Neighborhood Planning Council 4 - Northeast

Minutes: Northeast Planning Council NPC#4 Meeting Date: Wednesday, September 16, 2015 Called to Order 7:05PM Location: First Congregational Church, 145 NE Capital Ave Call to Order Attendance Members: Kaytee Faris, Mary Conklin, David Salerno, Mark Jones, John-Paul Wilson, Sean Lewis Members Absent: Helen Van ValkenBurg, John Walton, Rick Harrison, Andy Helmboldt, Dean Newsome, Charitable Union, Jonna Siano, John Whittaker, Daniel Rall, Laurie Sullivan, Nathan Grajek, Sherry Sofia, John Hennink, Marcia Austin, Kim Yarger, Chuck Yarger, Tricha Grajek, Jim Baldwin Guests: Patrick Barnett, Ofc. Mike Ziegler, Lt. John Chrenenko, Sgt. Sarah Bentley, Kate Flores, Fire Chief Dave Schmaltz, Robert Fisher, Lynn Ward Gray, Jim Haadsma Introduction of Guests/Members Chair Notes/Announcements/Correspondence: Christine Zuzga exchanged emails to confirm the date and time for the Master Planning Meeting for NPC#4. The meeting will be held on November 10, 7PM at First Congregational Church in the Multi-Purpose Room. (Location was not verified at the time of the meeting.) Additions or Deletions to the Agenda: A report from the Fire Department was added after the Police Report. Approval of Previous Minutes: June 17, 2015, July 15, 2015 and August 19, 2015 minutes were not approved because we did not have quorum. Review Membership List and New Membership Renewal Process: No action could be taken. Police Report: Sgt. Sarah Bentley has taken over our district from Sgt. Roth. She comes to us with 19 years experience. She has done road patrol, training and undercover work. Ofc. Mike Ziegler will also be in our district for the next six months. Lt. Chrenenko says that Ofc. Zeigler is well suited to our district’s fast pace. Ofc. Zeigler passed out the reports. He informed the NPC of the following: He is available to present on the topic of Methamphetamine, the BCPD will pay attention to Fremont School at drop off and pick up times, BCPD has increased monitoring of Piper Park (between 2-10PM in less than one month they had 26 proactive visits to the park), he will look into the increased crime near Emmett and East Ave, residents should report the licence plate numbers and vehicle descriptions of loud noise complaint and report any patterns in this behavior to BCPD. Sgt. Bentley reminded us that these reports only show criminal offenses and that it does not reflect the total number of police contacts. Ofc Zeigler defined the following: burglary is when a building is broken into, larceny is theft from a building or vehicle, and that robbery is stealing from a person. Lt. Chrenenko will look into sending us electronic copies of crime reports to share with NPC members online. Sgt. Bentley reminded the NPC that reports can now be found online (http://p2c.battlecreekmi.gov/Summary_Disclaimer.aspx) Ofc. Zeigler reminded us that an officer can come to your home and do a free safety assessment. The topic of speeding was again raised. We were informed that raday attached to signs is not permitted on MDOT routes (ie NE Capital Ave). Speeding will be brought up at the Master Planning Meeting. Fire Department Report: Dave Schmaltz introduced himself and explained that as an effort to get to know the community better, he is visiting all of the NPCs. He answered questions from the NPC. He discussed what factors go into dispatching either the big rig or the SUV, how the department adapts modern technology to century old buildings, the recent study of BCPD facilities and operations (http://www.scribd.com/doc/269299847/BCFD-study) and equiptment cost and replacement guidelines. Guest Patrick Barnett recommended that the NPCs advocate for the BCPD and BCFD when discussing the Master Plan. New Business ● Changes to NPC Bylaws and Dissolution and Renewal Process were moved to October’s Agenda.. ● Fall Cleanup was moved to October’s Agenda. Old Business ● Master Plan meeting to take place on November 10, 7PM at First Congregational Church in the Multi-Purpose Room. (Location was not verified at the time of the meeting.) ● Beautiful Battle Creek nominations: We nominate 79 Riverview and 88 East Ave South. Code Compliance Report: Todd Nowicki let us know that Jason Francisco is the new head of code compliance. Governmental Reports ● City Commission Report: Lynn Ward Gray reminded us to watch Keeping You Informed on AccessVision Wednesdays at 6PM. She and Mayor Deb Owens will host “ What’s Brewing in BC” at Sweetwaters Donuts on October 1 from 7:30-8:30 AM. Dan Ryan the CIO City of Battle Creek discussed the city website redesign at the commission meeting. Redevelopment Ready City Findings were presented to the City Commission by Karen Wieber, RRC Planner for Michigan Economic Development Corporation on September 15, 2015 (http://battlecreek.novusagenda.com/agendapublic/CoverSheet.aspx?ItemID=984&MeetingID=75 ). ● County Commissioners Report: Jim Haadsma announced the opening of the Public Safety Office in Marshall, a collaboration of the City of Marshall, Calhoun County and the State of Michigan. ● Battle Creek Public School Board Report: No representative External Commission Reports: ● Zoning Board of Appeals Report: Nothing pertained to our NPC. ● Planning Commission Report: Cancelled ● Historic District Commission Report: Commission did not have quorum but heard presentations from the Battle Creek Community Foundation, requesting parking lot, signage, privacy fencing and landscaping at 245 E. Michigan Ave. David Thompson requested to make repairs and improvements to his porch at 199 E. Emmett St. ● Housing Board of Appeals Report: NPC received no info on meeting. Membership Comments for the Good of the Order: None Public Comments for the Good of the Order: None Adjournment: 8:05PM Next Meeting: November 18 , 2015