Roanoke Neighborhood Advocates

Minutes from RNA Meeting on February 13, 2013 Noel C. Taylor Municipal Building Room 159 (EOC) at 5:30 p.m. Committee Members in Attendance Braxton Naff, Chair Scott Tate, Secretary Valeria Alphin Brian Harris (arrived @6:03) Princess Moyer Tony Adams Dallas Powell Committee Members Absent Rena Cromer Asia Smith Johnny Williams, Vice-chair Hollie Young Guests Travis Akins, City of Roanoke Police Department Welcome to Members and Guests Chair Naff called the meeting to order at 5:38 PM after recognizing a quorum was present. He recognized members and guests. Reading and Approval of Minutes Copies of the January 2013 meeting minutes were distributed for review. Mr. Adams 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 Naff welcomed Officer Travis Akins. Officer Akins asked RNA members if there were issues or questions for him. Mr. Powell commented he had recently had a conversation concerning the status of non-tenant persons present in rental properties. He understands that such third parties may be removed from the property. Mr. Clement asked about the process. Officer Akins responded that there may be some grey area in terms of identifying whether a person has initiated residency. Mr. Powell stated that, as he understands it, as long as persons are not on the lease, they may be arrested for trespassing on the spot. Akins noted he would look in to and advise. RNA February 2013 Meeting Minutes Page 1 of 3 Officer Akins reported that a new neighborhood watch group had been established in the Lakewood area. He also shared that he is working with some residents in the Peakwood Drive area of South Roanoke who are interested in forming a new watch group in that area. Ms. Lisa O’Neill with Angels of Assisi had been scheduled to speak to the RNA but was not present. Mr. Clement summarized her interest in helping implement neighborhood-based Community Pet Day events and related series of activities. Neighborhood Reports Chair Naff reported that the Greater Deyerle meeting had been cancelled due to weather. There were no other reports made. Unfinished Business A. FY2014 RNA Grant Review Committee Recommendations Mr. Clement distributed a summary print-out of the applications received from city neighborhoods desiring to participate in the FY2014 Neighborhood Development Grant Program showing the total funding requests along with the projects and funding amounts recommended by the RNA Grant Review Committee. Chair Naff asked about the two versions (A&B) of the print-out. Mr. Clement explained the different versions noting the difference between the two was due to the possibility of financially supporting a city resident to serve on the Neighborhoods USA (NUSA) Board of Directors as a representative of the city to cover their travel and lodging costs for doing so. He noted the outcome would be decided in May as Directors serving on the NUSA Board are elected during their May conference. Clement noted this has a strong historical precedent as this has been funded by the city since the Roanoke Neighborhood Partnership was formed during the 1980's. Mr. Powell moved that the FY2014 Neighborhood Development Grant Program projects and associated funding amounts be approved as recommended by the Grant Review Committee be approved. Mr. Harris seconded. The motion was unanimously approved. B. Neighborhood Assignments Mr. Clement shared that Mr. Crawford’s neighborhoods were added to those neighborhoods currently unassigned with a RNA member. Ms Alphin noted she woul represent the Mt. view Neighborhood Alliance. Ms. Moyer indicated she would represent Airlee Court, Dorchester Court, Stratford Park, and Lakewood Park. New Business A. Update on FY2012-2013 Grant Programs Review Committee Chair Naff had asked Mr. Clement at the prior RNA meeting to prepare a summary of the organizations who had received neighborhood development grant funding during the current fiscal year with a brief description of where each organization was regarding the completion of their project. Mr. Clement distributed a hand-out regarding the status of each grant funded project and provided a brief overview of each. Chair Naff suggested the RNA ask neighborhood group representatives to attend the RNA and report on their project upon its completion. RNA February 2013 Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 3 Open Forum/Announcements A. Huff Lane Issue Chair Naff shared an email received from Dorchester Court president Pat Corp requesting other neighborhoods to support their opposition to commercial development on the Huff Lane School site located on the western edge of their neighborhood. RNA members discussed briefly. B. Attendance of RNA members Members present conducted a general discussion. Mr. Clement noted he had attempted to contact Ms. Young via phone and email regarding her lack of attendance as she had only attended one RNA meeting (October) since her appointment by Council in September to which he received no response. The RNA had asked Clement at a prior RNA meeting to ascertain her willingness to continue serving on the RNA. Chair Naff suggested we send a letter to Ms. Young. C. Neighborhood Meeting Commitments of RNA Members Chair Naff share an email he had received from a neighborhood group president regarding an RNA member who had agreed to speak at a neighborhood meeting and then failed to show or call. A brief discussion followed regarding RNA commitments when requested to speak at a neighborhood group meeting. It was the consensus of those present that the RNA Chair be notified whenever a RNA member is asked to be a guest speaker at a neighborhood group meeting. It was also unanimously agreed that they every effort be made to attend the meeting once making the commitment to do so. If unable to attend, it was unanimously agreed that the RNA member should notify fellow RNA members and ask for assistance to attend the meeting on their behalf. It was also agreed that the RNA member should notify their host neighborhood contact(s) - in advance of the meeting - of their inability to attend the meeting, and advise if a fellow RNA member would be attending in their absence. D. Mountain View/Wasena Updates Ms. Alphin shared a number of exciting developments including the eminent opening of the new climbing gym facility in the Wasena neighborhood. In addition, she noted she was involved with the mapping of vacant homes in the Mt. View neighborhood for inclusion in the city's new electronic vacant homes catalog. Alphin also noted CDBG projects in the Mountain View/West End/Old Southwest Target Area are progressing ahead with lots of potential to positively impact the area. She noted that the SWETA acronym had been established to define the project which stands for Stakeholders of West End Target Area. Ms. Alphin also shared information about a new social media site called NextDoor.com that could be a resource for neighborhoods to start using in the sharing of information within specific neighborhoods. Ms. Alphin and Mr. Powell both shared information on how REI (Real Estate Investors) organization had recently purchased a vacant home that was going to be demolished, rehabilitated it and flipped it as a project fundraiser. E. Alternative Meeting of RNA for Social Bonding Chair Naff shared that last year we had scheduled a social event instead of a regular business meeting during the month of March. He suggested having a joint Presidents Council/RNA session in March on Monday, March 11 in lieu of the regularly scheduled RNA meeting on Wednesday March 13. Mr. Clement suggested he could help coordinate the joint RNA/Presidents Council meeting in March as he was waiting on the location of the Presidents Council March meeting to be determined by their leadership. Adjournment Chair Naff adjourned the meeting at 6:52 p.m. RNA February 2013 Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 3