Neighborhood Planning Council 5 - Urbandale

MINUTES URBANDALE NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING COUNCIL – NPC 5 (Christ United Methodist Church, 65 Bedford Rd. N.) Monday, September 12, 2022 @ 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 @ 7:02 p.m.: Kathy Antaya called the meeting to order. She asked if anyone would like to run the meeting. No one responded. Kathy Antaya therefore took the responsibility of running the meeting. Roger Ballard took the responsibility of taking minutes. Kathy called for a moment of silence, then called for attendance. 2. Council officer nominations. Chairperson, Robert Whitfield nominated Kathy Antaya, seconded by Kristin Blood; Vice-chairperson: Catherine LaValley nominated herself and Pat Pool Gray seconded the nomination; Secretary: Pat Graw nominated Roger Ballard and Nancy Hoard seconded the nomination. Kathy Antaya closed nominations. Nominations from the floor will also be accepted at the October 10, 2022, meeting. Election of officers will be held later at that same meeting. 3. Attendance [Desire to Renew or Join (M) Guest (G) City Rep (C)]: Robert Whitfiled (M), Rebecca Pierce (M); Kathy Antaya (M); Patricia Graw (M); Johnny Vick (M); Catherine LaValley (M); Terry Lancaster (M); Kristin Blood (M); Nancy Hoard (M); Roger Ballard (M); Patty Pool Gray (M); David Moore (M); Heather Stratton (M); Otto Olson (M); Lynn Ward Gray (G); Marcie Gillette (C) EXCUSED: Curtis Roberts (M), Deborah Owens (M); Sara Schmanske (M); Paul Sajtar (M); Beverly Case (M). 4. Approval of Minutes: The Council plans to review the March 9, 2020, minutes at its October 10, 2022, meeting. 5. Chair Notes/Announcements/Correspondence: none. 6. Additions or Deletions to the Agenda: none. 7. Police Report: A representative of the Police Department was not present at the meeting. However, Marcie Gillette gave the police report and handed out schedules of the Department’s upcoming events. Concerns were voiced about excessive speeding along Bedford Road, Michigan Avenue and Althea Avenue. Nancy Hoard reported issues at a house on Kellogg Street. She states there appears to be a lot of drug traffic in and out of the home; particularly on Fridays. The house has five pit bull dogs. The limit of individual dog licenses per home, without a kennel license, is three. Otto Olson had concerns about the visibility of stop signs being blocked by tree branches and foliage. He also voiced a concern about un-plated cars. 8. Guest Speaker: none. 9. Committee Reports: (Comments limited to 3 min per topic) Marcie Gillette expressed the biggest code compliance issues are noxious weeds, junk and junk vehicles. The code issues at the property at 75 Hinman Avenue North is still in the hands of the courts. Roger Ballard asked if there is a limit to the number yard sales a property can have over a 1-year period. Marcie Gillette reported City code limits them to 3 per year. School Board President, Catherine LaValley, reported on BC school business. Board member, Patty Pool Gray, reminded NPC members that BC School Board positions were on the November ballot. 10. New Membership & Renewal: See item 3 for people who are reapplying for NPC#5 membership. Applications will be approved by the City Commission. See also separate spreadsheet with names and contact information for these individuals 11. Beautiful Battle Creek Awards: A council member expressed that Sara Schmanske intends to continue to nominate homes for Beautiful Battle Creek awards. 12. Old Business: none. 13. New Business: none. 2 NPC 5, OCTOBER 12, 2022, MINUTES 14. Public Service Comments from Commissioners: Kristin Blood mentioned that Taco Bell is coming to Urbandale. On another topic, the life of the cement that forms the downtown flood control channel of the Public Kalamazoo River is coming to an end. The City is working with a private group, along with the Army Corps of Engineers, to make a nature-like area for kayaking and canoeing; making the river banks more beautiful and permanent so it will not have to be redone in another 50 years. Flooding prevention is also being addressed in these plans. One can sign up for any news releases at the City’s website (www.battlecreekmi.gov). Kristin Blood also reports there is a new City fire chief. His name is William Ready. Commissioner Lynn Ward Gray made us aware of the annual appreciation lunch for City employees to be held Thursday, September 15, 2022. City Hall would be closed that day from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. She also mentioned that October 8, 2022, would be the Faith/Blue get-together held at Claude Evans Park. 15. Comments for the Good of the Order: a. Public Comments—none, b. Member Comments—none. 16. Next Meeting: October 10, 2022 (November 14 and December 12.) The second Monday of each month. 17. Adjournment: 8:25 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