Roanoke Neighborhood Advocates

Minutes from RNA Meeting on January 11, 2012 Noel C. Taylor Municipal Building EOC Conference Room (Room 159) at 5:30 p.m. Committee Members in Attendance Ron McCorkle, Chair Braxton Naff, Vice-Chair Dustin Akers Valeria Alphin Jim Crawford Rena Cromer Brian Harris Dallas Powell Johnny Williams Committee Members Absent Scott Tate, Secretary Bob Caudle Felicia Journiette Guests Sam Rosoul, citizen Duane Howard, citizen Justin Wallace, Sam Rosoul Mayoral Campaign Re. Carroll Carter, St. Paul Methodist Church Amanda Gaylor, EventZone Welcome to Members Chair McCorkle called the meeting to order at 5:31 PM. He recognized guests. Reading and Approval of Minutes Copies of the December 2011 meeting minutes were distributed for review. Mr. Crawford moved to approve the Minutes and the motion was seconded by Mr. Powell. Hearing no further discussion, the minutes were unanimously approved by consensus. Guest Presentations Chair McCorkle introduced mayoral candidate Sam Rosoul. Mr. Rosoul distributed a flyer for his mayoral campaign. He noted he had run for Congress several years ago and was here to introduce himself to the RNA noting he was an advocate for strong jobs and decent living wages. Rosoul stated he was a CFO for a nonprofit and was also a small business owner. As such he had a strong knowledge of budgets. He noted he was running as a democrat and wanted to hear what is important to the RNA. Mr. Naff asked RNA January 2012 Meeting Minutes Page 1 of 5 how long he had lived in the city to which Rosoul responded he had lived in the city for 3 to 4 years. Ms. Cromer asked if he participated in his neighborhood group to which he replied he did not actively participate as he had just located to the neighborhood. Chair McCorkle introduced Amanda Gaylor from EventZone. Ms. Gaylor noted she was working on the upcoming Festival in the Park event which would be its 43rd year. She noted EventZone desired to breathe new life into the festival by reaching out to community groups to add to their participation to the existing festival. She note EventZone was hoping to partner with neighborhood activities to include these events to complement festival activities and that the EventZone doors were open to everyone as to how we could help each other as the possibilities were endless. Gaylor noted that most of the daytime programming was geared toward families and is free. Ms Cromer noted that the event takes place during Neighborhood Month and as such the RNA should use this opportunity to sponsor and event. She asked if neighborhoods could offer food for sale to which Gaylor responded they could not for doing so would compete with existing food vendors. Gaylor noted that programming could take place on either Saturday, Sunday and/or Monday of Memorial Day weekend. She also noted that a Press Conference was being planned on January 31st to announce the initiative and as such would like a response from the RNA prior to this date in order to announce their participation at the conference if possible. Gaylor also directed the RNA to the festival website at www.eventzone.org for additional information. Gaylor also noted the St. Patrick’s Day parade was scheduled for Saturday, March 17 and hoped the RNA would spur other neighborhoods to participate as the Old Southwest neighborhood had won the ‘Best Neighborhood Entry’ award for the past several years. Mr. Naff moved that the RNA inform EventZone of their intent to participate in this year’s Festival in the Park which was seconded by Mr. Powell. Hearing no further discussion, the motion was unanimously approved. Ms. Cromer noted she would inform EventZone of the RNA decision. Chair McCorkle introduced Duane Howard a resident of the SE neighborhood. Mr. Howard spoke on the proposed expansion of the Rescue Mission noting his concern was based upon conversations held 10 years ago when the women’s shelter was built which resulted in the demolition of four (4) houses. Howard noted that the Mission planned to move their Thrift Store onto the Jamison-Bullit corridor to make room in the building where it is presently housed for the relocation of their cafeteria and kitchen facilities which would require rezoning by the city. Mr. Howard voiced a concern that in 2002, the Rescue Mission had 31 calls for service as opposed to 2011 which calls for service had increased to 1600. He also noted that one could read from the Rescue Mission position paper that identified the campus boundaries. He noted the Mission’s Director is publicly stating that the Mission is ‘repurposing’ their buildings as opposed to ‘expanding’; however, using three (3) building for what is currently taking place in two (2) building is his definition of expanding. Mr. Harris asked if there were other entities in the city that are able to provide the service the Mission presently offers to which Howard responded that the Rescue Mission had reached their capacity to provide the services they offer noting as you cluster these services within a single neighborhood, that doing so has an adverse affect on that neighborhood. Howard noted people can not be forced to RNA January 2012 Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 5 participate in other programs offered if they have no desire to do so. He noted he had started a ‘Neighbors United’ group in response to the expansion and was currently working on a position statement of other neighborhoods to support. Howard also reviewed statements made in the current Belmont-Fallon Neighborhood Plan. Chair McCorkle asked if there was a particular point being opposed or is it a general opposition followed by Mr. Naff asking what can stop them from expanding since they own the property. Mr. Powell responded that rezoning is the only tool that can be used to stop expansion. Howard asked if the RNA would be willing to support the Belmont-Fallon Neighborhood Plan as it is written to which Mr. Harris responded it would not stop the problem of other localities fueling people into the city to receive the service provided by the Mission suggesting a better answer would be to convince the Rescue Mission Director to take any additional services to be provided to another part of the city. Chair McCorkle asked if any form of expansion by the Rescue Mission would be acceptable to which Howard responded it would not. Mr. Powell noted that the rescue Mission is a family-run nonprofit, a social entrepreneurship that has social responsibilities. Mr. Walker suggested the Rescue Mission Director speak with other shelter operators to see how they are running their shelters as they don’t seem to have the problems that the Rescue Mission does. Ms. Cromer suggested Howard petition those neighborhoods being affected to garner their support of the neighborhood plan to which Mr. Powell noted if one supports the neighborhood plan then they could not support the expansion of the Rescue Mission. Chair McCorkle noted he had a meeting scheduled with the Director of the Rescue Mission to discuss the issue and their quality of life responsibilities. He also suggested the possibility of asking someone from the city’s Homeless Assistance Team to meet with the RNA to discuss the city’s homeless issues. Mr. Clement responded he would contact program’s coordinator Carol Tuning to attend a future RNA meeting. Neighborhood Reports Ms. Cromer noted Old Southwest continued not to have a president-elect. She also noted the Wasena Neighborhood Forum had scheduled their annual yard sale for the first weekend in February at the ‘Jesus Saves church’ noting that tables cost $10 with all proceeds going to those participating. Cromer also noted that participants were being allowed to set up the night before in a heated, secure building. Mr. Powell noted he had recently met with city staff including Dan Webb, Tom Carr, and Jeff Shawver to create a committee comprised of landlords, city staff, and key neighborhood leaders to work together toward eliminating neighborhood blight. He noted they would be reviewing the laws that apply to each to see what could be done to change the law at the state level. Chair McCorkle noted he had been successful in removing the barrier preventing access to the greenway from the 9th Street SE overpass. Mr. Williams noted all was ok at Melrose Towers as new windows and balcony doors had recently been replace. Ms. Alphin noted that the Mt. View Neighborhood Alliance had a large turnout at their recent monthly meeting. She noted that habitat was involved with seven (7) properties within the neighborhood. She also noted a presentation was made by Lead-Safe Roanoke program staff and had met recently with city staff regarding the neighborhood’s concern with vacant houses returning to their current zoned status. Mr. Crawford noted that Freedom First Credit Union was planning on building a neighborhood branch at the old RNA January 2012 Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 5 Villa Sorento site which would include a pavilion for the current West End Community Market to also be complemented by a certified public kitchen available for use by the public. Mr. Akers noted he had recently attended a meeting of the Oakland Terrace Neighborhood Watch where no crime issues were reported and that attendance at the meeting was extremely low. He also noted that the Greater Raleigh Court Civic League was working on a grant application in partnership with the Wasena Elementary School and Wasena neighborhood Forum. Ms. Cromer noted that Mark Powell had advised her of the LOA’s interest in providing adjoining property to the Roanoke Community Garden Association for the development of a community garden. Mr. Naff advised he had recently attended the Police Department’s Drug market Initiative ‘call-in’ event held at Hurt Park Elementary School noting the event was well attended. He stated five (5) individuals were involved and had accepted the terms of the program. Naff stated they were presently attending the ‘life school’ program and upon completion would be provided with employment opportunities. Unfinished Business A. Update on RNA Business Plan Revision Chair McCorkle distributed two (2) papers titled ‘What is the RNA’ and ‘2012 Budget’ for the review of RNA members. He noted they were based upon the revisioning process currently underway which also coincided with their goals. He noted one page was a summary of everything the RNA is. McCorkle noted they still needed to determine their intended programs with measurable results so that Council could be asked for funding at when the next RNA State of the Neighborhoods report is made. He noted that the papers be used only as a template to begin the discussion. B. Innovative Leadership Workshop Feb 2012 Mr. Clement noted that three (3) days following the mailing of the invitation letter to Leadership College graduates that the program had reached capacity. Ms Cromer suggested a letter be created to solicit monetary support from the neighborhoods to support the Innovative Leadership program graduation dinner. A discussion followed with a decision this should not be done. C. Update on Social Media Mr. Akers asked the RNA to forward neighborhood-related information for placement on the RNA Facebook page noting it could also be placed on the RNA website. Akers reminded everyone that they had administrative capability for placement of information on the RNA website and that some RNA member profiles needed updating. New Business Mr. Clement distributed a listing of the RNA members that included their term expiration dates reminding them to be vigilant to be certain to reappoint members before their terms expired. Mr. Clement also advised that the date for the spring 2012 Leadership College had been set with the program being offered on Wednesday evenings so as not conflict with the Innovative Leadership program. Clement distributed a flyer with the Leadership College RNA January 2012 Meeting Minutes Page 4 of 5 information and suggested interested RNA member register online at www.roanokevagov.leadershipcollege. Mr. Clement also noted that due to conflicts with the Leadership College taking place on Wednesday evenings in the EOC that this would conflict with the RNA’s use of the EOC for their March and April meeting. Clement noted he would reserve and alternate location for the RNA meeting and would advise at the next RNA meeting. Open Forum/Announcements Ms. Cromer noted she had discussed the possibility of RNA being provided office space in the Municipal Building with Councilman Bestpitch and would try to research further and advise at the next meeting. Adjournment Chair McCorkle adjourned the meeting at 7:40 p.m. RNA January 2012 Meeting Minutes Page 5 of 5