ENA Meeting Notes - Nov 14, 2022
Meeting Notes – November 14, 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, September 2022 Meeting
o Postponed until January 2023 general meeting.
· MSD community meeting, November 9th
o Matt Sisul gave a brief summary of a community meeting that was held with representatives of the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District and with Ellendale residents & businesses affected by July/August flooding & sewer backups. Printed copies of the handouts from that meeting were available for pickup. It was not an official meeting of the Ellendale Neighborhood Association. Rather, it was an opportunity for Ellendale residents and business owners to get many of their questions answered by MSD directly.
· Community Reports
o Alderman Bret Narayan (24th Ward)
§ Refuse Division has both a shortage of personnel and a shortage of trash trucks serving the City. Scheduled pickups are running very far behind, including that for bulk pickups. Ald. Narayan is not in favor of permanently privatizing trash pickup, but could consider doing so temporarily – especially for bulk pickup – to help Refuse maintain services in the short term. Anyone with issues should contact the Mayor’s Office (314-622-3201). Refuse Division has been approved for all budget funding allocations the department requested.
§ St. Louis XFL “Battlehawks” football team is returning. Will play their games starting February 2023 at The Dome. Along with the new St. Louis MLS soccer team, there will be more sporting events downtown.
§ Updates from Election Day (November 8th): decent voter turnout in the 24th Ward; increasing participation from younger voters
§ Ald. Narayan voted against a marina project proposed near the Chain of Rocks Bridge. Concerned about its proximity to the region’s drinking water supply. He also has concerns about boater safety so close to the “chain of rocks” water hazard.
§ The City’s “Notice of Intent” (NOI) for Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funding was selected by the State Emergency Management Agency. Final dollar amount of FEMA buyout funding available to the City still remains subject to a variety of criteria, including identifying & finalizing eligible property addresses. Final approval still must be issued by FEMA. The City’s deadline to submit its final application is April 1, 2023.
· Mayor’s Office has been pretty clear that it is not planning any forced buyouts in Ellendale.
§ Report any potholes and/or street lights out to either Ald. Narayan or to Citizens Service Bureau (CSB).
· Question: Several homes on Hermitage Avenue need new trash can roll carts. The addresses have been previously reported.
o Bret Narayan: Will followup after the meeting with Refuse Division.
· Question: There are rocks in River des Peres that are creating a dam-effect and need to be removed.
o Bret Narayan: MSD crews started working on these items last week. He will followup with them for updates.
· Question: There were a lot of dead & dying trees removed in “Upper Slay Park” greenspace area. Forest Re-Leaf has offered to donate to Ellendale new trees, and several residents have volunteered their time to plant them. How can we coordinate with Forestry?
o Bret Narayan: He will assist communicating this to Alan Jankowski at Forestry. Bret will help us followup.
§ Reporting neighborhood requests for service can be made in the following ways:
· 314-622-4800, main CSB hotline
· Post to the ENA Facebook page or to the 24th Ward Citizens Services Facebook page.
· Twitter: @stlcsb
§ New group page on Facebook: “24th Ward Citizen Services”
· Created by Alderman Bret Narayan (admin) to help with reporting service requests to the City.
· Handouts outlining what to report & the CSB process are brought to every meeting.
§ Aldermanic elections are in March (primary) and April (general). These races are now non-partisan. Interested persons need to collect signatures to be eligible to run as a candidate. He intends to run for office again as alderman for the new 4th Ward (there will no longer be a 24th Ward, due to recent redistricting and ward reduction).
o Bernie Powderley (NIS Supervisor)
§ The Citizens Service Bureau is reorganizing Neighborhood Improvement Specialist (NIS) assignments to be neighborhood-based, rather than ward-based. The new NIS for Ellendale will be announced soon.
§ CSB has hired several more NIS to serve these roles. NIS staff will now each be responsible for multiple neighborhoods. CSB has implemented a new department manual in an effort to provide socially equitable services throughout the City.
§ Updates on pending service requests:
· Portable toilets on 2700-McCausland will be removed soon.
· Bernie can also help with coordinating Forest Re-Leaf and City’s Forestry Department. Typically what will happen is that Forestry will specify what type of trees should be planted and will mark on-site where they should be placed.
· Question: Is there an update on the problem rehab on Magnolia Ave reported on Facebook?
o Bernie Powderly: He has connected with the owner and is working on a solution.
· Question: Who is the NIS for Ellendale until a permanent replacement is announced?
o Bernie Powderly: He is the CSB contact for our neighborhood until December 1st. The new NIS for the Ellendale neighborhood will be a seasoned staffperson. Bernie can be reached by phone (314-657-1356) or email (PowderlyB@stlouis-mo.gov).
o Officer Robert Skaggs (2nd District)
§ Officer Skaggs brought crime reports for the neighborhood from the last 60 days.
· 7-11 robbed by an individual armed with a knife. Arrested and charged with first degree robbery.
· Also at 7-11, altercation involving unlawful use of a weapon. Arrested and charged.
· Eight auto thefts (including five Kias, one Hyundai). Three catalytic converter thefts.
o One of the biggest problems in the City is the thefts of cars that are being used to break into businesses overnight.
· Porch thefts of packages also on the rise.
§ Public safety handouts are brought to every meeting.
· Question: What are they building at the St. Louis Marketplace (on Manchester Ave)?
o Matt Sisul: Weismann Dancewear is expanding their building.
· Board Reports
§ Treasurer’s Report (Joe Nea)
· Postponed until January 2023 general meeting.
§ Housing Committee Report (Linda Boyd-Shell)
· No report
§ Beautification Committee (Jenise Nea)
· No report
· Miscellaneous
o 2023 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
· Per our bylaws, ENA dues paid between November and the end of the year are credited towards the next year’s dues and membership is considered fully in good standing.
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 meeting will be Monday, January 9th at Abbott EMS (2500 Abbott Place).
Motion to adjourn made by Maria Gray and seconded by Lynn Hartke. Approved by voice vote.
Meeting adjourned at 7:36PM