West Central Neighborhood Association

General Meeting

Minutes – June 21, 2010

GUEST SPEAKER:

• Topic: Redevelopment of Dimension Ford property on Jefferson

Speaker: Alec Johnson – Fort Wayne Park Board

• Grant money used to remove building and asphalt
• Working on adding additional dirt/material to grade property
• Currently gathering ideas to create ‘master plan’ to help influence future funding efforts
• Talked through constraints, benefits as well as some possible ideas
• Next steps: City to gather all ideas and submit several proposals and options; then bring the plans back to the neighborhood and at least one city-wide meeting to gain feedback on proposals.
• Other: residents asked Alec about other park related topics:
• What is the process to get new rubberized mats at the playground in Moody Park?
• Alec believes recent bid of 5 – 6 local parks included Moody for new mats; he will get back with John Simerman.
• What is happening with the pond in Swinney Park?
• 1-3 year plan in place to grow vegetation around the pond to help with the upkeep of the pond. Recent fencing is needed to allow vegetation to mature which will help keep geese away. Some residents voiced concern over the appearance.

MINUTES

· May Minutes – presented and accepted

TREASURER’S REPORT

· May Reports – presented and accepted

o Starting to receive House & Garden Tour expenses; sponsorships to start coming in as well to help offset expenses.

MEMBERSHIP

· 100 total memberships prior to May’s WCNA Association meeting.

· Letter going out to past members to encourage 2010 membership participation

HOUSE & GARDEN TOUR COMMITTEE

· $1,200 grant awarded to the tour from Arts United

· Next meeting, Tuesday, June 22

· Looking for tour volunteers and additional sponsorships. See David Long for any inquiries

FLOOD COMMITTEE

• Thieme Drive – Erosion Control Project: 2 amendments, minor changes; still in bid stage.
• Thieme Drive – Flood Plan – on hold waiting for funding.
• Don Stockman writing article in Sunday’s newspaper (6/27) regarding flood plan.

CCW

• Conversation with city attorney regarding local drug house ordinance; they are interested in looking at a recent South Bend proposal. WCNA resident will send information.

o Fort Wayne currently not enforcing ordinance.

PLAN COMMITTEE

• Continuing review of our Neighborhood Plan – Section: Neighborhood Organizational Issues.
• Time of meeting moved from 6:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

· CHDO

o 800 Block of West Washington

§ Reviewed Board Statement – printed and handed out at the beginning of the meeting.

The WCNA Board has been in discussion with the City in consideration of renovating and rehabilitation of one or more homes in the 800 block of West Washington Blvd. Four properties are municipality owned or close to being municipality owned and could be available for rehabilitation in the near future. The City has agreed to give the association Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO) money for 825 West Washington. The City is proposing to sell us the house for $1, as well as make Home Funds available, similar to the Nelson Street CHDO project, and also discuss other funding that might be possible for development. Three additional properties on that block could potentially be part of our plans. The association is in the process of negotiating and understanding the legal and financial details. Our goal is to save these houses, and we feel it will benefit the neighborhood and our association. We would like to ask for the authority to keep moving forward and will continue to keep the general membership updated.

§ Association made & passed a motion: to tell the City that WCNA is interested in moving forward, we need details on how much the city is putting into it.

o Discussion prior to passing: need details and no signing contract without details

§ Association made and passed a motion: where in addition to previous motion, WCNA authorized Board to get cost estimates on 825 W. Jefferson and other properties and brings plan(s) back to the association.

· Section 42

o Partnership with Henry Hall is still on the table

o Set an August discussion deadline with Mr. Hall before we formally open discussions with other parties

o City is ready to move forward; West Central has turned in our required paperwork.

NEW BUSINESS/ANNOUNCEMENTS

· Zoning

o 915-917 W. Berry Street – Building Deck Permit – currently 12 inches off property line; needs to be 3 ft. Meeting set for July 14; owner would like WCNA support.

§ Association made and passed a motion to have association support the variance.

o David Long to create letter and have signed by John Simerman

· This Old House – West Central named in the July/August Issue.

· WCNA Yard Sale is 6/25, 6/26 and 6/27

· Ann Higgins offered to help deliver sections of Berry Street for the quarterly newsletter

· WCNA logo pens are available – see John Simerman.

Meeting adjourned

Respectfully submitted:

________________________________________________________

Susan Smethers, Secretary

West Central Neighborhood Association