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 – February 25, 2015 1. 7:00 PM – Welcome and opening – Randall Champlin 2. Attendance sheet: Nola Baker, Rudy Barda, Jan Barry, Randall Champlin, Talia Champlin, John Godfrey, Dave Hawks, Norma Mayo, City Rep: Jeanette Cook, Battle Creek Police Department Rep: Mike Wood, Zack Smith, County Commissioner Jim Haadsma, City Commissioner Mike Sherzer, Jim Hettinger, Tim Hopkins, Lori Hopkins, Ken Long, Dave Peterson 3. Additions or deletions to this agenda: None 4. Approval of the previous month’s meeting’s minutes. Dave Hawks moved to approve and Rudy Barda supported the motion. Motion passed unanimously. 5. Correspondence sent/received 2/10 email from Lt. Jim Walters regarding NextDoor Program for NPC’s Announcements and upcoming events attached to the end of the minutes 6. City staff reports: City staff reports and Commissioner Comments: • City Commissioners’ reports: Mike Sherzer reported that City Manager has hired an Assistant City Manager for Economic Development, Ted Dearing. The trash contract is going out for competitive bid to make sure we are getting the best price possible from Waste Management or a competitor. We can extend our current contract for 2 years, or enter into a new contract. • County Commissioners’ reports: Commissioner Jim Haadsma, giving his report at the end of a long and informative meeting, said everything is fine at the County, . • Police Department Report: Officers Zack Smith and Mike Wood reported Community-oriented policing is the number one priority for police department. He asked for feedback from residents. Request for salting or sanding on WahWahTaySee Way between Capital and Riverside. Suggestion to put up a new sign reminding that basketball is to end at dusk at Minges Elementary. (This would be a school responsibility.) The issue of speeding comes up at many NPC’s and the Chief is listening, and has dedicated two officers specifically to enforce speeding laws in the city. • City Representative Report: Jeanette Cook reported that Code Compliance is focusing on the clearing of sidewalks, especially in the vicinity of schools and bus stops. Most people respond after simply receiving a notice, but non- compliance is followed up with a ticket. She also passed around a sheet so residents could write down any additional concerns. She will follow up with Todd Gerber regarding the icy spot on WahWahTaySee. 7. Committee reports: • Beautiful Battle Creek Award Nominations –. Dave Hawks – Everyone is under ice, and no nomination was made • Neighborhoods and Land Use – John Godfrey – There is an opening on the Planning Commission, and John encouraged attendees with an interest to submit an application to join this commission. The CVS corporate board has approved proceeding with a new CVS store diagonally across from the Walgreen’s at Capital and Columbia and will be beginning the zoning approval process. Our 20-year Master Plan is being reviewed and an RFP has gone out across the nation for an organization to help us develop a new plan. There is a commitment to get broad citizen input, including meeting with NPC’s. John encouraged us to be thinking about what important aspects we would like to see addressed in our long-term plan. • NPC 11 Programs – Nola Baker – Filled until May 8. Old business: None 9. New business: • Nominating Committee: Annually, the NPC Chair appoints a Nominating Committee of at least 3 members in February – The Chair requested Jan Barry, Dave Hawks, and Rudy Barda to serve, and they agreed.  The committee will nominate a platform of NPC Officers (Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Secretary and the Program Chair) during the April meeting. Additional nominations from the floor shall be permitted.  The annual NPC #11 officer elections will take place at the May meeting.  Elected officers shall assume their new offices at the next NPC meeting  All Officers will hold office for at least a term of one year. • January Program - Jim Hettinger, Interim CEO of Battle Creek Unlimited – Jim served as CEO of BCU until 2009, then retired and consulted with smaller communities. On September 19, 2014, he agreed to come back temporarily, as long as he didn’t have to wear a suit or, as far as possible, a tie. He requested candid feedback on the 42-year-old economic model. Working with former-City Manager Rance Leaders, he will be making a set of recommendations for organizational direction and staffing. Jim emphasized “wealth creation” in the mission statement – taking an idea for a product or process and moving that idea into the marketplace to create jobs and profits. Healthy lifestyles is mentioned in the mission statement because incoming businesses look at health indicators – chronic obesity and infant mortality, for instance – as important deciding factors when choosing a community. BCU is currently a 501(c)3, but may be looking at other structure. In the Fort, the emphasis is on economic development with greenbelt preservation, cleanliness and safety. Many opportunities have been developed, and many more are being pursued, including the $3 billion ballistic missile site, (which residents could aid by writing a letter of support to the Enquirer.) BCU Direct Investment Fund has assets over $11 million which help  small businesses get started or expand. BCU targets several sectors, specifically in advanced manufacturing and aviation/aerospace, food sciences/food protection, and other priorities. Jim explained the Downtown Transformation Initiative and its four pillars – Food Protection, Kellogg Presence and other Private Investment, Education – and specifically the Math Science Center – and the Infrastructure and Amenities. Education is a crucial component of wealth creation because education is so closely tied to income. Unemployment for high school grads in Michigan is 7.8%; unemployment for college grads is 2.8%. • Jim then asked for input. Suggestion that the Mall could use incentives to look more full, and therefore, more attractive to prospective businesses. Question about whether incoming prospects react negatively to our four school districts. Miller Foundation contracted for a study 8 years ago, and found that the back offices of the school districts could be consolidated for a savings in the millions. Although school consolidation makes sense on many levels, there is strong resistance. 25% of Lakeview students are Battle Creek Public School residents. Question about the recruitment of new manufacturers taking away talent from existing manufacturing firms, and the importance of enhancing our competitive advantage for manufacturing labor. Question about how to get people back here, using our employers and our housing assets to attract people from other areas. Question about what should be our top priority to fix – Jim feels education is what drives the success of most of the top expanding markets. Boston and Seattle, for instance, have high taxes and expensive cost-of-living, yet are thriving because they attract and retain highly-educated people who, in turn, create economic innovation and value for their regions. • Dave Peterson, Superintendent of Lakeview Schools – Tying into Jim’s presentation, Dave says schools have dropped the ball in preparing kids for manufacturing. Lakeview is working to reverse this. The high school already has an amazing program, and has added two programs in middle school, including Project Lead the Way (more information located on their website.) The School Board has made the decision to ask the public for a millage increase. Dave’s top priority would be the heating systems in elementary school – taking care of what we have, but any millage will be based on the priorities of the residents. The District is hosting the first millage input meeting on March 23 at 6pm at the Middle School – to gather public input. Dave emphasized how important it is to attend to help set the district’s priorities, and then be behind the proposal when it is time to lobby for the vote. Several questions included topics such as School of Choice, closing of elementaries, state funding per student, sunset of existing millages, operating budget, revenue changes, downsizing of staff, maintenance estimates. Dave asked our help in promoting attendance at the meeting. 10. Public comments: Jim Hopkins announced that Charlie Payson’s robotics class at the Math Science Center have qualified for the World Robotics Championship, and are looking for contributions to support the travel expenses. 11. Member Comments: None 12. Next Month’s Meeting: 7:00PM Wednesday, March 25th, at Riverside Elementary School Library. Program: Christine Kosmowski, Calhoun County Water Resource Commissioner 13. Adjournment: Meeting was adjourned at 8:45pm. Upcoming events: City Government: Thursday, Feb, 26 5:30 PM Building Inspections community conversation: The City of Battle Creek will host a second community conversation on the procedures and services of the Building Inspection Division. Where: Burnham Brook Community Center, Lew Boyd Room Tuesday, Mar, 03 - 7:00 PM City Commission. Where: Commission Chambers Monday, March 9, 2015 - Historic District Commission Mtg. Location: Commission Chambers Tuesday, Mar, 10 - 4:00 PM Zoning Board of Appeals Mtg. Location - Commission Chambers Tuesday, Mar, 17 - 7:00 PM City Commission Where: Commission Chambers Thursday, Mar, 19 - 3:00 PM Bicycle Advisory Committee. Wednesday, Mar, 25 4:00 PM - Planning Commission Meeting. 7:00 PM - NPC 11 Riverside Elementary Library Monday, Mar, 30 - AM Yard waste pickup begins Upcoming events Commercial: Friday, February 27, 2015 Cereal City Concert Band Winter Concert - All-day Event Albion College MHSAA State Team Wrestling Finals All-day Event Kellogg Arena, Battle Creek - See more at: http://www.battlecreekvisitors.org/events#sthash.EGAyAm7L.dpuf Sunday, March 1, 2015 - "Battle Creek" Series Premiere Watch Party 8:00 - 11:30pm McCamly Plaza Ballroom - See more at: http://www.battlecreekvisitors.org/events#sthash.EGAyAm7L.dpuf Wednesday, March 4, 2015 -Shrine Circus 7:00 - 9:00pm Kellogg Arena Friday, March 13, 14, 15 2015 - Showstopper Dance Competition All-day Event Kellogg Arena, Battle Creek Friday, March 20, 2015 - ZZ Top All-day Event FireKeepers Casino Sunday, March 22, 23, 2015 23rd Annual Stitches in Time Quilt Show 10:00am - 4:00pm Marshall Middle School Friday, March 27, 28th 29th, 2015 MYWA Individuals State Championships All-day Event Kellogg Arena, Battle Creek - See more at: http://www.battlecreekvisitors.org/events#sthash.EGAyAm7L.dpuf Sunday, March 29, 2015 - 5th Annual Winter Blues Festival 8:00 - 11:45pm Franke Centre for the Arts, Marshall Saturday, April 11, 2015 - Battle Creek Symphony 7:30 - 9:30pm W.K. Kellogg Auditorium Thursday, April 16, 2015 - Opening Day at Binder Park Zoo All-day Event Binder Park Zoo Friday, April 16th- 19th, 2015 - VNEA Valley Pool Tournament All-day Event Kellogg Arena, Battle Creek Friday, April 24- 26th , 2015 USA Gymnastics X-Cel State Meet All-day Event Kellogg Arena, Battle Creek Friday, May 1- 3, 2015 12th Annual Great Lakes Chess Open All-day Event McCamly Plaza Hotel Friday, May 15, 2015 - Spring into the Arts 5:00 - 9:00pm Downtown Battle Creek Saturday, May 16, 2015 - Oaklawn Hospitality Classic 9:00am - Noon 200 North Madison Street Marshall, Michigan Friday, June 12, 2015 Cereal City Grand Cereal Parade 6:00 - 7:00pm Downtown Battle Creek, Back to the Bricks Car Tour 6:45 - 9:00pm Downtown Battle Creek Saturday, June 13, 2015 Battle Creek's Cereal City Festival 8:00am - 2:00pm Downtown Battle Creek Thursday, June 18, 2015 Girls' Night Out: Flower Power 5:00 - 8:30pm Downtown Marshall Wednesday, July 1, 2015 - Battle Creek Field of Flight Air Show & Balloon Festival 6:30am - 11:00pm W.K. Kellogg Airport