Neighborhood Planning Council 4 - Northeast

Minutes NORTHEAST PLANNING COUNCIL #4 (Fremont/Verona/McKinley) Meeting Date: 7PM , Wednesday , October 18, 2017 Location: First Congregational Church 145 Capital Ave NE Call to order 7:00 PM Members: Jon-Paul Wilson( presiding) Thomas Formato Jennifer Formato Sean Lewis Kaytee Ferris Mark Jones Sherry Sofia David Salerno Mary Lusk (quorum is met.) Guests: Susan Baldwin (vice mayor) Todd Nowicki ( B.C. Code and Compliance) Glenn Perian ( B.C. Senior City Planner) Kelly Dillman (B.C.P.D. Community Outreach Liaison) Christine Zuzga (B.C. Planner) Officer Brice Kershen (BCPD Bryne Grant) Mary Lusk ( First Presbyterian Church) Lisa Silkworth (B.C. Customer Service Rep.) Chandra Youngblood( BCPS) Residents Jennifer Klueter Roger Komms Ronald F. Cady Jim Williams Jon Kenefick Chair Notes/ Announcements/Correspondence: None Additions and Deletions: none Approval of Minutes: none Program: none I. Government Reports 1. Planning and Zoning-discussion of the Master Plan by Glenn Perian and Christine Zuzga. A handout map of our planning council was handed out showing the unfinished future design. It includes single family and low density housing shall replace most multi- family houses upon demolition. Zones for commercial businesses are slightly changed.  The master plan is a living document that will guide all official decisions of the City Commission and the government. The plan itself details the specifics of each type of land use for classification. Each NPC is being asked for input before the plan is finished. The document can also be used to plan the development or expansion of water and sewer services within the city. Nov 1, 2017 two open houses are scheduled so that residents can learn more about the master plan. One will be at the Restore 117 W. Michigan, The other will be located in city hall open house. A community conversation will take place on Nov. 1 at the Kool Family Community Center at 6:30 PM. Discussion centered on the elimination and regulation of Group Homes particularly for veterans. A home with less than 6 residents will still be allowed. II. Introductions of attendees III.Membership a.Removal of non-attending members Trisha Grejek Aaron Cypert Jim Baldwin Vote: yea 7 nay 0 b.Renewal of current members Sherry Sofia Kim Yarger Chuck Yarger Jon Paul Wilson Dave Solerno Vote: yea 8 nay 0 c Consideration of new members Jenny Klueter Vote: yea 9 nay 0 Mark Jones is unsure if he will continue in our area. IV. GOVERNMENT REPORTS (continued) 2. a.Police Department Reports- officers reporting were Brice Kerschen. He is our neighborhood police officer for the next 1 ½ year paid via grant monies. This grant is called the Burn grant. Federal funds are supplied for neighborhood policing and each NPC is eligible for approximately $20000.00 in funds to improve their area. There were 127 reports of crime in our NPC last month. 2 hot spots are currently Chestnut between Emmett and Capital, Van Buren between Division and Broad street. Several armed robberies are being investigated. There were 4-5 smash and grabs over 3 nights including M66. A suspect was  arrested shortly after the M-66 robbery. There was a case of human trafficking and parking tickets with expired tags were given out. The best way to reach officer Kerschen is through departmental email. He is usually on duty from 2-10 except Tuesday and Wednesdays. Discussion 26 Frelinghuysen is a vacant land bank owned home experiencing drinking in the side yard and leaving trash near the home . The residents of a nearby group home are suspected by the adjoining home owner. b.Kelly Dillman community outreach liaison BCPD talk about the training for the Burn grant. After training ,neighbors would serve for 6 months as neighborhood ambassadors. 3. Code Compliance- Todd Nowicki Ronald F. Cady asked if we have ordinances that we don’t enforce. The gentleman was upset because his neighbor is composting leaves on the sidewalk. Battle Creek Transportation- no report Land Bank- no report 4.City Commissioner Kaytee Faris discussed the future training concerning the land bank. Susan Baldwin discussed the grant for trees in the city. Ornamental pear trees and red maple could be made available. Input is requested. Also the commission received information from a workshop on fire operations The power point is up on the city website. Zoning- no report 5.Planning – Consideration of a new sign ordinance and medical marijuana regulations and the possible changes in non- conforming ordnance were mentioned. V. Committee Reports 1. Beautiful Battle Creek Award will be presented to 130 Frelinghuysen. Vote: yea 9 nay 0. Last month’s houses were 28 E Clinton Drive and 404 Garrison Road. 2. Membership see above.) 3. Nextdoor application – none. VI. Old business - Benjamin Park taxes are due. There will be a tax foreclosure sale. Can we save this park? If the land bank possesses it then no one would owe taxes and the neighborhood could lease the land for $1.00. VII. Member’s comments One neighbor said he now knows he lives in a crime hot spot.  Mark Jones suggested we review the Kalamazoo VIII. Comments by public Jenny Klueter suggested that a dog park could be created in Quaker Park very inexpensively. Officer Kerschen suggested that would be a great use for Bryne grant monies. It would bring positive energy into an iffy neighborhood. Grant monies are for 1234 NPC’s only! Chandra Youngblood, Director of Elementary Education mentioned the districts new PR campaign- BCPS Believe in the Change! Comments by staff and commission members none Adjournment at 8:30 Next Meeting Wednesday, November 15, 2017 7:00 PM.