Neighborhood Planning Council 4 - Northeast

October Minutes: Neighborhood Planning Council #4, Northeast Planning Council (Fremont/Verona/McKinley) Meeting Date: Wednesday October 19, 2016 7PM Location: First Congregational Church, 145 NE Capital Ave Call to Order: 7:00 PM AttendanceIntroduction of Guests/Members: Members: Mark Jones, John Paul Wilson, Andy Helmboldt, Kate Flores, Steve Smith, Mary Conklin, Sean Lewis, Dave Salerno, Quorum met with 8 members Guests: Lisa Thornton (note taker), Todd Nowicki (City of Battle Creek), Rick Postema (Richard Postema Associates PC Architects/Engineers representing Battle Creek Nursing Homes), Roger Koning (Charles E. Place), Chris Lussier (City of Battle Creek and Guest Speaker), Sarah Smith (All Species Kinship), Mary Lusk (1st Presbyterian Church), Chandra Youngblood (Battle Creek Public Schools), Officer Chad Perry (Battle Creek Police Department), Sergeant Christopher Hug (Battle Creek Police Department) and John Hennick. Absent Members: Kathleen Faris, Denise Rust, Mike Rust, Jonna Siano, John Whittaker, Daniel Rail, Laurie Sullivan, Nathan Grajek, Sherry Sofia, Marcia Austin, Kim Yarger, Chuck Yarger, Tricha Grajek, and Jim Baldwin Chair Notes/Announcements/Correspondence: o Other Commission meetings were canceled o Need to abide by the rules set forth in Roberts Book of Order and the Open Meeting Act. Additions or Deletions to the Agenda: o Under Old Business add “proofing Bylaws” o Under New Business add: 1. Special Use Permit for 393 East Roosevelt 2. Urban Farming 3. Facebook Page  Under Police Report: o Danger at Stop Signs/Lights September Approval of Previous Minutes: 21, 2016: Andy Helmboldt moved to approve and Kate Flores 2nd . Minutes approved by a vote of 8 in favor to 0 opposed. Program: Federal Community Development Funding: Mr. Chris Lussier, Community Development Manager, City of Battle Creek o Discussion about various development activities, programs and projects being done by individual property owners and the cities. Discussed grant funded projects; how, where and why monies are spent in particular areas/neighborhoods. Discussed the concern of making the river accessible and turning it into an asset for the city. o Discussion held concerning street lightening, code compliances, vacant building, underutilized assets and the need for more retail space/development. o Asked the resident participant in the upcoming Public Hearing to be held on December 6th at 7PM in the City Commission Chamber. Governmental Reports:  Police Department Report: Officer Chad Perry and Sergeant Chris Hug o Radar sign was installed per last month’s request o Discussion about safety at stop signs/lights was held. o Discussion concerning B&E’s within the area o Discussion concerning the clown problem o Contact information for Sergeant Hug: E: crhug@battlecreekmi.gov P: 269-966-3306 Ext 2188  Code Compliance Report and Community Development: Mr. Nowicki reported and following concerns were discussed. o Home on the northwest corner of Capital Ave and Chestnut: dead tree o Rental house on northeast corner of Sherman: trash/junk piling up o Former Crickets Bookstore on Calhoun St and North Avenue is still a concern.  Battle Creek Area Transportation Study (BCATS): No report given  Calhoun County Land Bank: No report given Elected Officials Reports  City Commission Report o Kate Flores – Ward 3 Commissioner: No report given o Lynn Ward-Gray – Ward 2 Commissioner: No report given o Kaytee Faris – Commissioner at-large: No report given o Andy Helmboldt – Commissioner at-large: 1. Discussion on the rewriting of Animal Control Ordinance 2. City is also looking at how other communities are handling the question of Urban Farming 3. “Odd/Even” parking days; the City will not be going back to that ordinance. 4. Mr. Lewis thanked the commissioners and appreciates all that commissioners are doing toward the Urban Farming issues.  Battle Creek Public Schools: Given by Chandra Youngblood (Battle Creek Public Schools Office of Early Learning): 1. Fremont School is being sold 2. Washington School building was sold o Nathan Grajek  County Commissioners Report: no report given o Jim Haadsma External Commission Reports: All meetings were cancelled during October  Zoning Board of Appeals  Planning Commission  Historic District Commission  Housing Board of Appeals Committee Reports: No report given/No action taken  Beautiful Battle Creek Awards:  Membership Committee- Review membership list and discuss additions and deletions. Old Business Bylaws Proof: No action taken Visitor Reports and Requests: None New Business: o Special Use Permit Request: A special permit request was submitted by Rick Postema of Richard Postema Associates PC. Mr. Postema’s company was retained by Advantage Management Group who is looking to buy the property at 393 E. Roosevelt. o Phase 1Renovations would take the old 27 bed hospital and turn it into an 82 bed nursing home. o Phase 2 Renovations would involve putting in 20 ventilator rooms this would be a 26,000 foot addition built to blend with the current building style. o There are plans for an enclosed courtyard, keeping the integrity of the environmental surroundings. o Discussions concerning traffic patterns, labor contracts, lightening, and window/building exterior took place. o Buyers have not purchased property as of yet and are doing their due diligence before making the purchase. Motion: Do we approve the Special Use Permit for 393 E. Roosevelt? Motion was moved by: Steve Smith and 2nd by Dave Salerno Further Discussion: Mr. Lewis asked if this could be tabled so members could do research on the company buying the property. Mr. Jones indicated that the vote needed to be done tonight as this matter will be going before the Zoning board before we meet again. Motion passed with 5 votes in favor, 2 abstaining and 1 absent. o Facebook Page: discussed as part of the Police Report; incident at the stop light on Dickman Road o Urban Farming: See Membership Comments below o Membership Terms are up: Not discussed Membership Comments for the Good of the Order: o Mr. Lewis requested a program from All Species Kinship (ASK) for November. Mr. Wilson indicated that he had invited someone from Sprout to join the meeting in November. Mr. Jones said that each group would have 7.5 minutes to present their programs.. o Mr. Jones indicated that Mr. Cypert is eligible for membership if he attends next month’s meeting. Public Comments for the Good of the Order: (Three minutes only per person) o Mary Lusk introduced herself. She is a member of the 1st Presbyterian Church Mr. Jones indicated that Ms. Lusk is eligible to be a member if she attends the next meeting. o Sarah Smith thanked everyone for their continued hard work. o John Hennick indicated that he thought a theater similar to the DTE would be an asset to Battle Creek. Adjourned: 9:08 PM Next Meeting: Wednesday, November 16, 2016, 7pm Topic: Annual Meeting (Election of Officers) and Chris Dopp, Director of Public Works and Sarah Smith, All Species Kinship and a representative from Sprout. Community Information and Upcoming Calendar Community Information  City of Battle Creek Water Quality Reports are available on the web and at Utility Billing, 269-966-3366  Navy League is trying to name a naval ship the USS Battle Creek, contact TR Shaw on how to help.  Public Hearing on Community Needs on Tuesday, December 6, 2016 at 7 PM in the City Commission Chamber. Question to be discussed can be found on the city website in the Community Development area.  Lead Awareness Program Thursday, October 27th from 6:30 to 8 PM at the Kool Family Community Center, 200 W. Michigan Ave, Battle Creek Free