DECEMBER 2022 GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING MINUTES DRAFT

SRG DECEMBER 2022 GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING

Dec. 7, 2022

DRAFT Minutes

1. Call to Order + Opening Remarks

Board Members present included: Abbey Bethel, President Elect, Debby Brown, Treasurer; Chris Currington, Secretary; Margi Koors; Nancy Lambert; Karen Moske; Craig Markham; Stephen Shuman; and Gary Toribio. 

Committee Chairs present included: Richard Eaton, Beautification; Brenton Henry, Communications; Veronica Putz, Historical; Julie Price, Membership; Jeanne Kirby, Parlour Tour; and Bonita Leiber, co-chair, Soulard Station.

Elected Officials and Special Guests present included: Dan Guenther, Alderman, Ward 9; Terry Hoffman, Community Improvement District (CID); and Luke Reynolds, Soulard Special Business District (SSBD).

Abbey Bethel, President-Elect, called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m. and welcomed everyone to the last SRG General Membership meeting of 2022. 

2. Committee Reports

  a. Membership 

Julie Price, Membership Committee chair, discussed a new tradition – the bingo cards and beans on the tables. After every committee chair gives their update, they get to pick a bingo number. When someone wins bingo, they get a $25 gift card to Vincent’s Market. Next year, the committee will charge $1 per bingo card, up to $3, to offset the cost of the cards. 

Julie referenced a signup sheet for the after-meeting socials in 2023. The social after this meeting was to be at Abby and Dillon Goodson’s home. They were homeowners who volunteered their home for the recent Parlour Tour. 

Julie asked any new members to introduce themselves. New members were:

  * James Sgroi and Mary Schlesinger 

  * Cliff DeGroot

Julie then discussed the Ambassador contest (the member who brings in the most new SRG members will be recognized at the May Membership Drive) and the SRG business cards (about joining SRG that members can take and give to new neighbors). 

The Membership Committee would like to start a group that will attend other neighborhood association (Lafayette Square, Lasalle Park, etc.) meetings and see what they’re doing. If anyone was interested, they were asked to get in touch with Julie. 

  b. Parlour Tour 

Jeanne Kirby, Parlour Tour Committee chair, said that the Parlour Tour was held the previous Saturday. There were seven homes, 10 tours (of 24 people each), and sold out at 240 attendees. The Fete de Noel was also held the previous Saturday with 160 guests attending. 

Jeanne thanked the homeowners who participated. She then thanked the volunteers. The sponsors also came through this year with $9,150. There was a problem with a previous bus company used for the tour not having enough employees. The committee called around and was able to have buses donated and only paid drivers, which helped raise even more money (no bus rental or gas charges).  

Jeanne gave a special thank you to her committee; everyone worked tirelessly this year. Billy Tomber gave Jeanne an update about the money raised: the gross sales for the Parlour Tour and Fete de Noel was ~$13,000; after the Square (point of sale) fees, the total was ~$12,750. With the money from the sponsors, the total will be over ~$20,000. 

Each guest for the Parlour Tour received a white, glass ornament. These ornaments ($7 each), along with the Parlour Tour posters ($3 each) were for sale at the meeting. 

  c. Plan Review Team 

Jay Gibbs, PRT Chair, said that this committee works with homeowners on Soulard code, but the city makes final decisions. There aren’t many projects going on at this time. Jay gave updates about:

  * 2216 S. 11th Street

  * 9th and Soulard Street

  * Drunken Fish wanting to open a new place in Soulard (owner wanted parking concessions, but nothing has been heard since)

After 17 years as PRT Committee chair, Jay announced that he was stepping down. Walker Hamilton is the new Chair of the PRT Committee. Walker introduced himself and said he’s looking forward to working with people in the neighborhood. 

There was a standing ovation for Jay’s service to the PRT committee and SRG. 

  d. Communications 

Brenton Henry, Communications Committee chair, said there had been an issue with some of the point-of-sale systems. However, Square released new hardware that was used at the Molly’s Oktoberfest (Beautification Committee) fundraiser that was fantastic. It has bigger buttons, chip reader, tap-to-pay, Venmo, etc. The committee is going to order a second unit. 

The committee is working to update the website, but this is going to take a lot of time. Brenton still needs to meet with a couple of the committee chairs about what they’re looking for in an updated website. 

Anyone who gets email from SRG inboxes could have issues with spam email. The email configurations are in need of an update. Constantine, who recently joined the Communications Committee, is working on the email system. He’s spent a lot of time going through every email that has come through. Brenton and Billy Tomber are slowly working through this and how to configure it.  

  e. Historical 

Neil Putz, Historical Committee member, gave three updates:

  1. The committee did a great job on the deep research of the seven homes on the Parlour Tour. Now, the committee will focus on four homes that have purchased the research. 

  2. The committee will continue with a series of guest speakers and training beginning in January.

  3. The Landmarks Association has been wrapping up the restoration of a building on 9th Street, and they are almost ready to open. SRG is a friend of theirs, and they are focused on history. To assist their funding, the Landmarks Association is/was looking for donations for shutters. SRG donated a pair of shutters to the Association and its building. 

  f. Beautification 

Richard Eaton, Beautification Committee chair, said that this is the time of year when the committee isn’t as active. He said the time the committee spent in Pontiac Square Park during the summer required a lot of time. They also spent a lot of time watering the plant pots (50) throughout the neighborhood. Richard gave Marilyn Morris a special thank you for lending her golf cart to help with the watering. 

Richard also recognized Luke Reynolds, who helps with the Beautification fundraiser every year. This year, Luke gave a $10,000 donation to SRG for the purchase of a sculpture. This was a wonderful contribution and commitment to Soulard’s beautification. 

  g. Soulard Station

Gary Toribio, Board Liaison to the Soulard Station Committee, said that Bonita Leiber has a desire to get the station used more. There will be an interim trial period for SRG Members to use the station for personal purposes. Responsible members will be those in good standing and have volunteered for at least one event in the last year. If anyone is interested in using the station, they can email station@soulard.org. The maximum duration to use the building will be four hours, and all events must end by 11:30 p.m. There will be a nominal fee of $50 to use the building, plus the security deposit. The member will also need to get insurance ($100-200) through a designated insurance carrier. There will be more information in The Blaster (SRG emailed newsletter). 

3. Treasurer’s Report 

Debby Brown, Treasurer, said that SRG is currently four months into the fiscal year, and fundraising is up to ~$36,000. This does not include income from the Parlour Tour or Oktoberfest. The current cash balance is at ~$76,000. 

4. Secretary’s Report 

The draft of the October General Membership minutes had been added to the SRG website. There were no questions, comments, or changes received. 

Craig Markham made the motion to accept the draft of the October General Membership meeting as final. Jeanne seconded the motion. 

The vote was taken. 

All voted in favor. 

The motion to accept the draft of the October General Membership meeting as final passed

5. Soulard Neighborhood Organizations

  a. CID 

Terry Hoffman, chairman of the CID, explained that it’s funded by a 1% sales tax. The biggest undertaking for the organization currently is the traffic calming. There was a big meeting back in the summer where the consultants presented research and findings, but the CID is waiting on the final report. 

The CID is working with the Board of Aldermen to get speed humps installed in the neighborhood. There will be 35 of them, with around half on the east/west streets, and half on the north/south streets. There will be a map on the CID’s website that will show the locations of the speed humps. Unfortunately, there will be no speed humps on Russell or 12th Street because of transit rules. 

As for street trees, the city’s Forestry Department is planting trees. The CID planted about 30 trees previously, and Forestry is planting 50 more. In total, there will be 120 trees planted. The CID will also be paying for the watering service to make sure the trees get watered. When all the trees are planted, the CID will inventory the empty tree wells to get trees planted in them as well. 

Regarding the Soulard Clean Team, in the past, Sts. Peter & Paul had people walking and cleaning debris along the streets. As of Jan. 1 or 15, this effort will be expanded to five days a week, for three or four hours a day, from the Soulard Market to the Anheuser Busch brewery, and from Broadway to the expressway. They’ll be cleaning sidewalk to sidewalk and in the alleys. 

Terry said the CID is getting ready to put out a request for proposals for permanent street banners. They will receive bids from various agencies. John Durnell added that some of the signs will be used to promote events in the neighborhood. The CID has also hired a third party to come and pick up bulk trash once a month. 

There was then a discussion about a notary public that the CID hires and who can help SRG members if they need a resource. 

There was a question about an email address or phone number that can be used to contact the Clean Team. Terry said there will be an email and phone number that will be set up.  

  b. SSBD

Luke Reynolds, current chairman of SSBD, said they are supported through real estate taxes, and their overall mission is neighborhood safety. It pays for the patrol cars around the neighborhood, and it was also involved in the traffic calming study with the CID. The SSBD also has cameras throughout the neighborhood. The SSBD also has a program where it distributes car clubs (to prevent auto theft) at no cost. If anyone is interested, they were encouraged to see Luke or Billy Tomber. 

  c. Mardi Gras Inc. (MGI)

Gary Toribio, MGI board member and SRG representative, said that Mardi Gras season is upon us. 12th Night, to petition the MGI board to hold Mardi Gras, will be Jan. 6 at the South Broadway Athletic Club. After the petition, there will be a parade around Soulard. The website for MGI is stlmardigras.org, and tickets for some of the events are already being sold. At SRG’s February General Membership meeting, MGI staff and executive director will be present to discuss more about Mardi Gras activities in Soulard. 

Nancy Lambert, MGI board member and SRG representative, talked about the Family Winter Carnival and the BOS Shoebox Float Gallery (competition). This year, it is hoped that child participants will be able to ride on a float in the Purina Pet Parade (also part of the Mardi Gras activities). All information for the BOS Shoebox Float Gallery is available online at https://stlmardigras.org/events/family-winter-carnival. The theme for the shoebox floats is “Anything Goes.” Participants create their shoebox floats, and then submit online. 

Nancy also said the Family Winter Carnival is moving to the Lift for Life school and they will be using the multipurpose room. There will be entertainment, crafts, and all kinds of activities for children. 

  d. Sts. Peter & Paul

Neil Putz said that the Archdiocese, through it’s “All Things New” campaign, has made the decision that it will probably be shuttering Sts. Peter & Paul, and he asked the members to consider the ramifications. It has a homeless shelter, provides Meals on Wheels, etc. Neil appeared at an SRG Board meeting, and the directors supported the writing of strong letter that was signed by the SRG president. Neil hand carried the letter to the Sts. Peter & Paul rectory, and it will be going into an appeal book. Neil said that Sts. Peter & Paul is a monument and flagship in Soulard, and he thanked others who had also written letters of support. 

6. Aldermen Update

Dan Guenther, Alderman, Ward 9, said that he and Jack Coatar, Alderman, Ward 7, will not be running again. He introduced Cara Spencer, who will be running for alderman. 

There are many bills that need to be worked through in the next two weeks before winter break. There was a town hall the previous evening for the new police chief appointment in the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. 

Cara Spencer then introduced herself. 

7. Crime Report 

In Officer Kevin Dilg’s absence, Abbey Bethel gave the highlights of the crime report. 

8. President’s Update – Upcoming Elections

Abbey said the selection of the members of the Nominating Committee is complete. The members are Abbey Bethel, Michael Pastore, Veronica Putz, Neil Putz, Nancy Lambert, Chris Currington, and Jeanne Kirby. Currently, the open positions are President-Elect, Secretary, and three Director positions. 

Below is the timeline for the Nominating Committee:

  * Now through January - Nominating Committee search for candidates 

  * February General Membership Meeting - announce initial slate

  * March General Membership Meeting - announce any changes to slate

  * April General Membership Meeting - voting occurs

Abbey said that if anyone knows of a good candidate, to please let her or a member of the Nominating Committee know. 

9. Adjourn

Julie Price made the motion to adjourn the meeting. Margi Koors seconded

All voted in favor of adjourning the meeting at 8:17 p.m. 


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