Ellendale Meeting Notes for March 13, 2017
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 7:02 pm
Approval of Minutes, November Meeting Community Reports
Alderman Scott Ogilvie (24th Ward)
Review of April 4th election
Proposition 1 — half percentage sales tax for economic development purposes including North/South Metrolink accounting for 60% of the proposed tax. Other beneficiaries include neighborhood revitalization, workforce development, public safety, and upgrade of the city’s infrastructure. Requires 50% approval for passage.
Proposition 2 (contingent on passing of Proposition 1) — use of taxes for a portion of the construction cost of a multipurpose stadium downtown for an MLS soccer team, concerts, and community events. Requires 50% approval for passage.
Q: If prop 2 passes how much money will St. Louis tax payers pay?
A: Taxes will come from Prop 2 use tax on out-of-state purchases and taxes from Proposition 1.
Q: Does city have other game plan for stadium use?
A: It would be outdoor, twenty-thousand seat stadium. Other events would certainly occur there in an attempt to fill it up and use as much as possible.
Q: Why does the City want to eliminate Recorder of Deeds? (This will be voted on as well, Proposition A, Amendment of the City Charter to roll the Recorder of Deeds into the Assessor’s Office)
A: Ald. Ogilvie stated the City does not want to do this.
Ok Used Car lot has been completely demolished. The Gathering Church anticipates beginning construction in 2017.
Resident stated that Burlington Northern is moving a majority of its operations from Lindenwood Yards (located between the River des Peres and I-44) in our neighborhood to Fenton on the site of the former Chrysler auto plant. Resident asked what will happen with the old railway lines and site in general?
A: Ald. Ogilvie is not fully familiar with the situation, but he will look into it more.
Q: Are there any updates on the pending offer to buy Wilkinson school?
A: None
Kajuana Thomas (NSO, 24th Ward)
Still waiting to hear back regarding repairing/replacing damaged Slay Park playground equipment. Ald. Ogilvie will also follow up on this.
Special Guest Speakers
Andrew Jones, Jr. – Republican candidate for Mayor
Presented his platform
Elizabeth Simmons, Todd Antoine, and Angelica Gutierrez were present from the Great Rivers Greenway to provide an overview of the River des Peres Greenway extension project.
Elizabeth Simmons, Community Project Manager presented first.
Presentation updating River des Peres Greenway extension from Shrewsbury Metrolink station to Slay Park
History of Great Rivers Greenway including vision of River Ring Trail System
Goals include trail expansion promoting safe and easy access to the outdoors all year long.
Connecting landscape to rivers, nature using native landscapes to help control storm water runoff
Transportation alternative to vehicles
Trails have proven to increase property values
Trails receive two million visitors per year
Currently in the 6th phase of the expansion of the greenway
Traffic studies preceded construction
Route was described in meeting
See additional notes attached to end of meeting notes PDF.
Angelica Gutierrez, Project Manager for the Greenway
Review road lane closures
November is the anticipated completion time of project
Lanes will be open in both directions during construction — one northbound and one southbound
Q: Will they raise roadbed under bridgeo
A: NoAdditional information can be found on Great Rivers Greenway’s webite at http://greatriversgreenway.org/river-des-peres-greenway-master-plan/
Board Report
Treasurer’s Report (Joe Nea)
The current Balance is $ 370.29
Housing Committee Report (Lesley Wilson)
Provided handout of recent Real-estate transactions in the neighborhood.
Neighborhood Cleanup Schedule (Jacqi Kamp for Matthew Sisul)
Reminder about the Spring neighborhood clean-up in the neighborhood. Trash clean-ups are schedule for six Saturdays from 9am to 12pm starting Saturday, April 1st with the first area on the east side of McCausland between Odell and Arsenal. Meet at the intersection of Odell and McCausland. Complete schedule is listed on website.
Additional Items:
Lloyd Henry from Abbott EMS informed meeting attendees that Abbott is currently expanded its regional call center onto the third floor of their Abbott Place location. They will be adding approximately 150 new jobs.
Meeting adjourned at 7:53 PM
The next Ellendale Neighborhood Association meeting will be held on Monday, May 8, 2017, at 7:00p.m. at Abbott EMS, 2500 Abbot Place, St. Louis.
And thank you to Randy Monton, owner of 7-11, who brings fresh coffee and cookies to each meeting.
###