SRG BOARD MEETING MINUTES JUNE 2024

Written By Abby Goodson

Wednesday, June 19, 2024 at 7PM

PRESENT
Officers: Abbey Bethel, Past President; Adriano Martinez, President; Amanda Ramcharan, President-Elect; Debby Brown, FY24 Treasurer; Neil Putz, FY25 Treasurer; Abby Goodson, Secretary

Directors: Beth Bennett, Joy Christensen, Paula Dostal, Aaron Terry, Wade Weistreich, Alan Ziegler

REGRETS
None

LOCATION
Soulard Station  |  1911 South 12th Street

Call to Order/Opening Remarks

Meeting called to order at 7:04pm by Adriano Martinez

FY25 Budget Presentations

Beautification — Jeff Weitzel presented:

  • FY24 goal status:

    • Painted and restored the gazebo in Aboussie Park.

    • Planted street pots/completed soil renovation project.

    • Enhanced street pot plants with shrubs and quality plants.

    • Enhanced green spaces .

    • Held successful events (art and floral auction and Oktoberfest fundraiser).

    • Initiated first-ever pot decorating contest for the holidays and Mardi Gras.

  • FY25 goals:

    • Complete watering contract to pay for the pots to be watered outside of the CID boundaries.

    • Install sculpture in Pontiac Square Park near the stairwell entrance.

    • Update In Memoriam plants in the Soulard Market Park’s Celebration Garden.

    • Host Art + Floral event on August 24.

    • Host Patio Crawl on September 28 with 6–10 properties.

  • FY25 budget proposal total profit: $12,100

Code & Zoning and Plan Review Team (PRT) — Walker Hamilton presented:

  • FY24 goal status:

    • Began regular bi-monthly meetings.

    • Worked on a list for 2024 project awards.

  • FY25 goals:

    • Create materials for training/education sessions for neighborhood business owners and rehabbers.

    • Produce 2024–2025 project awards.

    • Involvement/participation in the St. Louis Strategic Land Use Plan (SLUP).

    • Produce Gene Slay’s Girls & Boys Club materials for visualizations/architectural imagery (not architectural plans) to see a vision for what the neighborhood wants to see when they vacate the property.

    • Write articles for local publications (Soulard Renaissance, NextSTL, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, The St. Louis American).

  • FY25 budget proposal total losses: $5,350

Community Involvement & Events (CI&E) — Brad Pitlyk presented:

  • FY24 goal status: 

    • Established and tested events with intent to make each event affordable and easy to participate for all (Soulard Rummage Sale and Movies in the Park).

    • Ensured continuation of the long standing Bastille Day event.

    • Identified smaller, repeatable, and consistent events that can last year round to allow for involvement of all members of the neighborhood that may be underrepresented by the SRG and to bring interest to SRG membership.

  • FY25 goals:

    • Continue to build on the successful events from the first year of operation such as the Movies in the Park series and the Rummage Sale.

    • Expand Bastille Day to be a full weekend celebration.

    • Introduce house decorating contests throughout the year.

  • FY25 budget proposal total losses: $6,000

Development — Jim Dallas presented:

  • FY24 goal status:

    • Rebooted the committee, recruited members, and built relationships with the members of other committees.

  • FY25 goals:

    • Build on existing events and programs: Oktoberfest, merchandise, and Summer Concert Series.

  • FY25 budget proposal total profit: $7,400

Membership — Julie Price presented:

  • FY24 goal status:

    • Engaged new members at social events.

    • Paid attention to who renewed and if membership had lapsed.

  • FY25 goals:

    • Complete FY24 goal of creating a membership marketing brochure to distribute throughout the neighborhood.

    • Find a new membership chair and have a successful transition.

    • Develop volunteerism action to encourage participation of new and existing members.

    • Create a promotional plan to market to Soulard residents and friends of Soulard in other neighborhoods.

  • FY25 budget proposal total losses: $7,000

Parlour Tour — Jeanne Kirby presented:

  • FY24 goal status:

    • Maintained the quality and integrity of the Holiday Parlour Tour. 

    • Marketed the Holiday Parlour Tour.

  • FY25 goals:

    • Same goals as FY24.

  • FY25 budget proposal total profit: $5,375

Communications Committee (ComCom) — Brenton Henry presented:

  • FY24 goal status:

    • Continued to improve communications infrastructure.

    • Completed the redesign of the website. 

  • FY25 goals:

    • Continue to modernize email infrastructure with a focus on merging data sources.

    • Work across committees to improve cross-committee website input.

    • Develop a more comprehensive communications strategy focusing on neighborhood issues and community priorities.

  • FY25 budget proposal losses: $732

Historical — Veronica Putz presented:

  • FY24 goal status:

    • Developed and implemented projects to research, document, archive and publicize historical information associated with Soulard.

    • Provided historical research services to SRG.

    • Built and increased the historical legacy of the Soulard neighborhood.

  • FY25 goals:

    • Develop Soulard ghost tour. 

    • Continue to archive information to the SRG Google Cloud.

  • FY25 budget proposal total losses: $1,200

FY24 Budget Approvals

  • Membership Committee requested a budget increase for the Membership Drive on May 1, 2024 to cover reimbursements. Neil Putz motioned to increase the line item from $5,500 to $6,900. Joy Christensen seconded. The motion to approve the increase passed unanimously.

  • Membership Committee requested a budget increase for the four Membership Awards. Wade Weistreich motioned to increase the line item from $600 to $713. Neil Putz seconded. The motion to approve the increase passed unanimously.

  • Safety Committee requested a budget increase for the volunteer refreshments after the Spring Safety Walk. Abbey Bethel motioned to increase the line item from $200 to $262. Aaron Terry seconded. The motion to approve the increase passed with one abstention.

  • Beautification Committee requested a budget increase for garden equipment. Joy Christensen motioned to increase the line item from $300 to $334. Paula Dostal seconded. The motion to approve the increase passed unanimously.

  • Beautification Committee requested a budget increase for vegetation plantings. Aaron Terry motioned to increase the line item from $3,000 to $3,081. Abbey Bethel seconded. The motion to approve the increase passed unanimously.

  • Board requested a budget increase for the dues/subscriptions line item. Neil Putz motioned to increase the line item from $1,015 to $1,045. Paula Dostal seconded. The motion to approve the increase passed with one abstention.

  • Board requested a budget increase for the insurance line item. Aaron Terry motioned to increase the line item from $3,616 to $4,200. Amanda Ramcharan seconded. During discussion, a board member suggested that SRG look into a blanket insurance policy versus individual event policies. The motion to approve the increase passed unanimously.

  • A recommendation was made to change the policy and procedures of approving a budget within a variance (small percentage, 3–5%). Further discussion is needed.

Treasurer’s Report 

Neil Putz recommends conducting a training session with committee chairs and liaisons so they can learn how to properly manage their budget and establish expectations.

FY25 Budget Discussion

Beautification

  • Adjusted Oktoberfest income to $15,000 (from $18,000).

  • Adjusted Patio Crawl income to $1,000 (from $2,000).

CI&E

  • Increased Movies in the Park budget to $3,600.

ComCom 

  • No comments.

Development

  • No comments.

Historical

  • Recommended an increase in historical research pricing for income.

Membership

  • Recommended the events line item could potentially partner with other committees (CI&E).

Parlour Tour

  • No comments.

PRT

  • Approved the budget with the condition to create an AdHoc committee for the Girls and Boys Club Development line item. 

Properties/Station

  • Recommended an additional quote for the roof replacement because it seemed high. Wade Weistreich will work to get additional quote.

  • Adjust policies/procedures to increase the cost of renting out the Station.

Safety

  • No comments.

Overall

  • Total income: $79,275

  • Total expenses: $132,637

  • Net loss: $53,362

  • Aaron Terry motioned to approve the FY25 budget. Paula Dostal seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

Secretary’s Report

Abby Goodson asked for a motion to approve the May Board Meeting minutes. Beth Bennett motioned. Wade Weistreich seconded. The motion to approve the minutes passed unanimously. 

New Business

8th Ward Consortium

  • Hosting September 17 meeting at the Station. Board members are welcome to attend.

PPCS Meeting

  • Neighborhood meeting on Monday, June 24 from 5–7pm at SBAC from Andre Cole of the Urban City Services.

  • A summary of results will be available for the Board post meeting.

Membership Chair Position is Open

  • Looking for an energetic chair who will get renters involved by flyering large buildings and local businesses.

Adjourn 

Wade Weistreich motioned to adjourn at 10:21 pm. Paula Dostal seconded. The motion passed unanimously. 

Action Items

  • Adriano Martinez will share the Board the letter he received from PPCS to the Board.

  • Board members should keep their eyes open for a potential Membership Chair to take over.

Next Meeting

Wednesday, July 17, 2024 at 7pm

Abby Goodson
Previous

SRG BOARD MEETING MINUTES JULY 2024
Next

SRG GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING JULY 2024