In this meeting we hear from Officer Walker on nuisance properties, Alderman Browning on the recent tornado that hit the city, and from special guest Shawn Ordway (Interim Assessor with the City of St. Louis) on 2025 property reassessments. 

6:50 Meeting called to order (Evan)

Public Comment

  • Shoutout to Jen from Hello Juice for letting FPSE Neighborhood Association using the space for our monthly meeting
  • Question on where is the new meeting address.
    • Answer: We are at Hello Juice at 1000 S. Newstead.

FPSE Neighborhood Business

Treasurer’s Report (Evan)

  • General Membership dues start over in new year; dues are pay-what-you-can
  • Donations always welcome. Cash, check, or cash app: cash.app/$FPSENA
  • Ending Cash = $2,914.35

Crime & Safety Report (Officer Walker)

  • Followup on nuisance property on 43XX Swan.  Alderman Browning and NIS Ron encourage to continue calling police for incidents.

Ward 9 Updates (9th Ward Alderman Michael Browning) 

  • Comments on Tornado that hit this city.
  • If any damage, alderman browning encourages you to reach out to him so that we can help.
  • City is supporting any the damages from the tornado.
  • State and federal aid has been requested.  Estimated over $1B in damage.
  • Sirens are being tested as they did not go off from the last storm.  Sirens will have a 24 hour team where the fire department is taking over the responsibility of sounding the Tornado Siren.
  • Spire is back on Chouteau.  
  • Will aim to repave Choteau within the next 2 years.
  • Utility coordination Ordinance was passed last session which can be found here: https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/city-laws/ordinances/ordinance.cfm?ord=71943
  • Question on whether anything on the ordinance for idling trucks.  Nothing in the ordinance for idling trucks.
  • St. Louis City is back in session.
  • Ald. Browning is in the budget committee, public infrastructure and utilities committee, HUDS committee, special committee on reducing red tape.

Neighborhood Updates (N.I.S. Ron Coleman)

Neighborhood Events (Evan)

  • Monthly Litter Clean-up: We’re cleaning up the streets and select alleys throughout the neighborhood starting this month! Meet at the corner of Oakland and Newstead on Saturday, May 24 at 10am. Gloves and bags provided! 
  • Apply to be on the FPSE Infrastructure Committee: Have an interest in making our neighborhood walkable? Want to help create a more beautiful Forest Park Southeast? Apply today to be on the FPSE Infrastructure Committee: https://form.jotform.com/233236220630140
  • Honeysuckle Removal at Chouteau Park: We’re doing another round of honeysuckle removal in Chouteau Park! Tools & gloves provided – but if you have your own and/ or a small electric saw – you are encouraged to bring those. Meet at Chouteau Park on Saturday, May 31 at 8am.
  • Get Active with the Neighborhood Beautification Committee: Activities include: Tree watering at Chouteau Park, shrub and tree pruning, and de-volcano mulching. Our next activity will be on Sunday, June 1 at 8am. Meet at the corner of Newstead & Oakland. 

City of St. Louis Reassessment Process (Shawn Ordway, Interim Assessor with the City of St. Louis.)

  • History of Reassessment shows that it went down during 2009-2013.  During covid, Commercial properties also went down.
  • 2025 assessment shows residential property values increased by 16.07% and commercial increased by 0.41%
  • Properties are valued based on land, age of the house, material of the residence, condition, liveable square footage, location, etc,.
  • Every sale is looked at
  • Property owners can invite the assessor to review the interior.
  • Gravois park, dutchtown some of the higher increase because assessor office was previously underassessing the properties.
  • State of Missouri requires assessors to have a median ratio of 90% to 110%.  
  • May and June, informal appeals are occurring.
  • July and August is the beginning of the Board of Equalization 
  • July 14, 2025 is the deadline to appeal to Board of Equalization.
  • June 30, 2025 is the deadline to apply for Senior Property Tax Freeze Credit.
  • Senior Property Tax only freezes the city government portion of the tax.  Schools, library, MSD, Zoo/museum do not get frozen.
  • Senior Property Tax credit does not replace MO Property Tax Credit
  • Question if the house is co-owned by someone who qualifies for the senior property tax and someone who does not.  The house will qualify.  Only 1 person on the house needs to qualify for the Senior Property Tax Freeze.
  • Neighbor comments about how property taxes are pricing people out of their homes.  
  • Question on what to bring for the informal process for appeals.  Answer was you would talk to the assessor and would bring pictures.

Public comment

  • Question on how to get a speed hump on Swan.  Ald. Browning says to email him.  51% of the houses are required to sign on for the speed humps to be implemented.
  • Infrastructure will soon change depending on new legislature.
  • Per September 1st Vacant Property violations will start to increase per each violation.  
  • If there is a vacant property, it is encouraged to continue to report to CSB.
  • There are no vacant properties in FPSE that the N.I.S is not aware of.
  • Corporate properties can also be reported if they are out of compliance.

You can download a copy of this meeting’s minutes below.