Neighborhood Planning Council 4 - Northeast

Minutes: Northeast Planning Council NPC#4 Meeting Date: Wednesday, February 18, 7:00 PM Location: First Congregational Church, 145 NE Capital Ave Call to Order: 7:11 PM Attendance: Members: 6 present (no quorum): Mark Jones, Andy Helmboldt, Kate Flores, Mary Conklin, Sean Lewis, John Paul Wilson Guests: Matt Miller, City of Battle Creek Water Department, Todd Nowicki, City of Battle Creek Code Compliance Department, Steve Smith, Jym Garman, Brandi Clanton, Jessica Clanton, Doug Stewart, Jim Haadsma, Pat Fosdick, Laura Adams Members Absent: Kathleen Faris, Denise Rust, Jonna Siano, John Whittaker, Daniel Rall, Laurie Sullivan, Nathan Grajek, Sherry Sofia, John Hennink, Dave Salerno, Marcia Austin, Kim Yarger, Chuck Yarger, Tricha Grajek, Jim Baldwin Introduction of Members/Guests Chair Notes/Announcements/Correspondence: Chair thanked Bill Phillips of SWMCDC for providing Laura Adams to record the minutes due to lack of Secretary. Chair announced that the program has been changed to put the program first in order to properly balance time . Police officers will be asked to come at 7:45 to 8:00 in future. Standard letters received from various commissions. Master Planning meeting reminder, to be held 2/18/16 at Kool Family Center. Additions or Deletions to the Agenda: Added Matt Miller of the City Water Department to City Government Reports. Approval of Previous Minutes: (no quorum) Program: Special Use Permit – Substance Abuse Recovery House, 690 Capital Ave., NE, Jessica Clanton, SHARE Center Capital Street Recovery House Clanton reviewed the organization and programs of the SHARE Center. New service to be housed at 690 Capital Ave., NE (former Pfaff photo studio): Recovery House, target population: Adult men 18+ (no CSC), receiving one-on-one services from Recovery Coaches (peer-run fee for service through SWMBH), who are exiting rehab or detox. Current Capacity: 5 residents, single bedrooms. Live in house manager who is a certified recovery coach. Two and a half bathrooms. Capacity after renovations: nine residents, single residents, Live in house manager, 3 and a half bathrooms. Clanton read a letter of support from the former owners of the property, Dena Pfaff Haas and H. Daniel Haas, Jr. Reviewed the features of the Recovery Program, including expectations of residents. Noted that due to curfews and quiet time, there will be no noise inside and outside the home. Reviewed staff that has already been hired, their certifications and length of sobriety. Invited residents to an open house February, 29 at 6:00 p.m. at 690 Capital Avenue, NE. Noted that part of house manager responsibilities will be attending NPC4 meetings and becoming a member. Reviewed their “Good Neighbor Policy”: including Smoking, Noise, loitering, parking and property upkeep. Residents will not be at the property between 9 am and 5 pm on weekdays. Duration: 90 day program (50% graduation rate-considered highly successful), 100% of residents will be sober. Residents will exit to sustainable, long-term housing. They are seeking a change in zoning (currently zoned R3-A Multi-Family, allows up to 6 residents), to Multi-Family that allows up to 10 residents (9 residents + house manager). The SHARE Center is requesting that the NPC and individual residents sign letters of support for the Special Use Permit request for Recovery House. Clanton provided copies of letters of support to be filled out and signed by residents. Clanton responded to questions by members and guests. Todd Nowicki answered questions regarding code compliance; they will be required to conform to commercial code for the property. Responded to question about square footage of the structure: 2,100 sq. ft. Clanton noted that they will be operating Recovery House as a 6 bedroom property prior to the remodeling. They are only asking for an SUP to increase capacity to a 10 bedroom property. Discussion of noise, property value concerns, neighbor privacy needs including fencing, smoking on the property, parking, loitering and fire-safe construction. Clanton noted that the General Contractor will be present at the open house to answer technical questions. Clanton noted that they will be returning for the next NPC meeting in March. Action Item: Special Use Permit Recommendation (no quorum) Police Report: No officers present Governmental Reports Code Compliance Report: Todd Nowicki reported nothing to follow up on from minutes, as he has not received them for three months. Discussion of 8 Elizabeth, on corner of Sherman and Elizabeth, has been exposed to the elements and has a severe mold problem within the walls that have been covered over without abatement. House on corner of Sherman and McKinley (has been burned) needs to be demolished, process delayed in courts and lack of demo dollars. Asked people to call him with addresses of problem properties. Battle Creek Area Transportation Study: Chair presented BCATS “The Signal” Newsletter, noting that 5 roads in NPC4 area proposed for repairs during the next five years. BCATS is looking for input from residents. Calhoun County Land Bank. Chair presented a flyer from the Land Bank as they are still seeking groups or organizations to contact them to contract with them for the Neighborhood Mow and Maintenance Program between April and October. Stipends of $3,000 available for care of 20 properties. City Commission Report: Kate Flores (Ward 3 Commissioner): Reported out on workshop around urban agriculture held 02/16/16. Proposal about hens, honey bees and miniature goats and revisions to residential zoning to promote urban gardening and allow residents sell products from their property during certain hours. Reviewed fire department annual report on their activities and plan for 2016, conversations with surrounding departments, improving their ISO rating, recruitment and making changes to some of the agility tests, lots of training and plans for more training. Nothing is set yet regarding closure of fire stations. Another community conversation will be in the next month in the Post-Franklin neighborhood. No date set (possibly second week in March). Feedback from the community can be reported directly to the fire department and fire chief. Commission approved creation of obsolete property rehabilitation district around Norman’s foods for Schweitzer Construction to rehab it and move their main office to the building. Ordinance changes have been passed to promote bike safety. Budget approvals passed for street work. Incinerator being decommissioned in March because of EPA emissions guidelines. Grants were approved for transit. Street related to the railroad quiet zones approved to be closed permanently, Spencer St, Porter St. E. Fountain St. and Division Street. Resident reported people parking in bike lanes and passing in them, noted a Winnebago parked on E. Emmett Street. Nowicki noted that vehicle had been tagged. County Commissioners Report: Jim Haadsma: Tribe made its payment in lieu of tax 5.3 million dollars to local revenue sharing board (5% increase). Equalization department data to be released revealing property values up across the board throughout the county 2%. News for veterans: prospect of extending emergency relief funding from those who served in active conflicts to those who did not, so that more veterans will be served. Water Department Report: Matt Miller, Water Distribution Supervisor. Department is currently installing a new meter read system throughout the city, 45% complete at one year into the process. Uses a wireless system that does not require a driver to pick up from meters, but uses new radios, antennas and cloud-based hosting, utilizes a dashboard in his office. Can do a meter read in 5-10 minutes from his desk. Reported meters are being repaired throughout the city. Chair asked that he come back in April to give a full presentation. Battle Creek Public School Board Report: None External Commission Reports: . Zoning Board of Appeals Report: Signs and Impressions, Birchwood UMC . Planning Commission Report: None . Historic District Commission Report: 84 E. Michigan Avenue, . Housing Board of Appeals Report: None Committee Reports Beautiful Battle Creek Awards: Chair reported that enough nominations have been made to cover awards for a couple of months, asked residents to be looking for more. Membership Committee: Chair reported that John Paul Wilson has agreed to take leadership of the committee. Old Business: Chair noted Master Planning Workshop to be held Feburary 18, 2016. Membership Comments for the Good of the Order: Mary Connklin noted she always finds the meetings informational Public Comments for the Good of the Order: Chair noted that Family and Children Services has principally gender based drug addiction treatment and prevention licensure. Haadsma will contact them to come and speak at a future meeting. Chair requested that there be research into licenses similar to theirs. Adjournment: 9:02 pm Next Meeting: Wednesday, March 16, 2016, 7:00 p.m. Marie Briganti from Battle Creek Unlimited will speak on Choosing to live in Battle Creek