York Neighborhood Association Board Meeting Minutes

Wednesday, April 18, 2007

7:00 – 9:00 pm

Nelson’s Market

Present: Helen Jackson, Lisa McShane, Tom Scott, Anne Mackie, Jessica Bandstra, Seth Cool, Carol Dixon, George Liepart, and Libby Stark.

Barbara Davenport, Sarah and Jeff Bates and Elliott Smith indicated they would not be present.

Guests: Eric Peterson (WWU student) working on neighborhood plan update (email: peters98@cc.wwu.edu) and Nick Hartnich (YN resident)

Announcements: Elliott Smith and Jeff Bates will attend the next WWU Let’s Talk Forum.

Approval of minutes: Helen made a motion to approve the minutes from February, March and the general meeting. Anne seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

I. Current issues with an upcoming deadline:

• Planning Committee: There have been three meetings held so far for the neighborhood plan update. York Neighborhood has been divided into sections with committee members walking around their chosen section and completing a survey for the goals and ideas of this section. A letter of invitation was given to particular neighbors to ask them to participate in the plan update. WWU student Eric Peters is available and will be developing a survey (online and paper) that will be given to YN residents. A discussion of the plan updated timeline followed, with most board members agreeing to a 1 ½ - 2 year timeline for completion of the plan update. The next meeting will be held 4/23 for the whole group to participate in the walk through the YN. The following meeting will be held 5/7 at 7 pm.

• Traffic Safety: Elliott was unavailable; Helen Jackson will email Elliott to check on the grant application for the Neighborhood Traffic Safety Program (NTSP) that is due 4/30. As sidewalks are not allowed in the grant, traffic calming along Gladstone will take its place.

• Dumpster Day: A coordinator is needed. Aaron Bandstra, Jessica’s husband, will coordinate. Dumpster Day will be held in June. Anne Mackie also mentioned an alley clean-up contest with an award given at the September neighborhood picnic. Rules for the alley clean-up will be printed in the next newsletter.

• Newsletter: The deadline for articles will be 5/4 with distribution either 5/16 or 5/23. Articles will include Dumpster Day, the neighborhood plan update survey and various committee reports. Email articles to Jessica. Jessica also reminded board members that the Green Energy Challenge winners will be announced at the Farmers Market on 4/21 at noon.

• Newsletter ad: George Liepart, advertising manager, will follow up with Quickie Lube. Anne noted that Signs By Tomorrow, who recently moved out of the YN, will continue to donate signs. George suggested purchasing Publisher (or a similar program) for Jessica so she is able to work on the newsletter at home. Jessica will investigate program options. At this point in time it is too expensive to print more newsletters for community drop off locations (i.e. public library, Food Co-op, etc.).

• Candidate Forum: Tom is still waiting to hear back from the Lettered Streets Neighborhood about their participation. Seth Cool and Nick Hartrich, potential board member, will coordinate the forum with Tom Scott. The Forum will be held the first week of June, either the 6^th or 7^th. At this forum the mayoral race will be the topic with a following forum held in October with candidates for both mayor and city council.

II. Committee Reports:

• Historic Preservation: See attached notes provided by Barbara Davenport.

• Rock Hill Park Steward: George stated that Rae Edwards from Parks Department will be getting us a trash can for the park. A Parks Department staff is also supposed to come and move the arbor so the mower can get through. George has spread mulch and noted a neighbor next to the park will donate water for plants in exchange for two free ads in the Yorker. Rats are abundant at the empty lot and George has called the Health Department. Transients have also been staying at the empty lot. George urged families to remember to wear shoes due to the broken glass.

• Franklin Park Committee Chair: See attached notes provided by Helen. Many signatures have been collected for the crosswalk across Lakeway petition. A discussion about the fence at Franklin Park followed. George made a motion to support the Franklin Park Committee’s recommendation for considering the removal of the fence and replacing it with natural barriers. Lisa seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

• Garden Club Chair: Carol Dixon reminded board members there will be a potluck at her home on 4/25 at 6 pm. There was discussion about the alley clean-up and Carol noted the Master Gardeners will be having a plant sale at Hovander Park in Ferndale on 5/12 and Carol would like to carpool to the event. In past years Garden Club has organized an evening event at Bear Creek Nursery; Carol will look into it again this year.

• Treasurer: Helen provided the treasury report indicating we have $1045.14 in our checking account. See attached. Mary Neuman, of Face It Salon, would like to run an ad in the Yorker. Jessica volunteered to assist in the design.

III. Current issues:

• Holly Street construction project: Anne noted press releases are being mailed alerting people to the beginning of construction on Holly. Alan Matsumoto, Sehome Neighborhood president, is the contact person. It was asserted that next time Public Works will need to do a better job of communicating with neighbors. Anne will follow up with Alan about the streetlights that will be placed along Holly. It was stressed for neighbors to be vigilant about drivers cutting through the YN and they are urged to call or email Public Works.

• 4-plex apartment at 506 Potter: Seth has spoken with Darby Galligan, COB Planning Department, and told board members that Darby and Katie Franks have met with the designer (Todd Fuller) regarding a request for a design change. Seth will email a letter he received that Darby and Katie mailed to Todd about the design. Todd is working on a new design and will take it back to the city for review. Adequate parking is still a concern; however Seth stated that the developer only needs to show improvement. Board members also expressed concern over the footprint, windows and roofline of the proposed building.

• Grantwriting: Anne stated that the Small and Simple grants have gone to the mayor’s office for consideration.

Topics for next board meeting: newsletter, planning committee.

The meeting adjourned at 9:00.

Submitted by Libby Stark