Neighborhood Planning Council 9 - Rural Southwest

Rural Southwest Neighborhood Planning Council Southside Bible Church – corner of S. Minges & Beckley Rd. Minutes of the April 8, 2014 Meeting Call to Order: The meeting was called to order at 6:30 PM by Linda Morris. Members Present: Kingery Clingenpeel, Laura Clingenpeel, Robert Harland, Sallie Massa, Linda Morris, Cindy Snyder, Robert Snyder, Rex Winslow, Shelby Winslow, George Wytko, Sally Wytko, Harry Zimmerman Citizens Present: Trace Christenson – Battle Creek Enquirer City Officials: Planning Supervisor Christine Hilton, BCPD: Officer Craig Wolf (filling in for Scott Marshall) and Interim Chief Jim Blocker Approval of the Minutes: The minutes for November 2013, and January, February, and March 2014 were approved. Motion by G. Wytko/L. Clingenpeel. Planning Supervisor Chris Hilton distributed the Code Compliance Report. There are currently 649 routine pending inspections. She also informed us that the city is working with the property owner at Sonoma and Beckley to resolve a shrub issue which prevents a clear vision at the corner. As a follow up to a previous question, Chris suggested that we call the Public Works office at 966-3507 to have tree limbs on city property picked up. The March 11 to April 7, 2014 Crime Search Report was distributed. The police were asked to watch for speeding motorcycles on Sonoma and Watkins Roads. After Interim Police Chief Jim Blocker introduced himself, he discussed his public police and military police background and his current goals for the department. Two of his main focus areas center on cooperation and communication. He suggested that we “Like” the department on their Facebook page to read about operation issues and, under Battle Creek MI.gov go to Police under departments. Then to receive emergency notices for free click on NIXLE. We discussed the search for a new city manager with the following suggestions regarding community input to the committee: - A questionnaire - Send a selection committee member to our council’s next meeting on May 13 - Conduct an open meeting for each of the five city wards A suggestion was also made to include Interim Police Chief Jim Blocker as part of the search process. New Business: Robert and Cindy Snyder were welcomed as new members of NPC9. A motion to adjourn the meeting was made by B. Harland/S. Winslow at 7:35 p.m. Next meeting: Tuesday, May13, 2014 at 6:30 pm at Southside Bible Church