Neighborhood Planning Council 5 - Urbandale

MINUTES URBANDALE NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING COUNCIL – NPC 5 (Christ United Methodist Church, 65 Bedford Rd) Monday, February 10, 2020 @ 7:00 p.m. **FOR EXCUSED ABSENCES and AGENDA ADDITIONS/DELETIONS CONTACT** ballard_roger@yahoo.com OR call Kathy Antaya @ 616-450-1884 MINUTES 1. Call to Order & Welcome @ 7:01 p.m.: (Invocation/Moment of Silence) 2. Attendance [Member (M) Guest (G) City Rep (C)]: Kathy Antaya (M), Roger Ballard (M), Kristin Blood (M), Pat Graw (M), Nancy Hoard (M), Terry Lancaster (M), Catherine LaValley (M), Bernadette Lewellyn (G), Deaudre Perry (C), Ted Dearing (C), Patty Poole Gray (M), Curtis Roberts (M), Sara Schmanske (M), Freeman Thomas (M), Richard Bolek (C), Isabella Savage (G), Carrie Briggs (G) EXCUSED: Fred Bachman (M), John Griffin (C) 3. Approval of Previous Minutes: Robert W. moved to accept the minutes, supported by Terry L.; approved. 4. Chair Notes/Announcements/Correspondence: BC Transit Study Project Report 5. Additions or Deletions to the Agenda: none 6. Police Report: Officer Perry report given mentioned there were 40 crimes in Urbandale: 36 cleared or charged; 4 unsolved. 7. Guest Speaker: Ted Dearing, Asst. City Manager. Citizens vote on proposed City charter changes at the November 2020 election. Mr. Dearing distributed hand-outs containing the details of the charter amendment proposals. Charter amendment proposal 1: “Shall the Battle Creek charter be amended to restate the entire charter in gender-neutral terms.” Charter amendment proposal 2: “The City charter currently provides for a Commission consisting of 4 at large and 5 ward commissioners with the mayor and vice mayor selected by the City Commission. The proposal would provide that the City Commission would be comprised of a mayor, three at-large and five ward commissioners. “Shall charter sections 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.9 and 3.3 be amended to provide the Commission be composed of mayor, elected at-large as a separately elected office, then 3 at-large, 5 ward commissioners and that no person shall be a candidate for the office of mayor and city commissioner on the same ballot?” The current charter already provides Commissioners two-year terms and no term limits. Absentee ballots are available for the March 10, 2020, primary. Poll workers are needed. 8. Committee Reports: (Comments limited to 3 min per topic) a. School: Catherine LaValley and Patty Poole Gray reported: the STEM program added a 7th grade class and will be discussed Tuesday, February 11, 2020, at BC STEM building. Carrie Briggs distributed four different hand-outs: Key Dates & Upcoming Events; Fremont International Academy Study Showcase; Career Academies (a future-focused education for every Bearcat); Battle Creek Area Transportation Study. She also reported the Battle Creek Central High freshman class of 2022 added eight pathways with certificates such as EMS, certified assistant. Certificates can be earned at Battle Creek Central High School. b. Code Compliance report. Richard Bolek gave a report. City can cite property owners for failing to clear snow from their property sidewalks. There was a question why there is a pass for clearing snow for downtown. The answer is the DDA pays for clearing downtown sidewalks from Division Street to Washington Avenue. c. Beautiful Battle Creek Award is given to 82 Cedar Avenue North. d. Food Pantry: Roger Ballard reported it could use canned goods. Avoid donating perishable items such as bananas. e. Library: no report given. f. Urbandale Fall Festival. Committee meets 2/18/2020 at Spanky’s. 9. New Membership & Renewal: no report. 10. Old Business: none. 12. New Business: none 13. Public Service Comments from Commissioners: none. 1|Page 14. Comments for the Good of the Order: a. Public Comments. Fire Department award given. See Battle Creek Enquirer for details. b. Member Comments. Terry L. reported the first highway cleanup will for 04/18/2020 and 04/26/2020. 15. Next Meeting: March 9, 2020 16. Adjournment: 8:03 pm City of Battle Creek Home Page: http://www.battlecreekmi.gov/site3.aspx Crime Map: www.ci.battle-creek.mi.us/crimesearch City Commission Agenda & Minutes: http://www.battlecreekmi.gov/City_Government/Mayor_and_Commission/Current_Agendas_and_Minutes.htm The City of Battle Creek will provide necessary reasonable auxiliary aids and services, such as signers for the hearing impaired and audio tapes of printed materials being considered in the meeting upon reasonable notice to the City of Battle Creek. Individuals with disabilities requiring auxiliary aids or services should contact the City of Battle Creek by writing or calling the following: City Clerk (269) 966- 3348/T DD 2|Page