WPLNA Meeting on Tues. 7/14/2020 at 7:00

The WEST PINE LACLEDE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION will meet via ZOOM (invite and log-in info is copied below)  on Tuesday, July 14th at 7 pm.   Our special guest speaker will be Michelle Sherrod, one of three candidates for State Senator from our District. 

All are welcome! 

Because we are using the basic Zoom app for this meeting, we are strictly limited to 40 minutes.  In order to maximize our time, we ask that you review the treasurer report and minutes below prior to joining in and be prepared to amend or approve.  

Topic: West Pine Laclede Neighborhood Association July Meeting 
Time: Jul 14, 2020 07:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada) 

Join Zoom Meeting 
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/5793331902?pwd=UUZBQjRaczlZTGxVRy9sYUZDK1QxZz09 

Meeting ID: 579 333 1902 
Password: 7S0w09 

TREASURER’S REPORT:  

  • $7,327.64  – time deposit account 
  • $2,433.00  – checking   
  • $1,061.52  – savings

MINUTES:

WEST PINE LACLEDE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION

Minutes:  03.10.2020

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

MINUTES from the February meeting were reviewed but could not be approved until a quorum was present.  Later in the meeting we achieved a quorum and the minutes were unanimously approved as written.  

TREASURER’S REPORT – Terry Werner  – No change from February

  • $7,327.64  – time deposit account 
  • $2,027.98  – checking   
  • $1,061.52 – savings

March activity, debits and credits, will be reflected in next month’s report. 

Reminder:  annual dues are due.  See note at the end of these minutes for options to enroll or renew membership.   

BEAUTIFICATION: 

Replacement arbor gates for the community garden: lumber has been procured and assembled. The WPLNA provided half of the funds ($175) and the community garden reserves covered the balance.  

Update on the median planters on Forest Park Avenue:  Diana Gualdoni: We are still waiting to hear from the Parks Department on quotes to bring water and a basic irrigation system to each of the 5 planters. Tentative approval to fund this proposal has been received from the Central West End East Special Business District, the 17th Ward and the Cortex Innovation District.  

Lorraine Simpson noted the dirty leaves on the stairwell into the voting area at the Park Place Apartments.  She made a complaint to the maintenance office there and helped to clean up. 

DEVELOPMENT

Joe Roddy, Alderman 

Washington University plans to build a new $680M Neuroscience Research Building on Duncan and Newstead, including space for employee parking.  https://medicine.wustl.edu/news/washington-university-to-break-ground-on-major-neuroscience-research-hub/

A new 262 unit apartment building is planned in the Cortex Innovation District at Duncan & Boyle.  

There are concerns about the loss of surface parking lots with construction of new buildings.  Mr. Roddy pointed out that surface lots are often just placeholders.  Other parking lots and garages are being planned as development occurs, as part of long range plans for the area. 

City Foundry anchor tenants will include Fresh Thyme grocery, Great Rivers Greenway offices, Orion Genomics, SLU offices, Alamo Drafthouse and Cinema, Punchbowl Social, and others.  See more detailed information athttp://cityfoundrystl.com

Joe made a few comments in response to issues raised by a resident of Forest Park Southeast neighborhood last month, saying the ward has a robust program which has provided hundreds of affordable housing options and offers a revolving loan program (which is often underfunded).   

SECURITY –  Marshall Michener referred members to the Neighborhood Security Initiative annual report for 2019 at:  https://www.cwensi.com/annual-reports

There was a hit and run on Boyle between Laclede and West Pine.  A bicyclist was hit, fortunately suffering non-life threatening injuries.  NSI officers were able to identify the car using local camera footage and an arrest was made. 

NEW BUSINESS:  

Alfred Montgomery, candidate for the Sheriff of the City of St. Louis, was scheduled to present this evening.  However, as he was working the polls for the Missouri primary elections, he arrived as the meeting was adjourning.  We thanked him for his work and said we hope to see him at a future meeting.  

Ron Coleman reminded us that the U.S. Census begins this month.  Much is at stake, including federal funding and representation in the US House of Representatives.  Residents are encouraged to respond.  The first option will be an on-line response using a special code provided on a postcard to be mailed to each home address.  Following that will be an opportunity to reply on paper ballots.  Failing that, census workers will knock on the doors of residents who do not respond. 

There are plans to build a new single-family home on the vacant lot at 4157 Laclede.  

The meeting adjourned at 7:54 p.m. 

Respectfully submitted, 

Diana Gualdoni

Secretary