January Meeting Minutes:

Meeting Notes - January 13, 2020 Ellendale Neighborhood Association Meeting opened at 7:05PM Approval of Minutes, September 2019 Meeting Motion to approve notes as formal meeting minutes made by Linda Boyd-Shell and seconded by Maria Gray. Approved by voice vote. Approval of Minutes, November 2019 Meeting Motion to approve notes as formal meeting minutes made by Linda Boyd-Shell and seconded by Maria Gray. Approved by voice vote. Community Reports Alderman Bret Narayan (24th Ward) Board of Aldermen is currently on winter legislative break. Missouri State Auditor of state rated Board of Alderman and gave a “Good” rating. [An “Excellent” rating is best; “Good” is next best rating.] Steve LaRosa, serving as Neighborhood Improvement Specialist (NIS, formerly known as NSO - Neighborhood Stabilization Officer; part of Citizens Service Bureaus, CSB), resigned for a job in St. Louis County. He was our ward’s third NIS since Bret took office and had been assigned to both 23rd and 24th Wards. No timeline yet on a fulltime replacement, but Ron Coleman (NIS for 17th Ward) is serving our ward in interim. Ways to report an issue to Citizens Service Bureau: Online, via website: www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/public-safety/neighborhood-stabilization-office/citizens-service-bureau/ Telephone: (314) 622-4800 Twitter: @stlcsb When reporting issues to CSB, make sure to take down complaint/service number assigned to the issue. It helps Ald. Narayan when following up on reports for service, especially important when we have a position vacancy such as this time. Meeting with Frank Oswald, Building Commissioner about problem/nuisance properties in the neighborhood. 7042 Canterbury: vacant house, rehab stalled, remains in disrepair; abandoned truck in yard 7219 Emile: rehab underway; no dumpsters and equipment & construction debris all over front yard; over summer had dumped excavated dirt into street blocking neighbors’ driveways, but that issue since remedied Update on Wilkinson School: City approved tax abatement plan as recommended by St. Louis Development Corporation. Project still waiting approval of state and federal rehab tax credits, pending with the MO State Historic Preservation Office and MO Department of Economic Development. “Ban the Box” is pending City legislative about prohibiting employers from asking prospective employees about about prior felonies on their job applications. Passed by Board of Aldermen and waiting for Mayor signature. Proposed Police Redistricting to return to the 9 police districts we used to have. Ald. Narayan believes that the transition to 6 districts was based on a flawed model: districts were based on calls for service not by crime, and so districts in high-crime areas of the City are now understaffed. Question – Clarify the police redistricting – calls for service versus crime? Answer – “Calls for service” includes many issues that are not crime-related. All 911 calls regardless of issue versus where most calls to respond to a crime committed. We need instead a model that makes sense and allows police to get where they need to be. The aldermanic Public Safety Committee is currently reviewing the proposed board bill about returning to 9 police districts. Mayor Lyda Krewson has requested that MO State government override City of St. Louis charter with state amendment regarding removing residency requirement for St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department (SLMPD). Ald. Narayan in favor of people living in community but voted to get rid of residency requirement. Board of Aldermen also considering a Gun Board Bill to prevent individuals with history/record of domestic violence history from being legally allowed to obtain a gun. Board of Aldermen also recently passed legislation about animals: prohibiting the declawing cats in City limits without medical reason and also requiring owners to keep animals inside during extreme weather. Ald. Cara Spencer (20th Ward) announced that she is running for mayor. St. Louis City Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner filed suit against SLMPD, police officers association, and City in federal court accusing racism and a conspiracy to prevent her office from criminal justice reform. Included some specific police officers in that suit. Capt. Christi Marks (2nd District) New police captain, formerly a watch commander for 7 years assigned to North City. Her philosophy & strategy is to get info from community. Listens to citizens, encouraging same from officers. Bringing officers on patrol to attend and get involved in the meetings. Officer Dibble and Officer Hall accompanied Officer Don Veile (community liaison) accompanied her. Service Report – There is an unlicensed tow truck business operating on Hermitage. Brings cars all hours of the night. No plates and derelict vehicles left on City street. Service Report – There is an unlicensed auto repair shop also operating on Hermitage at a different address. Fence knocked down at street dead-end and cars parked on banks of River des Peres. Service Report – There is an unlicensed auto repair at a rental property on 6800-6900 block of Magnolia. Work on cars all night and blocks street. Magnolia is a one-way street with parking allowed on both sides, so difficult for traffic to move around the work. Service Report – 7100 block of Lanham, report of illegal dumping. SLMPD will work with new trash task force Service Report – Resident request more frequent police patrols in neighborhood. Many instances of car break-ins last summer. Capt. Marks encouraged those who have a good experience working with a police officer to take a moment to “Compliment an Officer” which can be done online. www.slmpd.org/pressroom/public_information_commend_s.asp Officer Don Veile distributed crime reports for Ellendale neighborhood, with comparison to other neighborhoods in SLMPD Second District Guest Speakers Maureen Williams, METRO St. Louis Adopt-A-Stop Program Ms. Williams is a twenty-five year employee of METRO transit and is currently a senior transit authority engagement planner. She created the programs after receiving many calls about trash at bus stops. Program involves people just volunteering at picking up trash at bus stops. Program provides volunteers with trash bags and gloves. If there isn’t a can at the location already, the program will provide one. Volunteers also receive a sign that is placed at the stop. NOTE: Black trash cans at bus stops belong to the City of St. Louis. Several have been removed because they were damaged. No plans currently to replace them. Distributed handouts about the program and information on how to volunteer to participate. Additional information is available online: www.metrostlouis.org/adoptastop/ Khatib Waheed, St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office Neighborhood Ownership Model (NOM) Philosophy of the Circuit Attorney’s office is that there is a role for every part of the criminal justice system. First part starts with the citizens. 2nd part is with police. 3rd part is through prosecutor’s office. 4th is with the courts. 5th for corrections. The 6 basic steps to address crime in your commujity using the framework of NOM program: Set up a team of interested neighbors who are committed to reducing crime. Determine what level and nature of crime occurs in your neighborhood. Determine what you need in order to reduce the crime. Use the model to develop a written plan. Partner with local government, community service providers and law enforcement agencies including the Circuit Attorney to support your plan and efforts. Actively implement your plan while remaining flexible to making adjustments as needed. Be inclusive as possible in your efforts. Stay the course, be persistent and patient. It takes time to implement changes and see results. Matt Sisul explained that Ellendale neighborhood once has a strong block captain system. If we chose to participate in the NOM, the Circuit Attorney’s Office will work with us to create a plan specific to our community and its needs. But in order to be successful, we will need volunteers for block captains. Thanked those who have already committed to being block captains. Hopes to soon have regular block captain meetings as better support system. Annual Officer Elections (Communications Officer vacancy) Joan Merlo-Morrissey nominated herself. Matt Sisul seconded. As there were no other nominations, Matt Sisul made motion to close nominations. Seconded by Linda Boyd-Shell. Approved by voice vote. As no other candidates, Joan Merlo-Morrissey approved as Communications Officer by voice vote. Board Report Treasurer’s Report (Joe Nea) $889.46 – No change from last report as no dues collected since last meeting. Reminder that 2020 dues started January 1st (ENA membership cycle is based upon calendar year). He will be available after meeting for registration & dues payments. Housing Committee Report (Linda Boyd-Shell) No Report New Business Carolyn McMahon, a resident Clifton Heights and who is running for committeewoman of the 24th ward, was introduced. Community Directory (Matt Sisul) The officers of all the neighborhood associations of the 24th Ward (Cheltenham, Clayton-Tamm, Clifton Heights, Ellendale, Franz Park, and Hi-Pointe) meet quarterly. Recently proposed is the participation in a community directory. There is no cost to the neighborhood associations as the cost to produce & distribute them is funded by advertising. The only obligation to the organization would be to provide content. Matt Sisul made a motion that ENA participate in the directory – with the specific caveat that this was not to approve any expenditures by ENA. Maria Gray seconded. Approved by voice vote. Additional information is available online: www.stlprograms.com Matt Sisul reminded that volunteers are needed this spring for weeding & watering the neighborhood pollinator garden (located adjacent to the stairs at the dead-end of Ellendale Avenue, overlooking Southwest Avenue) Matt Sisul is looking for volunteers to help organize & participate in Spring 2020 Litter Cleanup Patrols Motion to adjourn made by Linda Boyd-Shell, seconded by Randy Munn. Approved by voice vote. Meeting adjourned at 8:45PM