Neighborhood Planning Council 4 - Northeast

MINUTES: Neighborhood Planning Council #4, Fremont/Verona/McKinley Meeting Date: Wednesday, June 19, 2013, 7:00 PM Location: Maple United Methodist Church, 342 Capital Ave. N.E. Call to Order 7:02 pm Attendance and Introduction of Guests: Members in Attendance: (10) Laura Adams, Mary Conklin, Kaytee Faris, John Hennink, Glenn Holmwall, Marcia Holmwall, Mark Jones, David Nielsen, Sherry Sofia, Helen Van Valkenburg Guests in Attendance: (1) David Gauthier Changes to Agenda: Program cancelled as Mike McKenzie did not show up to present on the CERT program Approval of Minutes: Glenn Holmwall moved that minutes from the May meeting be approved as presented, Marcia Holmwall seconded, motion passed 10‐0 Program: None Governmental Reports: • Police Report/Code Compliance Report: Officer Tanya Wilt discussed shooting on Greenwood recently, a number of robberies in the area, Discussion of officer preparation to respond to crime report. Discussion of 255 Cherry Street, which has been ordered vacated by 6/21/13 due to no utilities. David Neilsen requested a visual presentation that shows the process and timeline for getting people out of homes that are problem properties due to drugs/prostitution and access to information on where the problem properties are on the timeline. Resident brought up 114 Fremont, occupied by convicted felons and drug dealers. Kaytee Faris suggested each of us compiling a list of our problem properties in our own neighborhoods and create a master list. David Neilsen asked if an officer could be assigned to do surveillance in residents’ homes of nearby problem properties. Officer Wilt responded that due to manpower shortages, there is not personnel available for that type of surveillance. Neilsen suggested that the next time budget talks take place in the city that monies be allocated for a “surveillance specialist” to do that type of work. Neilsen asked if vehicles with loud stereos require a complaint or if they can be stopped by police on patrol. Wilt responded that officers on patrol will stop vehicles that violate noise ordinances. Neilsen inquired what a neighborhood can do about domestic violence situations. Todd Nowicki noted that the issue of front yard parking has gotten worse now that summer is here and they are issuing zoning tickets, which are for $50. Wilt reported that PD does issue front yard parking tickets. Resident brought up 86 Frelinghuysen (vacant lot due to NSP demolition) that is in need of mowing.  Problem Properties: 255 Cherry Street 114 Fremont Street House on Corner of Calhoun and Chestnut 47 Latta 51 Latta East Avenue at Capital NE 47 East Avenue North at Capital AVenue • City Commissioners: Andy Helmboldt reported that the commission passed the budget, city is working on collection bin ordinance, towing and billing of owners of junk cars/vehicles, properties on Fremont (concentration of group homes). • County Commissioners: None present Correspondence: None Committee Reports: • Membership: None • Beautiful BC: Has nominations for properties until the end of the year, Neilsen added 164 Fremont. Mark Jones added 44 East Avenue External Commission Reports: • Zoning Board of Appeals: Nothing for any properties in our area • Planning Commission: Nothing for any properties in our area • Historic District Commission: In May, all of the properties were in Washington Heights, two applicants, one a property that burned and was ordered demolished, approved ex post facto. Second was a building that had a fire in one room and property owner wanted to demolish the entire structure, pulled back by city staff. In June, a house that had burned and owner wanted to restore the home, as required by historic district rules, which brought up discussion of definition of historic district. Jones reported that historic district was due to “historic things happening” in the area, not historic architecture. Requested that the boundaries be reduced, but this has “gone nowhere” due to cost of re‐evaluation survey required. It is up to the city commission to determine whether or not to re‐evaluate or abolish the historic district, a redistricting commission would need to be appointed. City does not have the reports that show how the district was established. John Hennink reported that he has extensive files on historic districting. David Neilsen made a motion that our NPC recommend that the city commission evaluate the current historic district designations and boundaries and make  recommendations for possible changes. Mary Conklin second. Neilsen noted that getting rid of it could be one of the evaluation pieces. Vote taken: 3 in favor, 4 opposed, 2 absentions. • Housing Board of Appeals: John Hennink reported Northside NPC in great shape, only one house in NPC4 came before the HBA and received a 30 day extension. Neighborhood Association Reports: John Hennink reported that Merritt Commons is taking down the last of their neighborhood banners, end of neighborhood association. 3 left out of 60. David Neilsen commented that it would be interesting to know how many neighborhood associations each of the NPC’s. Action Items: None Old Business: None New Business: Crime Watch Coalition event planned, members invited to take part in next planning meeting on June 27 at 7:00 at 104 Calhoun Street. Public Comments: None Member Comments: John Hennink noted that an expensive flower planter that was broken (vandalism) during the cereal festival, after 3 911 calls, PD was a no‐show. Mark Jones shared that the city won’t allow the festival to be held downtown due to the improvements that were made as the festival would cause damage to them. Meeting Adjourned at 8:51 pm