Neighborhood Planning Council 4 - Northeast

MINUTES: Neighborhood Planning Council #4, Fremont/Verona/McKinley Meeting Date: Wednesday, February 20, 2013, 7:00 PM Location: Maple United Methodist Church, 342 Capital Ave. N.E. Call to Order Attendance and Introduction of Guests Members Present: (11) Laura Adams, Katie Faris, Rick Harrison, John Hennink, Glenn Holmwall, Marcia Holmwall, Mark Jones, Sherry Sofia, Jonna Siano, Helen Vanvalkenburg, John Whittaker Officials Present (5) Lynn Ward‐Gray, Jim Haadsma, Lt. James Grafton, Todd Nowicki, Officer Tanya Wilt Guests Present (5): Rebecca Ogrodowski, Ron Cady, Karen Todd, Captain Mike Wolfe, Art Pardo Changes to Agenda: Addition of presentation by Salvation Army regarding a Special Use Permit Approval of Minutes: Glenn Holmwall made a motion to approve amended minutes, Katie Faris Seconded. Motion carried 11‐0 Governmental Reports • Police Report‐Lt. Jim Grafton (Northside BC) presented statistics particular to the area (identified as District E) from January 1 to February 9. 10 assaults, 16 B&E’s, 4 CSC, 10 drug offenses, 75 foot patrol (mostly at Battle Creek Central High School), 11 frauds 18 larcenies, 7 malicious destruction of property, 3 retail fraud, 2 armed robbery, 5 shots fired. Repeat calls for service were reviewed by address. Highest is 56 for 10 Clay Street (Cherry Hill Manor), second is 300 North Avenue (Bronson Battle Creek) at 26. All are either businesses or apartment complexes. Of the 70,000 calls for service the BCPD takes per year, 8 out of 10 calls are property crimes. • Asked for any residents to report on any activity, Resident noted that there is a heavy rotation of officers through the area and difficulty building relationships with officers to further exchange of information, asked how often people rotate and could there be a better place and awareness of rotation takes place. Grafton reported that this is due to contractual and labor agreements. Officers have the opportunity to bid on shifts every six months (February and August). Bidding is by seniority, and people change shifts based on what is best for their family situation. Unfortunately, that does not promote stability in the neighborhood. Officers do come to NPC meetings to introduce themselves. Resident asked if there is a way to improve communications between PD and residents. Noted that there was a POPS project and had good communication with officer but that when he transferred that there was no further communication. Grafton recommended contacting the former officer for follow up and that Sgt. Troy Gillylen oversees community services department and he is the point of contact. Resident asked about residents parking against traffic and what to do in that situation. Grafton stated this is against the law (except emergency vehicles) and residents should call 911. Grafton reviewed the issue of abandoned buildings on Capital Avenue adjacent to Mix Hardware that Lt. Madsen had been working on. He reviewed that with Susan Bedsole and was informed that they had submitted a grant request for demolition and that she is hoping to have that approved by mid to late‐summer. Buildings are high on the priority list. Grafton noted that during December there was a high rate of larceny from vehicles. Grafton offered CEPTED evaluations free to business and home owners (Crime Prevention through Environmental Design). Members encouraged to contact Sgt. Gillylen regarding that. 966‐3322 Grafton responded to last month’s request regarding illegal guns in the city. Does not yet have the information, requires considerable work by crime analysts. Grafton reviewed different police terminology regarding types of property crimes. Grafton requested the help of the community in their being proactive, and that residents notify them when an officer is not doing their job. Resident brought up Operation Cease Fire and Grafted reported that it is being done informally, just without the name. Noted the need for people to tell them that these things are being done. Grafton reported that he’d asked C. Lussier if he was going to be doing crime analysisss regarding the NSP program. Informed that it was not a component of the grant. Grafton believes the program has an impact. Reported that two houses have been broken into that were being worked on (38 Rose and 70 Wendell), but that in one case the  contractor refused to press charges. In future grants, there will be a requirement that contractors press charges. Grafton reported that they have had a lot of compliments on having Officer Mike Wood on the Penetrator slowing down traffic. Grafton reported that if there are issues with dispatch/officer contact to contact the non‐emergency number at the Consolidated Dispatch Center. 781‐0912 Minimum staffing for Northside is 10 days/12 nights/13 weekends Resident brought up front yard parking in 19 East Avenue North (parked there for 3 straight weeks) CBT 5397, yellow car. “Looks trashy” and is against ordinance. Todd Nowicki reported that he gave them a notice to make them aware that this is against the law. Grafted noted that parking issues are low on the PD’s priority, but understands that these are higher priority for residents. Officer Wilt will address the situation. Jonna Siano complimented Sgt. Gillylen on his handling of a situation on Merwood, which involved the Citizens Police Academy Traffic Watch. The involvement of Traffic Watch can be requested via Sgt. Gillylen. John Hennink asked that Lt. Grafton present to the NPC at least twice a year. Also asked the officers attending the meeting review the crime report before coming to the meeting. Glenn Holmwall suggested having a meeting that is only focused on crime reports/statistics and other issues. Grafton guaranteed that twice a year he can present at one of our meetings. He cannot guarantee that the same officer will attend the NPC’s meeting every month, due to their work schedules. Hennink asked that if possible, the officer attending the meeting be from the area covered by NPC4, and that the officer review the report prior to the meeting. Grafton agreed to make it mandatory that the officers review the report prior to the meeting. Grafton requested that he be added to an email list for the NPC so that he can keep up with our meeting minutes. • Code Compliance‐No report. Reviewed issues with vehicles parked in front yards. Has no power to tow the cars, they have been ticketed repeatedly, but pay their fees and continue to park in the yard. Fee is $10 through AMPCO parking. Resident inquired about 26 Fremont Street (attic window blown in, bank owned property). Todd noted that unless people can climb in, it can’t be boarded up.  John Hennink requested an update on the monitoring vacant and abandoned buildings on the Northside. Requested total number of vacant properties and an accurate report of vacant and abandoned properties. Does not have a specific number, but will obtain them. They drive by the houses, make sure they are secure and photograph them. • City Commissioners – Lynn Ward Gray noted that Capital Improvement plan workshop (2014 to 2019) which was held recently and was a good dialogue. Planning for two workshops to be held in March: Budget and Crime and Perception. Mark Jones noted that the calculations are incorrect regarding crime stats as they used crime data from outlying areas (inc. Bedford, Emmett and Pennfield) but census data from only City of Battle Creek, which gave a skewed calculation. He noted that he’d contacted Channel 3, but that they had not received contact from city officials so were not following up on the story. Yesterday, there was a Redistricting Workshop‐Precinct: proposed changes are that: 14 will be added to Ward 2, Precinct 8 will be moving from Ward 5 to Ward 4. Small areas, including on that is bounded by Garfield, Fremont, North and Capital (moving from Ward 2 to Ward 3). Resolutions regarding redistricting are expected to be on the City Commission’s agenda in March (Introduced first meeting, voted on second meeting). Commissioner Helmboldt raised concerns regarding race/class and party in redistricting. John Hennink brought up Lynn’s program “Keeping you Informed” on AccessVision, and recommended that residents watch it. It is available on “AccessVision on Demand”. Lynn noted that the show will be receiving an award during tomorrow’s annual AV awards. Second Annual Ward 2 Town Hall will be May 30, 6:00 pm at Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church (former Lincoln School). Topics include how the city government works, crime and perception, code compliance, and how to get involved with the city boards and commissions, and youth engagement in city government. Sherry Sofia noted that she is still looking for a joint workshop with planning on Special Use Permits (that she’s been asking for one since August). Has support from more than half the commission and that it is a matter of getting it scheduled. • County Commissioners Report: None Correspondence: None Committee Reports: • Membership: None • Beautiful BC: None  • Zoning Ad Hoc: None External Commission Reports: • Zoning Board of Appeals: None • Planning Commission: None • Historic District Commission (Mark Jones): Family Health Center has bought properties to the East of current location for Women’s Health Center (Barber shop and residence) to be changed to parking for FHC Sanitas Room (available for community meetings during business hours, free of charge). Idea presented to commission to review and historic district boundaries (splits 3 buildings and areas included are parking lots as homes have been removed) but that was rejected. • Housing Board of Appeals (John Hennink): No action until next month. Neighborhood Association Reports: • Freedom Acres: (Meets on an as needed basis). Last meeting the end of January to discuss the Cease Fire program (gang and gun violence), they are working on meeting with Lt. Steve Bush to discuss the program. Liquor store is currently being remodeled (former Krickett bookstore). Lynn Ward Gray has inquired as to whether this business has come before the liquor control commission and will let residents know. Recommended residents write to the liquor control commission right away with their concerns and show up at the meeting. John Hennink reported nothing on city’s website that permits have been pulled for the property (69 Calhoun). Program: None Action Items: None Old Business: Registered rental properties list Chair noted that list has been FOIA’d and received. It was noted that the person who requested the report from the NPC was a guest who had attended a meeting, and Mark Jones stated that he would contact the resident. New Business: 2013 Planning • Timekeeping‐discussion of ideas as to how to control the time of the meetings. • Discussion of NPC or Ward 3 public forum‐tabled will discuss at the next meeting in light of the forum • Captain Mike Wolf from the Salvation Army attended the meeting and was introduced by Ron Cady, reviewed their activities and programs. Captain Wolf reported they are  planning to put a 3400 square foot addition on their building that will be a multi‐ purpose room (community room/chapel/day camp area) They will be holding chapel services in the building, which will be a million‐dollar investment in the neighborhood and the community. Next week they will be going before the planning commission to obtain a special use permit to have church on Sunday in the building. They have been having services every Sunday in the gymnasium since moving to their current location for the past 5 years. Mark Jones made a motion to recommend approval of the special use permit for the entirety of the property. Mrs. Holmwall seconded. Motion carried 7‐0, 1 abstained. Public Comments Member Comments Meeting adjourned at 9:12 pm