Minutes

 DISTRICT 16 PLANNING COUNCIL
SUMMIT HILL ASSOCIATION

Board of Directors Meeting

Thursday, March 8, 2007
Linwood Recreation Center

Members Present: Barrera, Biron, Breymeier, Broton, Clapp-Smith, Fervoy, Flahaven, Hedberg, Lein, Lucke, Rathman, Rulff, Verweij, Sutherland, Wefel, White, Wichman, Winsor

Members Absent: Haas, Krogstad, Odman,

Others Present:  Commander Colleen Luna, Jeff Roy, Diane Hilden, Jane McClure, Elizabeth Sorensen

Meeting began 7:05 p.m.

Past Minutes: The February Board minutes will be revised with corrections suggested by Flahaven and then reviewed in April.

President’s Report
Wefel noted that there have been concerns about how the Ayd Mill Road project is proceeding.  The Executive Committee has asked the ZLU Committee to monitor the situation to keep SHA in the loop.  Flahaven suggested that staff locate the historical letters and documents that explaining SHA’s past position on Ayd Mill Road including a vote in 2002 that reaffirmed SHA’s position.  Roy will follow up on locating these documents and sending them out to the Board in the April packet.

Presentation by Senior Commander Colleen Luna
Commander Luna has been with the police department for 23 years and is now responsible for the area that includes Summit Hill.

Commander Luna discussed the department’s Shot Spotter Program that covers three areas of Saint Paul. The program would be funded with a City request for $875,000 CIB dollars in 2008. SHA is in one of 2 selected areas (2 miles in radius) that will test the Program. The project works based on registered clusters where shots have been fired. Commander Doug Holt will be the point person for program.The Minneapolis program has led to arrests at the scene of a crime. 

Commander Luna reported that there was a recent shooting at Costello’s and a homicide on the West Side, but the homicide rate has lowered.

A city ordinance has been passed making it illegal to possess fake guns/pellet guns etc.

Hilden, SHA CP Coordinator, noted that the SHA Board could endorse the Shot Spotter program if it chose to in order to increase the chances that the CIB funding would be approved.

Commander Luna gave her card with all her contact information and noted that Board members may contact her at any time with concerns or questions.

Announcements

Mayor Coleman appointed Eduardo Barrera to the Saint Paul Planning Commission

Old Business

Grand Old Days
Wrist band sales-update

A sign up sheet will be available in April for those who would like to sell wrist bands for SHA at Grand Old Days. The SHA application to sell wrist bands was recently received by GABA.

Barrera recommended that SHA participate in the Grand Old Days parade again this year. Lucke noted that it is possible to be in parade and to sell wrist bands. An article will be put composed in the SHA newsletter to ask neighbors to participate in parade.

The Bridges project update
The next meeting of the Tri-Council group focused on The Bridges project on the westside will be held March 29 to continue their discussions. Wefel noted that another letter has been sent to Council Member Dave Thune reaffirming that SHA would like to be involved in any future Bridges stakeholder process. Wichman noted he did not feel it is appropriate for SHA to be involved in the Bridges process as it would complicated an already over complicated issue.

New business: None reported

GABA Report
GABA reported hiring a new Executive Director, David Regan. David has been with JCREW for three years. GABA was happy with all applicants and is excited to begin working with David as the new Executive Director.

On March 30 GABA will hold its annual meeting and silent auction at the St. Paul College Club. The event will begin at 7 p.m. and costs $40.

A GABA Meet and Greet is also scheduled, March 19, from 5-7 p.m. at Awakenings on Grand and Dunlop.

Treasurer’s Report
Breymeier presented the SHA P & L for January through February 22.  The P&L provides projections, but this small time frame only provides so much information.

Committee Reports

Communications: Lucke announced that the Communications Committee developed 4 agenda items for the year. There was discussion among members to put more effort to producing welcome packets and to make further efforts to disperse the packet to renters.

Development: The Development Committee reported that the $10,000 goal was broken for the fundraising effort. This is an improvement from last year. Last year’s average contribution was $49/donor and this year’s average contribution is currently $65/donor.

Environment: Rulff reported that the Spring Clean Up will take place on May 12 and there were questions as to whether or not Mother’s Day will affect the turnout. A prairie burn will be held in mid April if the weather cooperates. Rulff also stated that he will be in contact with Anne Hunt at city to discuss green initiatives.

Pedestrian Safety and Traffic Calming Committee:Hedberg reported that the Pedestrian Safety and Traffic Calming Committee had a meeting on February 12^th and the committee discussed forming a better working relationship with the city. The Committee will work to get a city Public Works representative at the next meeting to work on the Safe Routes to School proposal. The committee will continue to address the question - How can committee be empowered to do more work with city’s blessing? Clapp-Smith noted that a thank you should be sent to the city’s CIB and public works divisions for constructing the bumps on Saint Clair. Flahavan also recommended that the committee should talk to the city about large piles of snow that block visibility in streets and alleys.

Zoning and Land Use Committee: The Zoning and Land Use Committee did not meet in the last month.

Finally, the Board discussed reoccurring problems with deliveries to Grand Avenue blocking garages in alleys. The recent letter from the city will be sent to GABA to include in their newsletter regarding this issue. An article will also address this problem in the April SHA newsletter.

Adjourned

After adjournment: White stated he went to his first CIB Street and Utility Task Force meeting and that there are many interesting projects being proposed.

Minutes submitted by Holly Biron, Secretary