3/11/25 Meeting
PUBLIC NOTICE
Please take notice that the Downtown North STL Community Improvement District will be holding a Board of Directors Meeting on March 11th at 11:30 am virtually via Zoom.
This will be an open meeting and all members of the public are welcome to attend via the above Zoom link. A copy of the Agenda for this meeting is below:
agenda
I. Call to order
II. Approval of meeting minutes from 02/11/25 Board of Directors meeting (5 minutes)
III. Amendment of By-Laws to extend time period for establishment of Initial Board of Directors to 120 days from the date the ordinance creating the DNS CID became effective (5 minutes)
IV. Election of Michele Solie to Board of Directors (5 minutes)
V. Discussion of bank account / signers on checks (5 minutes)
VI. Discussion of marketing for Downtown North (5-10 minutes)
VII. Update on potential nightclubs within DNS CID area (1011 and 1128 Washington); request for funding (5-10 minutes)
VIII. Supporting protest against Europe Nightclub (5-10 minutes)
IX. Power point presentation on plan for addressing violence associated with late night partying / cruising in the Washington / Locust corridor (15-20 minutes)
X. Adjourn
meeting minutes
Attending the 03/11/25 Meeting of the Board of Directors (held via Zoom) were Board President John Berglund, Board Members Steve Stone, Dan Pistor, Jeff Campbell, and Craig Heller, Executive Director Matt O’Leary, and Michelle Solie.
Matt O’Leary indicated that he had previously circulated meeting minutes from the 2/11/25 Board Meeting and an agenda for the 03/11/25 Board Meeting. All Board Member acknowledged receipt of these documents.
A motion was made to adopt the meeting minutes from the 2/11/25 Board Meeting, which was seconded. A voice vote was held and passed with 6 ayes to 0 nays.
Matt discussed the need to amend the By-Laws of the DNS CID to extend the period for populating the Initial Board of Directors by 30 days (from 90 days to 120 days) from the date that the DNS CID ordinance passed into law (from the date the Mayor signed the ordinance). After discussion, a motion was made and seconded to so amend the By-Laws of the DNS CID. A voice vote was held and passed with 6 ayes to 0 nays.
Michele Solie was then introduced to the Board of Directors as someone who had met with most of the current Members of the Board and had been tentatively offered, and accepted, a seat on the Board of Directors as a resident of Bankers Lofts at 901 Washington. A motion was made and seconded to formally elect Michele to the Board of Directors. A voice vote was held and passed with 6 ayes to 0 nays.
John then led a conversation about branding / marketing related to the existence of both Downtown North (which has been in existence since 2022) and the Downtown North CID.
Craig then updated the Board of Directors related to the effort to deny a liquor license to a proposed nightclub at 1128 Washington. Dan updated the Board of Directors related to a protest being brought against the application for a liquor license for a nightclub at 1011 Washington.
Matt made a request for the Board to approve an expenditure of $5,000 to pay for legal counsel for the effort to protest the Club Katanas / 1011 Washington liquor license. Steve recused himself from the vote as he is a partner at the Stone, Leyton & Gershman law firm, which employs Paul Puricelli, one lawyer under consideration. After discussion, a motion was made and seconded to spend up to $5,000 on counsel for the 1011 Washington (Club Katanas) matter. A voice vote was held and passed with 6 ayes to 0 nays.
Matt then briefed the Board in on efforts in the neighborhood to investigate a liquor license protest against Club Europe, a nightclub responsible for 10+ shootings and 5 homicides in the last 10 years. After some discussion, a motion was made and seconded to allow Matt to work with members of the community around Club Europe to investigate the viability of a liquor license protest without spending any resources other than staff time. A voice vote was held and passed with 6 ayes to 0 nays.
Matt then gave a PowerPoint presentation on potential actions the DNS CID can take in partnership with other civic organizations like DNA to address violence associated with late night partying / cruising in the Washington / Locust corridor. This was followed with some conversation.
Finally, a motion was made and seconded to adjourn. A voice vote was held and passed with 6 ayes to 0 nays.
At this time, the meeting ended.