Neighborhood Planning Council 4 - Northeast

MINUTES: Neighborhood Planning Council #4, Fremont/Verona/McKinley Meeting Date: Wednesday, April 17, 2013, 7:00 PM Location: Maple United Methodist Church, 342 Capital Ave. N.E. Call to Order at 7:00 pm Attendance and Introduction of Guests: Members: (9) Laura Adams, Marcia Austin, Mary Conklin, Kaytee Faris, John Hennink, David Nielsen, Sherry Sofia, Helen VanValkenberg, Mark Jones Guests: (9) Mayor Susan Baldwin, City Commissioner Elizabeth Fulton, City Commissioner Lynn Ward Gray, Battle Creek Public Schools Board of Education members Scott Cubberly and Todd Stagner, North Union residents: Jim Childs, Carol Childs, Pat Davison, Stan Fountain, Debbie Fountain Changes to Agenda: None Approval of Minutes: David Neilsen moved to approve as presented, John Hennink supported. Motion carried, 8‐0 in favor. Governmental Reports • Police Report presented by Sgt. Todd Elliott who has been promoted to the Northside. Noted that there was an incident of a man with a gun and shots fired on East Avenue North, responding officers found a large fight and a report of an SUV with a man with a gun. After performing a felony stop on an SUV, this was not the right vehicle, reported white sedan is the correct vehicle but unable to locate it. Provided contact number 966‐ 3306 x 2216, telliott@battlecreekmi.gov. David Neilsen asked about the level of citizen support on the Northside (e.g. reporting, tips, calling 911), noted that it is better than in some parts of town where there is a higher incidence of crime. Noted that there is currently a directive to identify hot spots and do foot patrols to make contact with businesses and residents. Resident from North Union requested information on where the foot patrols are taking place, reported a lot of crime activity on her street. Currently focusing on Walter Avenue (Between Emmett Street and Claude Evans Park off Washington Ave.). Resident reported prostitution, houses with stop and go traffic, open air drug dealing, gang fight, etc. Also noted that there are traffic issues, Sgt. Elliott suggested creating a 3‐way stop at St. Joe and N. Union. He will be contacting a city official regarding installation of a stop sign there. Noted that they are battling attrition  at PD and they are down 15 officers from where they should be, but are doing tests and hoping to hire 12 officers from the next one. Katie Faris issued an invitation to participate in community garden on Saturday mornings around 10:00 am. Noted that officers will see a lot of activity in the neighborhood. Resident noted hearing from dusk to early morning hearing someone beating dogs. Re: Consolidated Dispatch Center: How in the world is this a more efficient use of scarce community resources? John Hennink asked for an update on crime diary reports, Sgt. Elliott honestly answered that they are supposed to take the same path as Silent Observer tips and he does not know what happens to them. Noted that the use of the diaries is encouraging and that the information turned in via the diaries is great. Resident noted that the pair of men who were working the neighborhood (Fremont Street)a few months ago for odd jobs followed by thefts have been seen in the area again. Sgt. Elliott reviewed tips for avoiding scams such as wiring money, sending cash, and European lottery. Resident asked what to do about a barking dog. Recommended they speak to neighbor if on good terms and no safety issues, otherwise call 911. There is a city ordinance regarding barking dogs. Sgt. Elliott noted he is a member of the School Safety Task Force, was one of the members who received the Strategos training on active shooter situations, and that they will be having further parent forums. John Hennink asked what the overtime cost of the officers and teachers to train as PD training was confirmed by Sgt. Elliott as being done on overtime due to short staffing. Most paid by PD budget, some by a grant, some by school districts. This is the first group that Strategos has trained outside of their company as train‐the‐trainers after working with them for three years. • Code Compliance: Todd Nowicki reported they are shifting their focus towards houses needing painting and noted 4‐5 houses with chronic front yard parking issues. Resident reported 117 N. Union Street has been ticketed for having a tarp on the roof for two years, and in need of paint. Was purchased in October, and has now appealed for an extension. Discussion of legal issues at the city’s side. Resident noted that at least three of the properties they’ve complained about for years have had their roofs torn down. Resident reported 92 East Avenue, blue house, chevy mini station wagon, car has been sitting parked on the street with four flat tires all winter, and 179 East Avenue North, front yard strewn with trash. John Hennink suggested that tarped roofs and trash in yards be a higher priority over peeling paint. Katie Faris recommended he call those issues into code compliance. David Neilsen noted a deep sense of frustration about issues that take a long time to resolve. Asked why these issues require a citizen complaint being filed? Lynn Ward Gray reported a house near Shear Elegance salon has broken out windows. Todd responded that the house has been purchased and will be turned into parking lot. • City Commissioners: Mayor Susan Baldwin reported on a work session held April 16 on the issue about the coalition for Mayors Against Illegal Guns. Estimated close to 140 residents who attended were gun advocates who don’t want the city signing on the  coalition. Did not get through the public comments on the topic, and will be holding an additional work session on the topic. There will be a workshop regarding Special Use Permits on Thursday, April 15, at the DPW on Kendall Street at 6:00 pm. • Lynn Ward Gray distributed flyers for the upcoming Ward 2 Town Hall meeting on May 30, 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm, at Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church, 636 West Van Buren, and invited residents. Noted a really great response to the resurgence of the Youth Advisory Board, 36 applications were submitted for 18 positions. This month’s episode of Keeping You Informed will be focused on redistricting, next month’s will be on the budget. • Liz Fulton shared information regarding the pawnbroker’s ordinance. She spoke with a legislative aide, and the state has been having meetings with interested parties (law enforcement and business owners) in order to determine what the best solution. The state will be implementing its own legislation. • Sherry Sofia brought up the Special Use Permit workshop, suggested that people contact here if they can’t be there. Mark Jones noted that he was on the city’s website the prior day and saw nothing about the website on the workshop. Susan Baldwin noted that the city’s web/mail server has been hit with a virus. • County Commissioners: None Correspondence: None Committee Reports: • Membership: David Neilsen encouraged the guests from N. Union Street to join the NPC. • Beautiful BC: Sherry Sofia noted that there are two more months of nominations. David Neilsen asked people to nominate more External Commission Reports: • Zoning Board of Appeals: None • Planning Commission: None • Historic District Commission: None • Housing Board of Appeals: None Neighborhood Association Reports: None Program: Presentation by members of the Battle Creek Public Schools Board Members regarding upcoming millage (Todd Stagner and Scott Cubberly): Scott Cubberly reported that there will be a millage request on the ballot on May 7, for 2 mills over 6 years which provides for repairs and maintenance, not the general fund. This was defeated in the November election. If this is defeated again, monies will be taken from the general fund to cover the repairs and maintenance. John Hennink asked why 2 mills when the district has reduced the amount of schools they own, and with economic times being difficult. Todd Stagner responded that the costs of goods and services has increased. Mark Jones asked a question he’s asked for four years, “How many National Merit Scholars do we have?” Scott Cubberly responded that he doesn’t know if we had any. Mark Jones asked about proposed uses for former WK Kellogg Middle School. Scott Cubberly responded that there are things being discussed but nothing they can talk about. David Neilsen asked regarding the second and third phases of the construction project that began with the work adding on to BCCHS and the upgrades to the stadium and athletic fields. Todd Stagner noted that this project has been put on hold. Scott Cubberly provided his contact information to members: secubberly@yahoo.com. Action Items: None Old Business: None New Business: None Public Comments: Member Comments: Helen VanValkenberg suggested that we have a speaker in the back so that members can hear people. She reported that she called Consumers Power about a light near McKinley School that is always on and they thanked her for calling her about it. Recommended that people call about lights that stay on all the time and doesn’t turn off at dawn/on at dusk. Adjourned at 8:59 pm