November 11, 2009 – Meeting Minutes

Posted by hchristmas on November 22nd, 2009 filed in Meeting Minutes

Call to Order and Quorum — DeWitt Smith, Chairman

Officers and Board Members present: Jeff Bair, Holly Christmas, Joe DeGooyer, Jim Fisher, Julianne Hancock, Chris Herrmann, Wayne Howcroft, Devin Howells, Steve Hunt, Shawn Porter, Don Roylance, DeWitt Smith

Review of Minutes from September 2009 and October 2009

Minutes approved for September.
Minutes approved for October with one correction. Jeff Bair noted that Chief Burbank had indicated that upon approval of Proposition One, the city would start the site review public process anew. This correction has been made to the minutes.

Introduction of Guests and New Members: No new residents introduced

Old Business

Officer’s Reports

Chairman, DeWitt Smith DeWitt
Community Network Meeting with other Councils:
Community Council Network has been successfully formed. DeWitt Smith is serving on the Issues committee.
Meetings with Mayor Ralph Becker:
Top issue in Community Council Coalition meeting and the Chairs’ meeting with the Mayor appears to be proposed changes to the public input on planning and zoning changes. There is a 45 calendar day reaction time for community councils to give input from the time of the application to Planning and Zoning. Depending on when the application is made, this could mean that there would not be a community council meeting on the application and only input from the board members would be given.
LWCC would like to see the 45 days expanded to 60 days so that more community input can be given. The city believes this is too much, as developers would gave to wait 2 months, but it is only 2 calendar weeks longer than the current timeframe.
Jim Fisher inquired if this includes the legalization of duplexes process, the process by which single-family homes are converted into a multi-family home property. Answer not known at this time.
Treasurer, Steve Hunt
Still a $10 balance in our account. Donations are welcome. A receipt can be provided for tax purposes.
We have $25,000 from a grant for to complete the historical survey. This second step will determine on a house-by-house basis which homes would qualify for historic designation.
Jill thought the second half of the survey had been completed, Shawn will check. The city does not have the staff currently to conduct the second part of the survey and is looking to fill two vacancies.
The city also has limited funds for pursuing historic designations. Since the Yale Crest area is also applying for city designation and is further along in the process than we are, Jill Remington Love is wondering if we would like to pursue the national registry first, which would make loans available for renovations keeping in the historic character of the neighborhood, and work on city designation later.
We had $256,000 in grants for street lighting and the Ron Heaps Memorial Park. It appears that the city has taken those funds and used them elsewhere.
We applied for 2 CDB Grants this year. There will be an open house for the public on projects under review. Votes from the community are taken. This typically happens in February. Jim will give an update in January so we can get residents to attend.
Secretary, Holly Christmas
Still having issues with the city mailing. Not sure if it is a postal problem or if the city has changed its process. Verified that we are getting the agenda in on time, but they have been delayed. May have to get it in earlier, despite the city’s assurances. Also need to verify address with city again. Some people that are on the mailing list sent to the city have not been receiving the agendas at all.

Committee Report: Safety: Mobile Watch, Drug Activity

Contact Chris Herrmann ASAP is you are interested in attending Mobile Watch training on Nov. 18.

Neighborhood Watch is creating a database of vacant homes for the winter so that they can be alert for unexpected activity. If you are aware of a vacant home, email Chris at libertywells911@aol.com. You can also email him with nuisance properties you would like to have checked out.

Committee Report: Grants/Funding: CDBG grants in process

Grants were covered in the Treasurer’s report.

Jim requested that Shawn find out about committee vacancies in the city so that we can get some more people applying for those positions to elp us learn of opportunities and events.

Committee Report: Ron Heaps Memorial Park

DeWitt met with Emmy Storheim again, as well as a land planner and urban architect to discuss the park. Currently looking for another location in case Reagan Signs will not sell.

Other Old Business: Committees

While looking for alternative locations for the Ron Heaps Memorial Park, a number of sites were noticed that could serve well as community gardens. DeWitt would like to form a committee for this purpose. Shawn Porter volunteered to head this committee.

New Business

Report from the Mayor’s Office: Shawn McDonough

Mayor is holding 10 minute one-on-one meetings. Please call 801.535.7704 or go online to make a reservation request. Meetings are around the middle of the month and reservation requests are accepted starting a week prior.

Proposition One passed. There will be more opportunity for public input regarding the location. This process will be fast, however, as the mayor is hoping to break ground within a year.

Report from City Council: Jill Remington Love

Jill is out of town.

Report from Police Department: Brian Wahlin standing in for Det. Potter

Handed out stats sheets; vandalism down lately.

Introduced Captain John Cardona, the commander for the Liberty Wells area. Captain Cardona has been with the force for 23 years and the captain for this area for 18 months. He keeps tracks of events and trends to help him adequately allocate resources He can be reached at 801.7993306

Program: Community Garden Preview

Discussion on some of the properties available in the neighborhood that could serve as community gardens. Claire Ono from the Wasatch Community Gardens will be speaking next months ro educate us about their programs.

Adjournment

Next Meeting, Wednesday, December 9, 7pm, SLCC

Claire Ono from Wasatch Community Gardens.

Ron Salisbury will speak about proposed changed to the concessions at Liberty Park

Meeting adjourned at 8:40 PM.