Ellendale Meeting Notes for March 14, 2016
A PDF of the meeting notes can be downloaded by clicking here.
MEETING NOTES
Location: Abbott EMS, 2500 Abbott Place, St. Louis, Missouri
Meeting began at 7:03 pm
Recap of previous meeting minutes and discussion
Approval of minutes, January Meeting
Community Reports
Updates from Alderman Scott Ogilvie
Southwest Ave will be repaved. Need warmer weather to begin.
River des Peres Bike Trail: Matt Sisul invited Carey Bundy, project manager, from Great Rivers Greenway to future ENA meeting to discuss trail expansion.
Wilkinson School update: people have been walking through but no offers have been made.
Ald. Ogilvie praised the new event space on Manchester Ave, Majorette, which recently finished major renovations and is beginning to book party reservations.
City Hall
Primary election tomorrow 3/15/16.
April 5th Election: Vote to continue City earnings tax is on the ballet. City earnings tax represents 33% of City budget. The measure needs 50% of the vote to pass. According to Ald. Ogilvie, if not passed it would pose extreme
City budget challenges and shortcomings.
Prop F is also on the ballot: This Bond issue will approve funding for fire trucks, ambulances, bridges etc.
SLPS school district tax on ballot as well.
Community member interested in community garden in green space where Ellendale Ave dead-ends overlooking Southwest Ave
Update from Neighborhood Information Specialist (NIS) Andrew Hernandez
Yard waste back to regular cycle
Operation Brightside Blitz is underway providing resources to help beautify our neighborhoods. April or May are the recommended times to utilize these resources at www.brightside.stl.org, free seeds if register before April 30th.
Please report potholes & graffiti to the Citizen Service Bureau.
Concern about graffiti and trash under the train bridge on Southwest just west of McCausland. Andrew suggests reporting it to citizen service bureau. He will also check into it.
Concern: Railroad property retaining wall at Emilie street has rock and soil debris sliding down: Andrew will check it out.
Board Report
Treasurer’s Report (Joe Nea): ENA is currently in the red $225 for legal fees related to re-organization and re-filing with MO Secretary of State. Currently have 20 paid members and is seeking more.
Housing committee formation (Matt Sisul).
See addendum below.
Motion approved to form Housing Committee with three members.
Leslie Wilson from housing committee presented (handout) on housing market information for Ellendale Neighborhood.
Recap of the March 9th Rivers des Peres Greenway meeting
Angela Sebben presented summary handout of recent meeting included many details regarding new trail. More information can be found on the Great Rivers Greenway website: www.greatriversgreenway.org/river-des-peres-greenway-master-plan/.
New neighborhood project proposals (Slay Park Cleanup)
Matt stressed the importance of neighborhood clean-ups and the service opportunities they provide.
Saturday, April 2nd clean-up event will occur from 10am to Noon at Slay Park
Secretary Barry Marquart will be organizing event
Trash bags and gloves will be provided
Meet at parking lot near ball field
2016 Spring Community Yard Sale
Ten nearby neighborhoods having variety of yard sales on Saturday April 16th.
If interested send your name, address, and cell number in case they need to contact you to yardsale@cliftonheightsneighborhood.org by Sunday April 03, 2016
Motion was made to adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 8:03.
The next Ellendale Neighborhood Association meeting is scheduled for Monday, May 9th, at 7:00pm at Abbott EMS, 2500 Abbott Place, St. Louis
Reminder
Membership dues are $6 per adult per household. $24 per business. Dues help fund upcoming projects and must be up to date to vote on major issues, but are not required for general meeting attendance.
Addendum from above:
ENA Housing Committee Outline
Purpose: Standing Committee authorized by Article V of the Ellendale Neighborhood Association bylaws (adopted 11/09/2015) to serve as an advocate for general membership on housing and development issues that impact the neighborhood.
Members: minimum of one chairperson; even-numbered general members; per ENA bylaws, both president and vice-president serve ex officio.
Current Roster:
Lesley Wilson (Chairperson) – appointed
Jim Haislip (member)
Joan Merlo (member)
Meetings: committee to meet on an as-needed basis but no less frequently than once per quarter (calendar year)
Duties: evaluation of specific development proposals considered for the service area; identification of nuisance properties (nuisance or code) and follow-up with appropriate outlets (City, police, NST, etc) for their remediation; analysis of market health (including data collection & reporting), with recommendations for improvement; advocacy for membership and other residents of the service area (including but not limited to housing programs, quality-of-life issues, and development opportunity areas)
Committee can be expected to occasionally make recommendations of support/opposition to general membership on housing & development actions being considered.