Neighborhood Planning Council 4 - Northeast

Minutes: Northeast Planning Council NPC#4 Meeting Date: Wednesday, March 16, 7:00 PM Location: First Congregational Church, 145 NE Capital Ave Call to Order: 7:10 PM Attendance: Members: Mark Jones, Kathleen Faris, Andy Helmboldt, Kate Flores, Mary Conklin, Sean Lewis, Dave Salerno, John Paul Wilson, Nathan Grajek, Steve Smith Guests: Ted Hanson (City of B.C.), Pat Fosdick, Doug Stewart, Melanie Hall, Jim Haadsma, Mike Ziegler (BCPD), Brice Kerschon (BCPD), Chad Perry (BCPD), Clayton Wiersm, Chris Zuzga (City of B.C.) Members Absent:Denise Rust, Jonna Siano, John Whittaker, Daniel Rall, Laurie Sullivan, Sherry Sofia, John Hennink, Marcia Austin, Kim Yarger, Chuck Yarger, Jim Baldwin. Chair Notes/Announcements/Correspondence: Chair noted that City correspondence is still being sent to Kathleen Faris, not current Chair Mark Jones. Steve Smith has been added to the membership as of March 14, 2016, city commission meeting. Chair noted that according to the Open Meetings Act that instead of a voice vote, a numbered vote must be recorded. Additions or Deletions to the Agenda: Chair added Dangerous and Abandoned Buildings meeting to New Business. Chair noted that 8-10 City meetings that will be added to schedule as time permits. Approval of Previous Minutes: Kathleen Faris made a motion to approve January 2016 minutes. Nathan Grajeck supported. Minutes were approved by a vote of 9-0 Nathan Grajek made a motion to approve February 2016 minutes. Kathleen Faris supported. Minutes were approved by a vote of 9-0 Program: Discussion: Why People Choose to Live in Battle Creek, Marie Briganti, Battle Creek Unlimited. Cancelled: Briganti did not show up or contact the chair. Governmental Reports: Code Compliance and Community Development Report: Report given by Christine Zuzga. Noted that hard copy of report was mailed out to members. They are working to prioritize the Dangerous Buildings list and the Vacant and Abandoned buildings list. Noted that there are more “junk accumulation” complaints during warmer weather. Chair asked the definition of what “junk” at a house is. She was unable to provide the legal definition, but noted it is what appears to be unable to be reused, and that it is subjective. Noted that there are ordinances that specify what junk is and indoor furniture used outside. Reported that property surveys will be starting in May, they will be doing them every three years, but that they will be rotating them, doing 2 or 3 NPC’s each year. Ted Hanson, the new Chief Building Official introduced himself to the members. He is in charge of new construction, what people need to pull a permit for. Jason Francisco is in charge of Code Compliance. Dennis McKinley has been transferred to the BCPD to work as the liaison between Code Compliance and the BCPD. Distributed list of dangerous buildings for the past 10 years and reviewed them to determine whether they are “demo worthy”. They still have some grant dollars available that need to be used before July 1 (approx. $70,000 to $80,000), and they are working to determine which are the most urgent problem houses to be demolished. He will be meeting with Marcie Gillette and Chris Lussier to make the final determination. His contact information is: Phone (269)966-3382. Email: HYPERLINK "mailto:thanson@battlecreekmi.gov" thanson@battlecreekmi.gov Battle Creek Area Transportation Study (BCATS): Chair provided the same handouts as last month. Next month’s meeting, there will be discussion of road and sewer projects that the city will be doing. Chair inquired of commissioners as to whether public comment was being taken regarding the study. Calhoun County Land Bank: None City Commission Report: Kate Flores (Ward 3): The City Commission held two meetings one week apart due to weather cancellations. March 9 meeting: approved training expenses (customer service and updates around police department trainings on implicit bias) approved rezoning for a facility on Dickman to allow retail sales of industrial. Was zoned industrial retail, and changed to commercial due to Fort Custer covenant. Also approved application for CCDC for Class C liquor license for the golf course, an upgrade to current liquor license. Approved 50,000 deductible for purchase of new fire truck to replace the one damaged on Washington Ave. March 15 meeting: Passed a new ordinance related to meeting procedures, consolidating comment time from consent agenda and other resolutions to a single comment period of 5 minutes prior to agenda items, and a 3 minute general public comment, it is already part of the meeting rules that people can request additional time for public comment, this can be requested while you are at the podium from the Mayor. Public hearings and ordinances are not included in the single 5-minute period. Staff reports on the budget-a lot of data. Allowed for other legal signatures in the absence of the City Manager. Authorized the city manager to sign a contract with Emmett Township regarding water supply issues, dating back to the oil spill in 2010. Authorized the city manager to execute an agreement with the County around jail beds-the city will be paying the county for 30 beds/spaces at the jail. Communit Conversation about fire stations will be held Monday, March 21 from 6:30 - 8:00 at the Doris Hale Center. Kaytee Faris: Customer service training approved is based on the Disney model. Andy Helboldt: The first of three budget workshops is scheduled for March 31. Expects a tiny increase over last year’s budget. Questions regarding WKW abatement. The abatement will terminate upon their departure, not known if there is a clawback process, or if a new tenant will be able to take over the abatement. Battle Creek Public School Board Report: Nathan Grajek reported they are working on a strategic plan to hire a new superintendent and develop a 5 year plan. A lot of really big goals and really tough cuts. New vision and mission statements developed and handed off to the steering committee. Will be finalized and voted on March 17 at the BCAMSC at 6:00 p.m. Looking to start the hiring process for a new superintendent, interim is expected to apply. Encouraged community input. Chair asked how many National Merit Scholars, how many AP classes. Grajek will working on getting that information for him. Chair noted that he’s been asking that question for 5 years. Discussion of parents removing students from BCPS. Chair asked why people are choosing to go someplace else, if the school board can’t figure that out, nothing else matters. Grajek noted the important of promoting the positives of BCPS. Helmboldt noted signs that say “Legacy Scholars” in front of schools, wondered why they don’t say “free college”. Chair noted that everyone in Kalamazoo knows what the Kalamazoo Promise is and people in Battle Creek don’t know what the Legacy Scholars is. Helmboldt asked on the timeline, the first thing will be the hiring of the superintendent. Grajek noted this is the time of the year that schools hire superintendents. Board members have all been assigned to different groups to sell this, including NPC’s, church groups, clubs. Police Report: Slight increase in overnight B&E’s, but they moved outside the district. Slight increase in vehicle larcenies, but suspect arrested. Slight increase in assaults due to warmer weather. Higher speeds due to warmer weather. Big focus is keeping speeds down in the neighborhoods. Noted that when Fremont Elementary lets out at 3:45, no actual crosswalk, but students are crossing at Central Street, asked that officers be in the area. Officer noted that they are present in the area as much as they can, also at Verona. Kathleen Faris thanked officers for responding when wind set off her alarm at her residence. Chair noted that he met Chief Blocker in January and he promised that he could get 4 of the permanent radar speed signs in the NPC on Fremont and East Avenue due to traffic volumes. Officer noted they have been doing foot patrols in the Piper Park area and no loud music complaints, no juveniles. County Commissioners Report: Last county board meeting, entered approval of agreement with Enbridge to pay county 900,000 and 1 million for compensation for road damages due to heavy equipment. Approved a grant for solid waste disposal at the road department site. Chair reported he contacted Mindy Smith and Family and Children’s Services are not bringing in another group home for Substance Abuse Recovery Program, they are doing case management. They also have a division for women’s special services to provide transportation, child care to facilitate women attending recovery services. No residential or treatment programs. Chair discussion of upcoming City Meetings: Fire Station closing in NPC1 (Post Addition): March 21 at the Doris Hale Center New Recycling Programs: They will be doing large roll-away carts, Saturday the 19th and Tuesday the 22nd Community Development Action Plan: No public hearing set Energy Code: Contact the City for the date Michigan Residential Building Code: None Electronic and Styrofoam collection: April 30 at KCC 9:00 am to 1:00 pm (Recycle- rama) . Zoning Board of Appeals Report: None . Planning Commission Report: None . Historic District Commission Report: John Paul Wilson will be confirmed as a member at the next city commission meeting . Housing Board of Appeals Report: None Beautiful Battle Creek Awards: There are no nominations currently. Chair requested people join the committee to nominate properties. 255 East Emmett (red house) nominated by Andy Helmboldt. 44 Riverview Avenue (abuts Wagner Drive) nominated by Nathan Grajek. Membership Committee: John Paul Wilson reported that they’ve reviewed the past membership paperwork. Flyers need to be updated, discussion of using the grant money from NIBC for yard signs to help promote the idea of the NPC. Discussion will be an agenda for April meeting. Old Business: Master Planning Workshop: Christine Zuzga reported that this was held February 18, approximately 90 people attended and broke out into different groups for discussion. A lot of great input, each table went over a map of the city and the report will be up on the project website in the next week or so. Next stage is design workshops for different corridors in the city: buildings, streetscapes, private/public buildings. Workshops will be in April/May, no dates set, should be announced in next week or two. Chair noted that an AFC is any home where adults are getting any sort of treatment where they are getting 24-hour supervision, and he will be reviewing with Christine to determine how many AFC’s are in the NPC’s and what the rules are. State law that reads all AFC’s have to be at least 1500 feet away from each other, regardless of type. Many of the homes that were grandfathered in. Christine noted that large-group (6 or more) have different rules than small-group. If they don’t provide care/treatment/counseling on site, it is a group home. New Business: By-laws committee formation: Chair requested 2-3 members join a committee to review them. Stated policies committee formation: Chair noted currently there are no stated policies for the NPC, regarding traffic, speed limits, signage, etc. Dangerous and abandoned buildings: Commended current commissioners and city staff for modifying rules regarding vacant and abandoned buildings. Extending it to commercial buildings from residential only. Adding extensions and clarifications Currently asking for public comments. Next meeting for residents to discuss proposed changes to the ordinances TBD. Membership Comments for the Good of the Order: Chair noted that the city has minor home repair program and paint for “dirt cheap” Public Comments for the Good of the Order: Christine Zuzga reported that the city and land bank own parcels they are looking to sell as part of the side lot program, cost per lot is $100, includes reporting fee. The sale will take place on April 30, between 8:00 am and 12:00 noon, residents are to come in and fill out an application, and they will process the deed right after. Location TBD. Adjournment: 8:45 pm Next Meeting: Wednesday, April 20, 2016 at 7:00 p.m., First Congregational Church, 145 NE Capital Ave