Neighborhood Planning Council 5 - Urbandale

NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING COUNCIL #5 (Christ United Methodist Church, 65 Bedford Rd.) Monday February 13, 2017 e-mail: lordstrong84@gmail.com Phone 269-245-9708 MINUTES 1. Meeting was called to order by Chairman Whitfield at 7:00PM. Chairman Whitfield called for a moment of silence. 2. Attendance; Robert Whitfield, Johnny Vick, Freeman Thomas, Brian Steele, Sara Schmanske, Curtis Roberts, David Moore, Walt McIlroy, Catherine LaValley, Terry Lancaster, Patricia Graw, Beverly Case, Fred Bachman, Kathy Antaya. A quorum of at least seven members was present. Excused: Deborah Owens, Joshua Fausey Staff: Dennis McKinley, Code Compliance; Garrett Day BCPD Guests: Katy Avery, Leila Arboretum guest speaker; Brian Wensauer, Calhoun Co. Treasurer; Amy Rose Robinson, Calhoun Co. Land Bank Authority MEMBERS PLEASE NOTE: For an excused absence from a scheduled meeting, please call the number or email listed above. 3. Vice Chair Antaya reported on the NPC Leadership meeting on Feb 7, and the BCCF Grant Writing Workshop held Feb 10. NPC Leadership meetings are hosted by the City, and a light meal is provided by SWMCDC. Meetings are open to all NPC leaders and members. Quarterly meetings are held at DPW and are scheduled for May 15, Aug 21, and Nov 20, from 5:30-7:00 pm. The goal of these meetings is to share NPC activities, advice and problems, and to improve direct communication between City and NPCs. At the Leadership meeting, we discussed BC Community Foundation Grants available for NPC activities. We were encouraged to attend the Grant Writing Workshop on Feb 10. At that workshop we practiced searching for grant sources, aligning activities with grant requests and grantor goals. We also discussed the process of grant wring and appropriate level of detail to include in the application. NPC #5 was encouraged to apply for a grant for our Urbandale Fall Festival. 4. No additions or deletions to agenda. 5. January minutes were approved by the members present. 6. Police Report - Officer Garrett Day reported minimal crime activities in our area. Noted that four instances of property damage were reported in the last month. He answered  questions from a guest regarding on-street parking regulations in our neighborhood. Officer Day promised to look into the complaint. 7. Guest Speaker – Katy Avery, Leila Arboretum Education Manager. Avery reported on 2017 activities for Leila Arboretum. She announced that the Children’s Garden will be renamed the Kaleidoscope Garden and Leila will host a Grand Re-Opening Celebration on June 3. Leila is always seeking volunteers to assist with various programs and activities. Memberships are available, and she encouraged people to consider a dual (discounted) membership with Kingman Museum. Membership includes reciprocity with many other gardens and museums around the state and throughout the USA. The 365 Urban Farm (adjacent to the Fantasy Forest) is promoting its seasonal Farm Stand, held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from June through October. The Farm is also selling “membership shares,” through a program called Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). The Festivus Cardboard Sled Race & Competition (Feb. 4) was wildly successful with over 75 sleds entered and about 800 people in attendance. Weather conditions were almost perfect – snow on the ground, sunny, and mild temperatures. Activities this year include Annual Plant Sale, May 12-14, and Car Show on June 11. Several music festivals are planned, including the 10th annual Leilapalooza, Beat In The Creek, and a new reggae music fest. Please go to Facebook or the Leila website (LASgarden.org) for more information! Guest speaker #2 – Amy Rose Robinson from Calhoun Co. Land Bank described the “Mow & Maintain Vacant Lots Program” for 2017. Help your organization earn money this summer by maintaining Land Bank owned lots in the City. The Land Bank will provide a stipend of $3,000 to mow/maintain 20 lots from May-Oct. This means about 10 mowings of each lot. Payment is made at the end of the season, but groups can request 10% upfront after the first mow. 8. (A) School Report – Next School Board mtg, Feb 20 at Willard Library. Several school properties are being reviewed by potential buyers, including Urbandale School. School Board will adopt a 2-year budget. Board is reviewing the BC Legacy Scholarship program to strengthen it and possibly expand. LaValley answered questions from members. (B) Code Report – Dennis McKinley provided handouts with a summary of the recent code violations in our area, and a checklist for common code violations. He reported that Property Surveys would be done in NPC #2, 5 and 7 this summer. The survey entails viewing residences/properties from the sidewalk and evaluating for code violations. McKinley also answered member questions.  (C) Membership Committee – no business (D) Beautiful Battle Creek Award - Sara Schmanske reported that 221 Taylor Ave. was the recipient of this month’s Beautiful Battle Creek award. 9. Old Business - no business 10. New Business – Calhoun Co. Treasurer, Brian Wensauer, noted that property tax bills will be sent out soon. Please call their office if you have trouble paying your bill. 11. Nominating Committee - no business 12. Public Service Comments by Commissioners – none 13. Comments for the Good of the Order – no Public Comments. Member Comments: A member noted that the “trash cans at Lamora Park never get emptied.” McKinley said he will look into that concern. A new business will open soon in the old Jiffy Tax building. It will be a gun shop and gun range. A new hardware store is scheduled to open in the old Larmore Drug Store. 14. Next meeting is March 13, 2017 15. Adjourned at 8:00 PM