Neighborhood Planning Council 2 - North Central

Monday, November 13, 2023 Meeting Minutes NORTHCENTRAL NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING COUNCIL #2 Washington Heights United Methodist Church - Hub of Hope, 153 N. Wood St. 1. Call to Order & Welcome: Meeting called to order at 6:18 PM by Monique French, Chair. 2. Attendance: NPC 2 Members (E = Excused - notified an officer/member, ☒ = Present, ☐ = Absent): ☒ Mary Bourgeois ☒ Church of Scientology (Jeff Breedlove – Secretary) ☐ Frank Drury ☐ Faith Temple COGIC (Joe Hooper) ☒ Monique French - Chair ☐ Grace Health (Jessica Gerteisen) ☒ Lynn Ward Gray ☐ Samuel Gray ☒ Larz Martin-Bey - Vice Chair ☐ Larry Martin ☒ Patricia Martin ☒ Neighborhoods Inc. of Battle Creek/NIBC (Whitney Wardell) ☐ Bettie Robertson ☒ Springview Tower (Brent Heuss) ☐ Ron Sweet ☐ Prentice Thompson ☐ Karen Todd ☐ Cynthia Wyatt Guests: ☒ Jim Haadsma, State Rep, MI44 ☒ Christena Smith City Representation: ☒ Cpl. Brad Gentry ☒ Yolanda Johnson ☒ Cpl. Shawn O’Bryant 3. Adoption of the Agenda: Moved by Gray and supported by Bourgeois to adopt the November 13, 2023 agenda with addition of New Business: 2024 Officer Election and NPC2 Meeting Date and Time for 2024. Motion Carried Unanimously. 7 votes for, 0 against. 4. Approval / Amendment of Minutes: Moved by Gray and supported by Bourgeois to approve the October 9 minutes as presented. Motion Carried Unanimously. 7 votes for, 0 against. 5. Correspondence (sent/received) & Announcements: BCATS report provided. (Please submit all correspondence/announcements in writing whenever possible) 6. Committee & City Staff Reports: a. Police Department/Fire Department: • Cpl. Gentry reviewed written report distributed. Shop with a Cop event is coming up. • Cpl. O’Bryant announced the Citizens Police Academy starts up again in January 2024. Encouraged all NPC members to participate. B. Heuss and M. Bourgeois expressed interest. • Cpl. O’Bryant: the COPS program has made difference, cited a couple of examples. b. Elected Officials: State Rep Jim Haadsma • Have adjourned for the balance of 2023. Reviewed several legislative accomplishments. • Passed 150 bi-partisan bills in the House. • There were more session votes this year than in the past 20 years. • Reminded us the primary was moved from Mid-March to the beginning of February. • Questions were around the following topics: Local control regarding solar and wind energy. Legislation has passed; Status of corps of engineer study around taking out concrete by the river. No new info has been shared; Thanked Rep Haadsma for Mailing Address: City Hall, 10 N. Division St., Room 104, Battle Creek, MI 49014 Phone: (269) 966-3315 ~ Fax: (269) 441.0380 ~ Web: www.battlecreekmi.gov  Monday, November 13, 2023 Meeting Minutes NORTHCENTRAL NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING COUNCIL #2 Washington Heights United Methodist Church - Hub of Hope, 153 N. Wood St. holding coffee hours, announced they are the first Saturday of the month, 9-11am at Mr. Don’s in Battle Creek on 20th Street. • County Commissioner Monique French: No report. c. Neighborhood Services: Y. Johnson reviewed written report distributed. Asked if there were any issues members wanted to move forward. Highlighted, 1) Junk complaints remain high, 2) Paint program is back, up to 10 free gallons of paint with a paint kit, 3) Leaf pick up is through December 8th this year. You can obtain one free “Yard Waste” label from the utility billing office. Reminded us that burning leaves is prohibited. Burn permits can be requested through the city’s website, 4) Gave an update on tenant complaints at Springview Tower. d. Beautiful Battle Creek Award (BBCA): No nominations received. e. Membership: No membership nominations received. However, we still do not have all new member names on the official city roster. They include: Mary Bourgeois (January 2023 NPC2 meeting) and Larry Martin, Patricia Martin and Cynthia Wyatt, all voted in by NPC2 membership at the June 2023 meeting. Additionally, the officers on our NPC2 membership roster needs to be corrected. Jeff Breedlove is the secretary, not Prentice Thompson (resigned as secretary announced at September 2023 meeting). f. Committees: It was moved and supported to form a Bylaws Revisions Sub-Committee. Motion Carried Unanimously. 7 votes for, 0 against. B. Heuss, L. Gray and W. Wardell volunteered to serve on the committee. g. Battle Creek Public Schools: None present, no report. 7. Presentation: None scheduled for today. 8. Old Business: None. 9. New Business: • 2024 Officer Elections: It was moved by Gray and supported by Bourgeois to elect the officers as listed. Motion Carried Unanimously. 8 votes for, 0 against. Chair – Monique French Vice Chair – Larz Martin-Bey Secretary – Jeff Breedlove (Church of Scientology Member Rep) • Discuss and confirm NPC2 meeting date and time for 2024: It was moved by Gray and supported by Bourgeois to maintain the current meeting schedule of second Mondays at 6pm for 2024 at our same location, Washington Heights UMC. Motion Carried Unanimously. 8 votes for, 0 against. 10. Public Comments/Member Comments: • M. Bourgeois announced a free breakfast will be served Christmas morning at St. Thomas Church. • Pastor French announced and provided an invitation to attend the Washington Heights Year-End Celebration on December 20, 2023 at 6pm, please RSVP and silent auction items are being collected. • W. Wardell provided an update on NIBC resources and activities. 11. Next Meeting: Monday, January 8, 2024 at 6:00 PM @ Washington Heights UMC. 12. Adjournment: Moved and supported to adjourn. Motion Carried Unanimously. 8 votes for, 0 against. Meeting adjourned at approximately 7:25 PM by Monique French, Chair. Mailing Address: City Hall, 10 N. Division St., Room 104, Battle Creek, MI 49014 Phone: (269) 966-3315 ~ Fax: (269) 441.0380 ~ Web: www.battlecreekmi.gov  Monday, November 13, 2023 Meeting Minutes NORTHCENTRAL NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING COUNCIL #2 Washington Heights United Methodist Church - Hub of Hope, 153 N. Wood St. Minutes recorded and submitted by: Lynn Ward Gray (for J. Breedlove) NPC2 Member NPC 2 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 (269) 966-3348/TDD Mailing Address: City Hall, 10 N. Division St., Room 104, Battle Creek, MI 49014 Phone: (269) 966-3315 ~ Fax: (269) 441.0380 ~ Web: www.battlecreekmi.gov