ENA Meeting Notes - May 9th, 2022
Meeting Notes – May 9, 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 7:02PM
· 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.
· Approval of Minutes, March 2022 Meeting
o Hard copies of the March 2022 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 March 2022 notes as formal meeting minutes made by Linda Boyd-Shell and seconded by John Yarish. Approved by voice vote.
· Community Reports
o Alderman Bret Narayan (24th Ward)
§ Fields Foods (6300 Clayton Ave, at intersection of Graham St - first floor commercial space at Hibernia Apartments) grocery is now open.
§ “Academy Bill” passed to improve retention of police recruits
· Requires police officers to repay a portion of their law enforcement training if they leave SLMPD before serving at least 48-months with City police department
§ Board of Alderman has returned to session, after being on legislative break. Activities right now are mostly introductory measures and proposed board bills being referred to respective committees. Approximately 4 weeks until the entire board starts work on formal board bill debates & discussions.
· Board bills related to ARPA funding
o Mayor’s Office seeking public input/comment for proposed efforts
- ARPA Community Needs Town Hall will be held on Wednesday, May 11th, at Meramec Elementary (2745 Meramec St)
- Bret supports spending some of this assistance on traffic-calming
· Lead abatement legislation; Ald. Narayan is sponsor
o Requires remediation for new projects
§ Legislation being drafted for the stop sign on Canterbury Ave for the crosswalk & flashing pedestrian signal at Wilkinson School Loft Apartments
§ City Streets Department is working on the neighborhood requests for both angled-parking for Canterbury Ave and for a fire-lane for Fern Ave, as discussed at previous ENA meetings. Should be ready for those improvements as soon as they have the labor force to do so.
§ The City is considering bids to repave Jamieson Ave. Potholes have been filled. This would be a more permanent repair than the current spot-patching.
§ This is an election year and there are upcoming new aldermanic elections involving redistricting & ward reduction early next year.
· Reach out to Bret Narayan directly with questions about pending legislation or if you have strong opinions for or against something. He welcomes everyone’s feedback.
§ Feel free to contact him or Citizens Service Bureau (Karen Clifford) with service requests such as street lights out, potholes, etc.
§ Question: City voters recently approved a bond measure. Can you explain the process for spending that money? Does that budget get reviewed by the Board of Aldermen?
· Answer (Bret Narayan): It is his understanding that this bond measure was replacing one that was expiring. Did not involve levying any new taxes. The funds generated from the sales of those bonds will go towards the City’s “general revenue.” The mayor will create a budget for the Board of Aldermen to review & approve. They do have the authority to not pass the budget if the aldermen decide not to do so.
§ Question: What kind of traffic calming measures are being considered for McCausland Ave?
· Answer (Bret Narayan): Traffic studies are underway. State highways (such as Manchester) and federal highways (such as I-64/US-40) get signal priority for all the traffic lights on adjacent roads (such as McCausland). This will be a challenge, since widening the road is not a feasible option.
o Question: Which parts of McCausland, north or south of Manchester?
- Answer (Bret Narayan): Both parts of McCausland are included in the traffic studies.
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o Capt. Christi Marks/Officer Don Veile (2nd District)
§ No report
o Karen Clifford (24th Ward NIS)
§ Bulk Pickup services are being provided but slow and at best rate possible.
· Contact her if your bulk items not picked up timely.
· Reminder that bulk pickup items should be placed in front of your own house, not in front of your neighbor’s house.
· City of St. Louis Bulk Pickup Program
§ Problem property on 6800-block of Magnolia has been demolished.
§ Derelict cars that were reported have been towed.
§ Brought maps to the meeting to show old 23rd Ward and new 4th ward, with Ellendale neighborhood marked. Will bring to future meetings as well.
§ Report requests for service can be made in the following ways:
· 314-622-4800, main CSB hotline
· Post to the ENA Facebook page (Karen Clifford follows & will see it)
· Twitter: @stlcsb
· Karen Clifford: by phone at 314-489-2078 or by email at CliffordK@stlouis-mo.gov
§ Comment: There is a sinkhole developing in 3300-block of Commonwealth. Request a “no parking” sign so that cars don’t have to drive through the trouble spot.
o Matthew Sisul (24th Ward NIS)
· Tenth Life is a nonprofit program working in the Ellendale neighborhood to help control our area’s numerous stray cats. They have permitted & marked traps in our neighborhood that are frequently checked, both day & night hours. Trapped cats are spayed or neutered and then released. Please do not set any trapped cats free, as this defeats their purpose. All cats are scanned for microchips beforehand. They are not targeting pets, but it is a good idea to keep all pet cats indoors for the next several weeks.
· US Post Office Stamp Out Hunger - Saturday, May 14th
o Plastic collection bags have been mailed to homes. Feel free to leave out with nonperishable items in front of your house on Saturday morning or you can drop off to any USPS branch location.
· Guest Speaker(s)
§ Jean Corbett, President 4th Ward Democrats ward organization
· Due to redistricting & ward reduction, the previous 24th Ward Democrats ward organization has changed its name to reflect its location within the new 4th Ward.
· Meetings are held on the third-Wednesday of every month at 6:30pm. Next meeting (May 18th) will be held at the SEIU Hall (2721 Clifton Ave, at intersections of Clifton Ave/Southwest Ave/Magnolia Ave)
§ Matthew Sisul reiterated that the Ellendale Neighborhood Association does not conduct political activities, but as their work is relevant to our community any politicians or speakers are welcome to introduce themselves at our neighborhood meetings.
· The seats for Republican committeepersons are both vacant. If interested in joining or serving that group, Matt can share their contact information.
· Board Report
§ Treasurer’s Report (Joe Nea)
· Balance as of 03/14/2022: $ 1,251.46
· Deposits: $ 3.00 dues memberships paid
· Expenses: $0.00
· Balance as of 05/09/2022: $ 1,254.46
§ Housing Committee Report (Linda Boyd-Shell)
· No report
§ Beautification Committee (Matthew Sisul, for Jenise Nea)
· 2022 Trash Cleanup Schedule (see attached/below)
o First date was Saturday, April 30th. Thanks to all who volunteered to help.
· The proposed joint-cleanup effort with Clifton Heights has not yet been finalized. There is a City-wide trash pickup being planned in June. This will likely be the date of the Southwest Avenue trash cleanup with Clifton Heights. More details to hopefully follow. If this date conflicts with our already scheduled cleanup dates & times, then we will keep our cleanup instead.
· ENA Pollinator Garden Maintenance Schedule
o Volunteers still needed to help with watering & weeding. These are native plants, and show should not need a lot of extra help.
o Matt will request a hydrant key & reducer from the City again. ENA has a hose & an oscillating sprinkler already that volunteers can use.
· Miscellaneous
§ 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 ENA Meeting Announcement yard signs: plan to request member approval of expenditure for purchase of replacement yard signs at an upcoming meeting this year. Anyone who needs theirs replaced or who would like to get their first one please contact Matt Sisul (314-606-3427 or m_sisul@yahoo.com) so we can get a good count for the order.
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, July 11th at Abbott EMS (2500 Abbott Place).
Motion to adjourn made by Linda Boyd-Shell and seconded by John Yarish. Approved by voice vote.
Meeting adjourned at 7:44PM
2022 Ellendale Trash Cleanup Schedule
Saturday, April 30th (9am-11am)
Cleanup area: north & south sides of Southwest Avenue, between Limit & McCausland
(meet at stairs, intersection of Southwest Ave and Ellendale Ave)
Saturday, May 21st (9am-11am)
Cleanup area: west side of McCausland Avenue, between Southwest & Emilie/Arsenal
(meet at intersection of Ellendale Ave and Emilie St)
Saturday, June 4th (9am-11am)
Cleanup area: Slay (Ellendale) Park, including east side of McCausland Avenue
(meet at Slay Park parking lot area)
Saturday, June 25th (9am-11am)
Cleanup area: east & west sides of McCausland Avenue, between Canterbury & Manhattan
(meet at Slay Park parking lot area)
Saturday, July 9th (9am-11am)
Cleanup area: east & west sides of McCausland Avenue, between Manhattan & Wellington
(meet at intersection of Ellendale Ave/Wellington Ave and Wellington Ct)