Neighborhood Planning Council 4 - Northeast

Minutes: Northeast Planning Council NPC#4 Meeting Date: Wednesday, July 15, 2015 Location: First Congregational Church, 145 NE Capital Ave Call to Order 7:04PM Attendance: Members: Kaytee Faris, Andy Helmboldt, Mark Jones Guests: Kristina Katz, Kim Dennis, Christine Zuzga, Ken Faris, Dennis Rust, Mike Rust, Kate Flores, Carla Belyea, Jackie Slaby, Jim Haadsma, Thomas Wirebaugh, Austin Simons Members Absent: Helen Van Valkenburg,John Walton, Rick Harrison, Dean Newsome, Charitable Union, Mary Conklin, Jonna Siano, John Whittaker, Daniel Rall, Laurie Sullivan, Nathan Grajek, Mary Juhnke, Sean Lewis, Sherry Sofia, John Hennink, Dave Salerno, Marcia Austin, Kim Yarger, Chuck Yarger, Tricha Grajek, Jim Baldwin, John Paul Wilson Chair Notes/Announcements/Correspondence: None Additions or Deletions to the Agenda: None Approval of Previous Minutes: June 17, 2015 Quorum was not met so minutes were not approved Police Report: Officers distributed crime reports. People continue to break the fireworks ordinance. Officers may give one warning and then are authorized to ticket offenders. Officers will look into illegal farm animals at the request of Mark Jones. Christine Zuzga stated that a revamped urban agriculture ordinance is in the works. BCPD will begin Implicit Bias training in September. Training will start with higher ranking officers who will go on to train their subordinates. Many of the aggravated assaults in NPC#4 are domestic violence. Residents encouraged officers to stop by the Meet Up Eat Up locations to build relationships with area youth. New Business ● Group brainstormed to begin formulating 5 specific goals for NPC#4 to put forth in Master Plan. Specific goals include traffic calming, especially near parks. Creating more traversable neighborhoods that combine walkability, bikability with an accessible public transit system. Developing the Calhoun and Capital Corridors with small businesses that serve the neighborhood needs. ● A separate document will be created to list neighborhood assets and other goals to be discussed. Old Business ● Update on the Byrne Innovation Grant: The next meeting is on July 23 at the Department of Public Works, 150 S. Kendall at 6:30PM. ● Update on NIBC sponsored brochures: Waiting to hear back to confirm that funds are still available. ● Membership Committee: Review membership list and discuss additions and deletions will be moved to August’s meeting. ● Beautiful Battle Creek nominations: The group would like to nominate 87 N. McKinley, 31 Piper and 60 Sanderson. The group recognises Shouldice Brothers on Elm St. as a much improved property and Kaytee will contact NPC#1 so that they can nominate them. Governmental Reports ● City Commission Report: Ted Deering has taken over task of downtown development. The city hopes to set up a one stop shop for businesses that will coordinate resources and help small business start ups. ● County Commissioners Report: The annual audit of 2014 will be presented at July 16th meeting. The roads department have a 1.4 million dollar fund balance. The Calhoun County Trailway had  their grand opening of a trail that connects Ott Preserve, Kimball Pines, and County Park in June. This is part of the North County Trail. The Family Law Court and the Sheriff's department have collaborated so that a deputy is assigned to serve bench warrants so that there is better policing of child support non payment. ● Battle Creek Public School Board Report: No report External Commission Reports: ● Zoning Board of Appeals Report: We didn’t receive correspondence regarding meeting ● Planning Commission Report: June 24th meeting is cancelled. ● Historic District Commission Report: A certificate of appropriateness was granted for 26 Fremont St. It will be part of the Neighborhood Stabilization Program II and be completely rehabilitated to Five Star Energy Efficiency. This ambitious project will be completed by December 2015. ● Housing Board of Appeals Report: We didn’t receive correspondence regarding meeting Membership Comments for the Good of the Order: None Public Comments for the Good of the Order: None Adjournment: 8:15PM Next Meeting: August 19, 2015