Neighborhood Planning Council 4 - Northeast

MINUTES: Neighborhood Planning Council #4, Fremont/Verona/McKinley Meeting Date: Wednesday, May 15, 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 present (10): Laura Adams, Marcia Austin, Mary Conklin, Rick Harrison, John Hennink, Glenn Holmwall, Marcia Holmwall, Jonna Siano, Sherry Sofia, John Whittaker Guests present: (4) Hugh Gauss, Kim Yarger, Chuck Yarger, Chaundra Youngblood City officials present (4) City Commissioner Andy Helmboldt, Chris Lussier, BCPD Officer Tanya Wilt, BCPD Sgt. Jim Walters Changes to Agenda:None Approval of Minutes: Sherry Sofia moved that the minutes from the April meeting be approved as presented, Glenn Holmwall supported. Vote passed in favor 10‐0. Program: None Governmental Reports • Police Report: Officer Tanya Wilt provided follow up on some issues discussed during the April meeting, including prostitution and drug trafficking. Reported that shots were fired at an address on North Union the prior weekend, not sure if this will continue to be a problem house or not. Also, a reference to a stop sign at St. Joseph, an email has been sent to the traffic engineer but has not been responded to. A house near Harvard and Garfield, GSU was doing surveillance and that has been resolved. In response to questions regarding the Crimewatch diaries, it is unknown how they are stored or documented, and they will be contacting Neighborhoods Inc. A resident thanked PD for writing tickets to residents on their street who had parked the wrong direction. A resident asked for the best advice for a resident who is having trouble with problem properties (including 255 Cherry Street). Sgt. Walters noted that a point officer would need to be assigned to it, contact the landlord or homeowner, possibly bring in the drug unit, and let them know it would be a zero tolerance situation. Resident affected by this issue left the meeting. • Code Compliance: Resident reported 227 Laurel, currently vacant rental unit, last tenants left assorted garbage in the front of the garage when they moved out. Stockade fence at resident’s home on Cherry Street is getting vandalized. Resident reported junked car still parked in 42 Groveland (shared drive) after numerous complaints.  Resident reported that a tenant had the shell of a wrecked car sitting in their backyard and why when he called on it he was told it was “Your problem”, when he had a licensed and operable vehicle in his driveway and was ticketed. According to Chris Lussier, homeowners and tenants are to be treated the same, however, violations are the property owner’s responsibility. Resident inquired regarding quality and quantity of housing stock. According to Lussier, we have an oversupply of lower‐end housing (“last resort housing”). We don’t have enough higher‐end owner‐occupied housing, due to competition from Richland, Portage and Gull Lake. We have no higher‐end rental/housing, but no competition for it. In general, people in the city own less house then they can afford. In terms of condition, a lot of downtown neighborhoods have suffered, some have lost 80% of their value in the past 10 years, the Northside has fared better than other neighborhoods. We are starting to see the most competitive housing types start to fare well. Resident asked whether street cleanliness has an impact on perception of the city? Resident commented that lack of street sweeping leads to clogged gutters and flooding due to blocked storm drains. Commissioner Helmboldt stated that he’d follow up with City Manager Ken Tsuchiyama. Discussion of the issue with phone and cable wires left to dangle after service disconnects and the image that presents. Commissioner Helmboldt reported that he sent a list of locations to a staffer at the city but will follow up with him and provide contact info. • City Commissioners: Andy Helmboldt: Budget workshop held the prior Tuesday, and the city will have more money than the prior year for the first time in 8 to 9 years. Staff recommendation is a 2% salary increase for 45‐50 unrepresented employees, adding a communications position to city managers office (restoring position lost due to staff cuts). Also discussion of borrowing money via a bond to do capital improvements including parking lots, new roof and retractable seating for Kellogg Arena, records management for BCPD, flood control on Linwood Drive, adding a fire engine. Resident asked why fire apparatus being paid for by a bond issue. Noted that Portage has passed ordinance regulating donation bins and Pennfield has banned them. Discussion of elimination of Springfield Public Safety department reported that day in the Enquirer and how city will respond. Sherry Sofia reported that a workshop was held on Special Use Permits and that no conclusions have been drawn, but the conversation has begun, including quantifying group home situation. Lussier noted that intentional concentration of group homes by a municipality that receives federal funds may be a violation of the Federal Housing laws, by perpetuating a type of segregation. • County Commissioners: None present Correspondence: None Committee Reports: • Membership: None • Beautiful BC: Glenn Holmwall noted that they currently have nominations up to the end of July. Andy Helmboldt nominated 41 Maple Terrace. External Commission Reports: • Zoning Board of Appeals: None • Planning Commission: None • Historic District Commission: None • Housing Board of Appeals: House at 117 N. Union that has been brought up at the NPC regarding tarp on the roof and has received an extension from the HBA. Owner reported to them that he wanted to put a beauty parlor on the first floor and live above it and would be coming for support of the NPC for special use permit, but did not attend the meeting. Resident suggested that code officer address the tarp issues citywide. Neighborhood Association Reports: Action Items: • Locate address on Cherry Street and email to Sgt. Walters at BCPD Old Business: Update on former Krickett’s bookstore: Andy Helmboldt reported attempting to connect with State Rep. Kate Segal about it. Resident noted they are working discreetly on the inside of the building. Sherry Sofia noted that no permits have been issued and that the City has not been contacted by Liquor Control. New Business: Return of food truck to corner of Calhoun and North Avenue. Chair noted that proprietor of food truck had been invited to attend, but did not show up for the meeting. Public Comments: Chaundra Youngblood attended the meeting as a representative of the Battle Creek Public Schools. She thanked the residents for the millage passing, and asked that people contact her at the Office of Early Learning if they have children to register. Member Comments: Marcia Austin noted that the food distribution is being held at First Congregational church and visiting nurse on third Tuesday from 1pm to 3pm. Harvard Street garden has been plowed and is ready to plant. Adjourned at 8:40 pm