Neighborhood Planning Council 4 - Northeast

Minutes From NPC#4 January 15, 2014 Call to Order & Welcome: 7:01PM Attendance: Members Present: Andy Helmboldt, Rick Harrison, John Whittaker, Jonna Siano, Chuck Yarger, Kim Yarger, Mary Conklin, Kaytee Faris, Dean Newsome, Mark Jones, John Hennink Members Absent: Laura Adams, Marcia Austin, Ed Lawrence, David Nielsen, Teresa Poole, Dave Salerno, Sherry Sofia, Helen Van Valkenburg, John Walton Guests: Laurie Sullivan, Michael Bredeweg, Nathan Grajek, Tricha Grajek, Jim Haadsma, Ryan Sturm, Linda Holderbaum, Bruce Philips, Diana Quigg, Daniel Rall, Deborah Ownens, Vicki Houser, Doug Houser, Johnny Cash, Lynn Ward Gray, Sam Gray, Adam Dingwall, Mary Juhnke, Jill Kingley Hinde, Chris Lussier, R Thayer PD, Burgess PD Approval of Minutes: Chuck. Yarger made motion to approve and Mary Conklin seconded the motion. Minutes were approved providing that they be amended to note members who were absent from November’s meeting. Chair Notes/Correspondence/Announcements: John Hennink shared his goals for the NPC. These include increasing membership by 25 people by September, keeping meetings to one hour or less, making the NPC a viable leader amongst NPCs, having “Discussion 30” after meetings, having members make more motions, reviewing inactive members in June 2014, hosting 2 hour long neighborhood projects one Saturday per month and considering a new name for the NPC because there is no longer a McKinley School. Additions & Deletions to the agenda: None. Program: Realtor Bruce Phillips discussed maintaining property values in the NPC. Correspondence (Sent/Received): City manager, Ken Tsuchiyama emailed the NPC in regard to the storm drains near Emmett and Yale. He said the drains will be fixed as part of a larger project this summer. Motions/Discussion/Vote: Rick Harris made motion to write a letter to BCPD to look into crime at 235 cherry 80 Merritt St Mark Jones seconds motion. This property has been discussed for 2yrs at NPC meetings. The NPC decides that instead of writing letter the chief of police, have officers present act and report back on this. Officers agree that they will take this concern to their sergeant. Rick Harris made motion to write to the city concerning people living in condemned buildings on Cherry St. The NPC decides to address this concern with Susan Bedsole directly at February’s NPC meeting. Commissioner Lynn Ward Gray recommends that residents attend city commission meetings and address the commission as a whole during public comment, in addition to these actions. Committee Reports: None Announcements from City Commissioners: Andy Helmboldt said that the commission is working on having a strategic plan by April 2014. He said that in researching this plan, the commission uncovered a past report about goals and possibilities that was shelved 2008 never picked back up, that it is a good report written by a consultant but that the next steps were not acted upon Dean Newsome added that they are writing a mission and vision statement and a new form of evaluating the city manager. Lynn Ward Gray announced that Battle Creek Chief of Police, Jackie Hampton will be retiring on January 31, 2014. Announcements from County Commissioners: Jim Haadsma said that the commission would be meeting on January 16, 2014 and that they were being the process of establishing a shared law enforcement facility for the City of Marshall, Calhoun County and the State of Michigan. John Hennink asked Comm. Haadsma about the high number of tax foreclosures. Comm. Haadsma said that he would talk to Christine Schauer and Nina Smith to see if they might be apply to attend an NPC meeting and discuss the Land Bank. City Staff Reports: Chris Lussier circulated the monthly reports and offered to answer any questions; there were none. He also shared that a public hearing will take place during the City Commission meeting on February 4, 2014 at 7PM. The hearing is to hear community needs regarding the spending HUD monies. Old Business: Dean Newsome shared that the owners of the property at 411-415 Capital Ave NE had been offered a temporary extension to bring their property into compliance with local building code. This extension would most likely be for 6-7 months and was offered after the owners appealed to Ken Tsuchiyama in a private meeting. Mark Jones questioned if the city manager had the legal right to do this. New Business: None Comments for the good of the order: Public Comments: John Cash suggested that all in attendance utilize the Crime Diaries provided by NIBC and turn them in to the Police Department. Member Comments: Kaytee will email NPC members a flyer listing MLK celebrations in Battle Creek. Adjournment: 8:30PM Next Meeting Date: February 19, 2014