Neighborhood Planning Council 1 - Post-Franklin

POST/FRANKLIN NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING COUNCIL Thursday – Oct 6, 2016 Chair Diana Quigg called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. at CA Board Room. Attendance: Members Present: Cindy Fritz, James Moreno, Diana Quigg, John Cash, Yvonne Powell, William Hazel and La Mar Mingle via phone. Members Excused: Katie Hubbard Members Absent: Linda Carmona and Pat Shellenberger Guest and Visitors: Ofc. Huggett and Wilkins – BCPD, Tommy Engels – City of Battle Creek Code Office, Chris Lussier and Helen Guzzo – BC Comm. Dev., Kate Flores – BC City Comm., BC Fire Fighters Michael Tobin, Joseph Shanks and Eric Haines, and Loretta Whitt. Additions and Deletions to the Agenda: None Approval of Minutes: Motion for approval of June Minutes was made by James and seconded by Cindy. Motion carried. Correspondence and Announcements: Fire Prevention Week is Oct 9-15 with an Open House at the East Michigan Station on Oct 15 from 2-4. There will also be an event Oct 12 at Bailey Park and Station No. 2 on Washington Ave. will also be hosting an open house on Saturday Oct 15. Committee and Staff Reports: Police: Officer Huggett distributed Police Report and shared there have been no property crimes but they have been addressing warrants in the area. There has been an increase of people using vacant/abandon houses for unlawful activities; this includes Meth and squatting. He reported that there are Meth houses on Lathrop, Highway, Marjorie and Academy. Council was asked to keep eyes on neighborhood and report activity at vacant and abandoned properties to the Police immediately. It was reported that a No Parking sign on east side of Main St. at the corner of Kingman Ave. E was hit by a motorist, it needs to be straightened. If you see people in the Post Franklin Community Garden and it is not open you should call police to report trespassers so that it is recorded in the system. Code: Tommy Engels distributed the monthly report. Tommy Engels supplied us with a list of all vacant and abandon buildings in the Post/Franklin area. The list included all 150 properties. He reported that there are a total of 790 city wide. A discussion on vacant/abandon buildings was had by all. It was noted that we should call 911 if we see people entering these properties as they could be tie in with what was discussed by the Police with people using the property for Meth or just no good. Beautiful Battle Creek Award: The following 5 properties were submitted for Beautiful Battle Creek Awards: Motion to approve – Jim Moreno, second John Cash. Motion carried. 120 Grenville 93 Euclid 362 Main St. 15 Illinois 130 Caine If you see a property that you feel deserves a BBC Award you may nominate that property, all that is required is the address. The council will then vote and the address is submitted to City Neighborhood Planning Office, who then proceed with the issuing of the Award. Note – once we submit the addresses the City takes control of the process and we have no say when an address will be awarded. If any member should have a question regarding an address that was submitted they need only ask and the inquiry will be made to the City and the outcome will be documented in the minutes. Membership: None Commissioner Comments: Kate Flores reported there was to be a workshop on the Urban Farming issue before the next commission meeting. Two ordinances are being reviewed. Again, NPC #1 voiced our oppositions to allowing agricultural animal in the Post/Franklin area. It was noted that one of the local Animal Advocacy groups in town had pointed out in the Opinion section of the paper that the city was not prepared nor qualified to handle the matter of inspection and oversight of farm animals in the city. The Adult Businesses on Dickman was brought up by Jim and he questioned why the City took up the cause of the Dickman Road business community, but sacrificed our neighborhood when it allowed an adult business to open on East Michigan corner at the fork with Porter St., as it was allowable under the Zoning regulations. It was also noted that this matter involved the clarification of the Ordinance based upon the fact that Medical Message therapist licensing requirement didn’t exist when the ordinance originally went into effect. This item would be rectified in this review. Battle Creek Public Schools: None Old Business: None. New Business: A nomination committee was set for the NPC#1 election of Officers. Cindy, Jim and Yvonne graciously volunteered. A motion was made by William and seconded by Diana. Motion carried. Chris Lussier and Helen Guzzo presented the 2016-2017 Community Development Report. Discussion was had by all and a questionnaire was presented for all to fill out with needs of the neighborhood for the Community Development Office. Request was made for individuals to attend the December 6th City Commission where there will be a public hearing on this subject. Three members signed up to be in attendance. Members Comments: None. Public Comments: None. Adjournment: Meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m. Next Scheduled Meeting: Nov 3, 2016 at 7:00 p.m. in the CA Board Room. Respectfully Submitted by Cynthia Fritz, Recording Secretary