March Ellendale Association Meeting Minutes:

Meeting Notes – March 8, 2021

The Ellendale Neighborhood Association will comply with social distancing practices recommended and required by the City of St. Louis Health Department in response to COVID-19. As a result, this meeting was held in-person, indoors at St. James the Greater school cafeteria (1360 Tamm Ave) and virtually via Facebook Live. 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).

The full meeting broadcast can be viewed on the Ellendale Neighborhood Association group Facebook page:

www.facebook.com/groups/EllendaleNA.StL

Meeting opened at 7:06PM

Welcome & Facebook Live Overview

Matthew Sisul outlined the meeting procedures for the session so that online participants could submit questions via Facebook chat, or by email, or by text.

Weather permitting, ENA plans to hold its May 2021, July 2021, and September 2021 meetings in Ellendale/Slay Park. In the event of inclement weather for any of these “warmer-weather meeting dates,” we still have approval from the St. James the Greater parish to use either their gymnasium or cafeteria - depending upon availability. Notices of meeting locations will be posted on our website & social media platforms and emailed to our member roster prior to May 2021, July 2021, and September 2021 meetings to confirm location. Please check or sign-up for updates.

Streaming our meetings via Facebook Live remains quite popular and will be continued indefinitely for future meetings.

Approval of Minutes, January 2021 Meeting

Hard copies of the January 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.

https://ellendalena.wixsite.com/ellendale/single-post/ena-meeting-minutes-january-2021

Motion to approve January 2021 notes as formal meeting minutes made by Linda Boyd-Shell and seconded by Robert Morrissey. Approved by voice vote.

Community Reports

Meeting Agenda – March 8, 2021

Alderman Bret Narayan (24th Ward)

With St. Patrick’s Day approaching, reminded everyone that there will be no Dogtown parade again this year

Board Bill 200 - Community Support Program (also known referred to as “aerial surveillance”): consideration of the proposed legislation has been tabled by committee. The sponsor (Tom Oldenburg, 16th Ward) may bring back next session of the Board of Aldermen. However, neither of the two candidates for mayor (general election, April 6th) do not support the legislation. So there is a good chance that this issue is now over.

The season of pothole repairs and street light bulb replacements is here. Ward capital budget not as great to get large-scale repaving done. As always, report address of potholes and/or streetlight maintenance to Citizen Service Bureau

Karen Clifford: 314-489-2078 or CliffordK@stlouis-mo.gov

Ald. Narayan will discuss with ENA Executive Board and ENA Housing Committee about the previously requested 45-degree-angled parking and location of proposed stop sign for Canterbury Avenue, near the intersection of Tremont Avenue. He plans to introduce these bills around mid-session when meetings of the Board of Aldermen resume.

Question: When does the new session of the Board of Aldermen start?

Ald. Narayan: The BOA session resumes after the April 6th election. The next meeting of the full Board of Alderman is April 19.

www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/aldermen/events/index.cfm

Question: Any updates regarding the Great Rivers Greenway extending from Ellendale/Slay Park to Forest Park?

Ald. Narayan: He has met with GRG and reviewed some of the proposed plans, including a video presentation. At present, there is no particularly new information on it, such as defined location or as to when work would begin.

Matt Sisul: He has spoken to Great Rivers Greenway about the previous agreements with the City to pre-treat, prior to anticipated snowfall or ice, the streets made into dead-ends by construction of the GRG River des Peres extension (Tremont Ave, Leamington Ave, and St James Sq). Acknowledged the many difficulties these residents experienced trying to drive to work/school/errands after the recent heavy snowfalls.

Karen Clifford (24th Ward Neighborhood Improvement Specialist)

Submitted many requests for pothole repairs. She is aware of large pothole developing on Arsenal Street, just west of the bridge at the McCausland/Emilie stoplight.

Reminder that yard waste collection has resumed. Schedule is Wednesday for those residents with roll-out carts. Reminder to use the green carts for yard waste, not the blue carts. Contact her directly (314-489-2078 or CliffordK@stlouis-mo.gov) for pickup/removal of bags of leaves. Contact her also for tree trimming requests of City-owned trees.

She brought to the meeting interior-use, blue recycle bins provided by Operation Brightside. They are available to anyone in the neighborhood. For anyone attending meeting virtually, reach out to her directly. She will need your contact information to keep track of bins given out.

Operation Brightside also has beautification/plant packages for neighborhood organizations – contact Karen and she can help get them to us if there are any planting or cleanup plans this year.

Reminder when calling about alley lights out…these are owned & maintained by Ameren. You can still let Karen know about any alley lights out or needing maintenance, providing address upon notification.

If anyone has previously submitted CSB request for street or sidewalk repairs, please send Karen a reminder so she can pull the CSB service tickets and follow-up better.

Carolyn McMahn – 24th Ward Committeewoman

April 6th is the City’s general election date. Shared information about candidates and ballot measures included.

The two mayoral candidates are Cara Spencer and Tishaura Jones. Because of the recent passage of Proposition D (non-partisan municipal primaries for City of St. Louis), the top two candidates receiving votes at March primary election advance to April general election, regardless of party affiliation.

Comptroller Darlene Green is running unopposed for re-election.

SLPS School Board candidates: there are 10 candidates; voters can select up to 3 on their ballots

Proposition E: whether or not to retain the City’s 1% earnings tax

Proposition Y and Propositions 1-5: Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (MSD) proposed bond financing for improvement projects and updates to their charter

Additional information about the April 6th ballot, including links to additional information resources for both candidates and ballot initiatives can be found on her blog (www.cmc24w.com)

Question: Will there be any live debates between the two mayoral candidates?

Cmm. McMahon: Yes, there are several debates & forums for both the mayoral candidates and for the SLPS school board candidates. Some of the mayoral debates will be televised on local news outlets. Other debates & forums are hosted by community organizations. Most are recorded so you can watch later if unable to view live. Recommend going to her blog for dates & time and weblinks to events.

Matt Sisul – Reminder that the Ellendale Neighborhood Association does not endorse political candidates or positions. However, because these elections affect us as City residents, any candidate or speaker is welcome to present at an ENA meeting. Both Darlene Green and Cara Spencer attended the November 2020 meeting. You can still view this full meeting livestream on the neighborhood association Facebook page.

www.facebook.com/groups/EllendaleNA.StL

Matt Sisul, ENA President

Shared a mailed notice from ATT about 988 Three Digit Number Approved for National Suicide Prevention Hotline/Mandatory 10-Digit Local Dialing coming to our area code (314). In order for 988 to function as the national suicide prevention hotline, 10-digit dialing will be implemented this summer.

April 24, 2021: 10-digit dialing for local calls will begin. If you instead dial the 7-digit number, your call will still be connected.

October 24, 2021: All local calls will only be completed if using the 10-digit dialing. If you instead dial the 7-digit number, your call will not be completed. And you will need to hang-up and redial using the 10-digit number.

July 16, 2022: Dialing “988” will route your call to the National Suicide Prevention and Mental Heal Crisis Lifeline.

Board & Committee Reports

Treasurer’s Report (Joe Nea)

$1,096.46 starting balance (January 2021)

$0.00 deposits or expenses

$1,096.46 new balance (March 2021)

Housing Committee Report (Linda Boyd-Shell)

No report

New Business

Proposal to create ENA Beautification Committee

Matthew Sisul made a motion to create a parks/beautification committee within the Ellendale Neighborhood Association, per its bylaws. Seconded by John Yarish. SEE FULL RESOLUTION BELOW

Discussion

Matthew Sisul: Reminder that all of the ENA committees are open to any member-in-good standing (paid ENA dues, current).

Matthew Sisul: There has been interest expressed in planning art mural projects for railroad overpasses (Southwest Ave & I-44, McCausland, and Southwest Ave near community pollinator garden). This committee will have the authority to create any subcommittee it deems necessary to plan/propose/conduct beautification efforts - including art murals, maintenance of the neighborhood pollinator garden, and trash/vegetation cleanups as desired.

Matthew Sisul: ENA committees may make recommendations to general membership for an expenditure. However, any spending of ENA funds still requires approval from general membership. This can happen during one of our regular membership meetings.

Robert Morrissey: Recommend writing into the rules & regulations regarding any mural projects that the ground around them has to be maintained. Shared that the sidewalk along Southwest Ave between McCausland Ave and the City limits is frequently wet, with mud and trash and other debris. Long-term maintenance of the walls and sidewalks & roads should be considered.

Matthew Sisul: Clifton Heights Neighborhood Association has expressed an interest in jointly sponsoring any art murals around the Southwest Ave & I-44 railroad overpass, as the highway serves as the border between our two neighborhoods.

Jenise & Joe Nea (not present, Matthew Sisul in their absence): Recommended partnering with the Schlafly Art Fair for artists who could create murals. Possibly also as art competition(s).

Ann Banister (via Facebook Live): Recommended seeking funding assistance from the railroad companies to help with creation of art murals and for their long-term maintenance.

Matthew Sisul: Also hoping that art mural projects bring attention to the neighborhood and can serve as a public relations incentive for various entities (city, state, railroads, etc.) to assist the efforts.

Motion to create the ENA Beautification Committee passes by voice vote.

Matthew Sisul appoints Jenise Nicole Nea to chair the committee.

Miscellaneous

Reminder that 2021 dues are due. 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

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.

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.

Motion to adjourn made by Linda Boyd-Shell and seconded by Lesley Wilson. Approved by voice vote.

Meeting adjourned approximately 8:00PM

ENA Beautification Committee Outline

Purpose:  Standing Committee authorized by Article V of the Ellendale Neighborhood Association bylaws (adopted 11/09/2015) to coordinate the ongoing maintenance of the Ellendale Neighborhood Pollinator Garden (located at approximately 2701 Ellendale Avenue); and to organize the Ellendale neighborhood’s annual park, playground, and greenway trash cleanups; and to address on an as-needed basis any one-time or short-term beautification projects for the benefit of the neighborhood.

Members:  minimum of one chairperson; even-numbered general members; per ENA bylaws, both president and vice-president serve ex officio.

Current Roster:

Jenise Nicole Nea (Chairperson) – appointed

Matthew Sisul (ex officio)

Jacqi Kamp (ex officio)

Meetings:  committee to meet on an as-needed basis but no less frequently than once per quarter (calendar year)

Duties: prepare an annual schedule for the maintenance of the neighborhood pollinator garden; coordinate volunteers for garden weeding & watering schedules; prepare an annual schedule for neighborhood trash cleanups; coordinate volunteers for park & greenway trash cleanups; pursue grants and/or donations for beautification special projects (including but not limited to art murals or other such improvement projects)

Committee can be expected to occasionally make recommendations to general membership regarding expenditures of Ellendale Neighborhood Association funds for park or garden maintenance or for specific special projects.