Neighborhood Planning Council 11 - Lakeview east

Minutes Minges Brook/Riverside Neighborhood Planning Council (NPC) #11 Minges Brook Elementary School Library 435 Lincoln Hill Drive, Battle Creek, MI 49015 Wednesday – Jan 23rd, 2013 1. 7:00 PM – Welcome and opening by Chairman Randall Champlin 2. Attendance sheet: Jim Baldwin, Rudy Barda, Randall Champlin, John Godfrey, County Commissioner Jim Haadsma, Dave Hawks, Commissioner Jeff Domenico, Mayor Susan Baldwin, City Representative Susan Bedsole, Guests: Tim Martinovich, Randy Hudson, Zane Mead, Karen Todd (BC Enquirer), Ted Dearing 3. Additions or deletions to this agenda – none 4. Approval of the December, 2012 meeting’s minutes – John Godfrey moved to approve with support by Haadsma. The Motion passed. 5. Correspondence sent/received – None 6. City staff reports: • Police Department Report: No officer at the meeting • City representative Report - Crime and code enforcement updates were distributed. • Jason Francisco will be doing inspections in another area of the city. Jeanette Cooks is our new inspector. • Susan reminded the NPC that homeowners are responsible for sidewalk snow removal. Several folks in the neighborhood have called to report sidewalks that have not been cleared. Some tickets were issued last year non compliance with the ordinances. Even if you are physically not able to remove snow, your are still responsible for keeping the sidewalk around your home clear. It is a safety issue especially for kids walking to school. • Tim Martinovich mentioned that the Village Inn apartments have some cars parked in no parking zones that sometimes cause problems with traffic visibility. Some of the cares appear to be inoperable.. Susan will have this looked into this. • City/County Commissioners’ reports • Ward 4 Commissioner Jeff Domenico: - Jeff suggests getting to know your neighbors and help with sidewalks if needed. Jeff also noted that due to population changes in the city Precinct 8 may move from ward 5 to ward 4. There will be a workshop in February. The plans have to be finalized by March. The city is required to make changes to keep the wards roughly equivalent in population. • Mayor Susan Baldwin - ƒ Cosma International and Denso expansions ..$267 million investment with over 800 new jobs in Battle Creek. ƒ Budget Workshop in early March. ƒ Harwood institute and WK Kellogg foundation – potential culture change in how the City Government works with citizens (customers). • Jim Haadsma – County Commissioner The City of Battle Creek will provide necessary reasonable auxiliary aids and services, such as signers for the hearing impaired and audio tapes of printed materials being considered in the meeting upon reasonable notice to the City of Battle Creek. Individuals with disabilities requiring auxiliary aids or services should contact the City of Battle Creek by writing or calling the following: City Clerk’s Office (269) 966-3348/TDD  ƒ Jim mentioned the water leak at the County building in Marshall. Cleanup is on-going. ƒ Kevin Henning has resigned as Road Department head. Jim is trying to make sure folks know who to contact with road issues. Mary Jo Crumpton, at the road Dept, is taking road work requests. ƒ New Parks and Rec commission. As opposed to Parks trustees as part of the Road Commission, It is a ten member commission. Derik King will lead this group. Most of the county parks are in his district. R Lindsey is taking request to be on the commission. Kimble Pines is expected to need, and receive, a lot of work. ƒ John Godfrey provided feedback to commissioner Haadsma he was pleased with the way the county clerk handled the issuing of veterans ID cards. 7. Committee reports: • Beautiful Battle Creek Award: No report this meeting • Neighborhoods and Land Use: John Godfrey - nothing new as the last meeting was canceled. • NPC 11 Programs: Jim Haadsma - BC finances next month. • Old business from previous meetings: ƒ John Godfrey motioned that Norma Mayo of 349 Dunham Drive, Tim Martinovich of 128 Christy Drive, and Zane Mead of 200 N. Eastway Drive be recommended to the city commission for NPC 11 membership. Support by Jim Haadsma. The motion passed unanimously • New business: Program Topic :Ted Dearing representing the Parks and Recreation Department on the topic of “Upcoming changes at Willard Beach”. ƒ Ted advised the NPC of recommendations the parks department would make to the commission for changes to Willard Beach. The changes would address multiple issues: • Safety: Moving the swim area from boat traffic in the narrow area of the lake • Access: The recommendations will permit some reserved spaces near the beach for disabled parking. • A fence for control of geese • Better drainage to filter runoff water before it enters the lake. • More picnic areas near the concession area and current beach area ƒ The total cost of the project would be about 400K with 100K of that coming from City funds. ƒ If approved by the City Commission the work is expected to start in the fall of 2014. ƒ John Godfrey motioned that the NPC endorse the plan as presented. Support by Haadsma. The Motion passed. 8. Public comments: • Dave Hawks stated that downtown looks great but city hall needs some work, Tim Martinovich ask if the Glockenspiel that was built as part of Cereal City USA was going to be maintained. Currently it is not operational. Susan Bedsole indicated that it is a significant cost to maintain. • Jim Haadsma introduced Randy Hudson. Randy lives at 226 S. Eastway. Recently his home was invaded and personal property taken. This happened at night while Randy was sleeping. The police that investigated the crime stated that the number of break-ins is increasing. A discussion follows about the possibility of establishing an organized neighborhood crime watch. There as been some interest in this by the Country Club Hills Association. In 2012, according to the City of Battle Creek Crime Mapping website, there were 53 B&E crimes in our NPC. The City of Battle Creek will provide necessary reasonable auxiliary aids and services, such as signers for the hearing impaired and audio tapes of printed materials being considered in the meeting upon reasonable notice to the City of Battle Creek. Individuals with disabilities requiring auxiliary aids or services should contact the City of Battle Creek by writing or calling the following: City Clerk’s Office (269) 966-3348/TDD  • Jim Haadsma ask about all the Pawn shops popping up. Are these fencing operations? Per Susan Bedasole Pawn shops have to report who and what someone is selling .. but ..this is by paper and no one really looks at the papers. The city can do a spot check on these businesses. There is an effort to make the reporting electronic so that it can be searched quickly. Should go to commission in the next few months. There are 21 Second-hand goods and pawn shops in the area…this includes charitable institutions such as Good Will as well ask private pawn shops. • John Godfrey - The Restore need donations – think of this when spring cleaning. 9. Members’ comments: Randall Champlin mentioned that a new Michigan Supreme court justice is scheduled to speak at Burnham Brook Thursday Night at 6:30. Also Happy Birthday wishes to members Haadsma and Godfrey who have upcoming birthday’s on Sunday and Monday. 10. Next meeting: 7:00 January 23rd, 2013. Jim Ritsema, City of Battle Creek Assistant City Manager, will join us for a review of the City’s financial condition 11. Adjournment – 8:43 PM The City of Battle Creek will provide necessary reasonable auxiliary aids and services, such as signers for the hearing impaired and audio tapes of printed materials being considered in the meeting upon reasonable notice to the City of Battle Creek. Individuals with disabilities requiring auxiliary aids or services should contact the City of Battle Creek by writing or calling the following: City Clerk’s Office (269) 966-3348/TDD