York Neighborhood Association Board Meeting Minutes

Sunday, March 19, 2006

7:05 – 8:55 pm

Nelson’s Market

Present: Tom Scott, Helen Jackson, Anne Mackie, Judy Bachman, Jessica Bandstra, Elliott Smith, Amelia Lunde and Libby Stark

Lisa McShane was present to deliver the Planning Committee’s report. Three WWU students also attended the meeting.

Announcements: None were reported.

• Planning Committee Chair: Lisa gave the background information on the York Neighborhood for the WWU students and described how we have asked for a change in zoning. The Sehome Neighborhood has gone through the process before so apparently there is precedent. On Monday, May 1 at 7 pm the City Council will be voting on whether to move our Area 5 Rezone Request forward. This vote will take place at Council Chambers and Board members are encouraged to attend. If the Council votes to docket the Rezone Request, the next steps are outreach, education and a timeline. Elliott is taking a GIS mapping course and offered to help design a map for neighbor education. Tom will email the whole YNA list with information after the May 1 vote.

• Historical Preservation Committee Chair: Barbara gave background information on the history of the neighborhood and our process for local historic designation for the WWU students. There are anthropology interns from WWU surveying neighborhood homes. Three committee members went to the Whatcom Museum and met with Jeff Jewel to review old photos. The committee’s phrasing of our neighborhood characteristics needed for designation was mentioned. There is a workshop at the Whatcom Museum on Saturday, April 22 on researching your home. Several board members will be in attendance. Anne and Carol Dixon attended a photo display on Gingerbread homes and heard that 78% of homes in the York Neighborhood were built before 1955. The recent collaboration to archive homes by the Museum and the Library was mentioned. In terms of accessing future volunteers to research homes, the Whatcom Volunteer Center only works with 501(c) (3)s and the Norway Hall is “interested.” Anne has names of those who have lived or currently live in the neighborhood and can give oral histories.

• Franklin Park Renovation Chair: Judy provided handouts on what help was needed, a map for vendors of spaces available and instructions for vendors. board members and others are encouraged to email Judy or Helen if we can assist with the planning of the Market. Tom will put the information on the website. Helen offered garage space for anybody who wants to donate items now.
• Franklin Street Island: We received the $2500 Small and Simple Grant from the City. Anne has signed the paperwork and will review the contract and then sign with Judy. The York Neighborhood does not get reimbursed until the end of the year. Bear Creek Nursery and Garden Spot Nursery were helpful and offered good deals. The first Saturday of every month from 9 – 12 is dedicated to cleaning up Franklin Park and the Island. The hill at Franklin Park is almost completed and this summer they will move to the Island. There is a sign put up at the Park to generate volunteers and publicity. The Master Gardeners have been helping and will need at least two people to go through their Master Gardener program.

• Rock Hill Park Steward: Anne weeded at Rock Hill for 5 hours. The Park is ready for mulch and then to begin planting the plants that are in Anne’s backyard. The clover has got to go and the Parks Department and the Department of Transportation are working on it. We will need butterfly larvae for the Butterfly Habitat. Anne is going to write a history of the two parks and put it on the website. The YNA can use the swimming pool at the Best Western Lakeway Inn as a result of a lawsuit brought by the Association against Best Western regarding traffic lanes.

• Treasurer: Helen provided a handout indicating we have $191.02 in our checking account and $99.13 in our savings account. Fundraising is critical.

• Fundraising Committee Chair: Anne reported she had mailed out letters to neighborhood businesses asking for donations. With a $100 donation businesses get four free business card-sized ads in The Yorker. Libby said she was still working on going through the lists of past donors to see who has and has not donated recently in order to send out donation renewal letters. Anne will email the list of neighborhood businesses plus the letter she has written to board members so we can mail a letter if needed.

• Garden Club Chair: Amelia said they are currently trying to find a home to host the May Garden Club. The Garden Club will be meeting on Sunday to do some planting at Rock Hill Park.

• Job duties and descriptions of board positions: The board reviewed and edited the President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer job descriptions. Other positions will be discussed at the May meeting.

Tom indicated he needed an alternate for the MNAC meetings, which are held the second Wednesday of the month. Summertime is most important for coverage. Elliott volunteered.

Topics for next board meeting: continuation of the job duties.

The meeting adjourned at 8:55.

Submitted by Libby Stark