Neighborhood Planning Council 5 - Urbandale

MEETING MINUTES URBANDALE NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING COUNCIL (NPC #5) (Christ United Methodist Church, 65 Bedford Rd) Monday, APRIL 8, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. FOR EXCUSED ABSENCES and AGENDA ADDITIONS/DELETIONS CONTACT Kathy Antaya 616-450-1884 or Kristin at blood.kristin@gmail.com MINUTES submitted by Kristin Blood 1. Call to Order & Welcome: 702PM 2. Attendance: Kathy Antaya (m), Fred Bachman (m), Kristin Blood (m), Joanna Hacker (m), Nancy Hoard (m), Catherine LaValley (m), Otto Oloson (m), Curtis Roberts (m), Paul Sajtar (m), Sara Schmanske (m), Heather Stratton (m), Johnny Vick (m), Rita Olson (g), Bruce Brownlee (g), David Noaeill (g), Paula Noaeill (g), James Gray (g), Dennis Shedd (g), Cheryl Roberts (g), Eric Morris (c), Kurt Tribbett (c), Preston Lawson (g), Cecil Rose © Excused: Roger Ballard, Sharlene VanLuven, 3. Chair Notes/Announcements/Correspondence: None 4. Approval of Agenda (Additions or Deletions): Heather S. moved to change the guest speaker from Cheryl with Senior Services to James Gray city forester. Paul S. supported the motion. No discussion. Approved unanimously. 5. Approval of Previous Minutes (Additions or Deletions): Joanna H. moved to approved meeting minutes from March 2024. Cathy L. supported the motion. Discussion was to change the last name of Mario Talavera. Approved unanimously. 6. Police Report: Officer Rose discussed the provided crime report. He mentioned that motor vehicle thefts are on the rise. He had with him a BCPD Cadet, Preston Lawson. No Q&A. 7. Guest Speaker: James Gray, city forester, was present to discuss foresting management program within the city. Kirt Tribett, DPW, was present to introduce James and the reason behind hiring Mr. Gray. Mr. Gray discussed the long term health of BC forests and the job of the forester to manage the forests with health timber programming. He focused mainly on Fell Park and his finding and future plans with targeted timbering. Q&A focused mainly on the Jackson street corridor's recent timber harvest. The consensus of the group is that the Jackson time harvest was not aesthetically pleasing and needed to be remedied by the city. 8. Committee Reports: Comments limited to 3 min per topic (a)School: Cathy L. stated that the Bearcat Blast is coming up this summer and April 22 at CW Post fields there will be several BC sports events taking place for the public to view. (b)Code Report Eric M stated that property surveys are still taking place. No Q&A (c)Beautiful BC Award Sara S nominated 126 Willard Ave East for a well kept exterior. Paul S. Supported the nomination. No discussion. Approved unanimously. (d)Food Pantry none (e)Library none 9. Membership No discussion this meeting 10. Old Business: Kathy A reminded our group that the Fell Park clean up will be taking place April 27 from 10-12, which will be supported by the city. The NPC discussed the follow up of Conversation Cafe and chose June 17 at 6pm for the cafe. A tree planting on linear path was discussed, highlighted that 500 trees would be planted April 20th and all are welcome to join. Johnny V asked about the Bedford Road clean up and MDOT sign, expressed interest in his family taking over the project. The tornado siren not going off previously was discussed, mentioning that the Urbandale siren had a broken part and the new part was ordered and waiting on replacement. 11. New Business: May’s guest speaker will be Dinah Hoke from Liela Arboretum and July’s guest speaker will be Cheryl Roberts, Senior Ambassador, on the Calhoun Co. Senior Millage benefits for residents. Those present were given a flyer for the upcoming Senior Expo May 23rd and encouraged to attend. 12. Public Service Comments from Commissioners: None 13. Comments for the Good of the Order: Comments limited to three (3) min per person (a) Public Comments: none (b) Members Comments: none 14. Next Meeting: May 13, 2024 15. Adjournment: 806PM 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/TDD Kristin Blood "To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment." - Ralph Waldo Emerson