Neighborhood Planning Council 11 - Lakeview east

Meeting Minutes Minges Brook/Riverside Neighborhood Planning Council (NPC) #11 Riverside Elementary School Library 650 Riverside Drive Battle Creek, MI 49015 Wednesday – January 28, 2015 1. 7:00 PM – Welcome and opening – Randall Champlin 2. Attendance sheet: Dave Hawks, Frank Egland, Sally Goss, Nola Baker, Randall Champlin, Talia Champlin, Rick Baron, Rudy Barda, Tim Martinovich, City Rep: Marcie Gillette, Battle Creek Police Department Rep: Officer Leach, County Commisssioner Jim Haadsma, City Commissioners Mike Sherzer and Susan Baldwin, Wendy Rominger, Ken Long, David Tanis, Officer Perin, Officer Clark. 3. Additions or deletions to this agenda: None 4. Approval of the previous month’s meeting’s minutes. Dave Hawks moved to approve and Nola Baker supported the motion. Motion passed unanimously. 5. Correspondence sent/received See information attached at the end of the minutes 6. City staff reports: City staff reports and Commissioner Comments: • City Commissioners’ reports: Commissioner Mike Sherzer reported. The Goals Committee has finalized a process for evaluating the City Manager, and is working on goals and objectives the City Manager should meet. Capital improvement projects will be reviewed at the City Commission workshop on 2/10. A workshop to evaluate the process for choosing Mayor, will be held on 2/17 at 5:30. The commission will also be discussing beer/alcohol permits in parks for specific events. Sally Goss reminded Mike about the missing sign at Riverside and Mike will follow up. Commissioner Susan Baldwin added: The mayor is having regular office hours, M, W 10-1. The mayor and vice-mayor are hosting coffee hours at the wards, and our ward will be in October/November. The Police Department is also hosting Town Hall meetings on specific topics. • County Commissioners’ report: Commissioner Jim Haadsma reported. Derek King and Cee Frisbee have been elected chair and vice chair. The commission approved a public health grant – a collaboration among county, city, and Lakeview Schools - for a student health clinic at Lakeview Middle School. Comment regarding the beauty of the new trail around Ott. This may lead to redevelopment of the devastated Kimball Pines Park. Question regarding the disc golf course at Kimball Pines, and its redevelopment is under discussion. A potential dog park is also under discussion. Question about the new flood insurance maps could not be answered because the County Board does not have jurisdiction. The Water Resources Commissioner has updated the maps and although the maps are probably  now more equitable, but not everyone is happy. • Police Department Report: Officer Leach passed out a written report and reviewed “index” crimes. She and Officer Clark are working to reduce speeding on Riverside, especially near Golden. Tim asked if there has been a decrease in B&E’s since the arrests on Adams Road. There was some recent activity on Hazelwood, and B&E’s have been reduced since these arrests. The people who were arrested for the Lois Drive break-ins are out on bond, and residents are warned to be cautious. Tim had been accosted at his home on Christy by a man who said he had been doing drugs at the Knight’s Inn. Randall asked why newspaper police reports included finding “money and guns” in a raid when these things are not necessarily illegal, and was told that these are often stolen or illicitly acquired. • City Representative Report: Marcie Gillette, Neighborhood Services Manager, will now be our city employee liason. She runs code compliance and oversees Neighborhood Planning Councils. Jeanette Cook, our code officer, will sometimes rotate in for reports. Marcie provided a written code compliance report. Snow removal is most enforced around three key priority areas: schools, public transportation access points, and business corridors. Residential sidewalks should be completely cleared, and not just a path that is shovel-wide, so that walks are also wheelchair accessible. Question was asked about walks near roads where the plows re-cover a cleared walk or driveway. The city’s priority will be roads cleared first. If someone is notified that their walk needs to cleared, they are given at least 2 days to comply, and then can be fined $25. The city does not have the staff to clear private- property walks. The City has set up partnerships with area agencies who can help residents who cannot clear the walks themselves. Suggestion was made that jail inmates could help with sidewalk snow removal. Request was made that street plowing could vary so that the same side of the road is always plowed first, leaving the most snow on one side of the street and covering the same driveway entrances every time. Marcie explained that the crews have established routes that have proven to be the most efficient to clear roads in a heavy snow fall. Tim thanked the staff for taking care of 3 areas he has brought up: The Capital/Beckley “camp”, the graffiti on the Riverside bridge, and the dangerous tree near Country Club Blvd. 7. Committee reports: • Beautiful Battle Creek Award Nominations –. Dave Hawks – The Smith House at 34 Woodbine Lane has been approved, and the owners will be attending the City Commission to receive their award in February. • Neighborhoods and Land Use – John Godfrey (Planning Commission meeting was cancelled) • NPC 11 Programs – Nola Baker – March (Kara Beer of Battle Creek Chamber of Commerce), April (Linda Freybler – Visitor and Convention Bureau) 8. Old business: None 9. New business: Program 10. January Program: David Tanis- Director of Wellness and Community Engagement, Battle Creek Y Center – is now in his 3rd month at Y Center. He came from the Kellogg Company, traveling to promote Health and Wellness for the last 15 years. The Y is under new leadership and David has been recently recruited. The Y has re-committed to being out in the community. The Cereal City Classic will have a brand new 5K and 10K routes this year. The Y will be looking to make the Goguac Lake Swim more exciting by adding a friendly competition among the high schools. The Y is looking for a location for a longer run – possibly a Half-Marathon at the Balloon Championship. The Air Base may be a possible site. Challenges with a long run include the number of state roads and railroad tracks that have to be traversed. The Rotary Club has suggested that a walking tour of Battle Creek at Halloween, showcasing ghoulish spots and a cemetery tour could be fun. The Y is looking into removing barriers for older residents and making Y participation more accessible. This may include taking fitness to the churches. The Y may also provide fitness activities at MeetUp and EatUp youth summer programs. A mentoring program has also been discussed, looking to help young men know how to be men, and young women know how to be women by teaching social skills, and enhanced by activities and food. The new leadership aspires to have the Y be an important community partner, rather than just a brick- and-mortar building. Questions about a Tough Mudder, a Warrior Run and a Color Run. Questions about bicycling events (Mike Wood and Team Active) – enhancing group rides. Encouragement to offer things for the least fit, to help people develop their fitness, especially if they are not fit now. 11. Public comments: None 12. Member Comments: Home next to St. Peter’s Church on Riverside has been demolished and added to the church property. Recent discussion at BCVision suggested a Food Prize Competition, similar to Art Prize in Grand Rapids. 13. Next Month’s Meeting: 7:00PM Wednesday, Feb 25th, at Riverside Elementary School Library. Program: Jim Hettinger, CEO Battle Creek Unlimited 14. Adjournment: 8:02pm Upcoming events and correspondence: City Government: Friday, Jan, 30 - Petition Deadline for Planning Commission February Mtg. Saturday, Jan, 31 Tuesday, Feb, 03 - 7:00 PM City Commission Thursday, Feb, 05 - 5:30 PM What's Brewing in Battle Creek Duration: 1 hour, Meet with Mayor Deb Owens and Vice Mayor Lynn Ward Gray. Light refreshments are provided; attendees are responsible for their own beverages. More... Monday, Feb, 09 - 4:00 PM Historic District Commission Mtg. Duration: 1 hour Tuesday, Feb, 10 - 4:00 PM Zoning Board of Appeals Mtg. Duration: 1 hour, 6:00 PM City Commission- Planning Commission Workshop Duration: 2 hours. This workshop is for discussion of the Capital Improvement Program. Friday, Feb, 13- 12:00 AM ZBA & HDC Petition Deadline for March Mtg. Monday, Feb, 16 - 12:00 AM HOLIDAY - OFFICES CLOSED - Bus and van service running. Transit office closed. Tuesday, Feb, 17 - 5:30 PM City Commission Work Session Duration: 1.5 hours - Discussion of upcoming regular Commission meeting agenda items and various topics. 7:00 PM City Commission Wednesday, Feb, 25 - 4:00 PM Planning Commission Meeting Duration: 1 hour – 7:00 NPC 11 at Riverside Elementary Library Friday, Feb, 27 - Petition Deadline for Planning Commission March Mtg. Upcoming events Downtown: January 29 - 2015 Noon Film Series at Willard Library -Parrot Confidential Saturday, January 31, 2015 -Battle Creek Cereal Killers Roller Derby -One McCamly Square February 5 - 2015 Noon Film Series at Willard Library - Resurrecting Richard III February 12 - 2015 Noon Film Series at Willard Library TINY: A Story About Living Small Tuesday, February 17, 2015 - Pub & Grub Crawl - Battle Creek Area Chamber of Commerce presents the third annual Pub & Grub Crawl. This chamber event is open to the community, however a limited quantity of tickets are available for purchase. Gather your friends, family, coworkers and colleagues and come out to enjoy the evening in downtown Battle Creek. There is no need to stay cooped up in one place during this event as this is your chance to sample the best food and drinks in downtown Battle Creek. Pre-sale tickets now available at the Chamber office. 269-962-4076. Tuesday, February 24, 2015 - Gen E Institute Paints Battle Creek Fundraiser - Help raise funds for Generation E Institute at this Wine and Canvas Fundraiser. Register at https://www.wineandcanvas.com/private-events-calendar-kalamazoo-mi.html Generation E Institute, Clara's on the River Community Development- Chris Lussier, Manager 2014 Public Engagement Report: http://www.battlecreekmi.gov/Assets/Community+Development+$!26+Housing+Rehab/2014+ Public+Engagement+Report.pdf Parks and Recreation: Those who enjoy sledding, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and other winter activities are invited to the Binder Park Golf Course, which is opening its Winter Sports Park. The Winter Sports Park will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and 12 to 5 p.m. on Sundays. A warming hut, food and beverages will be available. Visitors also are welcome on weekdays, but the clubhouse, skis and snowshoes will not be available. These activities are free to the public. Come out and enjoy the fun in the snow!