Neighborhood Planning Council 2 - North Central

NORTHCENTRAL NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING COUNCIL #2 Meeting Minutes— August 13, 2018 SMCDC 47 N. Washington Avenue Battle Creek, MI 1. Call to Order & Welcome: Pastor Joe Hooper, Chair, called to order the NPC#2 meeting at 7:00 p.m. 2. Attendance: Members: Rev. Hooper, Ron Sweet, Kitty Hillian, Prentice Thompson, Commissioner Lynn Ward Gray, Kristin Denison, David Draper, Larz Martin Bey, Linnea Mobley, Betty Robertson, Barbara Travis (Guests: Ofc. Brand Gentry, Kelly Dillman, Jeff Breedlove; Alecia Rhan. 3. Approval of Minutes: Mr. Larz Martin Bey motion to accept minutes and seconded by Mr. Sweet. 4) Correspondences/Announcements: Councils on Summer Vacation 5) Guest Presentations: None 6) Committee Reports: Police Department—For March 1-31 and April 1-30, May 1-31. June 1-30, July 1-31 Ofc. Brad Gentry gave report for incidents, foot patrols 92, 100, 155, 118, 166; Traffic Stops, 75, 69, 87, 62, 52; Assaults 21, 16, 17, 27,26; Burglary 3, 7, 4, 3, 8; Larceny 8, 13, 10, 4, 11;Damage to Property 5, 7, 1, 11, 7;Drug Offense 7,10, 12, 7, 8; Obstruct Justice 12, 23, 15, 17, 26. We are in the process of moving to our new location. I get out and do a lot of foot patrol and hand out candy. I walk many places one is Truth and Parkway Manor. Ofc. Gentry offered his foot-patrol to any streets needed, like for instance Wood and Parkway. Alecia Rahn, a concerned resident who is new to the NPC and could be interested in joining would like more foot-patrols on Northside Drive because there are many small children playing and on Washington Street and we have a lot of cars flying up and down the street. Also, Holland and Manchester. Also, a problem with blaring music at night. Ofc. Gentry is assigned to the NPC2 area and this NPC can bring any issues to him says Mrs. Dillman. Ms. Hillian thanked Mrs. Dillman for her sincere diligent work, community services, and hospitality. Rev. Hooper suggested we have a meeting or two at the new police station. Mrs. Dillman says of course and that in fact, the space in the new building will be for use by the communities of Battle Creek. B) Neighborhood Services: None C) Beautiful Battle Creek Awards—Cmr. L. W. Gray submitted NPC2 Beautiful BC AWARD Awardees Sheet from 11/10/2009 to 07/16/2017. There are certain houses with multiple awards, 410 Washington received it three times. Please keep in mind this sheet as we make recommendations. I also think that businesses and non-profits should be considered: Stars & Stripes Day Care—100 N. Washington, Station No. 2 Fire Department—Washington/Champion, Tommy & Company Barber Shop—606 W. Michigan Avenue, the Annex—on North Avenue adjacent to Burger King. These four have been approved. Sweet made the motion and Cmr. L. W. Gray seconded it. The third Tuesday of every month is when the Battle Creek Beautiful Awards are presented by the B.C. City Commission. D) Membership: E) Committee Report: Engagement Committee: J. Dinkins— had deaths in family and have not had the time. She further went on a long diatribe concerning all these committees and their impractical uses in her twenty years of service. P. Thompson made a motion to disband the Engagement Committee and keep the NPC2 Improvement Committee and J. Dinkins seconded it. NPC2 Improvement Committee: Larz M. Bey: Met on 7/16/2018 with nine in attendance to go over Byrne Grant situation. We agreed on the yard lights in the community. At Urban League we met. On July 24, 2018 we met to go over the findings that the members researched. We narrowed it down to two streets which will be Greenwood Street and Walters Street with a finance budget of 20K. Cmr. Gray will forward more information for the Grant. Also, we are going to have, on August 25, 2018 from11-1p.m., we are going to sponsor a book bag give-a-way, hosted by Pastor Hooper’s church---Faith Temple C.O.G.I.C. 382 N. Washington Ave. There have been 75 book bags that have been donated. Rev. Hooper’s Church will be providing the food. The Bookbag give-a-way will be an annual event says L. M. Bey. Ms. Dinkins made the point that if it was nine people that consisted of NPC2 Improvement Committee then that’s the majority of NPC2. Cmr. Gray spoke on Solar Lights and questioned if we are going to be lights placed at every residence and spoke on issues of permits. There was issue with two types of solar lights. One’s with a battery and connected wiring. However, she recommended just pure Solar lights. Mrs. Dillman was glad to hear about this and then had a contact person regarding the Solar Lights. Cmr. Gray ask Ms. Dillman to ask regarding those Solar Lights that are already up, how are they holding up in terms of wear and tear and are they doing what they intended or as purposed. More discussion on hot spots for crime and blighted areas needing attention. Mr. Sweet suggested doing Ann street and Bowen Street in the future suggesting it will bring the four streets together. Ms. Dinkins says Ann and Greenwood are always considered for everything. But from Goodale to Roosevelt it is dark down in those areas and crime is encouraged when there is little lighting. Ms. Dinkins also discussed the impact of the different streets and crime areas and where there should be more emphasis placed. Ms. Robertson says the lights on Hubbard and Parkway Drive were just beautifully lit and we should look into those lights. F) School Board: None G) Elected Officials: Commissioner Lynn Ward Gray. We are searching for a fire chief. An offer has been extended. Once the candidate makes the decision then it will be announced. Subsequently, now Fire Chief Sturdivant a homegrown resident received the position. The New Police Station had an opening house and targeting toward the end of August demolition of old building. NPC5 has selected James Lance as new commissioner. 8/24/2018 is the meeting to discuss at 2:00 p.m. city hall discusses whether commissioners can skype or be somewhere else as long as public can see them. There are pros and cons and this is a serious concern. The public should see the commissioner at a meeting do the business of the committee which should be in front of you the citizens and would be consider an open government. Having commissioners abroad skyping which could have considerable outside influence unbeknownst to the general public at the time of skyping. Ms. Robertson ask is that the same as closed meetings. Cmr. Gray says no. Many economic activities happening in the city. The Economic Development Fund just held a Sisters in Business Battle Creek at one of the Pop-Up shops. Still working on Heritage Tower. New Holland Brewery was on site and giving away beer samples because this is a new business coming to town. There’s a lot of focus on minority and women-owned businesses. Working with a lot of people to do business plans, because small businesses drive a lot of economic growth in the city. So, there is a lot of supports and resources that are being deployed to and try and build are economic development foot print here. So, if you have questions about that, I can connect you to Economic Development Fund who also have at their disposal GWJ Consultants out of Detroit, Northern Initiatives, and a lot of other supports. Please let me know if you have interest. P. Thompson requested all the economic interests come before NPC2 to give presentations. Cmr. Gray stated to start with Economic Development Fund. Mr. Breedlove asked about general power issues. There are some MEDC things that keep changing and possible funding from Federal Government that just keeping changing on us. Mr. Breedlove says we are pulling permits for the Hart Hotel right now. In the next week or so we are going to have contractors and we are obtaining bids currently. Local contractors ask Ms. Dinkins. He said yes. H) NIBC: Ms. Kristin: I’m sorry, I finally got the floor. We have changed our name back to Neighborhood Inc. Battle Creek from Southwest Michigan Development Corporation as of Jan 2018. We are trying to reserve on cost, and P. Thompson says we get copies sent to our hands. P. Thompson suggested we bring our own copies. Ok I’ll make a few and killing trees. Three, regarding the porch improvement project. I have passed out a sheet of expenses. This was last fall in November 2017. Any Questions. The money on this project has been spent and the books were closed in December. There was a question of what was the 22 houses that participated in the event. I went been and looked and I have that information of which I will send to people. Any more questions? Mr. Sweet: Where is our party? There was supposed to have some kind of celebration for the completing the project. Mr. Sweet left his planning council book somewhere. If I recollect, says Cmr. Gray, the rain got in the way of the celebration. Do I have the current e-mail list if you want to receive the list? 7) Old Business: 8): New Business: Cmr. Gray asked about and seem like we discussed this before. Both Sprout B.C. and Jeremy Andrews haven’t been to meetings in a year, and I think you Rev. Hooper going to reach out to people, did you do that, or should we be voting on their removal. I reached out to the Woods. Geraldine still comes. Sheryl McDonald is in college and asked for excused since she was in school. Nothing has changed Mr. Sweet affirmed she is still taking nursing classes. Sprout and Andrews should perhaps be considered. Ms. Dinkins discussed the standards of NPC’s 2 attendance issues and believes that because this is a volunteered position, all people interested should be considered and should not have to have a vote to become a member. Cmr. Gray I was just asking a question of clarity since Woods, Sprout, & Andrews have not come in a year, I suggest reaching out to see if they are still interested. Rev. Hooper clarified by stating the by-laws that state that three or more consecutive unexcused absences may result in removal from council. Cmr Gray asked that we extend the courtesy of reaching out to these individuals for comment on their status as member. 9) Public Comments: Ms. Dinkins says we used to have a section in the agenda where we introduce potential new members who are interested in being on the planning council. I wanted to introduce Alecia Rahn who lives on Northside drive and wants to become a member. Ms. Alecia Rahn what I’m noticing to-day, you guys have a lot going on and you are not in agreement with everything and I am trying to get an understanding of what you are talking about. It will take time to come to the meetings until I get an understanding. Dorothy Forman is the one who first invited me to start back to the N.A.A.C.P. When I first moved here from Springfield, MO. Me & my husband. I first came to the N.A.A.C.P. …. Ms. Dinkins…. this is the NPC2 for our ward. And remember I introduced you to this when we were at a N.A.A.C. P. meeting. Ms. Dinkins did introduce me to NPC2. Like I said, I need to keep attending to better understand the meetings and would love to participate at the book-bag give-a-way. Mrs. Barbara Travis, Michigan Work just wanted to announce we had 109 attendance of job fair and Clemens hired 69 people which was held at New Level Sports. Mr. Sweet: How did Urban League event fare? Ms. Travis didn’t have that information. And stated Michigan Works is planning another hiring event in September 2018 for Clemens Farms. Kelly Dillman: I was going to talk about the grant projects and how we had one from NPC1 which is neighborhood clean-up. Also, the B.C. Foundation is always available if you need help. Also, my new work number 269-832-4597 business work cell phone. Tours at new police station and I will be your personal tour guide. On August 23, 2018 will be kicking off the Be Safe Battle Creek Project which will be held at the new station. We will be giving out stats on up-to-date information of the crime in your community as well as other services. You may contact me anytime on that number. Cmr Gray: Can you tell us about the Ambassador’s program? Ms. Robertson interjected and said I raised my hand to ask a question: I want to ask about the dispatch; now who is in charge of dispatch because Rhonda, she does not need not that job. I tried to get a hold of the supervisors there. Rhonda…she does not need that job…. she held me on the phone, somebody broke into my house, she held me on the phone for 23 minutes. I left the house where I was at and went to the house where they broke in and she still asking me these dumb questions, do you see them? how many is it? how do they look? And all this stuff. Ofc. Gentry says, that’s one of the supervisors that’s run by the Sherriff’s Department downtown. Ms. Betty says she needs to be on domestic duty because that’s terrible. Finally, 32 minutes. It took the police 32 minutes to show up at the house and fortunately the burglars were still in the house. Now that’s terrible, at first, I thought I was talking to Chief Blocker but it was someone else speaking on his behalf as I later found out. But that it is total unacceptable when somebody (an officer) should be in this neighborhood. 32 minutes on a break-in. And that’s the service, and if we don’t get no better service than that then was the point of all that new building. Should have put that money in training. I don’t want to see anyone get hurt but that is unacceptable. And her name is Rhonda and she said she was a supervisor. 23 minutes held me on the phone. 32 minutes before the first police showed up. Like I told her, that is the type of the service we get over here. If I had been on the South Side, the police would have arrived in less than five (5) minutes. Mrs. Dillman on the Neighbor Ambassador Program. We are still looking for another ambassador for NPC2. Mr. Nathan Grajek was one of the representatives already chosen for the position. Cmr. Gray wanted to thank Ms. Dillman for going on “Keeping You Inform” for this month (August 2018). She talks about the Byrne Grant and her role. That is on Wednesday Nights on channel 17 or anytime “On Demand”. Next month, is a virtual tour of the new police department. In October will be the next Can I Get a Witness community meeting every Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. for the month of October. Rev. Hooper: I welcome everyone in coming out and look forward to seeing you at next meeting. 10) Meeting adjourned by Rev. Hooper at 8:55 p.m. The next meeting will be September 10, 2018.