Neighborhood Planning Council 11 - Lakeview east

Meeting Minutes Minges Brook/Riverside Neighborhood Planning Council (NPC) #11 Central Christian Church Community Room 713 Riverside Drive Battle Creek, MI 49015 Wednesday, September 26, 2018 1. 7:00 PM – Welcome and opening – Leah Ortiz 2. Attendance sheet: Coleen Jewell, Dan Buscher, Frank Egland, Fran O’Neil, Helen Larder, Leah Ortiz, Linda Phelps, Randall Champlin, Tate Trujillo, Tim Martinovich, Jason Francisco, Chris Simmons, Officer Jason Eggerset, Lt. Doug Bagwell, Milli Jackson, Lori & Jim Hopkins 3. Additions or deletions to this agenda - None 4. Approval of the Aug 22nd meeting minutes distributed via email – Motion approved. 5. Correspondence sent/received and upcoming events:  Sent city correspondence: Sent in renewals for NPC 11 Membership renewals. Nola Baker did not want membership renewed.  Brought up why physical minutes where mailed out: i. Jason Francisco – Stated had a new staff member take over duties and will ensure they understand that this is not necessary (waste of resources to mail out when digital is fine). 6. City staff reports and Commissioner Comments:  City/County Commissioners’ remarks  Chris Simmons (City Commissioner) i. Working on a new pet Tag system (able to register online versus having to go physically to City Hall) for the City so missing pets can be readily found and documented for their vaccines. Currently, there is not enforcement (96% unregistered). Lt. Doug Bagwell further informed that the local vets are being included to also encourage registering pets as they come in to the City’s Tag system. The Animal Control officers now have a chip reader for pets that are microchipped. Residents with pets are going to be encouraged to complete the Pet Profiles on the new system, “Docupet”- this has a December 1st implementation date.  Police Department Report  Officer Jason Eggerset – Criminal activity has been down from previous months for the area. Request from a member to provide the addresses for crimes that are occurring. Officer stated he would check into this.  City Representative Report  Jason Francisco (Code Compliance) – i. Mattress/box springs to dispose of must be wrapped for garbage personnel to pick up. These wraps are free and available at City Hall. ii. Tall grass, high weeds is uniform 9 inches iii. Paint Program – if you have exterior peeling paint at the house, Code Compliance offers paint and supplies to you to complete painting at your house within 60 days. You only need to submit a request. The Paint Voucher Program provide up to 10 gallons of a preselected color (6 colors to choose from). The project must be completed in 60 days. iv. Binders for NPC: For new members to the NPC (Follow up with Leah for your binder) 7. Committee reports:  Beautiful Battle Creek Award Nominations – Dave Hawks  i. Congratulations to Adam and Deb Dingwall - 121 S. Lincoln Blvd. ii. Neighborhoods and Land Use – Dan Buscher 1. Approved daycare center today (Washington Heights, NPC 10 area). New Holland Brewing Company putting in for special use permit. Continue work on Master plan. City workers are doing complete review of city’s zoning. 2. The Pasche’s Site plan needs to be approved, concern over parking spaces. Zoning has already been approved. 3. Medical Marihuana Dispensaries (aka: Provisioning centers) are looking at occupying the Lux Café building, which is our NPC. Concern from several members regarding this news, however it was reminded to the members that this zoning has not changed and it is perfectly legal to operate in this space. There was a concern regarding the proximity to the Church that is located just behind the building. **Update: it has been brought up that Provisioning centers (sales) have 1,000 feet barrier only existing for Schools and Libraries and other Provisioning centers. Churches are protected by the 1,000 feet barrier only on the Grower and Processor Map. Verification with the city can be followed up with on these details**  NPC 11 Programs – open position i. Please feel free to submit ideas or volunteer for Program position by contacting Leah, Tina, and/or Tate.  Blue Ribbon Advisory Committee update - Randall Champlin / John Godfrey i. Presented to City Commission the recommendations. Blue Ribbon Advisory Committee is now ending. ii. Chris Simmons – Commission is thinking March 2020 to allow residents to vote on the changes to the city charter to make the most of the voting times (coincide with the presidential election). Each change would need to be voted independently by the residents. All the changes would be during this proposed voting time, including the update to gender neutral language. 8. Old business:  None 9. New business:  Monthly informational Program: Lt. Doug Bagwell – Explanation and future of Battle Creek’s Police and Fire (P&F) Pension:  Lt. Doug Bagwell – Supplied some answers that I have posted below (apologize for some of the writing). 10. Public Comments:  Kathy Lucas – Representative from Willard Library passed out upcoming activities at the library. Check them out online as well to see what is going on. https://www.willardlibrary.org/ 11. Members’ comments:  Tim Martinovich 1. Lack of Traffic enforcement of big rigs on Helmer Road is a concern. 2. Street lights out – City website to report city lights out (through city website) https://old.consumersenergy.com/Apps/StreetLight/StreetLightRepair.aspx Complete the request for the repair and Consumers Energy will be out to fix it. Other members commented that they completed this and it was effective. 3. Traffic congestion – 28th and Columbia, need a left turn signal for middle school. (Chris Simmons response - Columbia is a state road, and city is unable to build left turn signal). The streets around the Middle school also have very dark areas where the kids are crossing roads. Tim was thinking the City could work on getting grants to get more lights in the area for “safe to school walkways” (that is what the grants are called). 12. Next meeting: October 24, 2018 at Central Christian Church - 713 Riverside Dr  Program: Duska Brumm, present Parks and Rec portion of 5 year master plan, looking for input from neighborhood. 13. Adjournment - 8:30PM  CITY OF BATTLE CREEK NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING COUNCIL (NPC) 11 MEETING PUBLIC COMMENT PROCEDURES & RULES Welcome to this NPC 11 meeting. We appreciate your taking the time to attend. Everyone will be given an opportunity to speak. Question may be ask when the Chairperson or program speaker invites them. Speakers will be provided an opportunity to address the NPC with general comments during the public comment portion of the agenda Please understand that the meeting participants may, or may not, answer questions from the public that are raised during public comments portion of the meeting. In order for us to have an effective meeting, we ask that you abide by the following rules: 1. Please wait for the Chairperson to acknowledge you before you speak. 2. Begin by stating your name and address, and please write down your information on the sign-in sheet. State your comments, opinions, or questions on the issue being discussed and direct them to the Chairperson. 3. To ensure that everyone has time to speak and that we can address other items on today’s agenda, each speaker is ask to limit comments or questions to no more than three (3) minutes at each meeting, except that a speaker’s time may be extended by decision of the Chairperson. Speakers are requested to speak one at a time on any item and to refrain from repeating the comments of previous speakers. 4. Please be respectful of your neighbors and presenters. Again, thank you for taking the time to attend this Neighborhood Planning Council meeting. Minges Brook/Riverside Neighborhood Planning Council (NPC) #11 Calendar of Upcoming NPC Meetings (4th Wednesday of the month unless otherwise noted) Chair: Leah Ortiz Vice Chair: Tina Yost/Dan Buscher Secretary: Tate Trujillo All times are 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Location: Central Christian Church - 713 Riverside Drive Battle Creek, MI 49015 DATES: Wed, September 26th, 2018 Wed October 24th, 2018 Combined Nov/Dec Holiday meeting Nov 28th Wed Jan 23rd 2019 Wed Feb 27th 2019 Wed Mar 27th 2019 NPC 11 meetings have moved to a new location at Central Christian Church – 713 Riverside Drive. This is across the street approximately 1/5th of a mile south of our old meeting location, Riverside Elementary School.