Here’s the agenda for the meeting on 9/5!
Neighborhood Association Meeting Minutes 9/5 / 23
1. Fundraising and Community Support:
Importance of fundraising due to reduced sponsorship during COVID.
Significant annual investment in neighborhood events like concerts, Halloween parade, and Christmas party.
Initiation of a fundraising committee involving local businesses and neighbors.
Encouragement for community support through donations and volunteerism.
Email fundraising@bentonpark.org for more info or to make a one time of recurring donation
2. Event Updates
Gateway Cup was a bigger success with merch and drinks sales than last year! The neighborhood association pays $3,000 to have this event in our neighborhood, so we are doubling down on fundraising to keep it there!
Tell your local business buds about us, and to donate, email fundraising@bentonpark.org!
Next concert is Aligator Wine on Sunday Sept 17th!
Rescheduling of some events due to weather… announcements soon.
Tunes on tap on Saturday October 14th! We provide beer and supplies, we just need neighbors who wanna meet neighbors who have a hard for music!
To volunteer or offer your home as a stop on tunes on tap email eventscommitteechair@bentonpark.org
Success of the musical house tour as a fundraiser and a call for volunteers for hosting gardens during the tour.
3. Construction and Zoning Concerns + Green spaces committment:
Concerns expressed about new constructions and zoning changes, specifically the conversion of an auto repair place.
Our historical neighborhood must include a commitment to preserving and enhancing green spaces through tree planting and pocket park creation.
neighbor suzanna has a great PDF on how to save your trees from the city chainsaws + she and lori are going to meet about ways to keep trees in our neighborhood and water out of our basements.
Emphasis on collective community involvement to address these concerns.
4. Environmental Initiatives and Neighborhood Issues:
Discussion of environmental initiatives like rain gardens and tree care.
Attendees' interest in organizing collective efforts to address neighborhood issues, including construction concerns and support for green initiatives.
Exchange of contact information among attendees to facilitate future collaboration.
5. Neighborhood Concerns:
Excessive use of concrete in new constructions impacting water absorption.
Flooding issues in basements due to impermeable surfaces.
Questions about the city's role in regulating construction and its environmental impact.
Discussion on potentially modifying zoning codes.
6. Community Issues:
Road hazards on highways and the need for a more efficient reporting system.
Suggestion to involve the governor's office in addressing highway-related concerns.
Concerns about short-term rentals and their impact on the neighborhood.
Coordination with authorities regarding a smell issue.
Discussion on the enforcement of the recently passed gun bill.
Updates on crime statistics, especially related to juvenile activity.
Year to date crime is down -38.7% - there were 10 incidents reported and all were related to car theft or theft of things in cars.
Officer Jazmon requested to be added to updated invite to the neighborhood meeting
Consideration of reporting an $8 theft incident.
7. Community Engagement:
Discussion on the construction of new houses and the need for improved water absorption practices.
Concerns about extensive use of concrete and its environmental impact.
Mention of similar concerns in other neighborhoods and the need to modify zoning codes.
Highlighting the importance of green spaces and balancing development with nature.
*. Charter Updates:
Brief discussion about proposed updates to the neighborhood association's charter.
Emphasis on aligning the charter with commonly understood neighborhood boundaries.
Unanimous vote YES to approval vote for proposed charter changes.
Contact info :
President Courtney Armistead president@bentonpark.org
Vice President Bob Panian vicepresident@bentopark.org
Secretary Derrick Kilgore secretary@bentonpark.org
Treasurer Ryan Ely treasurer@bentonpark.org
Membership VACANT membership@bentonpark.org
Committees and Chairs
Wanna form a committee? Email marketing@bentonpark.org
Safety Derrick Kilgore safety@bentonpark.org
Building Review Tim Mulligan buildingreviewcommittee@bentonpark.org
Parks Dan Guenther parks@bentonpark.org 314-304-6797
Community Garden/Cave Bill Kranz garden@bentonpark.org cave@bentonpark.org
Events Committee Brittany Nelson eventscommitteechair@bentonpark.org
Dog Park Committee Haley Johnston bentonparkdogpark@gmail.com
Marketing/Social Media Lori White marketing@bentonpark.org
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Additional Contacts
Alderman Cara Spencer spencerc@stlouis-mo.gov
Legislative Assistant Isaiah Pasek-Santiago pasek-santiagoi@stlouis-mo.gov
Neighborhood Stabilization Officer (NSO) Larry Isom 314-657-1376 Isoml@saintlouis-mo.gov
Police: 3rd District Patrol Captain Joseph Morici 314-444-2500 jamorici@slmpd.org
Liaison: Officer Jazmon Garrett 314-444-2500 Ext. 2595 jdgarrett@slmpd.org