WPLNA minutes 07.12.16

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WEST PINE LACLEDE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION

Minutes: 07.12.16 

President Harold Karabell called the meeting to order at 7:05 PM.

CANDIDATE PRESENTATIONS – CIRCUIT ATTORNEY August 2nd primary election

Mary Pat Carl (presented by Rachel Smith)

St. Louis’s lead homicide prosecutor

Would implement “new policies that are not just tough on crime, but smart on crime”:

  • Implement a witness support and protection unit
  • Establish a community council to support and empower communities
  • Expand alternative sentencing programs for non-violent offenders
  • Provide programs for youth and others struggling with addiction

Kimberly Gardner

Second term State Representative for the 77th District

She would work to:

  • Reduce and prevent violent crime
  • Reduce length of sentences (“over-sentencing”)
  • Develop trust so that witnesses and victims feel safe entering the legal system and so are willing to do so

Patrick Hamacher

Assistant Circuit Attorney

He would work to:

  • Focus on violent offenders
  • Restore trust between communities and law enforcement
  • Develop alternatives to incarceration
  • Expand transparency

 

MINUTES

Minutes from the June 14, 2016 meeting were approved as corrected.

TREASURER’S REPORT

Savings account balance:                     $1,052.92

Certificate of deposit value:     $7,045.34

Checking account balance:       $1,895.43

 

BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE

Laura Cohen reported that Brooks Goedeker, his intern, the city Forestry Department, and she are making good headway on the tree project list (e.g., pruning, removing dead trees).

Laura reported on the work of the CWE Public Infrastructure Committee. Projects the Committee has identified include the following areas:

  • Addition of ADA ramps and crosswalks where needed
  • New and replacement pedestrian lighting
  • Street and alley resurfacing
  • Sidewalk maintenance and repair
  • Ongoing tree planting and pruning
  • Traffic calming
  • Bike rack installation

To learn more about the activities of the Committee and to give input into where it should focus efforts, she encouraged residents to attend the CWE Community Meeting to be held August 11 from 7-8:30 at the Schafly Library.

Marshall Michener reported that the City’s “Fight the Bite” program will be doing drive-by spraying for mosquito control. If you want to opt out of the spraying, call the St. Louis Health Dept. Vector Dispatcher (314-657-1500), give your address, and say you do not want your property to be sprayed. He noted that the St. Louis area is not at risk from the Zika virus.

SECURITY COMMITTEE

Marshall reported on a few events outside WPLNA area.

SUSAN ANDERSON – PARK CENTRAL DEVELOPMENT REPORT

Susan reported the following:

  1. Kingshighway-Forest Park revision – The firm closing date is not available yet; Susan thinks it will be the weekend of July 16 and will report as soon as she has a firm date.
  2. Intersection of DeBaliviere, Forest Park Parkway closing for 3 weeks beginning July 13 to allow construction on the trolley line.
  3. National night out – Scheduled for August 2. Harold asked for volunteers to organize a WPLNA neighborhood party. CWE SouthEast Special Business District will reimburse up to $500 for the party.
  4. Parking on Laclede between Sarah and Boyle – Susan encouraged residents to contact her to express their preferences on how to increase the amount of parking on the block. One option being considered is converting either the north or south side of Laclede to rear to curb (reverse in) angled parking. Susan’s phone: (314) 535-5311
  5. New construction
    1. 32-40 N. Euclid (Koman project) Excavation and laying of groundwork for construction are progressing. For project updates visit https://sites.google.com/site/40neuclidconstruction/home
    2. West Pine/Kingshighway – Susan is awaiting a date for a community presentation.
  6. Recently sold properties
    1. 4101 W. Pine and 215-21 N. Sarah – No update.
    2. 4236 Lindell – Purchased by Helix (Steve and Amy Levin). The revised plan is to continue this as a commercial building.
    3. 4205-4211West Pine – Purchased by Helix (Steve and Amy Levin) as part of the “package” with 4236 Lindell. The owners are exploring possibilities for the property with the city’s Building Division. Once more is decided, Helix will present to WPLNA.
    4. 4101 Laclede – Pre-sales have gone so well that construction will begin this fall. Fencing will go up soon. Susan has not received word on where the construction access will be.
  7. Business update
    1. 4906 West Pine – Gamlin’s renovation of the building began July 5.
  8. CWE infrastructure
    1. West Pine Pedestrian Streetlights
      1. 4252 West Pine missing fixture – On order with Penn Globe.
      2. 4400 West Pine block – The projected cost is $270,000. CWE South East will provide $100,000 with the balance paid by Alderman Roddy’s capital improvement fund. Funding is expected within about two months.
    2. Ribbon cutting for Euclid streetscape between Forest Park and Laclede – Held June 22.
    3. Forest Park SE Dog Park at Chouteau and Newstead – Open for use to CWE residents. All necessary information is available at FPSEDogPark.com
    4. Lindell/Kingshighway bus shelter – Across from the Chase, this 20 foot shelter has long been used regularly as an alternative living space for homeless people. Susan is working with the police and Metro Transit to move the homeless from the shelter; St. Patrick’s Center is working with the people to encourage them off the street and back into a less destructive lifestyle. Susan and Metro plan to make the following changes to the shelter itself
      1. Remove three exterior walls
      2. Remove bronze aluminum framework for these exterior walls
  • Install arm rests along the 18 foot bench
  1. Clean and paint the roof support system
  2. Remove all newspaper boxes except for those that truly provide “news”
  3. Ask the parking lot owner to trim trees on the lot so as to eliminate low-hanging branches that provide cover for unwanted behavior.
  1. World Naked Bike Ride July 16: The festival starts in The Grove at 5:00 and the ride at 7:00. This world-wide event invites riders to be “as bare as they dare.” Visit Susan at the Park Central tent.

FURTHER DISCUSSION

  1. Fourth of July fireworks were loud, powerful, and went on until close to 10:00 PM. In addition to the noise and vibration, the works could have been a fire hazard had the weather been dryer. If the problem recurs July 4, 2017, Harold urged upset residents to call 911.
  2. Alderman Roddy reported briefly that Cortex will soon be announcing further development along Duncan including a hotel.
  3. Community garden shed – Terry Van Schaik proposed replacing the current undersized and shabby looking shed with a newly build and larger one that could run along the north/south fence. Attendees supported the idea, and Terry will begin investigating carpenters who can prepare a plan and build the shed.

 

The meeting adjourned at 8:10 PM.

Respectfully submitted,
Terry Van Schaik, Secretary