Neighborhood Planning Council 2 - North Central

North Central Neighborhood Planning Council #2 Meeting Minutes ~ January 14, 2013 ~ Neighborhoods, Inc. 1. Call to Order & Welcome: Meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by S. Gray, chair. 2. Attendance-Members present: FHC Rep-Scott Hutchings, Lynn Ward Gray, Samuel Gray, Kitty Hillian, Bill Phillips-NIBC, Fredrico Porter and Karen Todd Members Excused Absence: Tammie Porter and Betty Settles Absent: Jeffrey Dinkins, Steve Lee, Keith McDonald, Sheryl McDonald and Dorothy Young City Staff: Marcie Gillette, Ofcr. Ryan Thayer Guest: Mayor Susan Baldwin, Kelly Frey, Mike Frey, Devon Gibson of Sprout Urban Farms and Geraldine King. 3. Approval of Previous Minutes: Approval of November 12, 2012 Meeting Minutes as presented was moved by K. Hillian, seconded by NIBC-B. Phillips. Motion carried. 4. Correspondence (sent/received) & Announcements: • S. Gray passed out December 2012 BCAT report. • L. Gray encouraged residents to attend the various Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. celebrations going on during the month of January. 5. Committee & City Staff Reports: a. Police Department-Ofcr. Thayer: Report was distributed. B & E’s still up, there have been about 25 since the last report. Member reported activity at 25 Howland St. b. Neighborhood Services-Marcie Gillette: Report was distributed. Code officer Eric Morris reassigned to NPC 5 & 10. Jeanette Cook is new NPC 2 code officer as of Jan. 1. She will begin alternating attendance at NPC 2 meetings with Chris Lussier, Community Development Supervisor, beginning in June 2013. M. Gillette will alternate with J. Cook until then. Member reported problems such as junk and yard waste at 66 Manchester. c. Beautiful Battle Creek Award: Seventh Day Baptist Church, 202 N. Washington Ave. because of several efforts including new entrance way, new doors, new stairway and new digital marquee. This will go in rotation behind the list already provided. L. Gray congratulated NPC2 residents Robert and Betty Williams for winning 1st place in the lighting contest, traditional theme category as part of the International Festival of Lights. d. Membership: i) It was moved by L. Gray and seconded by NIBC-B. Phillips to accept the resignation of Judith Jones due to scheduling conflicts with other commitments. Motion carried, ii) New Member Nominations - welcomed Karen Lynn Todd as new member. No other guests were interested in membership at this time, iii) Membership Renewals - It was moved by NIBC-B. Phillips, seconded by FHC-S. Hutchings, to renew NPC 2 membership for Fredrico and Tammie Porter through December 4, 2015, the city commissioners had already approved this action at their December 2012 meeting. Motion carried, and iv) S. Gray asked that S. Hutchings bring the extra NPC 2 membership binders to the next meeting for some of our new members. e. City/County Commissioner(s): Mayor Baldwin highlighted agenda items for upcoming January 15 workshop and City Commission meetings. Comm. Gray gave the focus of the January Keeping You Informed AccessVision program. She also communicated resident concerns regarding a possible liquor license request on Calhoun St. in Ward 2. f. Battle Creek Public Schools: No representation present. 6. Guest Presentation: Devon Gibson of Sprout Urban Farms gave an outstanding PowerPoint presentation update of activity and progress at Bright Star Farm since they came before NPC 2 to request support for a special use permit. 7. New Business: Bylaws Revisions: It was moved by L. Gray and seconded by FHC-S. Hutchings to amend Article V, Section 1 of the North Central Neighborhood Planning Council (#2) Bylaws to read as follows: Regular meetings shall be held on a monthly basis as determined by its membership except when it conflicts with holidays, etc. The motion carried. It was moved by NIBC-B. Phillips and seconded by K. Hillian to amend Article III of the North Central Neighborhood Planning Council (#2) Bylaws to read as follows: The operational year of the Council shall be the calendar year. The motion carried. 8. Old Business: 2013 Meeting Calendar: It was moved by L. Gray and seconded by K. Hillian to move the meeting dates of North Central NPC 2 to the second Monday going forward. The motion carried. Nominations/Elections: It was moved by L. Gray and seconded by K. Hillian to approve the following slate of officers for January 14, 2013-December 31, 2013. The motion carried. Chair – Samuel Gray Vice Chair – Fredrico Porter Secretary – Karen Todd Assistant Secretary – NIBC Representative 9. Public Comments/Member Comments: • NIBC-B. Phillips announced they have entered into a memorandum of understanding with Berrien Springs. • FHC-S. Hutchings gave additional information about the new women’s center. It will be a 40,000 square foot 2-story facility. The house at 47 Manchester and its pole barn will be demolished for parking. Trying to purchase additional property across the street. They announced a new attached garage was added to 9 Hazel St. and that 4 Hazel St. is used as transitional housing for visiting physicians. • F. Porter offered ideas on how the city could be strengthened, i) changes to the liquor license request process, ii) toll roads as an economic growth opportunity, and iii) adding a radio station. • The Frey’s communicated various challenges they are having at their residence and the surrounding area. 10. Next Meeting: Monday, February 11, 2013, 7:00 p.m. at Neighborhoods, Inc., 47 N. Washington Ave. ****Please Note: Membership voted to move their monthly meetings to the second Monday going forward*****. 11. Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m. by S. Gray, Chair Respectfully Submitted: Lynn Ward Gray, Secretary