Neighborhood Planning Council 10 - Lakeview west

WESTALKE/PRAIRIEVIEW NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING COUNCIL #10 Meeting Minutes June 25th , 2012 The meeting was held at First Assembly of God Church, 800 S. 24th Street, Battle Creek Michigan Call to Order & Welcome Chair, Jeff Koteles called the meeting to order at 7:03pm Cecil Salinas led the invocation. Attendance: Members: Chairman: Jeff Koteles, Secretary: Linda Patenaude, Vice Chair: David Weaver, Diana Cole, Julie Davis, Gary Dodd, Joyce Garrett & Cecil Salinas Commissioner Domenico Guests: Jeff Troyer (Executive Director of the Dispatch Authority), Steve Frisbee, Rita and Dwight Grandganett, and Sharon Newell City staff: Neighborhood Services: Marcie Gillette Chair Notes/Correspondence/Announcements: none Additions or Deletions to Agenda: none Minutes: Dave Weaver motioned to approve April 2012 minutes with support from Cecil Salinas. Minutes were approved as written. May 2012 minutes were also approved as written by a motion from David Weaver supported by Julie Davis. Police Report: Officer Winer handed out crime reports. Malicious destruction of property is higher, as always in the summer. Report any unusual sightings in your neighborhood. Bank robber was apprehended just a few hours after the robbery. A resident spoke to the officer about bullying by neighbors and what could be done. The officer addressed the order of events after a complaint. The officers investigate and document in writing the problem. They then pass the information along to the prosecuting attorney to file charges. The resident felt unsatisfied by the process and said nothing is being done. Commissioner Domenico said he would speak to the resident and see if he could be of help after the meeting. Public Service Announcements from Commissioners: Commissioner Domenico reported that Gary's Saw Shop on Columbia was finally demolished by the owner, with no cost to the city. There is going to be a meeting to discuss the 911 surcharge June 26th at 6pm the Public Works Department. He also has followed up on the horseshoe pond water issues with Ken Tsuchiyama, city manager and progress is being made slowly. Before the pond can be addressed the Lynwood water issues need to be addressed or they will have more problems. After they are addressed the pond will be next. It will be approximately 3 years and will come from general funds. It is still in the early stages but it looks good. Marijuana moratorium is continuing while the city waits for court cases to resolve some issues. Committee Reports: a. Membership : Nothing new. We are still looking for new members. b. Beautiful Battle Creek Award‐ Several members brought in 4 suggestions: 196 Westchester Way 77 Sunnyside 1909 Goguac W 202 Westchester Way Members are encouraged to bring in submittals, so we have extras. c. Neighborhood Planning‐ Meeting was cancelled nothing on the agenda. d. Woodland Park‐ The quick response code signs are working. People are using them to access maps of the park on their cell phones. City Staff Report: Marcie Gillette handed out written reports. The reports looked a bit different since there is no map. There were over 700 of property survey enforcement reports so she didn't print them all. Trash/garbage pickup for cans was discussed; cans should be out no earlier than noon the day before and brought back in by noon the following day. Marcie was thanked for her follow up on long weeds complaints from a member of the council. They were taken care of. New Business: none Program: Joyce Garrett shared information about the history and the Land Management Plan for the Woodland Park and Nature Preserve. It spells out what must be done to keep the park preserved for its life. Invasive species will take over the park if the land is not managed. Dwight Grandganett addressed the site master plan on capital improvements and the use of the land as passive recreational space. A 10 year funding proposal for the Calhoun County Consolidated Dispatch Authority is coming up for a vote on August 7th. Through 27 meetings the many options for funding this 911 service has been narrowed down to two. On the ballot will be the choice to pay a per phone surcharge of up to $2.25 per phone, including cell phone and home phones. (Everyone is already paying 60 cents per month on their phone bills now) If passed the city would no longer have to pay 1.1 million from its general fund to the 911 dispatch center, a tax shift. The $2.25 per device will replace that. Currently residents of Battle Creek pay $26.50 each, through the city's general funding along with the 60 cents surcharge. Currently renters and suburban areas only pay the 60 cent surcharge and it is not equitable for the same services. For Battle Creek residents the costs will probably be about the same. The question is if the surcharge passes what will the city do with the funding they are currently spending for it now. Would they lower city taxes? Those answers will be discussed at a special meeting at the Public Works Department on June 26th. For other communities it would be a huge increase in their city budgets if this proposal fails. If the proposal does not pass, the funding will be secured by a 'call for service' fee formula. The number of incidents dispatched are invoiced quarterly to the cities where they came from. Battle Creek will work out to be approximately the same money spent per resident. Comments for the Good of the Order: a. Public Comments: none b. Member Comments‐ none Adjournment: Meeting was adjourned at 8:30 pm Next Meeting: Monday, August 27th, 2012 Submitted by Secretary, Linda Patenaude