19 MAY 2020 / 6:45 PM / Zoom

MEETING MINUTES

6:45 Meeting Called to order (Vincent Chewning)

FPSE Neighborhood Business

6:45 – 6:50 pm Crime and Safety Report

6:50 – 6:55 pm Treasurer’s Report (Adelina Mart)

6:55 – 7:00 pm Call for Nominations: Treasurer

  • Duties
    • The Treasurer shall keep a record of the association receipts; help develop fundraising plans; make financial information available to Board members and the public; understand financial accounting for nonprofit organizations; serve as financial officer of the organization; keep records of all moneys received and owed; collect and encourage payment of money owed; keep track of and give year-end receipts to donors of all tax deductible donations; present supporting documentation of all financial transactions at each Board meeting; and assume responsibilities of the President in the absence of the President, Vice-President, and Secretary;
  • Nominees:
    • Steve Chodes
    • Don De Vivo

7:00 – 7:10 pm Neighborhood Improvement Specialist Update

  • Bulk pick up is Thursday (May 21), but should have been out Monday
  • Use dumpsters properly. Trash is being put into yard waste or boxes or brush just being thrown into the alley. Try to recycle and remember no plastic bags, even if they have recycle in them.
  • Call CSB at 622-4800 or go to www.stlouis-mo.gov/CSB with your address if you do not want mosquito spraying which can harm pollinators such as bees and butterflies.
  • Encourages blocks to have a designated weekend where your block will clean up the alley, with each resident working independently to clean up near your property. It’s a good way to focus everyone’s efforts and see results at once.
  • Tree removals took place last month in the ward and if you have had a tree removed, or would like one planted in front of your home, please send me your address. If you want to choose the type of tree I will send you a list to choose from.
  • Parking meter enforcement begins June 1 again.
  • Wear a mask in public and keep a healthy distance, especially from seniors.
  • Try to patronize neighborhood businesses that are open. This economy has been really rough on them.

7:10 – 7:23 pm Campbell’s Security Introduction (Jack Baumstark, Chair of the Safety and Security Committee for the Grove CID)

  • The Grove CID hired Campbell Security to patrol Grove CID footprint
  • Main contact is Chris
  • Were hired through a bid process
  • Campbell Security has no association with The City’s Finest.
  • Patrols are happening any night of the week between 7 – 3am. There may be one or two patrol cars at a time.
  • They are all off-duty police officers. They sign in every night with the second district and have the same authority as the STLPD.
  • They used marked, two-person ATVs, bikes, or four-door car to patrol
  • https://campbellsecuritygroup.com/
  • Feel free to call if you have any questions: 314-499-1121

7:10 – 7:20 pm The City’s Finest Update (Rob Betts, TCF)

  • Rob Betts was unable to attend the meeting.
  • Per Jes Stevens: WASHU contracts TCF to patrol residential portions of FPSE. The contract service is a commitment WASHU has made because of their interest and investment to make FPSE a safe and sustainable neighborhood. Usually, a service like this is deployed through special taxing districts. CWE NSI is another organization, located in the CWE, who provide safety and security services, such as outreach to victims of crime and engage with St. Patrick’s Center. 
  • https://www.cwensi.com/

7:20 – 7:30 pm City Hall Response to COVID-19 (Alderman Roddy)

  • Alderman Roddy was unable to attend.

7:30 – 7:40 pm Community Announcements and Follow-Up (Community, FPSENA Board)

  • Green Street’s Unify Grove 
    • COVID shutdown created a slow-down in our progress but plan to continue moving forward with wrapping up construction drawings, final cost estimating and pending financing commitments.  Same for their progress on the infrastructure plan as coordination between MSD, City Streets, Ameren and ATT is happening just at a slower pace than they’d like.  Estimates that they are on target for an early fall construction start for the project based on what they know today while being hopeful that they are past COVID impacts to getting started on the project.
  • PCD’s Home Repair Committee
    • The assembly of the committee has been put on pause
    • The staff will identify folks in need of home repair across neighborhoods 
  • National Night Out: Postponed to September or October. Will have social distancing guidelines. If there is anybody interested in volunteering to help organize NNO or join the Hospitality Committee, reach out to the Board.
  • Drury: All developments are on hold.
  • Organized Neighborhood Clean-up
    • Scheduled for June 7. Supplies will be provided.
  • Member: West End Loop – Is trying to get a clean going every week
  • Member: Unify Swan – Concerned about neighborhood’s focus in new rentals over home ownership in the location of Green Street’s proposed Unify Swan and Unify Grove developments, and lack of community that rentals bring. 
  • Member: Concerned about the material being used and tax abatements for the new 4440 Manchester construction.
  • Tim Callahan: GIS Manager for the City. He is working on a neighborhood feedback tool, which would be used to gather feedback on neighborhood planning and development proposals. The idea is to monitor CSB requests in the neighborhood and use that info for further planning and coordination.

7:45 PM Adjournment (Vincent Chewning)

Powerpoint PDF presentation of May’s meeting can be found here.

You can listen to the recording of this month’s meeting on Anchor and wherever you listen to your podcasts.

You can download this month’s update below.