Neighborhood Planning Council 2 - North Central

NORTHCENTRAL NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING COUNCIL #2 Meeting Minutes – Monday, November 18, 2013 – Neighborhoods, Inc. 1. Call to Order & Welcome: The meeting was called to order at 7:02 p.m. by S. Gray, Chair. 2. Attendance, Members Present: Jeffrey Dinkins, Lynn Ward Gray, Samuel Gray, Kitty Hillian, Joe Hooper, Dawn Wilkerson (NIBC), Fredrico Porter and Karen Lynn Todd Absent: Cal Thompson, Steve Lee; Members Excused Absence: Keith McDonald, Sheryl McDonald, Scott Hutchings (FHC), Tammie Porter, Betty Settles and Dorothy Young Guests: Geraldine King, Christine Schauer (Calhoun County Treasurer), Krista Trout‐Edwards (Executive Director Calhoun County Land Bank), Caitlyn Berard (CC Land Bank Intern), Terris Todd (Calhoun County Commissioner), Officer Chad Francisco (Battle Creek Police Department), and Ricky Jones (Battle Creek Public Schools). A quorum was present. 3. Approval of Minutes: Motion to approve the October 14, 2013 meeting minutes was made by Lynn Ward Gray. The motion was seconded by Kitty Hillian. Motion Carried. 4. Correspondences & Announcements: Lynn Ward Gray announced there is a fashion and talent show scheduled at the WK Kellogg Auditorium on Saturday, November 30, 2013. There is a World AIDS Day Observance scheduled on Sunday, December 1, 2013, at 7:00 p.m. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority is hosting “Lunch with Santa” on Saturday, December 7, 11:30 a.m., at Second Missionary Baptist Church, Mr. & Mrs. Santa Claus will be on hand to be in pictures with youth in attendance. Lynn Ward Gray would like to add to the agenda for item 5(d): membership renewals. 5. Committee & City Staff Reports: a. Police Department – Officer Chad Francisco reported. No hard copy report was provided to Officer Francisco to share. Lynn Ward Gray inquired about the CD that was available for residents free of charge to catalog their valuables. Officer Francisco informed the group – Ofcr. Scott Marshall spearheaded that initiative. Scott Marshall is assigned to NPC #3. Ofcr. Francisco will check on their availability and report back to NPC 2. The Battle Creek Police Department has collaborated with the Marines Toys for Tots Program. A toy drive event is scheduled for November 22, 2013, between 2pm‐6pm in front of the street; you are encouraged to bring an unwrapped gift to the police station. b. Neighborhood Services – No one present to give report. c. Beautiful Battle Creek Award Nominations – Lynn reported that 25 Keith Drive would be recognized at the City Commission meeting on Tuesday, November 19, 2013. Lynn also reported that there are six more nominations left, with six months remaining. Officer Chad Francisco provided three additional addresses: 276 Greenwood Ave. (Greenwood/Jordan), 245 N. Kendall St. (Bright Star Farm), and 410 N. Washington Ave. (Washington/Roseneath). d. Membership – Lynn reported that there are four memberships that are due to expire on December 4, 2013; Sam Gray, Lynn Ward Gray, Kitty Hillian & Keith McDonald and two for action: Betty Settles & Dorothy Young who possibly live outside the NPC #2 area. Jeffrey Dinkins reported Dorothy Young currently resides at an address on Roosevelt. Lynn Gray will follow up with her son David to discuss her health and ability to continue her NPC2 membership. Motion to renew membership (Dec. 5, 2013‐Dec. 4, 2016) for Sam Gray, Lynn Ward Gray, Kitty Hillian & Keith McDonald that are due to expire on December 4, 2013 and to remove Betty Settles due to her residing at an address outside of NPC2, was made by Jeffrey Dinkins. Seconded by Karen Lynn Todd. Motion carried. Lynn Ward Gray provided the 2014 meeting schedule and asked everyone to place the dates for the 2014 meetings on their calendar. e. Nominating Committee – Jeffrey Dinkins, Lynn Ward Gray, Kitty Hillian. Jeffrey Dinkins tried to contact a couple of individuals with unsuccessful return phone calls. Lynn Ward Gray reported that the Nominating Committee has created the following slate: Chair: Sam Gray, Vice Chair: Joe Hopper & Fredrico Porter, Secretary: Karen Lynn Todd & Assistant Secretary: NIBC Representative. Each candidate was asked to give their interest in the position they seek and what they hope to accomplish if elected. Karen Lynn Todd – Thanked everyone for the past year allowing her to serve the community she works and lives in. Pastor Joe Hooper – Has been back to his community from Detroit for eight years. He wanted to think outside the box; therefore, he joined NPC #2 in order to make an impact to the community he works and lives in. He believes he can be the bridge between community members and community leaders. The community of Battle Creek needs to unite and come together. Fredrico Porter – He would like to be an asset to the community he lives in. He has aspirations for our community in 2014, along with community participation and be of assistance to the chair and the community as a whole. Sam Gray – Sam has served as NPC #2 chair for about four years, he supports the goals set by the NPC about two years ago with the following matters in mind: how to grow, increase membership, and obtain block captains for the quadrants – members can still can be engaged in their quadrants. Sam works, lives, shops, and worships in the NPC #2. Sam would like to see an increase in NPC#2’s voting record. At the November 5, 2013, elections, 4.4% residents of Ward 2 showed their community support – there are 8,000 residents that live in Ward 2. Sam would like to see the NPC 2 overcome the issues within its NPC. Sam believes we need to be part of the solution not the problem. For example, engaging residents, door knocking, show up at City Commission meetings, support town hall forums. Make sure we have UP‐TO‐DATE email addresses and contact information. In addition, everyone should have access to the most current NPC #2 meeting schedule. We have a lot of work to do, but we as an NPC can assist in getting where we need to go in the future. Officer Elections for 2014 were elected by ballot and are as follows: Chair ‐ Sam Gray; Vice Chair ‐ Joe Hooper; Secretary ‐ Karen Lynn Todd; and Assistant Sec – NIBC Representative. Elected Officials – Lynn Ward Gray (City Commissioner) reported the November Keeping You Informed program topic is Emergency Management and how to plan ahead for emergencies. Lynn reported as of the November 12th commission meeting, we have a new Mayor, Dave Walters and Vice Mayor, Deb Owens and the city commission calendar for 2014 was approved. There is a round table discussion scheduled November 21, 2013, at the Department of Public Works regarding the food truck ordinance. On November 19, 2013, Asperses will deliver a presentation to the new City Commissioners in a scheduled work session. The work session is for a presentation by Asperses, a firm that assist clients with policy, procedure and processes to increase efficiencies in operations and communications. Over the weekend, there was a shooting, which involved an officer shooting a 14 year old at the drive thru party store (just outside of NPC 2 off Dickman). There are two positions (Fire Chief & Communication Specialist) the City of Battle Creek is seeking to fill by the first of the year. There are five Fire Chief Candidates in the running and the Communication Specialist position was offered last week. Terris Todd (County Commissioner) –Terris reported the he and his wife, Karen Lynn have a ministry in the City of Lansing, which usually conflicts in attending the NPC 2 meetings. The Calhoun County 2014 budget is wrapping up, with a 3.3 million deficit on the county level. The Honeywell report is to save taxpayers up to $100,000/year, for the next 20 years. Since 2010, the county has saved taxpayers 500,000. The county is in the process of hiring winter drivers, $14.00 an hour. The county also has increased pothole patrol by 30% in 2012‐2013. Spending has increased from 2.3% in 2012 to 3.2%. The County is also in the process of reducing the amount of service requests from 1200 in July 2013 to 450 as of November 2013. The Water Resource Commissioner reported they are in the process of eliminating debt; therefore, a letter is being sent out to individuals who will be affected. Terris is also a member of the Calhoun County Land Bank Board. Christine Schauer (County Treasurer) – reported that the County is trying to reach out to residents who need assistance due to foreclosures with property taxes. The County will be presenting at the JONAH public forum at Episcopal Church from 6‐8. The county has a new hardship extension process, along with a new state program, which pays homeowners delinquent property taxes ‐ it is a serious subject and there is HELP. The County does not want to be the enemy. NIBC has a couple of staff that assists with in applying for the Step Forward Program. Battle Creek Public Schools – Rick Jones Principal of the Dudley Stem School attended on behalf of the Battle Creek Public Schools. He is new to the school and would like to attend the meetings on a regular basis. Rick believes all entities should work together, do the very best we can as a community. He looks forward in working with the NPC as well as the Battle Creek Community.  6. Presentation: The Calhoun County Land Bank (CCLB) was created in 2007. They have numerous properties within Calhoun County, which are acquired by foreclosure or are transferred into the Land Bank’s name (via various organizations within the community). The CCLB has collaborated with the City of Battle Creek, Neighborhoods Inc. of Battle Creek, (NIBC), and other local organizations within the community, such as Battle Creek Unlimited (BCU), and Community Action (CA). The Calhoun County Land Bank also has Brownfield properties, which are commercial/industrial properties there is special funding to clean‐up the project. They collaborated with the City of Battle Creek through the Neighborhoods Stabilization Program (NSP). The Neighborhood Stabilization Program fixed up homes, which are located within the City of Battle Creek. The NSP homes were acquired property via Community Action or other local non‐profits, or bank donated foreclosure. 7. Old Business: None. 8. New Business: No meeting in December 2013. NPC 2 has sometimes used the December meeting as a yearend celebration instead of the business meeting. Public Comments/Member Comments: Pastor Joe Hopper thanked everyone for the vote of confidence, residents are encouraged to attend the JONAH public forum from 6‐8pm at St. Thomas Church (Capital Ave SW & Van Buren) ‐ there is something for everyone. The house next door to Jeffrey Dinkins still is accumulating garbage on the property – would like to see this place cleaned up. Ms. Dinkins also updated her contact numbers. 9. Next Meeting: Monday, January 13, 2014, 7:00 pm at Neighborhoods, Inc. of Battle Creek, 47 Washington Avenue North. 10. Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 9:30 pm. NPC2 Mission: To improve the quality of life by listening and engaging residents. NPC 2 Vision: A safe, friendly, family‐driven neighborhood where everyone wants to live. The City of Battle Creek will provide necessary reasonable auxiliary aids and services, such as signers for the hearing impaired and audiotapes of printed materials being considered in the meeting upon reasonable notice to the City of Battle Creek. Individuals with disabilities requiring auxiliary aids or services should contact the City of Battle Creek by writing or calling the following: City Clerk Office at (269) 966‐3348/TDD.