Neighborhood Planning Council 2 - North Central

Monday, the 10th of March, 2025 Meeting Minutes NORTHCENTRAL NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING COUNCIL #2 Washington Heights – Hub of Hope, 153 N. Wood St. Q 1. Call to Order & Welcome: 6:07 pm Larz. Welcomes. Introductions. 2. Attendance: NPC 2 Members (E = Excused - notified an officer/member, X = Present, O = Absent): X Mary Bourgeois X Church of Scientology (Jeff Breedlove – Secretary) O Frank Drury O Faith Temple COGIC (Joe Hooper) X Dr. Monique French - Chair O Grace Health (Eric Gestring ) O Samuel Gray X Larz Martin-Bey - Vice Chair O Neighborhoods Inc. of Battle Creek/NIBC (Whitney Wardell) X Bettie Robertson O Gary McKinley X Ron Sweet O Prentice Thompson O Karen Todd X Cynthia Wyatt O Andre Robinson O Debra Evans O Shanay Settles O Rodney Beckham Guests: X Jim Marino X Bernard Gladney City Representation: X Cpl. O’Bryant X Mariah Bell 3. Adoption of the Agenda: French motion to approve. Cynthia second. Voted unanimously. 7 for 0 against. 4. Approval / Amendment of Minutes: French to approve minutes with change of Mary to Excused.. Sweet second. Voted unanimously. 7 for 0 against. 5. Correspondence (sent/received) & Announcements: (Please submit all correspondence/announcements in writing whenever possible) 6. Committee & City Staff Reports: a. Police Department/Fire Department: 1.Corp O’Bryant: police report. Goes over report. 20 Felony arrests and 20 misdemeanor arrests. 113 traffic stops for February. A lot of traffic stops. Discussion. All traffic accidents are civil. . . b. Elected Officials: Pastor French: It would be good to show up in county meeting. Especially from our area. March 20th at 7pm Usually 1st and 3rd Thursday. At the 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, the 10th of March, 2025 Meeting Minutes NORTHCENTRAL NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING COUNCIL #2 Washington Heights – Hub of Hope, 153 N. Wood St. county building in Marshall. 315 Green St. c. Neighborhood Services: Nothing to report d. Beautiful battle creek awards. No nominations e. Membership: Names to nominate: f. Committees: none. g. Battle Creek Public Schools Bell: Last NPC 2 meeting. Bond. Voting date May 6th. Hand out visuals. Talking point. There is no tax increase. Soley for the upkeep of the buildings. Had company come through. 130 million to maintain what we already have. Want to make sure all buildings all safe and secure. Over 10 years. Make sure student performance. Environment needs to be great. Take pride in school. Welcoming. O’Bryant: is this millage going to cover AC? Bell: Think all schools have AC now. This particular funds: Infrastructure. Safety, repairs, playgrounds. 2.7million with no tax increase. Update security. Make sure all cameras area shown. Interior keying. Better system to track that. Freemont and Verona upgrade foyer. Exterior benches and garbage receptacles. Roofing restoration, exterior, facade and tuck pointing. CW Post. Bleachers faded. Bathrooms dingy. Will upgraded stands, paint. New restrooms. Make sure the students experience the interior and exterior they deserve. Discussion: Mary: How to get word out to community. Bell: 5 ways to push. Phone calls, social media, Betty: how many teachers are showing up or staying home? Bell: Currently everyone is in the building. Nonw at home. Only those by choice. Bell: Paid for by interest already put through past millage. Millage has to be passed to use that millage. See attachment. h. Landbank. None i. Grace Health none 7. Presentation: 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, the 10th of March, 2025 Meeting Minutes NORTHCENTRAL NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING COUNCIL #2 Washington Heights – Hub of Hope, 153 N. Wood St. 8. Old Business: 9. New Business. 10. Public Comments/Member Comments: Attach statistics from Darcy Scmidt. Jim: Note. New award. Companion to Beautiful BC. Hero award. Or citizen award. That can be awarded beyond the beautiful BC awards. Betty: we pay more taxes than some people on Goguac lake. We have more tax foreclosures than anywhere in BC. This one woman been in house for 35 years. French: go to city commission meeting. Let them hear your voice. Tax increase starts with city assessor. Letter writing campaign to elected officials work. Betty: talked to Tyler. Have to talk to representative about proposal A. O’Bryant: mom is retired. Paid house off. Still pays taxes. Received water bill from city. Flipped over and read the back. Can call them if above certain age. Because of age your taxes can be lowered. Theres is more information on back. If it is primary residence. Has to write a letter before June 1st for Summer taxes. Bell: it is good to go to county commission meeting. So they have a name and address. Dads taxes went up, but medications went up and expenses. Betty: My taxes went up $2500. O’Bryant: Our community, for years, have not been showing up. And things happen to you. Ask: What can we have for our community? You have to show up. Jim: you are right about proposal A. When it passed over 40 years ago. Had to make up the money somewhere. They need to hear it. For some reason harder and harder in last years to see commissioner present at the meetings. If we can band together as a group we have a voice. How can we help each other. O’Bryant: NPC 1 has a lot of issue, NPC 2 has is the same as NPC 1. We have money from state. You can get windows, doors, roofs. People went down and city said no. If 4 people go to city commission meeting. If you collectively meet and form group. Then you need to show up at county building. Car pool. O’Bryant: People 65 get to have taxes lowered. There is a deadline. French: thanks Jim for coming. 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, the 10th of March, 2025 Meeting Minutes NORTHCENTRAL NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING COUNCIL #2 Washington Heights – Hub of Hope, 153 N. Wood St. French: question. Working with Land Bank? Jim: Post and Franklin. Huge open area. Over 100 houses bulldozed. What can be developed into housing? Or sold to neighbor. Want to replicate the work doing here. 4-5 houses to a block. Ultimately if you can improve tax base. Will level out better. Pay occupied land vs city trying to make up their money. 35000 homes but city services for 52000 people. Land bank inherits from tax foreclosures. Citizen input comes in. City is only as good as the population. French: Start devising a plan to move forward to attend city and commission meeting with well thought out points. Discriminatory practices will continue to happen unless we do something. O’Bryant: They have to service us. 11. Next Meeting: Monday, April 14th. 6 PM @ Washington Heights UMC. 12. Adjournment: Moved to adjourn . Second.. Motion Carried Unanimously. 7 votes for. Meeting adjourned at approximately 7:06pm PM Minutes recorded and submitted by: Jeff Breedlove NPC2 Secretary 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  Monday, the 10th of March, 2025 Meeting Minutes NORTHCENTRAL NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING COUNCIL #2 Washington Heights – Hub of Hope, 153 N. Wood St. 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