ENA Meeting Notes - January 10th, 2022
Meeting Notes – January 10, 2022
The Ellendale Neighborhood Association held its general meeting at Abbott EMS (2500 Abbott Place). The meeting announcement and joining/participating information were provided in advance, consistent with the organization’s bylaws (revised July 2015 and adopted November 9, 2015). Additionally, the meeting was livestreamed & recorded via Facebook Live.
The full meeting broadcast can be viewed on the Ellendale Neighborhood Association group Facebook page:
Meeting opened at 7:06PM
· Welcome & Facebook Live Overview
o Matt Sisul outlined the meeting procedures for the session so that online participants could submit questions via Facebook chat, or by email, or by text.
o Streaming our meetings via Facebook Live remains quite popular and will be continued indefinitely for future meetings.
o Respecting the Abbott EMS policies for the health & safety of their employees and those they serve, masks must be worn at all times while indoors the facility at 2500 Abbott Place.
· Approval of Minutes, November 2021 Meeting
o Hard copies of the September 2021 meeting notes were distributed to those attending the meeting in-person. A weblink to the online document was previously shared on the ENA Facebook page.
o Motion to approve September 2021 notes as formal meeting minutes made by John Yarish and seconded by Linda Boyd-Shell. Approved by voice vote.
· Community Reports
o Karen Clifford (24th Ward NIS)
§ Yard waste collection will resume the first week of March. Please do not put out green roll-out carts with leaves or other yard waste as they will not be picked up by the City.
§ Refuse Division is short-staffed as they have had several cases of COVID-19. As a result many trucks are working into evening hours to complete trash & recycle collection routes. Contact Karen to report any roll-out carts not collected by 8 PM so she can schedule another pickup.
§ Reminder about the upcoming holiday schedule for trash & recycle service.
· For the week of January 17th (Dr ML King Day), trash will be collected on Tuesday (Jan 18) and recycle will be collected on Thursday (Jan 20).
· For the week of February 21st (Presidents Day), trash will be collected on Tuesday (Feb 22) and recycle will be collected on Thursday (Feb 24).
§ The problem property situation at 6817 Magnolia should now be resolved. A new owner purchased the home and plans to demo.
· Reminder about reporting problem properties to Citizens Service Bureau. Posting to social media is not generally helpful or productive.
· Also, whenever calling the police be sure to give the correct address of the nuisance property.
§ Reminder that it is illegal to discharge firearms in the City to celebrate New Year’s or Fourth of July. “What goes up must come down” campaign by the City and the police is a reminder that stray bullets can damage property or injure or kill bystanders.
§ As always, contact Karen directly for any maintenance/service requests to Citizen Service Bureau. Her business cards are also available with other meeting handouts at every ENA meeting.
· 314-489-2078 or CliffordK@stlouis-mo.gov
o Capt. Christi Marks/Officer Don Veile (2nd District)
§ Unable to attend in-person, but forwarded an Ellendale neighborhood crime map to Matt Sisul.
· Larceny & motor vehicle theft is the predominant crime in the neighborhood in the last 30 days.
o These are largely crimes of opportunity. Ellendale and several other nearby neighborhoods are participating in the “Lock it or lose it” campaign to remind people to lock their house/garage & car doors every evening. It is also important not to leave valuable items on car seats in plain sight.
· Special Guest, Carolyn McMahon (24th Ward Committeewoman)
o Campaign to get recreational cannabis use legalized in Missouri. Carolyn brough petitions with her for anyone interested in supporting to sign.
§ For adult use only (ages 21 and older). This effort is to legalize the possession, purchase, cultivation, and consumption.
§ Involves a 6% sales tax to be used toward funding veteran’s health care programs, drug addiction treatment services, and to assist the public defender’s system.
§ Also allows for individuals with nonviolent marijuana-related offenses to have their criminal records automatically expunged.
§ Visit www.legalMO22.com for additional information and also for locations petitions can be signed.
o New ward maps related to upcoming redistricting have been approved by the Board of Aldermen.
§ Ellendale is currently located in the 24th Ward. After redistricting, it will be located in the new 4th Ward.
· The 24th Ward previously included the neighborhoods of Hi-Pointe, Clayton-Tamm, Cheltenham, Franz Park, Clifton Heights, and Ellendale. The new 4th Ward will consist of these neighborhoods and also most of Lindenwood Park, located just to the south.
· Reminder that this redistricting cycle will include the reduction of wards from 28 to 14, as previously approved by City voters.
· The City of St. Louis has a webpage with additional information.
· Question: With the reduction of wards, will there also be a reduction in the number of aldermen?
o Carolyn: Yes, the number of aldermen will be reduced to 14 effective the next City election cycle, beginning March 2023. Bret Narayan (24th Ward) and Joe Vaccaro (23rd Ward) are the current aldermen located in the new 4th Ward.
· Matt Sisul provided additional context regarding ward reduction.
o The population of the City of St. Louis peaked at around 1 Million, but now has a population of approximately 300,000. The effort behind ward reduction, which was approved by City voters, was to better align the Board of Aldermen proportionally to the size of its population.
· Matt Sisul also commended Ald. Bret Narayan for his hard work on a new ward map that kept the 24th Ward neighborhoods largely together within the new 4th Ward.
· Board Report
o Treasurer’s Report (Matt Sisul, for Joe Nea)
§ Beginning balance (November 2021): $1,170.46
§ Deposits: $21.00 (member dues)
§ Expenses: $0
§ Ending balance (January 2022): $1,191.46
o Housing Committee Report (Linda Boyd-Shell)
§ Wilkinson School Loft Apartments is 100% pre-leased. The first tenants began moving-in on January 1. Construction of the building’s fourth floor should be completed by the end of March 2022.
o Beautification Committee (Matt Sisul, for Jenise Nea)
§ The committee is still looking for volunteers to help plan an art project on the retaining wall along the south side of Southwest Avenue, just west of McCausland. Anyone interested can reach out to Matt Sisul (314-606-3427).
· Miscellaneous
o 2022 Membership Dues.
§ Per ENA bylaws, membership dues must be current in order to be considered a member-in-good-standing (includes association voting privileges, meeting actions). Membership applications are available. Online payment options are also available.
§ Annual dues are $6 per person, per household; $3 per person 65+; Business dues are $24
· Venmo @Joey-Nea; be sure to specify “ENA dues” in transaction notes
o Block Captains/Neighborhood Ownership Model
§ Reach out to Matt Sisul to find out who your block captain is and/or if willing to serve as one.
o 24th Ward Community Directories (Clifton Heights/Clayton-Tamm, Ellendale/Franz Park/Hi-Pointe/Cheltenham neighborhoods) are available for pickup. Contact Matthew Sisul (314-606-3427 or m_sisul@yahoo.com) for delivery.
o The next ENA meetings will be Monday, March 14th at Abbott EMS (2500 Abbott Place). Reminder that a facemask worn at all times while inside their facility for anyone wanting to attend in person.
Motion to adjourn made by Linda Boyd-Shell and seconded by John Yarish. Approved by voice vote.
Meeting adjourned at 7:39PM
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