Neighborhood Planning Council 10 - Lakeview west

WESTALKE/PRAIRIEVIEW NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING COUNCIL #10 Meeting Minutes August 22, 2016 The meeting was held at Lakeview Senior Living, 14661 S. Helmer, Battle Creek, Michigan Call to Order & Welcome Chair, Jeff Koteles called the meeting to order at 7:03pm with a moment of silence for reflection. Attendance: Members: Chairman: Jeff Koteles, Vice Chair: David Weaver, Secretary: Linda Patenaude, Tom Rose, Donna Kowalski, Diana Cole, MaryJane Cipcic, Gary Dodd, and Mary Lou Ramon. Guests: Judy VanZaten City staff: Jason Francisco, code officer and Derek Walters, BCPD Chair Notes/Correspondence/Announcements: Zoning Board of Appeals meeting is cancelled. Planning commission is reviewing the Keystone Lake Apartments and also a vacant site on Arbor Street. Additions/Deletions to the Agenda: Linda wanted to speak about membership campaigns for all NPCs under new business and how we can help. Mayor Walters, our guest speaker, will be moved up on the agenda to after the police report. Minutes: July minutes were unanimously approved as written in a motion from Dave Weaver seconded by Gary Dodd. Police Report: Officer Derek Walters handed out written reports with statistics for our area. It was noted that in the written reports contained some addresses not in our boundaries. The police reports boundaries do not follow the NPC’s. He reminded us again to secure our belongings by locking our cars, doors and windows. There are organized car larceny rings that work in neighborhoods There are retirements and new hires within the police department and officer assignments may change. Our group thanked Officer Walters for his support of our NPC and let him know he will be missed. As school is about to start the police will have a larger presence around schools. Guest Speakers: Mayor Walters and Ted Dearing, assistant city manager, went on a trip, by invitation, to China to broker letters of understanding to bring students to Battle Creek to attend KCC and Western. They are also working with South Korea to bring students. We heard about the details of the trip and the vision of this endeavor to boost economic development in Battle Creek. There are offers being made on buildings in Battle Creek to house students by these governments. The Western School of Aviation may also benefit from more students. Commissioners Report: none Committee Reports: a. Membership: 200 postcards were mailed out and we are happy to receive one new person at the meeting tonight. Linda will contact the 3 members we have not heard from for a few months and see if they want to continue on with membership in this council. b. Beautiful Battle Creek Awards: 724 W Highland Blvd that has a front yard full of zinnias instead of lawn. c. Neighborhood Planning: see Chair notes d. Woodland park: Joyce Garrett no report today City Staff Report: Jason Francisco handed out written code reports. There is a tenant landlord guide available on the city’s website in PDF form. Corner of Territorial and 20th will be a laundromat. There is going to be a large drainage project along Columbia next to the Hallmark store. On the corner of Columbia and Riverside there will be a new gas station. Helmer and I-94 will be Bronson Health Park. Property surveys are being done on a rotating 3 year cycle. There are 2 new code officers hired for a total of 5 now. The drain at the cul-de-sac on Apperson is very clogged up. Dead trees in the pond need to be taken down before they fall. Handouts to binders about public works were handed out. New Business: Helen Guzzo is working with NPCs on increasing membership. Accessvision is airing interviews with some NPC’s. The City is going to do some social media posts on each NPC and is seeking pictures about neighborhood assets like parks, nice streets, nonprofit or businesses that characterize your NPC. There is a NPC Leadership quarterly meeting which will be held on Monday, Nov. 7 from 5-7:30pm at the Dept. of Public Works on Kendall in the multi-purpose room. We need a representative from NPC 10 to attend. Old Business: none Comments for the good of the order: -Gary Dodd took up Christian and Kevin’s invitation to come and tour the property to see the proposed changes at Keystone Lake Apartments and was pleased with what he saw. He appreciated the screening and drainage they are doing. -Dave is looking for ideas for speakers. Maybe candidates? -MJ is telling us Superintendent Dave Peterson has retired and the community involvement process is requested to find his replacement. Adjournment: 9:02pm Next Meeting: October 24, 2016 Submitted by Linda Patenaude Members who will not able to attend our meeting for an excused absence, please call Linda @ 269-962-8514