September 2019 General Meeting Minutes

Meeting Date: Wednesday, September 4, 2019

Location: American Legion Barlog-Kuszaj-Zero Post 422, 2601 S 11th St, St. Louis

Time: Meeting was called to order by the President at 7:05 p.m. 

  1. Introductions by President Scott Plackemeier

                          (Presence indicated by  ☑  -  Absence indicated by  ⦸)

SRG BOARD OFFICERS:

ELECTED OFFICIALS/REPRESENTATIVES

Scott Plackemeier (Pres./ Mtg Chair)

Jack Coatar – Alderman 7th Ward

Neil Putz (Vice President) 

Dan Guenther – Alderman 9th Ward

Christopher Schwarz (Treasurer)

☑      Marty Murray – Democratic

         Committee Person 7th Ward

Gary Toribio (Secretary)

DIRECTORS / SRG BOARD MEMBERS

☑     Taylor Bodine 

Sandy Colvin – Neighborhood Stabilization Officer (NSO) 7th Ward

    John Durnell 

    Beth Hoops 

Dena Hibbard – Neighborhood Stabilization Officer (NSO) 9th Ward

Marylin Morris John Durnell

SPECIAL GUESTS:

Dave Perry

Officer Sherdon Douglas, SLMPD

Billy Tomber (Exec Editor SRG Communications)

                       NEW SRG MEMBERS (In Attendance)

Pieces STL, LLC (James Lettu, Laura Later, and

Susan Appelbaum

                             Amy Rower)

Beth Bennett recognized for her return to SRG.

“Soulard Blaster weekly email newsletter” is referred to as the Blaster in these minutes.

  1. General Membership Minutes: Scott Plackemeier 

    1. Minutes from the SRG General Membership Meeting of August 7, 2019 should be available by the October 4, 2019 meeting

  2. Treasurer’s Report: Christopher Schwarz (Treasurer)

    1. The 2019-2020 Budget was to be discussed as a separate agenda item

  3. Police Report: Officer Sherdon Douglas

    1. The prior month’s crime statistics for Soulard were reviewed, and any questions from the membership were answered.

    2. Participation will be appreciated at the Central Patrol Division Police Foundation Trivia Night, November 15, 2019.

V. Budget Discussion and Vote to Approve: Scott Plackemeier

  1. Copies of the SRG Overall FY 2019-20 Annual Budget summary sheet with a basic breakdown of the major categories were available at the meeting.

  2. Detailed budgets for each category and committee were available online and the Blaster.

Approval of the SRG Overall FY 2019-20 Annual Budget as presented.

Motion by Dave Perry, 2nd by Carla Arrigo 

Those present voted in favor of this motion. No votes opposed it.

Motion passed unanimously

  1. NATIONAL NIGHT OUT Tuesday October 1, 2019: Scott Plackemeier 

    1. Street closures for NNO block parties need to be scheduled with the City at their website. The website is announced in the Blaster.

    2. Soulard Restoration Group Safety Committee is providing $100 for each block party registered to help provide for food and drink for you and your neighbors to enjoy on NNO.

    3. Once a block party has been registered, please the organizer can send an e-mail to president@soulard.org to arrange for a check.

  2. Old and New Business: Scott Plackemeier 

    1. SRG Board Meetings are scheduled for the third Wednesday evening of every month, 7pm, at Soulard Station, and are open to the General Membership.

    2. The historic signage initiative is currently on hold for SRG Board review/reconsideration of some issues.

    3. SRG Bylaws are 13 years old and will be reviewed by the Board for potential revisions this year.

    4. The minutes for previous meetings this year are still being assembled/prepared after several resignations, and Neil Putz has volunteered to do this as his time allows.

  3. Guests

    1. Terry Hoffman: Soulard Community Improvement District (CID)

      1. The CID Board positions are: Terry Hoffman will serve as Chairman and Treasurer.  Luke Reynolds will serve as Vice Chairman, and Phyllis Young will be Secretary.  At large members of the CID Board are Julie Price, John Durnell, Max Burton and Ryan King.  

      2. Terry provided a general update on the CID with more details in the Blaster. 

      3. All registered voters within the boundaries of the CID will be mailed a ballot by certified mail in early September 2019.  Each voter should complete the ballot and return it to Husch Blackwell, the legal representative for the CID, by September 24th.

      4. For more information visit soulardcid.org or contact the CID Board at info@soulardcid.org.Announcements

    1. Mardi Gras Costume Carnival, Saturday, September 28, 2019 at 12 PM – 5 PM, American Legion BKZ Post 422, 2601 S 11th St. See Blaster for more details.

    2. Several announcements were made by the President, Terry Hoffman and the Committee Reports which are in these minutes under their associated agenda item.

  1. Committee reports

    1. Soulard Station: Ann Austin

      1. Soulard Station’s front door has been replaced with a mail slot in the new one.

      2. Obtaining a mail sorter for each committee.

      3. Various other improvements were mentioned which are contained in the FY 2019-20 Annual Budget as approved at this meeting.

    2. Safety: Scott Plackemeier (for Sergio Sevillano)

      1. The National Night Out on October 1st is the main item as described earlier in the meeting.

      2. The next Safety Committee Meeting is Monday, Sept 30, at 7 p.m. – Soulard Station

    3. Membership: Margie Koors

      1. Currently there are 273 non-business members, 79 business members for a total of 352 SRG members.

      2. Nominations for the Star Awards can be made any time of the year.

      3. New 2019-2020 Membership Roster is now available at member sign-in table before meetings.

      4. Scheduling happy hours at new apartment complexes to recruit new members.

      5. Tonight’s Social is at Medusa’s Salon and La Belle Histoire, 2501 S 12th St

    4. Beautification: Richard Eaton

      1. "Art in the Garden", Artwork from the Garden Tour is being auctioned on Friday, September 27, 2019, 6pm, Soulard Station

      2. Committee is working on the lawn and landscaping at Soulard Station. A Workday intended for the week of September 9th.

      3. The Soulard Special Business District (SSBD) does the tree trimming for the neighborhood security cameras.

      4. Beautification Kick-Off for Oktoberfest Fund Raiser at Molly’s, Thursday October 10, 2019, 6pm. Suggest $20 donation at the door. There will also be a silent auction.

      5. Marybeth Wallace is stepping down as the Coordinator of the Beautification Committee Fundraisers at Molly’s after many years of very successful events. Her efforts have been greatly appreciated.

5. Residential Promotion: Beth Hoops

  1. Soulard Halloween Decorated Golf Cart Parade and Trunk or Treat, Friday October 25, 2019

  2. Santa to Soulard, December 15, 2019

  3. The date for the Vices and Virtues Ball is set and will be announced soon.

  4. Refer to the Blaster for more details on upcoming events.

  1. Communications: Beth Hoops

  1. The next Fall edition of the Soulard Renaissance newspaper has an article submission deadline of Friday, September 13th, and the Winter/Christmas edition will have a deadline relatively soon after that.

  2. Email articles to editor@soulard.org

  1. Parlour Tour: Beth Hoops

  1. Preparing and working on the event which is on the First weekend in December 7th & 8th

  2. Still looking for houses for tour

  3. The Committee will conduct a thorough history for each home on the Parlour Tour.

  1. Plan Review Team (PRT) / Code & Zoning - Jay Gibbs

  1. John Durnell is the recently named SRG Board Member liaison for the PRT/Code & Zoning Committee.

  2. 708-710 Allen explosion and demolition.

  3. 2200 S 11th St, new house

  4. 9th and Soulard Sts, Northwest corner, proposed 16 Apartments with 1st Floor commercial, a large project that will also be reviewed by the SRG Board.

  5. Twisted Ranch Restaurant code violations still in process with the City and appeals, etc.

  6. School at 12th and Allen Sts, progress unlikely due to deed restrictions on residential use and occupancy.

  1. Fundraising: Chris Schwarz

  1. The Summer Soulard Concert Series is complete and was a great success.

  2. An appreciation happy hour for the sponsors of the 2019 Concert Series will held on Sunday, October 6, 2019.

  3. Committee is already working on improvements to the Concert Series for the Summer of 2020

  4. Volunteers needed for the SRG Beer Booth at Oktoberfest – Soulard Market Park, Friday, Oct 11 & Saturday Oct 12.

  5. New committee members needed and can come to the next Fundraising Committee Meeting in September. See Blaster for details.

  6. The search is underway for a new vendor for Wreath Sales this year.

  7. Volunteer shirts are being printed.

XI. Partner Organizations

  1. American Legion - Chris Schwarz

    1. Next 3rd Friday Happy Hours, September 20 and October 18, 2019

    2. Planning a new Queen of Hearts Raffle on Tuesdays, more details TBA.

    3. First weekend in December, 12/6 & 7

  2. Soulard Business Association (SBA) – Beth Hoops

    1. Soulard Hayride Pub Crawl is on Thursday, October 24, 2019 Refer to the Blaster for additional information.

  3. Mardi Gras Inc. (MGI) - Gary Toribio

    1. MGI is busy with beverage concessions for outside events during the Fall with proceeds used for Mardi Gras events and operational costs.

    2. Planning and work on Mardi Gras 2020 are well underway for the upcoming season starting with 12th Night, Monday January 6, 2020.

    3. SRG was thanked for the efforts to clean out items stored at the Mardi Gras Foundation building/warehouse.  MGI recently did a thorough purge of the entire warehouse recently.

  1. Adjournment

Approval of Adjourning the Meeting.

Motion by Chris Schwartz, 2nd by Neil Putz.

Those present voted in favor of this motion. No votes opposed it.

Motion passed unanimously

    1. Meeting Adjourned at 8:27 p.m.

______________________________________________________________________

These minutes summarizing this meeting were prepared by SRG Secretary, Gary Toribio.

Date DRAFT Minutes Prepared: September 19, 2019

FOR APPROVAL at the SRG General Membership Meeting on 10/02/201

Please email any corrections or revisions to secretary@soulard.org

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.

______________________________________________________________________________

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September 2019 Board Meeting Minutes

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August 2019 Board Meeting Minutes