Neighborhood Planning Council 11 - Lakeview east

NPC 11 July 24, 2019 Meeting Agenda Minges Brook/Riverside Neighborhood Planning Council (NPC) #11 Central Christian Church - 713 Riverside Drive Battle Creek, MI 49015 1. 7:00 PM – Welcome and opening – Tate Trujillo 2. Attendance sheet (Members are in BOLD UPPERCASE): FRANK EGLAND, JAN FRANTZ, SALLY GOSS, TATE TRUJILLO, Christine Zuzga, Carl Fedders, Don Bradstreet, Elizabeth Insley, Jim Mcdonagh, Jake Smith, Pat Fesdick, Cathy Lucas, David Lucas, John Mcfarlane. 3. Additions or deletions to this agenda:  Added under new business to discuss when NPC would like to have our Nov/Dec meeting as the 4th Wednesday falls on Thanksgiving eve. 4. Approval of the June 26 meeting minutes distributed via email – No Quorum to approve, moved to next session. 5. Correspondence sent/received and upcoming events: None 6. City staff reports and Commissioner Comments:  City/County Commissioners’ remarks  Jake Smith – Calhoun i. Working on budget for county – There is a $1.4M deficit and county cannot run a deficit. They will vote on December for new budget. No increase on millage, county will find other means to meet deficit. 1. 2nd highest rated county for bond ratings out of all 83 Michigan Counties. 2. Item to note for road development in county. When township raises money for roads (typically through millage increase) they pay 50% and the county has to also match the other 50%, but county has to find this money elsewhere and usually get money through bonds.  Police Department Report - None  City Representative Report  Christine Zuzga (City Planner) Any further information feel free to email: cmzuzga@battlecreekmi.gov – filling in for Code Compliance i. Main complaints were for high grass/weeds – seasonal item. ii. Non-motorized (sidewalk) – Continue work for a priority planning. iii. Working on re-zoning project and will be having reach out efforts – starting in October 7. Committee reports:  Beautiful Battle Creek Award Nominations – Dave Hawks – For review and approval – No quorum held, will be moved to next session. i. Mark L. Osborn, 125 Winston - Beautiful exterior colors – red cedar siding really complements the brick, Well maintained, Very tidy landscaping ii. For next Meeting’s Consideration: 1. Jessica and Don Whitney, 155 S. Lincoln Blvd. – Beautiful paint job and significant refurbishment and upgrades to landscaping.  Neighborhoods and Land Use – John Godfrey - None  NPC 11 Programs – James McDonagh – Will try to reach out to City Representative to discuss Waste Management contract. 8. Old business:   None 9. New business:  What date would members like to have NPC meeting for Nov/Dec? o 4th Wed. is Nov. 27th which is the day before Thanksgiving. o We could have meeting on the 3rd Wed. of Nov (20 Nov) or 1st Wed. of Dec (4 Dec). o Combined Nov/Dec Meeting will be moved to 4 Dec.  Monthly informational Program: Presentation going over a potential project to re-engineer part of the concrete river that runs through Battle Creek into a whitewater rapids recreation area. John Macfarlane (President of Battle Creek Whitewater group) and Carl E. Fedders (City Engineer). ***See end of minutes for picture of proposed items*** o John Macfarlane – President of Whitewater Group (DISTRIBUTE John’s Email for any questions)  Whitewater group founded locally about 3 years ago and wants to see the Kalamazoo river returned to a usable water area.  Background: Battle creek used to have bad flooding in this area and went to US Army Corps of engineers to control the river. Concrete channel was built and funded by US Army Corps of Engineers in 1950s. It was designed to handle a 500 year flood and has performed its function well.  In 2011, US Corps did a study to see if we could remove the channel and still be able to handle the flood. There was a 1135 study using computers and found that different models did not work. Whitewater group got this study and got their own engineering firm (PEA) to evaluate feasibility to change the channel. PEA found that there is at least one different model that could be constructed.  Looking to potentially improve the local struggling neighbor hoods (old lakeview, north of Columbia and Post)  Where we are now: Whitewater has taken PEA findings/presentation to City of Battle Creek for consideration. This whole study was just to show what could be possible and show different channel models to include parks with river access (whitewater kayaking) o Carl Fedders – City Engineer  Year and half ago this was presented. The channel does a fantastic job of moving water and does it job well.  Concrete channel is pushing 70 years, reaching useful lifespan of channel. City would like to look over entire channel vice just the two spots brought by Whitewater group.  US corps of engineers could possibly foot bill to re-do the channel since they typically fund any capital improvement since city is abiding by the maintenance required by the Corps of Engineers.  City secured a $250K grant from State of Michigan Environmental Department (DEQ) to do another 1135 study (US Corps Engineer) to look at greater area around the Kalamazoo river to utilize to manage water flow. The previous 1135 only focused on current concrete channel area, but with picture below, the City is giving the Corps of Engineers much more land to work with. This will allow for greater capability to have a redefined public space while still preventing floods.  If this ever got built, US Corps of Engineers would hand off the channel to city to maintain. There would be an open question of how much more this would cost to maintain with greater public parks. As shown in the picture below, there would also be needed funds to secure for road and land purchases.  This is all VERY hypothetical and have a long way to go from actual project start. Greater then 20 years. Carl will probably retire (in 20 years) before any ground breaking may start. There will no doubt be huge citizen input before this would get serious traction.  o Resident asked over putting dam to harness river  Carl states that there is just not enough water flow to make dam energy. o Resident asked over Semco lot contamination  John states Semco and City have been in talks about who will take ownership. Deeds have some issues/needed negotiations.  John also had consultant to evaluate the contamination site and they concluded contamination is too high and would only be able to have a park (no residential, commercial, etc.) o Christine Zuzga - city planner - Any questions/comments/concerns, please feel free to contact her. cmzuzga@battlecreekmi.gov 10. Public Comments: None 11. Members’ comments: None 12. Next meeting: September 25, 2019 at Central Christian Church - 713 Riverside Dr  Program: TBD 13. Adjournment - 8:30PM  Whitewater wanted to develop these specific area The City would like a total reconstruction of area as shown to redevelop area for better public use while still able to prevent flooding.  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: Tate Trujillo Vice Chair: 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 Sept 25th 2019 Wed Oct 23rd 2019 Combined Nov/Dec meeting – Wed Dec 4th 2019 Wed Jan 22th 2020 Wed Feb 26th 2020 Wed Mar 25th 2020 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.