West Central Neighborhood Association

General Meeting

Minutes – March 15, 2010

GUEST SPEAKER:

• Katie Heemsoth, St. Joseph Hospital – Fitness & Rehabilitation Center
• Now open to Fort Wayne residence with supervised & unsupervised activities
• Fees: One time initiation fee of $40 plus:
• Supervised: $30/month
• Wellness (unsupervised):
• $90.00 = 6 months, $180 = 12 months, $308 = 24 months
• Hours (subject to change)
• Supervised activities = M,W,F 8-11 a.m.
• Wellness activities = 5 a.m. – 11 p.m., 7 days a week

• Pastor Tom Eggold, Emmanuel Lutheran Church – New Building Plans
• Plans currently in the planning phase:
• Add meeting rooms onto the North side of school on Jackson St.
• Add accessible parking & handicap access ramp to West side of Church
• Log onto: http://emmanuellutheran.org - - to keep abreast of progress

MINUTES

· February Minutes – presented and accepted.

TREASURER’S REPORT

· Profit & Loss February 2010 & 2/28/10 Balance Sheet – presented & accepted

MEMBERSHIP REPORT

· No report

HOUSE & GARDEN TOUR COMMITTEE

· Next meeting 3/23/10 @ 6:30 p.m. – location: Dash In on S. Calhoun Street

· First Presbyterian Church on W. Wayne Street will be our featured Church on this year’s tour.

FLOOD COMMITTEE

• Washington & Thieme Drive work to be completed within the next couple of months.

PLANNING COMMITTEE

· Neighborhood Housing Market Study – City hired resources and West Central was one neighborhood selected to study. Meetings early in April to review WC study

· Plan Committee is rededicated to focus on implementing our WCNA Plan. Ongoing work on the Committee to review plan and determine next steps to take to the Board

· Ford Dimension property – City asking for input at the next Nebraska Neighborhood Association meeting. Seeking potential usage ideas.

· 1000 Block of Broadway – Neighborhood Code sited all 5 building on various code violations.

CITIZEN CRIME WATCH (CCW)

· Recent increase in property break-ins. At least 8 in the past month

o Be vigil of your own property and neighbors.

o Lock entry gates off of alleys is another good safety measure to keep out intruders.

o Copper prices currently high

§ Stripping copper normally not a one-person job; watch for trucks with multiple people parking may be looking for owners & neighbor’s schedules.

§ Get license plate and report to police.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

• CHDO
1. 825 Washington – city looking to work with us if we moved forward as our next project. Board members to walk through property March 16.
2. 1134 Nelson –

§ Counter top installed & paperwork completed

§ Fees for developer and taxes should be returned/incoming soon.

• Zoning
1. Henry’s Restaurant received variance to build deck on West side of building.
2. Section 42 – Henry Hall

§ City continues to work with WCNA on protecting Section 42 housing

§ WC recently approved removal from Section 42 list - 1140 Jones Street – new owner is Dennis Combs.

NEW BUSINESS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

• This Old House – Indiana’s 2010 Neighborhood winner (KUDOS to all!!)
• Downtown Improvement District (DID) - applying for ‘cultural district”
• April 25^th – Homeward Bound Walk/Run – Start & Finish @ Headwater’s Park
• Great American Clean Up – May 15^th City’s official date.
1. WCNA will be submitting application by April 9^th deadline
2. May be selecting another date as actual clean up….pair event with other clean up opportunities (tire pick up, dumpster day, Canterbury student assistance, etc.)

• Other Notable Rehab or Clean Up Opportunities for WCNA residents:
1. “Go Day” – Emmanuel Lutheran Church Funding

§ Project to help neighborhood residents

§ Contact Mike Anderson with submission suggestions

2. Lutheran Housing Support

§ Dollars set aside for helping those in need of housing repairs

§ Possibly 10 different properties with 2, 000 - $5,000 repairs each

3. “Paint-A-Thon” Lutheran Social Services

§ Administered through Emmanuel Lutheran Church

§ One house this summer from our neighborhood

§ Contact Mike Anderson with submission suggestions

4. “Home Owner Repair” program

§ Offered through the City - First come, first serve

§ Up to $20K per household

5. “Summer of Service (SOS)” – Emmanuel Lutheran Church

§ Ongoing monthly services

§ Saturday projects - smaller projects with 1-day turn around times.

§ See Mike Anderson with submission suggestions

Respectfully submitted:

________________________________________________________

Susan Smethers, Secretary

West Central Neighborhood Association