Meeting Minutes

Minutes from NWSNA meetings.

Updates from Last Night’s August Meeting

Posted on August 23, 2011 by sarah

We had a great meeting last night with a wonderful turnout of new and old members. Thank you to Sandi Clothier for hosting and sharing some delightful strawberries, cookies, and guac! And thanks to everyone who came and shared their thoughts on how to improve our community. Here are the notes from last night, typed up by Veda.

Elder Issues

Sophia Hauserman invited elders to a breakfast meeting at the Kirkwood Café on Wednesday, September 14th  at 8:30am.  She also informed us about an upcoming workshop on Community Development for Enhancing the Lives of Older Hoosiers to be held in Indy on September 6&7.

For more information contact Sophia at sofyhaus@sbcglobal.net.

Yard Sale

The NWSNA yard sale is set for this coming Saturday, August 27 from 8-1.  Brennan, the owner of Time Flies Antique Gallery at 729 W. Kirkwood and Chris and Carol from Sublime Design attended the meeting and they want to participate in the yard sale as well.  We will add them to the 9 homes that will be in the yard sale.  Look for signs and flyers and an ad in the H.T,

Veda will handle the publicity and Steven Janowiecki will help place signs.

Grants Available

Sandi Clothier talked about grants that are available for businesses along the West Kirkwood corridor and the need for our neighborhood to support our local businesses.

Downtown Businesses

Barry Wallock spoke about an opportunity to have Talisha Coppock to attend our next NWSNA meeting to get our ideas about the kinds of businesses our neighborhood would like to see downtown.  Veda will invite reps from both the Prospect Hill NA and Maple Heights NA to attend our next meeting and share in the discussion with Talisha.

 

Welcome New Neighbors

Sophia Hauserman is going to contact Vickie Provine at HAND and order “welcome” magnets for neighbors to give to new people moving into our neighborhood this fall.  Sophie will coordinate with neighbors to deliver the magnets.

Neighborhood Planning

Our Councilman, Chris Sturbaum, attended the meeting and updated us on the EcoVillage.  He also inspired a great discussion about creating a “neighborhood plan” to define our vision for our neighborhood and identify issues to be handled.  This is a lengthy process and we will be meeting in a small group to plan for how to organize the larger process.  Barry, Brennan, Veda and Sandi will meet soon to begin the discussion.

Chris also told us that the Growth Policies Plan will be updated soon and this is an important process that neighborhoods can be involved with.  We will need to make sure to have NWS neighbors in on these discussions about our vision for the growth of our city.

By Law Updates

Bill Baus will head a committee to look at needed by law revisions.  He will convene a committee soon.

Posted in Meeting Minutes | Comments Off

June Meeting Minutes

Posted on July 11, 2011 by sandi

Meeting of the Near West Side Neighborhood Association – June 20, 2011- 7pm

For the summer months, we will be meeting at neighbors’ homes; today we met at Bill Baus’ home on W. 8th St.

Present: Wayne Young, Cheryl Sweeney, Glorianne Leck, Bill Baus, Sandi Clothier

Bill Baus called the meeting to order. There were no minutes from the last meeting to approve, so the meeting went directly to Committee Reports.

Traffic Report

Wayne gave the Traffic Committee Report. The NWS has received approval from the Traffic Commission for alternative parking spaces along 7th Street.  Now the proposal goes before the Common Council for first reading.  This will take place on Wednesday, June 29th, at the City Council Chambers, in City Hall, beginning at 7:30pm.  This is part of the seven page Omnibus Parking Legislation which will be brought to council.  This first reading will be just that, a reading, not a vote.  The Council will vote to approve this legislation at a later date, perhaps the following week.  Both meetings are important to show up for, to voice our support.

Wayne also noted that there has been opposition to this initiative, and that Mr. Bavender has been seeking signatures from neighbors to deny this legislation based upon several issues.  A discussion ensued regarding what neighbors know about this initiative; Glorianne Leck reminded the group that this was begun several years ago when the neighborhood petitioned for traffic islands, going door to door to talk with neighbors about the concerns that prompted their action.  But since then the only notice neighbors have received concerning this new initiative were the signs that were put up by the city prior to the first meeting when this was brought forward to the Common Council, and several conversations that individuals have had with their neighbors.  Sandi recommended that we create a flyer and put the information on our website that would counter the arguments being brought forward, and give some clarity to the reasons for asking for this new parking configuration.  It was also recommended that we send letters of support to the Common Council, and that we go to the meeting in person to make sure our voices are heard.

Garden Tour Committee

Glorianne has been working on a Garden Tour of the neighborhood, and has signed up 8 neighbors.  The date will be Saturday, July 9th, from 1-3pm.  From 3-4 , those with gardens on the tour will have a chance to tour the gardens. Several people from other neighborhoods have expressed interest in joining our garden walk.   A discussion regarding signs for the tour followed, and it was decided that simple plain paper stapled to stakes be used and discarded afterwards.

Trees/ Sustainability Committee

Sandi reported on the Sustainability/ tree committee that a review has begun of all the houses in the neighborhood to determine where new trees could be added.  Christine Glaser, Burhan Elturan and Sandi Clothier met on Saturday, June 4th and walked 6th and 7th Streets, looking at each property to assess the room/ space for additional trees.   When this process is complete, a map showing the location of all new tree sites will be posted.  This doesn’t mean that an owner must add a tree, but only that the tree committee felt there was room.   In addition, it was noted that some trees appeared to be in need of either trimming or possible removal, so the committee will contact Lee Huss, the City Arborist, to get his feedback on several specific sites.
After this information has been posted on the website, neighbors wishing new trees for their tree plot may contact the tree committee, which is in touch with the City for trees for the neighborhood.

Habitat Village

Bill reported that he and Sandi met with Carol and Dave Gulyas regarding the Habitat Village.  After the letter to the Editor which outlined the negative effects of locating a low income neighborhood so near an active rail line, several neighbors expressed this as a new concern.  Bill gave a review of the meeting held the previous night, and a discussion followed.  The NWSNA is not opposed to the development of the Habitat Village, but several concerns have been brought forward that a letter to the Planning Department will highlight.  At this point the Planning Department does not have a plan from Habitat, but the NWSNA feels that it needs to express these concerns now rather than waiting for the plan to be formalized, especially since any plan put forward by architects is expensive, so letting the City know the NWS concerns should help the planning department in their negotiations with Habitat.

The letter to planning from the Vice Chair will include the following concerns:

Issues with the development of this property include:

  • Proximity to active RR tracks- noise, both to development and to the entire area if many trees are removed.
  • Keeping density low, not upping the density beyond the 4.5 units per acre allowed on developable land.
  • Tree buffer between development and Butler Park, south, and Maple Heights, north, should be wide enough to keep noise down, allow for as much green space as possible.  Also trees within the development should be kept to keep the area as green as possible.
  • What part of the area is to be developed, what green space will remain?
  • Rest of the green space between the two track lines, now undeveloped, but if this goes through how can we ensure that the rest is not developed?  Does HfH have rights to the rest of the land?
  • City UDO- preserve green space, go with Leed when new building is done (does this apply to new low income, nonprofit residential?)

The meeting ended at 8pm.

Posted in Meeting Minutes, News Updates | Comments Off

Updates from April 11 Meeting

Posted on April 14, 2011 by admin

Minutes from April 11, 2011, 7pm, Kirkwood Cafe

If you’re in Bloomington and on Twitter, please follow the Near West Side here: @nwsna

1. Traffic Calming Committee – report from Wayne
–plan is in place for 2 islands and a crosswalk to be added at Rogers/7th! Hooray!
–there is an upcoming meeting planned to propose alternate side of the street parking on 7th St

2. Gardening Committee – report from Veda
–will be planting Indiana native perennials in 3 existing traffic circles, 2 on 6th/1 on 7th
–going to ask neighbors for flower/plant donations to help make the traffic circles beautiful
–more info to come on a plant exchange

3. Trees in the Hood – report from Burhan
–plan is to talk to someone in the city about working with them to plant more trees, especially fruit trees, in spaces in the neighborhood that could handle more trees (as assessed by SPEA grad students)

4. Elder Committee – report from Sophia
–would like to know if people have elders/retired on their block, so we can get in touch with them and help as needed
–upcoming event on the 3rd Friday in April at 11am
–please let Sophia know if you have any retired folks on your block that might like to be involved with this! Thanks.

5. Social Committee – report from Veda
–We’re going to have a spring neighborhood potluck party! Save the date – May 21, 4-7pm at Butler Park.
–2 bands will be at the party, Burhan’s group and Shahyar’s group

6. Presentation by Jacqui Bauer, the city’s sustainability coordinator
–Jacqui is interested in working with the neighborhood on various initiatives, including Hoosier to Hoosier, a community sale to encourage people that would otherwise throw away furniture when moving to donate it
–We might have a neighborhood yard sale on the same day, August 20, 2011
–Discussed new city bike/ped initiatives, some proposals might affect our neighborhood streets
–Please contact the sustainability committee chair, Sandi, sandinwsna@gmail.com, if you’re interested in being involved with sustainability issues!

7. Miscellaneous
–Sarah and Brenda discussed creating window cling stickers that will be given to businesses and community members when they pay the membership fee…will research the cost and design
–Membership fee will be slightly higher for local businesses
–Near West Side Neighborhood Assoc. wants to encourage donations from local businesses, and would be happy to put information about businesses in the newsletter
–We had plenty of volunteers for newsletter distribution, I’ll be sending out an email to everyone with the names of people who volunteered and which streets they’re responsible for soon.

Posted in Meeting Minutes | Comments Off

March 7 2011 at the Banneker Center

Posted on March 27, 2011 by admin

Near West Side Neighborhood Association Meeting
Mar 7, 2011 7pm at Banneker Center

Introductions
-17 neighbors in attendance (2-3 came in later on)

History (Bill Baus)
–Bill gave a general overview of the history of the association. More on this will be available on the website.

Elections
Slate was nominated and confirmed as follows:
President: Veda Stanfield
Vice President: Bill Baus
Secretary: Sarah Kaiser
Treasurer: Burhan Elturan

Committee Chair Reports
–Veda asked for committee sign-ups
–we need someone to volunteer to be the neighborhood community activity chair! (This could also be known as the party organizer – someone to set up social activities.)

1. report on committee public gardening
–will talk to Vickie Provine about small and simple grant (under 1000) for herb and butterfly gardens for the community
–Neighbors interested in gardening are invited to sign up for this committee, co-chaired by Veda and Sarah.

2. traffic calming circles report
–Burhan gave this update, for Joan (the committee chair) who was absent.
–Committee decided that city already made promises, and we need to get what they promised us. (Which is another traffic circle that has not yet been installed near Fairview school.)
–We just need to push for this – that is the committee and neighborhood’s plan, to push the city to do what they promised.
–Neighbors who care about traffic calming should sign up for the committee!

3. trees for the neighborhood – Burhan chairs this committee.
–SPEA did a survey of our neighborhood, what kind of trees there are and what kind of trees there could be
–150 spots for trees in public areas, according to SPEA survey that Burhan passed around
–forestry services do bring saplings and give them away free…so that could be an option
–community orchard mission is to extend fruit trees to existing neighborhoods! something to think about, we could work with them
–Anyone interested in more trees for the neighborhood should sign up for the tree committee!

4. historic preservation & sustainability – Sandi is chair of both committees
–Jackie Bauer could come and speak at next meeting, or at a special event, about sustainability options for neighbors and ways we can improve our homes efficiency
–neighborhood sale the same day as Hoosier 2 Hoosier sale was mentioned as a possibility
–Green Drinks is another activity, David goes to all of them, it’s a social event for people interested in sustainability, 4th Wednesdays at Upland in the banquet building in the back. This month (March 23) Eleanor Olstrom is going to come and speak for Green Drinks, cheap beer, free food, $5 suggested donation
–Rogers St firehouse may be converted to an arts center of some kind (? per mayor’s state of the city address…we aren’t sure on the timeline)
–coca cola donated plastic barrels to use as rain barrels, so next month someone might come in to talk about it!
–If you’d like to join the historic preservation or sustainability committee, sign up with Sandi Clothier!

5. walking group and elder issues – sophia hauserman is chair
–2 different types of walking groups, one at a strolling pace and one at a quicker pace
–sophia is on commission on aging, and wants to be a resource for others
–we in the Near West Side are a “Naturally Occurring Retirement Community” (NORC) because it’s so walkable–wants the school to let us walk inside during the bad weather (?)
–another idea involves looking for elderly people who need assistance, using the walking group as a resource!
–mentioned importance of getting transient students involved in the organization
–To get involved with neighborhood walks or elder issues, sign up with Sophia Hauserman.

6. social committee – Alex Maverick was nominated as a chair
–this position is really for a party organizer, Robin has offered to help
–We could promote our neighborhood as part of the BEAD district
–had artist studio tours in the neighborhood to get peopl ein to the area in the past
–chicken tour was another idea
–To help plan social events and get to know your neighbors, join the social committee.

7. Robin Hobson is garden manager for Butler Park
–Butler park was accepted as community garden area
–gardens open April 16 for people to rent out plots, around 40-50 new plots available, all large spaces have been rented but there are lots of little spaces
–10×10 spaces available for $26 in-city, $40 for larger spaces
–mother hubbard’s cupboard will be doing programs, there is a greenhouse on site
–For those who don’t know, the farmer’s market starts next month on Tuesdays and Saturdays

 

Posted in Meeting Minutes | Comments Off