Neighborhood Planning Council 5 - Urbandale

URBANDALE NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING COUNCIL Minutes from December 11, 2017 E-Mail: ​Besteele@gmail.com Phone: 269-274-0029 1. ​Call to Order & Welcome​: Chairman Robert Whitfield called the meeting to order and welcomed everyone at 7:03 p.m. 2. ​Attendance Members Present: Chairman Robert Whitfield, Vice Chair Kathy Antaya, Assistant Secretary Brian Steele, David Moore, Roger Ballard, Deborah Owens, Sara Schmanske, Hal Longman, Patricia Graw, Curtis Roberts, Johnny Vick, Freeman Thomas, Beverly Case, Nancy Hoard, Wayne Hoard, City Staff: Officer Robert Henley, Dennis McKinley (Code Compliance) Guest: Commissioner John Griffin, Bernadette Llewelyn, Mary-Lou Ramon Excused: Walt McIlroy, Catherine LaValley, Fred Bachman 3.​ Announcements:​ None 4. ​Additions or Deletions to the Agenda​: None 5.​ Approval of Previous Minutes:​ A motion to amend the November minutes was accepted. Kristin Blood and Bernadette Llewelyn were moved from members to guests. The minutes from October were then accepted as there was a delay in getting them. November’s minutes were then approved. 6. ​Police Report​: Officer Robert Henley introduced himself and explained that he was newly assigned to our area. He gave details about recent arrests and struggles in the area. Officer Henley then took questions from the council. 7.​ Guest Speaker: ​John Lovely from Bosch Architecture came representing the Laurel’s of Bedford to explain some additions the facility is looking to make. He explained the dimensions and details of the expansion. He then took questions from the council. The NPC made a motion and accepted a motion to support the permit. 8. ​Committee Reports: School Report: Nobody was present, but Catherine LaValley said she is trying to get someone to attend our NPC. Code Report: Dennis McKinley distributed the code report and took questions from the council. Beautification: 64 Myrtle Avenue 9. ​Old Business: ​None 10.​ New Business: ​None 11. ​Nominating Committee​: The Nominations Committee Chair was not present, but former city commissioner Deborah Owens took nominations for the NPC. Robert Whitfield was nominated and confirmed unanimously as the chairperson. Freeman Thomas was nominated and confirmed unanimously as the vice-chair. Brian Steele was nominated and confirmed unanimously as the assistant secretary. 12. ​Public Service Comments from Commissioner: ​Commissioner John Griffin introduced himself to the council and took questions from the council. 13. ​Comments for the Good of the Order: Public Comments: None Member Comments: Chairman Whitfield asked if Kathy Antaya would be our NPC’s representative for the Urbandale Fall Festival. She would work in conjunction with Deborah Owens and ULABA. The ULABA representative said they would love to have Antaya and Owens working with them. Chairman Whitfield asked for input about this idea and the council was very positive and receptive about it. Questions were also asked about other grant and community development opportunities. They asked about how Christ United Methodist Church could host a consistent and healthy meal through potential grants. The Urbandale Clothes Closet is also open and details were taken. The Clothes Closet is a free store in the basement of Christ United Methodist Church and is open Wednesday 2-6 and donations are accepted Wednesday when the store is open or Tuesday/Thursday 9:30-12:30. Roger Ballard also told about the Little Free Library in the church parking lot, and the idea of a local dog park in Urbandale was also brought up and given to Commissioner Griffin to search for details. Chairman Whitfield also thanked everyone for participation and attendance in the council this year. 14. ​Next Meeting​: January 8th, 7:00 p.m. 15. ​Adjournment: ​8:00 pm.