Neighborhood Meeting Minutes — August 1, 2023


New Members Welcome! 

Scott V! 

Brian! on James st. 

Susan! On indiana

William and Ashley! on Missouri 


Update

Looking at charter, the boundaries aren’t reflective of what the city considers our boundaries … in the middle of Gravois as opposed to the alley behind Gravois


Cara’s update:

8th ward alder, spencerc@stlouis-mo.gov

Map of the 8th ward


UPDATES 

Board of aldermen are on a break

(Chambers doesn’t have ac)

 

Gun control bill

Restrict open carry of firearms bill passed … will mayor sign? We’ll see


Regulating AirBNBs

      • (stl is one of the last cities in the nation to have any regulation)

      • It has not even been discussed! 

      • Weigh in with Cara (email)

        • President of the board and the mayor (emails) 

        • To learn more, watch one of the hearings (link)

          • The idea is for the building division to be the regulatory agency and require permits for anyone who’s getting an airbnb. Some zoning, tightening it up a little bit more. We cannot issue taxes in st Louis, under Hancock, state of MO statute. We can’t charge any more for permit other than the cost of the service. Current airbnbs need to get a permit. $100 a year for each airbnb is what is being discussed. But nothing has happened yet so weigh in! 


First charter commission

      • Renewing the city’s charter, learn more about the citizen board here

Dan G commissioned a study of Gravois 

      • Gravois is owned by the city but managed by modot.  More updates to come. We’ll post them when we find them.

Closure of Cherokee access to 55 is permanent 

      • There were several accidents and just one person thought that maybe it would be good to keep out of all surveyed. It’s permanently closed.

Board of aldermen hired legislative assistant

Isaiah is the new legislative assistant for Cara/ward 8 pasek-santiagoi@stlouis-mo.gov


Church on Gravois x Russell


Benton Park, The Park

      • You have been heard! The trees are down by the lake, and they’re getting addressed soon!

      • Fountain has been down a couple years

        • Parks dept couldn’t find the part they needed, but they found it recently! Expect to fix the fountain by the end of the summer.


Conditional Use Proposal
Pestalozzi and Jefferson

  • Catering for private events. Chris Bork Project. Southside Space building.


Come to our concerts! 

Next one is aug 20, Pernikoff Brothers


Tunes on tap

This is our musical garden and home tour! We need volunteers to host a local musician and 10-20 people at most sprinkled throughout Saturday, October 14th. The neighborhood will provide local brews and help setting up. Email events@bentonpark.org if you’re interested in volunteering.


Yemanja’s Brazilian Day is happening on 9/9! 

September 9th, 12-8 at Yemanja Brazil, 2900 Missouri Ave, St. Louis, MO 63118

This is a street festival, the street will be closed from Missouri to McNair

      • Samba lessons

      • Soccer workshop (need)

      • Miami/chicago dancers coming in

      • Jiujitsu class for women’s self defense! 

      • Caipirinhas !

There’s a local CSA (community supported agriculture) from an urban farm in Cahokia

newcahokiacommons.farm 

      • Email info@newcahokiacommons.farm to subscribe! Food through November! 

      • It’s super fresh and pickup is Tuesday 4:30-6 at Earthbound Beer
        2724 Cherokee St, St. Louis, MO 63118

        • Artisan cheeses dairy and plant

        • Honey

        • Eggs, chicken and duck

        • Flowers

        • Master brewer and distiller 

Cave update!

English Cave + Community Garden 

Trying to get access to the cave, but it can take decades before you get the opportunity. 

Bill, our cave man, recently had the opportunity to get into the Lemp Cave … there will be a video of the visit

They will also be showing video of Lemp Cave at Spine Cafe and bookstore. We’ll post more onthe neighborhood social media.


Dog park


Adam, with the Metro Toxic Air Task Force

If you’d like to report the smell/toxic air, you can use this form! it will take 5 minutes to report and every report helps. (report early and often!)

CLICK HERE TO OPEN THE FORM


“The smell” - it’s not the brewery smell! It’s a burning iphone toxic smell coming from Sauget.

The smell was here years ago, it went away, and now it has RETURNED


The task force believes its coming from the Yolia waste management in Sauget 

They deal with hazardous waste. The smell contains arsenic lead and mercury … not great!  

        • Google st Louis toxic air yolia to learn more

        • We have the right to have air that’s safe to breathe based on the law of this country. =

What can you do? Report the small.

Here’s how:

Date time, what’s the smell like, what’s the effect

The more reporting the better.

More details:

Air quality is supposed to be highly regulated (permit good for 5 years) 

      • It requires them to do testing/ what are you burning etc…

      • In the rollbacks to the EPA 2016-2020, the permit was weakened

      • Permit up in 2024 January

      • If we can get input from community, we can send the smell away AGAIN


State of Missouri Medicaid Renewal is happening. Check on your people!

Renew everyone who participates on medical health insurance that falls under medicaid

If you have a family member etc who may be using medicaid

  • Children and adults and seniors

They need to have someone who is familiar with the the division of family services to make sure they are renewed for their services


Adam Lane - City of St Louis treasurer

Amnesty for parking tickets through September (but likely through end of 2023) 


Question to treasurer: What’s happening with the Rams money? 

      • The board of aldermen will vote on what happens with that money but in the meantime it is in an Investment account. and it has earned 5 million dollars as of now.