nothing beyond Lorson’s earlier report.

Beautification Report:

Next spring, the Beautification Committee will help plant three round planters that the Union Barbershop put in to protect its building at 1264 Gravois Ave.

Communications Report:

Please send photos from the Vices and Virtues Ball to editor@soulard.org and Jackie Parker will try to get them in the next Renaissance.

Fundraising Report:

Smarty Gras Trivia Night is Saturday Feb. 20 at the Franklin Room, 816 Allen Ave. People interested in volunteering should contact Jackie Parker.

Code and Zoning Report:

No report.

Membership Report:

The next Membership Committee meeting is at 7 p.m. Jan. 14 at Soulard Station. 

Residential Promotion Report:

Luann Denten reported that nine entry markers are now up. Four are on existing light poles and five are on their own posts.  Julie Price said that John Daus of Johnny’s was instrumental in getting Anheuser-Busch to donate the money that paid for the entry markers. Ziemann noted that when Anheuser-Busch made that donation, it freed up money that the Mardi Gras Foundation had granted for the project that the foundation then allowed to be used for the new security cameras.

Safety Report:

Nothing beyond what was said during the Police Report. Ziemann noted that Scott Plackemeier and Jim Rick are serving as co-chairmen of the committee.

Adjournment:

The meeting adjourned at 8:05 p.m.