Neighborhood Planning Council 5 - Urbandale

Urbandale Neighborhood Planning Council #5 Council Minutes – July 14, 2014 Meeting at Christ United Methodist Church 65 North Bedford Road Call to Order: The meeting was called to order at 7:01 PM by Robert Whitfield, chair. Attendance: Robert Whitfield, Chair; Carl Brockman; David Moore; Fred Bachman; Deborah Owens; Hal Longman; Walt McIlroy; Kathy Antaya; Terris Todd; Brandin Huggett; Kurt Roth; Curtis Roberts; Early Stephens; Dennis McKinley; Cheryl Roberts; Janet Caldwell; Dale Stratton; Mary Lou Ramon; Joshua Fausey; Joe Britvec. Previous Minutes: June 9, 2014 minutes were approved by voice vote Correspondence: Neighborhoods Inc contribution letter was tabled to discuss during new business. Police Report: Officer Huggett fielded questions from the council. He discussed the rise in break-ins being related to the summer weather. Guest Speaker: Early Stephens from Priorities Michigan spoke to the council in reference to their focus on the Lansing State budget. Priorities Michigan encourages lawmakers to focus on local revenue sharing as well as K12 education. Commissioner’s Report: Deb Owens reviewed where the process is in reference to the hiring of a new City Manager. The hiring committee will be presented with 10-12 finalists 8/7/2014. Closed interviews will take place on 8/22/14 & 8/23/14. A community forum will be scheduled prior to a final selection. Ms. Owens also announced the appointment of Jim Blocker as the new Police Chief for the City of Battle Creek. School Report: Deborah Gregory informed the group of the BCPS annual Organizational Board Meeting scheduled for 7/21/2014 at 3 West VanBuren beginning at 5:30 P.M. Code Report: A written report was distributed by Dennis McKinley. He also fielded questions from the group. Membership: Rebecca Runyon, Patricia Graw, Fred Bachman & Stan Beckwith had excused absences. Beautiful Battle Creek Award: 235 Kellogg as nominated by Dale Stratton Old Business: Kathy Antaya was nominated and approved to fill the position of Secretary created by the retirement of Deborah Gregory. She agreed to serve as interim pending November elections. New Business: The council discussed the funds that Neighborhoods Inc has made available to all NPC’s for the purpose of a community project. It was suggested that ideas be presented at the next meeting 8/11/2014 so that the council members could formulate ideas. This concept was approved by voice vote. Curtis Roberts was nominated as a member of the council. He accepted the nomination. The next Urbandale NPC meeting 8/11/2014 will be an open forum. No public speaker or committee reports will be on the agenda. This will give the members of the council to discuss community concerns and member issues. Public Comment: 7/24/14 is the Tea Party meeting at Burnham Brook at 6:30; Leila Palooza 7/26/2014 at Leila Arboretum 11am to 11pm. The meeting adjourned at 8:24 P.M. Respectively submitted by: Deborah L. Gregory