TLNA Minutes, Thursday 17 July 2003
Present:
J. Zychowicz; S. Calomino; S. Keyes-Rybeck; S. Baumann-Duren; M.
Bergamini; B. Konkel; D. Brusoe; T. Browder; S. Ward.
Absent (known):
G. Davidson-Zielske; R. Linster; R. Shaw.
1) Call to order at 7:15 pm.
2) Minutes from June meeting approved with the following edit: Item 7 (a) change spelling of “Alise” Wehrman to “Elyse”. (Motion: Baumann-Duren/Second: S. Keyes-Rybek)
3)
Old Business:
a) 810/816 E. Gorham houses: J. Zychowicz passed around copies of a draft letter from TLNA to Captain Luis Yudice regarding the properties at 810 and 816 E. Gorham Street. The letter discussed TLNA’s support of the police department meeting directly with the landlord and owner of stated properties. In the letter, TLNA urges the owner/landlord’s cooperation to support the residential nature of our neighborhood by dealing with those tenants responsible for the noise/partying problems. Those present at the TLNA meeting signed on to the letter in support of the police department meeting with the landlord.
b) ERCPAC: Jim and Sal attended the meeting on 7/7/03 called by the Marquette NA in regard to the ERCPAC plan, which recommends specific design guidelines, etc. for an area along E. Washington Avenue. Marquette NA and others see conflicts with existing plans, including neighborhood plans. Another meeting is planning by ERCPAC for 7/21/03. TLNA suggests there needs to be more communication with MNA and other affected neighborhood associations. Will work to invite other NA representatives to TLNA meetings, and talk with EINPC about facilitating more discussion regarding everything that is happening along E. Washington Ave.
c) B.U.I.L.D.: (put in place in an effort to meet Smart Growth requirements) Recently applied to the County for money to facilitate a vison/planning process for a BUILD district along E. Washington Ave; received in the range of $20-25K, but need to find matching funds. TLNA suggests a meeting with TLNA and MNA to coordinate efforts and be sure existing neighborhood plans are observed.
d)
Mayor’s E. Washington Ave plans: The Mayor’s push for a grander
vision for E. Washington Ave. resulted in a compromise. Some of the key points of the compromise
include: bumpouts (to reduce the
distance in crossing streets), colored pavement at some crosswalks, public art,
and more trees and landscaping.
The process has been largely city staff/HNTB driven with apparent public
dissatisfaction. The hope is this
effort will push for a more thoughtful process for later phases of E.
Washington Ave. This also led to a
discussion of the role of EINPC in tying the pieces of the E. Washington
reconstruction together better among the neighborhood associations. TLNA considering writing a letter to
encourage more collaboration with EINPC.
4) Alder Report:
a) Prospect Street reconstruction: neighbors on Prospect St. feel they were not noticed or involved in the street reconstruction, and are dissatisfied. Neighbors are now contacting Brenda to see if she can help. TLNA recommends Brenda tell neighbors to go through TLNA for a stronger voice in the process.
b) Many people have suggested to Brenda that they would like speed bumps on neighborhood streets. Brenda suggests these people go through TLNA, and as a neighborhood association, we suggest speed bumps and other traffic calming measures. (Motion by M. Bergamini: formal petition to Brenda to make all efforts possible to expedite the process of requesting traffic calming measures and increasing the allocation of city funds for traffic calming measures in advance of and during the E. Washington Ave. reconstruction process./Second S. Baumann-Duren). Jim and Sal will draft a formal letter; motion passes.
c) The issue of the mural on the Laundromat (corner of Blount & Johnson) will be coming up to the Plan Commission. TLNA is asking the artist to bring final drawings to the neighborhood association before final approval.
d) Some neighborhood associations (including SASY and MNA) are signing on to the Mayor’s inclusionary zoning proposal. Would TLNA like to support this proposal? (Motion S. Baumann-Duren/Second M. Bergamini for TLNA to sign on to inclusionary zoning proposal). Motion passes.
e) A concern with inclusionary zoning is the potential for developers to buy R5 zoned houses, tear them down, and build larger units. Therefore, TLNA sees this as a good reason to proceed with the downzoning proposal. Currently looking at maps and selecting certain areas important to target. There will be a meeting in the near future – it’s becoming more and more important to do this!
f) Consider a larger TLNA list serve to include more than the TLNA board members on the email loop. Brenda will look into setting up a list serve.
5) Sgt. Dexheimer – not available.
6) Committee Reports:
a) Sandy Ward (Safety)
i) There was a meeting earlier tonight (7/17/03) on community policing for the Central District. Sandy attended the meeting, and has handouts to share. The purpose of the meeting was to describe the reorganization of the MPD into a Community Policing Team Model. In this model, each district gets a team of 1 sergeant and 5 Police Officers.
ii) Residents need to make a note of the time, place and violation to share with new community policing.
iii) Police want to know what our neighborhood goals are – email suggestions to Sandy. These can be presented to the new Police Team that will be assigned to Central District.
iv) TLNA would like a monthly Central Police report organized by address – would be helpful in noting “hot spots” of activity.
v) Need to consider whether TLNA wants to address traffic problems using techniques other neighborhood associations are using (i.e. speed boards – neighborhood reps record those license plates of cars going X mph over the speed limit). Email Sandy if you have any ideas for locations and willingness to volunteer. Also, email suggestions for problem areas.
vi) Consider placing a small ad in the newsletter listing non-emergency phone numbers (including 255-1234) so neighbors know what to look for and when to call.
b) Diane Brusoe (Community Services) TLNA agreed to go ahead with the “Welcome to the Neighborhood” packets similar to last fall. We will deliver 500 packets using addresses provided by University contact. Tentative timeline is to “stuff” packets in early September, and deliver them late September/early October in time to announce the TLNA spaghetti dinner.
c) Margaret Bergamini (Parks) raised the issue of the Brearly dock and whether TLNA would contribute financially to constructing/maintaining a dock. Item will be put on August agenda.
7)
Adjourn at 9:20 (Motion M. Bergamini/Second D. Brusoe).
Submitted by D. Brusoe in lieu of the Secretary.