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September 13, 2007
Our meeting is held at the Arbor Forest Apts. Community room.
All board members are present except for Mark Grebner and Kristi White. Other neighbors are present to comment on the walkway issue later in the meeting.
I. Agenda – approved with the addition of some requests by Annie Lewis, 1237 Daisy.
II. Minutes of the August, 2007 meeting were unanimously approved.
III. Treasurer’s report – no report.
Public comment – Guests present attended to comment on the
IV. Old Business:
1.
Joanne attended the June 14 Open House on behalf of RCCA.
2. Community Relations Coalition Ice Cream Social
This event was held on Aug. 29. Over 50 people of all ages attended. This was the best turnout of the CRC ice cream socials this year. Thanks to Marsha and Megan for their work on this gathering!
3. PACE
2 people represented us at a mtg. with PACE. Discussed were the parking issues on Friday noon with those who use the Islamic Center and park in the neighborhood on a no-parking side of the street. They have been notified and the situation has cleared up.
4. Football traffic
At the same meeting with PACE, the city confirmed that barricades and signs would be put up at flowerpot entrances stating No Through Traffic; post-game traffic going north on Kalamazoo would remain on Kalamazoo and not be routed onto Marigold; and we would try to direct school parking traffic to Sever rather than using Lilac. There seems to be some confusion between the route that was agreed to between the RCCA and the police and the current practice. The
5. Committee reports:
1. Highway noise
Brendan reports on the City Council Tuesday worksession. The DPW director and city manager reported on their conversations with MDOT. Staff presented a discouraging report on the sound wall, saying that the neighborhood would have to be assessed for the costs of this. MDOT will be represented at the next Council worksession. Vic Loomis was very supportive of the neighborhood request, noting that it is a quality of life issue and encourages us to apply by Oct. 1 since no other applications are currently competing with this. The rules change after Oct. 1. Bill Hartwig feels that given the contours of the land along 127 that it may be an expensive project.
2. Historic Committee
Kathy Jacobs reports that the group met on Tuesday to continue planning the Oct. 4 Red Cedar
3. Trowbridge Comp Plan/issues – Jim, Brendan, Liz, Bill and Jeff will serve as our reps. to the city planning staff on review of the comp. plan for Trowbridge. They will meet on 9/24 at 6 pm. Brendan met with a tri-county group to see if they are interested in input and notes that they are a good resource. Bill offers to write a letter to Marathon Oil regarding the rats and poison at the gas station at Harrison/Trowbridge.
1. Walkway between Marigold and University Vlg.
Neighborhood input on the walkway between University Village and Marigold includes many comments both in favor of leaving it open, closing it, modifying it and being sympathetic to both closing it at night and having it open during the day. Non-board neighbors who commented are:
Close walkway :
1039 Marigold Linda Gollan
1055 Marigold Dorothy McMeekin
1078 Marigold Cynthia Craig & Larry Simon
1126 Marigold John Howrani & Terri Dudley
1078 Lilac Tara Harrison
1237 Daisy Anne Lewis & Mark Pullano
1142 Marigold Bernie Knezek
Remain Open:
1006 Marigold Nancy Dixon
1014 Marigold Jim Lorenz
1022 Marigold Gregory Cabose
1030 Marigold Wilma Miller
1241 Marigold June & Bob Messner
1249 Marigold Vivian Najjar
1046 Lilac Sharon Schwille
1147 Daisy Liz Harrow
1209 Daisy Amy Kovitvongsa
1309 Daisy Dave Dornan
Board member, Mark Grebner, 1038 Lilac, has sent an email opposing the closing of the walkway.
Various board members present also commented. Many felt that we should strongly consider the opinions of those neighbors who live immediately adjacent to the walkway. Marcia makes a motion to "recommend to MSU (who owns the walkway property) that the walkway be open during the day and closed at night or that an alternate route be explored and that the President of RCCA appoint a group of stakeholders to discuss this with MSU." Jeff moves to amend the motion to let MSU know that we want it temporarily closed until the committee has met with MSU. Motion as amended passes unanimously by a vote of the Board.
1. Landscaping committee
Joanne will identify people to attend the mtg. with MSU on the University Vlg. walkway/landscaping planning. Bill Hartwig makes a motion that we donate a living tree to University Vlg. as a gift to symbolize our relationship with the university. Liz supports the motion. Jeff notes we still owe money for the park bench downtown. Bill says he will find private money to cover the cost of the tree. All ayes. It is suggested we ask President Simon to help plant it.
2. Parking Committee – The DPW director has still not gotten back to Joanne with an answer as to whether the city attorney will let us sidestep the usual process for permit parking so that it can be done by notice to small areas being added on.
Annie Lewis list withdrawn by Annie Lewis.
VI. Board concerns
Still a need to look at the parallel drive along Trowbridge and get an official declaration as to its legality. Debi shares concerns about lights out along the hotel front sidewalk. We’ll add it to the Trowbridge corridor mtg. with the city.
A question as to who receives RCCA board business email from the Board president is brought up. Some feel anyone who requests it should get it. Joanne differentiates between official board business which she generates and general information distributed to the neighborhood perhaps via the website or flyers.
Next meeting: Thursday, Oct. 11 at 7:00 p.m. at Goodrich’s Shop-Rite.
Liz Schweitzer
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