September 2019 Board Meeting Minutes
Soulard Restoration Group, Inc.
SEPTEMBER 2019 BOARD MEETING MINUTES
Wednesday, September 18, 2019
Soulard Station, 1911 S 12th St
Time called to order: 7:10 p.m. 9/18/2019
(A quorum existed with 9 of 10 Board members present.)
(Presence indicated by ☑ - Absence indicated by ⦸)
SRG BOARD OFFICERS:
DIRECTORS / SRG BOARD MEMBERS
☑
Scott Plackemeier (Pres./ Mtg Chair)
☑
Taylor Bodine
☑
Neil Putz (Vice Pres)
☑
John Durnell
☑
Christopher Schwarz (Interim Treasurer)
☑
Beth Hoops
☑
Gary Toribio (Secretary)
☑
Marilyn Morris
☑
Billy Tomber (Exec. Editor SRG Communications) Arrived at approx. 7:20pm
☑
Dave Perry________________________ SPEAKERS/OTHER ATTENDEES:
⦸
☑
Tracy Laxton, Chairperson, Station Comm.
⦸
☑
Ann Austin, Station Committee member
“Soulard Blaster weekly email newsletter” is referred to as the Blaster in these minutes.
Socialize and Dinner (provided by John Durnell)
Welcome new Secretary, Gary Toribio: Scott Plackemeier
Fill in of 2019 Meeting Minutes
Neil Putz previously volunteered to reconstruct minutes that were not previously prepared and have completed everything except a couple of Board Meeting minutes which he is attempting to obtain notes and information from previous board members/officers.
Once complete, they will be posted in the Blaster/online.
DRAFT/FOR APPROVAL Minutes of each of the SRG General Membership Meetings will be prepared and posted in the Blaster/online after the Month’s Board Meeting and considered for approval at the subsequent regular monthly General Membership Meeting.
The General Membership Minutes for the 8/7 & 9/04/2019 meetings will be posted and considered for approval at the 10/2/2019 Membership Meeting.
Minutes of the SRG Board Meetings will be prepared and distributed to Board Members to review for a week with any comments submitted to the Secretary. After this 1-week review and comment period, the Board Meeting Minutes will be finalized and posted in the Blaster/website prior to the next regular monthly General Membership Meeting.
Minutes of the SRG Board Meetings on 8/21 and 9/18/2019 will be posted in the Blaster/online prior to the 10/2/2019 General Membership Meeting. Speakers
Discussion of Soulard Station: Station Committee Chairperson Tracy Laxton and Committee Member Ann Austin
The Station committee received multiple requests from an active SRG member to briefly use the Soulard Station to propose to his intended Fiancée.
The Board had previously decided to not allow the Station to be rented and used in FY 2019-2020 by any individual members or the public for anything other than SRG events or meetings. The Soulard Station Committee is following this Board’s Policy.
Tracy and Ann looked to the Board to decide on the possible exception for this request due to the associated special circumstances.
Motion that the SRG Board make an exception and allow an SRG Member’s request to use the Soulard Station for less than one (1) hour with no food or beverage.
Motion by John Durnell, 2nd by Dave Perry.
Discussion: The Board decided not to change the policy of not allowing private use of Soulard Station. However, the Board has the right to consider granting any exceptions.
Any requests for special exceptions should be made to the Station Committee who will in turn present it to the SRG Board for consideration on a case by case basis.
8 votes in favor of this motion. 1 vote opposed it.
Motion passed.
Treasurer’s Report: Christopher Schwarz (Interim Treasurer)
The Board was provided the Profit and Loss Statement for July 1 – September 18, 2019
Progress is being made for a new Treasurer for FY 2019-2020.
Christopher Schwartz will continue to assist as the Treasurer until the October 16, 2019, SRG Board Meeting.
Bank accounts will need to be changed to provide signature authority for the new Treasurer and Secretary.
Upgrades for St. Peter and Paul Franklin Room: Neil Putz
Neil provided a summary of The Sts Peter & Paul Church initiative to install a new elevator to make their Franklin Room handicap accessible and ADA compliant.
Approximately $50,000 to $60,000 is needed for the project but the Church’s funding campaign has only raised $40,000 since May 2019.
Neil’s opinion was that the SRG would benefit from the Church’s Building and the Franklin Room being made accessible with the installation of this elevator. He recommended that the SRG contribute $5,000 to the Church’s elevator fund.
Motion that there be a vote at the next General Membership Meeting on October 2, 2019, for the Members to consider approving:
SRG providing up to $5,000 to Saints Peter and Paul Church to be used for the new ADA compliant elevator for access to the second floor of the Church’s building and the Franklin Room (816 Allen Ave.)
Motion by Billy Tomber, 2nd by Chris Schwartz.
Discussion: Neil is to contact the Church and investigate the possibility of having the Franklin Room rental fees waived for future SRG Events equivalent to all or part of the amount donated to the Church’s elevator fund. Board members were to email Neil any additional questions and he will have answers for the 10/2 General Membership Meeting.
Those present voted in favor of this motion. No votes opposed it.
Motion passed unanimously
Motion that the SRG Board is in favor of and recommends the donation to Saints Peter and Paul Church for the elevator fund.
Motion by Billy Tomber, 2nd by Chris Schwartz.
Those present voted in favor of this motion. No votes opposed it.
Motion passed unanimously
CID Endorsement via Email Motion and Board Votes
Motion that the SRG endorse and support the current campaign (for the sales tax ballot initiative) of the new Soulard Community Improvement District [CID] and encourage those within the CID boundaries to vote YES on the question for the creation of the 1% sales tax on the mail-in ballot.
As allowed for in the By-Laws this Motion was made via email by Billy Tomber, 2nd by John Durnell both on September 11, 2019
Board Votes via email were submitted to the President by September 12, 2019.
Motion passed unanimously.
(Copy of associated email chain provided as the last page of these minutes.)
Old Business: Scott Plackemeier
Board Goals for 2019/2020 were reviewed
Ad Hock Committee to review the By-Laws for potential revisions. (See separate item below.)
Minutes up to date.
Being worked on by Neil Putz. And new Secretary will ensure minutes are current going forward.
C. Minutes up to date.
Being worked on by Neil Putz. And new Secretary will ensure minutes are current going forward.
Develop goals and future direction for Soulard Station.
Work in progress.
Coordinate Social event for other Soulard Non-Profits, SSBD, CID, etc.
Work in progress.
SRG Financial Audit
An accountant that specializes in Non-Profits is being contacted to determine their interest. The new Treasurer will be following-up on this.
SRG Signage Project
The final wording for the signs is being reviewed and back checked. Some signs need to be redone/replaced.
The Board will then consider resuming the project.
A punch list has been developed to ensure the contractor completes all details for each sign installation.
By-Law review and revisions
Gary Toribio volunteered to lead this committee.
Several members previously volunteered to assist with this.
National Night Out (Tues 10/1/2019)
Scott Plackemeier reported that there were only 4 requests for the SRG $100 to assist with block parties. The locations of these parties will be mentioned in the next Blaster.
Scott will submit check requests to the Treasurer for each of the block parties.
New Business
Participation in the Central Patrol Division Police Foundation Trivia Night, November 15, 2019
Motion that SRG purchase a table for the Central Patrol Division Police Foundation Trivia Night
Motion by Christopher Schwarz, 2nd by Beth Hoops.
Those present voted in favor of this motion. No votes opposed it.
Motion passed unanimously
Scott Plackemeier reported that SRG Board may be approached in the future by an organizer for a possible one-time event in 2020 involving a petting zoo in Soulard Market Park. (Details to be provided as they become available.)
IX. Liaison reports
Soulard Station: Marilyn Morris
Status of approved repairs and replacements in the approved budget.
Reviewing alternatives for cabinet replacement in Kitchen
Mail Sorter for Committees are installed.
Plan Review Team (PRT) / Code & Zoning: John Durnell
John Durnell to attend future PRT meetings.
9th and Soulard Sts, Northwest corner, proposed 16 Apartments with 1st Floor commercial.
Still under design by Developer and their architect.
Scott Plackemeier thinks the Developer may conduct an open house to review the project after plans are prepared.
(Large project to be reviewed by SRG Board after PRT.
`Beautification: John Durnell
"Art in the Garden" auction, Friday, September 28, 2019, 6pm, Soulard Station
Beautification Kick-Off for Oktoberfest Fund Raiser at Molly’s, Thursday October 10, 2019, 6pm.
Landscaping/gardening work slowing down for the Fall season.
New committee members are needed and being recruited.
Communications / Renaissance: Billy Tomber
Soulard Renaissance out approx. 9/27/2019 and next Holiday edition to be distributed in Mid-November.
Technical alternatives for reoccurring payments of dues automatically for renewals each year. Work in progress.
Parlour Tour: Beth Hoops
First weekend in December. (12/7 & 12/8)
Homeowners' Happy Hour on 9/19 including recruiting for more houses for tour
At this time 4 homes have committed to the tour; the committee is working to add 3 more homes
House history research has begun for homes which have committed to this year's tour
Residential Promotion: Taylor Bodine
Soulard Halloween Decorated Golf Cart Parade and Trunk or Treat, Friday October 25, 2019
Safety: Scott Plackemeier
National Night Out on October 1st
Membership: Dave Perry
Star Awards nominations
9. Fundraising: Billy Tomber
Appreciation Happy Hour for the Sponsors of the 2019 Concert Series, Hammerstones, Sunday, October 6, 2019, with beverages left from the last concert that was cancelled due to weather.
Doing well with sign-up of Volunteers for the SRG Beer Booth at Oktoberfest – Friday, Oct 11 & Saturday Oct 12.
New vendor for Wreath Sales this year and Volunteer shirts are being worked.
Adjournment
Motion to Adjourn the Meeting.
Motion by Marilyn Morris, 2nd by Neil Putz.
Those present voted in favor of this motion. No votes opposed it.
Motion passed unanimously
Meeting Adjourned at approximately 9:15pm
______________________________________________________________________
These minutes summarizing this meeting were prepared by SRG Secretary, Gary Toribio.
Minutes Approved by SRG Board on October 16, 2019
Note: The above information is the Board Secretary’s understanding of the motions, votes and general issues that were discussed but are not intended to be a verbatim transcript of the meeting.
______________________________________________________________________________
From: Scott Plackemeier <slplackemeier@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, Sep 12, 2019 at 9:15 AM
Subject: Re: Motion: SRG endorsement for YES vote on CID ballot
To: board@soulard.org, Taylor Bodine bodinetaylor@gmail.com, Beth Hoops beth.hoops@gmail.com, neilputz (neilputz@charter.net) neilputz@charter.net, Schwarz, Christopher christopherbschwarz@gmail.com, billy@soulard org billy@soulard.org, John Durnell jdurnell@emharris.com, Marilyn Morris marilynmorris2622@gmail.com, Gary Toribio garyt1@pm.me, soulardave1@gmail.com
Board,
The motion for SRG to endorse a YES vote on the CID ballot has passed unanimously.
Thank you all
Scott
On Wed, Sep 11, 2019 at 8:13 AM Billy Tomber <billy@soulard.org> wrote:
Boardmates:
As some may recall, the SRG Board endorsed and supported the creation of the Soulard Community Improvement District [CID] back in 2017.
However, The SRG Board did not specifically endorse the Sales Tax ballot initiative – as the election could not happen until the CID came into being, which it did last month.
As such, I am now making the following motion:
That the SRG endorse and support the current campaign of the new Soulard Community Improvement District [CID] and encourage those within the CID boundaries to vote YES on the question for the creation of the 1% sales tax on the mail-in ballot.
Knowing the ballots must be received by the hard deadline Sep 24, I will ask the Board to vote as quickly as reasonable. You will note that members do have 7 days to reply to email votes.
We do not meet until Sep 18, which I believe is late to come out in favor.
This “endorsement and support” motion does not include any funding, but rather communication in favor of the issue in coordination with the CID Board. For those wondering, as a 501c3, SRG is prohibited from endorsing any candidate but can come out in favor of ballot questions like this. I ran this by Bill Clendenin last night and that gels with my research.
I welcome a Second and, upon receiving such, discussion.
In a subsequent email, it was seconded by John Durnell jdurnell@emharris.com on Wednesday, September 11, 2019 8:15 AM
Scott will of course mediate the conversation and tally the votes.
If you have a question for the CID Board specifically, feel free to reach out to Chair Terry Hoffman at info@soulardcid.org.
The CID Board is made up of:
Terry Hoffman - Chairman and Treasurer
Luke Reynolds - Vice Chairman
Phyllis Young - Secretary
Julie Price, John Durnell, Max Burton and Ryan King - At large members
Thank you for your time and consideration. - Thanks, all. Billy