Neighborhood Planning Council 2 - North Central

North Central Neighborhood Planning Council #2 Meeting Notes ~ July 10, 2012 ~ Neighborhoods, Inc. 1. Call to Order & Welcome: Meeting was called to order at 7:03 p.m. by S. Gray, chair. 2. Attendance-Members present: Lynn Ward Gray, Samuel Gray, Kitty Hillian, Steve Lee, Keith McDonald, Sheryl McDonald, Bill Phillips-NIBC Members Excused Absence: Judith Jones and Betty Settles Absent: Jeffrey Dinkins, FHC Rep, and Dorothy Young City Staff: Marcie Gillette, Lt. Todd Madsen Guest: Geraldine King, Fredrico Porter and Tammie Porter. 3. Approval of Previous Minutes: Approval of June 12, 2012 community meeting minutes was moved by K. McDonald, seconded by S. Lee. Motion carried. 4. Correspondence (sent/received) & Announcements: L. Gray announced the upcoming Music Ministry Workshop at Second MBC July 16-22, the Job Fair at FireKeepers Casino-Hotel on July 16th, the Urban League of BC Teen programming for Fridays during the summer, and Beat in the Creek at Leila Arboretum on August 11. B. Phillips/S. Gray announced public safety night at the Bombers Game on August 11. 5. 2012 Goals: Discussed how we are doing towards reaching our two primary goals and any adjustments needed in strategy. K. McDonald suggested for future flyers perhaps fewer words and a statement or headline that would catch attention of residents and be more appealing. M. Gillette stated in her experience, self-interest is what motivates people towards action, it has to be important to them to engage. K. McDonald offered to sponsor a meeting or lunch with pastors within NPC2 to engage them and ask for their support. S. Gray spoke of J. Dinkins idea of having a block party and giving out a simple flyer then that invites the adults present to the NPC2 meetings. PSA’s on WFPM radio was also suggested. Quadrant assignments for the August 13 community meeting were made along with a reminder to place invitations in your originally assigned quadrants for the June 12th community meeting if you hadn’t done so to date. 6. Committee & City Staff Reports: a. Police Department: Lt. Madsen outlined their objectives for foot patrol, a presence during the Cereal City Hoopsters summer leagues, what it means to be banned from a public park and steps the police can take. A request to look into suspected gambling activity at an NPC2 residence was given to Lt. Madsen. b. Neighborhood Services-City Staff: M. Gillette explained new efforts to address those who repeatedly fail to mow their lawn by issuing citations. F. Porter suggested utilizing youth in mowing resident homes. The owner occupied property surveys are done, have begun vacant property surveys. c. Beautiful Battle Creek Award: 197 Hanover St. was put forth for the BBCA. L. Gray shared historical data on NPC2 BBCA nominations to the city commission and asked that members try to bring nominations forth on a more consistent basis, since September 2007 NPC2 has put forth nominations 19 times out of a possible 66. M. Gillette reminded members that summer is a nice time to nominate multiple BBCA nominees so that their home can be photographed when the weather is nice and those who come up during the winter can use a photo that more directly reflects their efforts. S. Lee will work with M. Gillette to identify a home at Wood & Greenwood he feels is a potential nominee.  d. Membership: i) New Member Nominations - Two guests expressed an interest in NPC2 membership. Moved by NIBC-B. Phillips, seconded by K. McDonald to add Fredrico Porter and Tammie Porter, 528 W. Van Buren St, Battle Creek, MI 49037 to NPC2 membership. Motion carried, ii) Ward 2 Commissioner NPC2 Membership – Comm. Gray requested feedback from NPC2 membership on a commissioner being a member of an NPC. Comm. Gray stated she was considering suspending her membership until her commission service has ended. She didn’t want the good work and forward movement of NPC2 to be overshadowed by rumblings of concern over her membership and secretary role within the NPC. After a short discussion, NPC2 membership see no conflict, no need to discuss. If anyone has a concern they should bring it to the Comm. Gray & the NPC directly, this is a public body and any issue should not be anonymous, iii) Secretary/Assistant Secretary – Comm. Gray stated she will remain secretary up to the November 2012 officer elections and encourages current or new members coming in to run for the position or the assistant secretary position. e. City/County Commissioner(s): Announced upcoming Ethics Policy Review Committee meetings/process, she welcomed community input, 2) announced change in commission and NPC2 membership meeting dates due to the August 7 primary election, 3) gave out new email address since being hacked into, 4) asked if any members had concern over signage being added to North Ave. for “Duck Crossing,” there were no objections, city staff are currently evaluating request amongst other projects in that area, 5) the City Manager’s contract was approved for the next 3 years, and 6) issues coming before us that generated a lot of discussion include a special use permit for the Emily Andrus property for the Haven, a request to vacate a property on Lakefront Drive and a workshop & scheduled July 17 presentation on the 911 surcharge primary election ballot measure. f. Battle Creek Public Schools: No representation present. 7. Old Business/New Business: S. Gray read update she received from Susan Bedsole, Community Services Director for the city of Battle Creek regarding the Handy’s Party Store property on Hubbard St. The property is currently being evaluated for asbestos and will be demolished after that process is complete, estimate work to be complete in the next 120 days. 8. Public Comments/Member Comments: None • K. McDonald stated he’d like to see June, July & August NPC 2 meetings to be strategic planning meetings instead of traditional business meetings, otherwise he would not be interested in participating during those summer months in the future. 8. Next Meeting: Our next meeting will be a Community Meeting on Monday, August 13, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. at Second Missionary Baptist Church, 485 N. Washington Ave. Food will be served. 9. Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 9:20 p.m. by S. Gray, Chair Respectfully Submitted: Lynn Ward Gray, Secretary