1982-05-24 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Session 1308, Minutes Page 5 May 24, 1982 patterns in University City and in helping to keep it a fine place to live. In re- sponse to Mrs. Thompson, Mrs. Sidel said that many of the volunteers and employees of UCRS live in the Third Ward, and that one-fourth of the board of UCRS was black, in addition to two-board officers. She said that the organization helped both blacks and whites find housing. In response to Mr. Adams' question as to how many people were placed in the last year, Mrs. Sidel did not have exact numbers but said it was lower than usual because of high interest rates and currant economic condi- tions, although rental placements were good. Mr. Adams asked if UCRS had found al- ternate financial sources, as he previously suggested they do, trying to rely less on the City. Mrs. Sidel said $11,000 had been raised through various solicitation efforts. Responding to Mr. Levy, Mrs. Sidel said the money raised by solicitation was spent for trade publication advertising. She asked Mrs. Elsie Glickert, board president, to comment further. Mrs. Glickert said that in addition to advertising, individuals representing UCRS have gone to industries in St. Louis and St. Louis County in order to publicize the benefits of living in University City. Mr. Levy asked if any method was used to try to evaluate the effectiveness of advertising in the various journals. Mrs. Glickert said UCRS has tried to do this, but most of their patrons say they were referred to UCRS by "a friend." Mr. Ollendorff com- mented that an additional $1,000 for advertising was given to UCRS in the past year, which was restricted to newspaper advertising. Mrs. Glickert said that was correct, and that the money came from Community Development funds to be used specifically to promote living in the University City "Loop." Mrs. Glickert said that no one would like to go out of business more than UCRS, for that would mean they had accomplished their aim of completely desegregated housing; unfortunately, that goal has not yet been reached. Mrs. Metcalfe asked that UCRS furnish the amount that was spent for advertising and the number of total placements in both.purchase and rental housing for the past year. Mrs. Glickert said that would be provided. There was further discussion. Mayor Mooney encouraged those who felt they did not have a good under- standing of the way UCRS worked to attend their meetings, which are open to the pub- lic. He said UCRS was another way of providing good public relations for the City. Mr. Dick Trippeer, 1316 82nd Boulevard, asked to address the Council on behalf of the University City-Hockey Association. He requested that the City not close the ice skating-rink next winter, as recommended by the administration. He said the hockey and other skating programs provided-a needed outlet for youngsters and helped keep them off the street and out of trouble. Mr. Trippeer said he was aware of the City's financial problems, but thought that better preventive maintenance for the rink equipment in the future should make the equipment last longer than it has in the past. He said the various activities and meets at the rink attracted hundreds of people to University City, and he enumerated the advantages to the City and its residents of keeping the rink open. Responding to Mr. Adams, Mr. Trippeer said about 60 youngsters were involved in the hockey program. Mr. Levy noted that the ice rink had not been overly popular with many citizens and that the City had lost about $30,000 in its operation in the last year. He asked Mr. Trippeer for suggestions as to how to encourage heavier use of the rink so that -the deficit may be eliminated or at least lowered substantially. Mr. Trippeer said much more pro- motion needs to be done on the programs that are available at the rink. He also said that ice time can be rented to groups for parties or other activities. He noted that the Brentwood and Creve Coeur rinks were profitable. More discussion ensued. Mrs. Metcalfe pointed out that in addition to the deficit, the adminis- tration had been advised that it would be necessary to speed an additional $50,000 on equipment next year. Mrs. Thompson suggested that a comparative study be done