Neighborhood Planning Council 11 - Lakeview east

December 4th Meeting Minutes Minges Brook/Riverside Neighborhood Planning Council (NPC) #11 Riverside Elementary School Library 650 Riverside Drive Battle Creek, MI 49015 Wednesday – December • 7:00 PM – Welcome and opening – Randall Champlin • Attendance sheet: Dave Hawks, Frank Egland, Jim Haadsma (County Commissioner), Randall Champlin, Tim Martinovich, Wendy Rominger, Commissioner Mike Sherzer, John Hausman, Lucas Hillard, Talia Champlin, Dave Peterson, Susan Bedsole. Terris Todd (County Commissioner) • Additions or deletions to this agenda: none • Approval of the previous month’s meeting’s minutes moved by Dave Hawks support by Frank Egland • Correspondence sent/received • Planning Commission Meeting notice – Special Use Permit request Historic District • Planning commission meeting • Historic district – December meeting canceled • City staff reports: • Police Department Report - No representative .. • Fire Dept Representative - Fire Department Station 6 .. Supporting Toy’s for Tot’s and food drop off at the station on Capitol Ave. The City is down to three potential candidates for fire chief. All are external • City Representative Report – Police and code inspection reports. Tim ask about street lighting. Per Susan there is a project ongoing now so some lights have power temporarily cut off. The city inspects lights twice a year and notifies Consumers energy of lights that need maintenance. Tim has noticed lots of speeding and traffic violations around Capital Ave. Does the city accept leaves at Brice Pit on River Road. Answer” Yes, but no brush. • City/County Commissioners’ reports • Commissioner Sherzer indicated that the commission heard a presentation from Waste Management on a new contract that would provide larger recycle bins with wheels but the collection schedule for recyclables would change to every other week. Regular trash would be picked up weekly. • County Commissioners Jim Haadsma and Terrace Todd.  1. The County will pass a balanced budge. Asking the sheriff to trim the budget in that dept. All departments were ask to cut budges by 3% .. Revenues are somewhat reduced. 2. Q: does $ from Springfield go into the general fund or to the Sheriff’s dept. A: not sure. •. . • Committee reports: • Beautiful Battle Creek Award – Ann Wyson – not present • Neighborhoods and Land Use– John Godfrey – not present • NPC 11 Programs – James Haadsma – Jim and Wendy noted that Joe Konrad is expected for next month. • Old business: None • New business: Dave Peterson Superintendent of Lakeview Schools – • Dave answered some question that had been summited earlier via email first. i. ACA caused the schools to have to cut back the hours of some employees. ii. Skilled trades – the new high school principle has a trade school background iii. This needs to start at the middle school level. iv. School safety: 1. Watch DOGS at Riverside. The program provides safety and companion ship for kids and adults. West Lake has also started the program. This program seems to be well accepted. No plans for Minges Brook. Assistant Principal Martin Pessetti has taken a lead in safety precautions at the schools . 2. Working more closely with the BCPD for guidance. 3. Training for an armed intruder has been provided. 4. Some facility improvements made at the high school 5. There is now a budget item for safety issue. v. Charter schools and schools of choice. 1. Charter Schools are public schools. Each receive $7,148 per student from tax revenues. 2. The school of choice and charter schools can affect the segregation level of the schools. 3. The ratings of the schools A, B, C .. etc.. seems to just reflect the income level of the parents not how the school is managed. vi. Q: what is the benefit to the school of sending staff to educational trips.. like Florida or China .. A: These trips are instructive for the schools staff and these trips were funded by grants. Not paid for by public $. vii. Q: What do you think of school uniforms. A: Would be a good thing but it has to come from the parents not the school administration. Would probably have to start with the lower grades. viii. Q: The room we are in seem very small. Are new buildings needed?. A: the elementary and middle schools need upgrades. Improvements will have to come from the schools and community agreeing on the need. • Public comments: None • Members’ comments: None • Next meeting: 7:00 Wednesday January 22nd, 2013 at Riverside Elementary School Library. Program: Joe Konrad, Executive Director Battle Creek Area Habitat for Humanity. • Adjournment – 9:00 PM