January 5, 2021 Benton Park Neighborhood Meeting

New Neighbor Welcome

Approval of Last Meeting’s Minutes:

• Minutes Approved, no objections

Police Report – no officer Garrett for report

Alderman Report:

• New Police Captain Maurici (sp)

• COVID Update:

  • Call with Mayor and Dr. Echols

    • City seems to be over Thanksgiving spike, numbers going down but there are delays in reporting of testing because of holidays

    • Over 300 deaths in the city

    • Please continue social distancing and masks

  • Federal Cares 2nd round hoping for more grants and utility assistance

  • Neighbors should use BPNA resources

  • Guardian Angels in the neighborhood

  • ARJ Community Foundation

    • 2920 Chippewa (Melvin Theatre)

      • Will be doing meal assistance for children in public schools

• Board Bill 200

  • Persistent Surveillance Program

    • Following 4 hours of debate, the board passed out of public safety committee

    • If you have opinions on this bill, email members of the board of alderman

• Refuse Collection

  • All of departments have been hit hard by COVID and quarantines

    • NSO Barb Potts are through alleys daily

    • If you have a dumpster that is not being taken care of Call Alderman Guenther or NSO Potts so they can get it handled

    • Reminder that at Pestalozzi and Jefferson there is a row of recycling bins by the fire department and that can keep the alleys clean

• Neighborhood Updates:

  • Desales Community Corporation at Jefferson/Arsenal for Senior Affordable Housing

    • 2 weeks ago the funding was not approved again

    • Thanks to everyone in the neighborhood who gave support

    • Will continue to work on project in the future

  • Flyover Fund

    • 40 unit apartment building at Jefferson and Lynch

      • Still working on project

  • Arsenal and Lemp – Joel’s BP

    • Application for extended liquor license will be filed soon

    • BPNA will work to support project

      • Reach out to Alderman Guenther with questions or concerns

Treasurer’s Report:

• 2020 was different that expectations

  • $3,000 (approx.) in COVID donations for the community

    • Spent $2,200 in COVID aid

    • In process to donating some to food banks in the neighborhood

  • Membership income consistent with 2019

  • Sponsorship income down, but so were event expenses

  • Working with insurance companies to lower the premium costs

  • Net Loss of $1,400 in 2020- also consistent with 2019

  • $61,000 savings

  • $14,000 in checking

• COVID:

  • Requests have slowed since Mid October

  • Contact for help and assistance through website

• Budget for 2021 – being prepared

Building Review Committee:

• Letters of Support:

  • Blues City Deli/Melo’s Pizza

    • Awning construction for patio area

    • Worked through several designs and have supported a design from Killeen Studios that has been approved by the preservation board

  • Zoning letter for Epiphany Church

    • To use some unused space to support business incubators

  • Owner with Property on Lemp and Jefferson

    • Working through zoning and building improvements with them

• If anyone would like to join the committee even in an advisory role let us know

Parks Committee:

• Tree Care:

  • Neighborhood-wide fundraising to hire an arborist would be needed

  • New Trees – Partnership with TreeLC – the city forestry will train neighbors on how to prune the small trees 

    • stltreeLC.org

• Fountains:

  • MSD and parks took fountains out for the freeze, they are stored under the bridge, will be back in the spring

  • Overflow water will continue throughout winter

• Goldenball Bridge:

  • Thanks to decorators

Garden Report:

• New people in garden due to the pandemic

• 17 gardeners – record number

• $500 budget has been held back for tree care in the garden

• CAVE:

  • Delayed from COVID

  • Trying to develop some sort of access to the cave, not sure exactly how yet

  • Email with questions

Events Committee:

• Got 2 concerts in the park

• Santa through the neighborhood was great

• Stay tuned for upcoming events in 2021

Media/Marketing:

• Looking for someone with media/marketing/web/social media to help BPNA

• If you would like to get involved or know someone, please contact the board

• marketing@bentonpark.org

Dog Park:

• Dormant for the season

• Half is divided off for re-seeding

  • Want to keep that part closed until the spring, when the other side will be re-seeded and closed for a short time

New Business:

• Election Season:

  • Alderman Guenther is up for re-election

  • Have been contacted by mayoral candidates to ask for presentations

    • Also comptroller candidates

  • Our neighborhood board election is February as well

Neighbor questions:

• Worried about safety

  • What can we do as neighbors?

BPNA is in the process of establishing a safety committee to address safety concerns

• Street Lights, block captains, patrols, etc. have been thought about