Soldiers Memorial Commission Regular Meeting - September 18, 2025

The Soldiers Memorial Commission met on Thursday, September 18, 2025, from 3:02 p.m. to 3:34 p.m. Commissioners approved the July 17, 2025 meeting minutes, received an operations report highlighting a 26% increase in attendance and a successful collaborative effort to address an open-air drug market, and discussed a new ordinance requiring the commission to adopt formal procedural rules.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of July 17, 2025 Meeting Minutes: Moved and seconded. Approved by voice vote with all commissioners in favor except Freddie Dunlap, who abstained.

Discussion Items

• Operations Report (Mark):

  • Open-Air Drug Market: Mark reported a successful collaboration with the city, library, and board members to address an open-air drug market north of Soldiers Memorial. The area has improved significantly, and the city did not fence the park, which would have merely displaced the problem. Commissioner Gilberto Pinella confirmed the city is being proactive to ensure a permanent resolution.
  • Attendance: Through August 2025, attendance was 17,241, a 26% increase over 13,638 in the same period in 2024. The banner year of 2019 saw 27,000 visitors through August.
  • Exhibits and Events:
    • Matinees at the Memorial (August 10 and 24) each had 100 registrations and were fully booked.
    • Upcoming events: Stand Down (next weekend, with 50+ vendors, haircuts, chiropractors, and an emotional support donkey); Hispanic Heritage Month Panel (October 4, 10 a.m.); Veterans Day Parade (November 8); Veterans Day observance (November 11, with French Society reflaying); Chamber Project STL concert (November 23, 2 p.m.); Window Pruitt Celebration of African American Service (December 12).
    • Current exhibit: Tuskegee Airmen – America's Freedom Flyers (closes November 2). Next exhibit: Two Minutes to Midnight and the Architecture of Armageddon (November 11 to January 6).
    • The Mac Banner show (bilingual, highlighting Hispanic service) is nearing completion and will be installed at the Athletic Club by October 1.
  • Collections – Mold Remediation Project: A project to inventory, catalog, and remediate mold on approximately 1,400 artifacts that were segregated during the transition from the city to the historical society. Air quality tests at the off-site storage facility were in the green; one storage container had lower levels than the outdoor environment. Swab samples are being sent to a lab to identify the mold species. The project is multi-year and will be led by Collections Manager Kate Scott.
  • Commissioner Jason Fletcher shared a personal story about his wife's cousin, Master Sergeant Harold Troc, a Nicaraguan-American hero who died in Afghanistan and is buried at Jefferson Barracks. He offered to provide information for the Hispanic service banner exhibit. Commissioner Gilberto Pinella welcomed the addition.

• New Business – Ordinance 7194 (Nick Morrow, City Councilor's Office):

  • Nick Morrow introduced Ordinance 7194, which requires all city boards and commissions to develop and adopt procedural rules (e.g., meeting time, public notice, agenda additions). These rules must be posted online.
  • A draft of proposed rules will be distributed by Linnea within the next few days.
  • A special meeting is scheduled for October 2, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. to discuss and vote on the rules.
  • The ordinance also requires annual training for board members on the Sunshine Law and Robert's Rules of Order; details to follow.

Key Outcomes

• Approved the July 17, 2025 meeting minutes (with one abstention).
• Scheduled a special meeting for October 2, 2025, to adopt procedural rules as required by Ordinance 7194.
• Directed staff to include information on Master Sergeant Harold Troc in the Hispanic service banner exhibit.
• Adjourned at 3:34 p.m.