MAY 2022 BOARD MEETING MINUTES
May Board Meeting
May 18, 2022
Approved Minutes
1. Call to Order + Opening Remarks
Jim called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m.
Board Members present included: Jim Dallas, Past President; Debby Brown, Treasurer; Chris Currington, Secretary; Abbey Bethel, President-Elect; Nancy Lambert; Craig Markham; Stephen Shuman; and Gary Toribio.
Board Members absent included: Michael Pastore, President; Margi Koors; and Karen Moske.
Jim Dallas conducted the meeting and welcomed all attendees.
2. Minutes of the Previous Monthly Board Meeting
Chris Currington said that the draft minutes of the March 16 and April 20 Board meetings had been added to the Soulard Google Drive. He received no additional changes to the March 16 meeting minutes, and minor changes to the April 20 meeting minutes. Chris asked for a motion to accept both the March 16 and April 20 Board Meeting minutes as final.
Abbey Bethel made the motion to accept the meeting minutes as final. Craig Markham seconded the motion.
All Board Members present voted in favor to accept the March 16 and April 20 Board Meeting minutes as final.
No votes opposed it.
The motion to accept the March 16 and April 20 Board Meeting minutes as final passed.
(Jim Dallas referenced the bylaws and the number of Board Members who needed to be present to vote and approve motions.)
3. Financial Report
Debby Brown said that the financial report she was giving ran from July 1, 2021, to May 16, 2022. Gross profit is up to ~$66,000, with expenses ~$55,000. SRG’s cash balance was ~$79,000.
Jim Dallas reminded those present that all of the Membership Party expenses hadn’t been booked yet. Debby said that Julie Price, Membership Committee Chair, had some remaining check requests, but most (food, band, Star Awards, posters, flyers, etc.) had come through.
Debby said that for the fiscal year, the Soulard Station Committee had budgeted $4,100 for utilities, but the bills were now adding up to $4,800. Jim said that next month, they’d work to figure out why the committee is over budget. (One of the solar panels may not be working, which is out of the Station’s control. Jim offered to contact Billy Tomber about this.) Nancy Lambert asked what month the utility bills started going up. Debby said in November, and electricity has gone up every month since. Nancy asked if all power/energy at the Station is electric. Debby said it was all electric.
2. Guest – Andrew Weil from Landmarks Association
Jim Dallas welcomed Andrew Weil and said that in March, Neil Putz presented the idea of SRG contributing to the Landmarks Associations’ shutters program for the building it’s renovating on 9th Street. The Board asked Neil to have Andrew appear before and present to the Board.
Andrew thanked everyone present. He is the Executive Director of the Landmarks Association, a nonprofit organization established in 1959. Andrew said the Association has three pillars: education; advocacy; and promotion. Before Covid hit, the lease ran out on the Association’s building in the Central West End. The property on 9th Street near Soulard Street, was donated to the Association and is currently being renovated.
Andrew discussed a survey map of St. Louis and buildings that can be rehabilitated for contemporary use, and he showed the donated property. The building has been vacant since 1980 and was in bad shape. The Association has a small revolving fund for working on eligible projects. Andrew showed how the building is today; the front was bowing unsustainably over the sidewalk and the brick was a problem. They rebuilt that, and the Association is now calling the building the “Soulard Settlers’ Cottage” at 1805-1807 9th Street. Based on all of the materials, the building was built before the Civil War. With the building also came the alley house that will remain residential. A cedar-shake roof has been added since this is historical and evidenced by previous photos.
(At this point (7:25 p.m.), Chris Currington had to exit the meeting for a family emergency. Gary Toribio volunteered to take over the minutes-taking. What follows are Gary’s notes.)
During the Landmarks Associations’ presentation, Andrew explained that the renovation project budget is $900,000 to convert the building(s) into the Association’s primary offices, classroom, and library, while retaining the existing apartment in the rear.
To date, $570,000 of the funding had been raised. The expected completion date is currently Fall of 2022. The Association’s total annual budget is approximately $200,000. Andrew explained that they continue to seek funding from sponsors for any aspect of the project.
Landmarks Association has a specific program for donations toward window shutters on the front elevation facing S. 9th Street, as well as the first-floor shutters in the rear of the building. These shutters are being custom made to resemble the shutters originally on the building in the 1850s/1860s. A set of shutters on each side of a window costs approximately $2,150 and donors can sponsor only one shutter for half the cost.
There will be a donor board in the building on their website. The inside of the shutters will also have a brass plate with the sponsor’s name.
Jim showed the Board the Landmark Association’s flyer for the shutter program that Neil Putz provided to the Board at the March 2022 meeting.
Andrew said SRG and/or its members could donate any amount for the “Soulard Settlers’ Cottage” project, and it would be greatly appreciated. He also said some pledges have been spread over two years, but donations are actually needed as soon as possible.
Andrew completed his presentation and left the Board Meeting at approximately 8 p.m. with the Board thanking him for the information.
After Andrew left the meeting, Jim suggested that the Board consider an SRG donation to Landmark Association’s project during the upcoming FY2023 budget process that has begun and should be completed in the next month or two.
After brief discussion, a motion to table consideration of an SRG donation to Landmarks Association until the next meeting of the Board in June 2022 was requested.
The motion to table consideration of the SRG donation to the Landmarks Association until the June 2022 meeting was made by Stephen Shuman. Craig Markham seconded.
All (six Board Members) voted in favor of the motion to table the consideration until the June 2022 meeting.
5. FY 2023 Budget
Jim Dallas provided an update on the budget process. Committees will present their budgets May 26 and June 8. They will start at 6:30 p.m. and end by approximately 8 p.m. Each Committee Chair has a 15-minute time slot; they’ll be in person at the Soulard Station, with an option for a Zoom conference participation. There were only eight committees making presentations. The CI&E and Development committees do not yet have chairs. Jim will draft those budgets and present them to the Board for consideration.
6. Concert Series
Jim Dallas said that he and Michael Pastore had been working on the concerts. The final dates are June 25 and Aug. 20. The bands and sound crews have been identified.
The Board approved generic contract templates for music and sound at the April Board Meeting. Jim explained that the final agreed-upon amounts have been entered on the contract forms and signed by the contractors.
Stephen Shuman and Debby Brown pointed out that the bylaws require all final contracts be provided to and approved by the Board before they can be executed on behalf of SRG. They asked that the final concert contracts be sent to all Board members for final approval and vote.
Jim explained that sponsors for the concert series are currently: Mardi Gras Inc. (MGI), $2,000; Soulard Business Association (SBA), $800; and Marybeth Wallace, $500.
Jim is continuing to work on liquor and other permits. For security, the Soulard Special Business District (SSBD) will have their roving patrol officer present at the concert.
The Board entered Executive Session at 8:25 p.m.
Gary Toribio made the motion to end Executive Session. Abbey Bethel seconded the motion. All voted in favor to exit Executive Session. Executive Session ended at 8:28 p.m., and the meeting returned to normal.
7. Soulard Station Protocols
Jim Dallas reviewed a PowerPoint presentation on the protocol for the Soulard Station and various details. He asked for comments from Board Members on the proposed protocols.
There was a motion that SRG request current Station users, including CID, SSBD, and MGI, sign the sample contract from the PowerPoint presentation and provide a Certificate of Insurance (COI) naming SRG as a covered insured.
The motion above was made by Gary Toribio. Abbey Bethel seconded.
All Board Members present voted in favor of the motion.
The motion passed.
Jim was to send out a Microsoft Word document with the protocols and Board Members are to reply with comments noted.
8. Bastille Day
There will be a May 19 Zoom call between SBA and SRG representative Beth Hoops, Stephen Shuman, Michael Pastore, and Jim Dallas.
The Bastille Day events will be held on July 16 and 17. The Zoom meeting will address issues regarding Soulard Sample Sunday, Royalty Roasts at various bars and restaurants, the band for the procession and parade, the carriage, selection of “the Royals,” etc.
9. Location of next General Membership meeting
Jim Dallas asked the Board’s opinion on having the next General Membership meeting at Sts. Peter & Paul’s Rose Room. The consensus was that the Rose Room would be fine.
10. Old Business
The Safety Walk is scheduled for Thursday, May 19, starting at 7:45 p.m.
Fiesta Chicken code and zoning issues: Jim Dallas explained that Michael Pastore has worked with the owner since the last Board of Adjustment Hearing. There are now stipulations that the take-out window not be on the building front elevation on Russell, and Fiesta Chicken will close by 9 p.m. rather than 10 or 11 p.m. as originally proposed. Jim suggested that Board Members with any questions speak with Michal Pastore.
11. Adjournment
Nancy Lambert made the motion to adjourn the meeting. Debby Brown seconded.
All voted in favor to adjourn the meeting.
The meeting adjourned at 9:17 p.m.