Agenda
Called to order at 7:08 p.m. with 15 neighbors. Eventually, we got to 19 people.
Deanna K. introduced our new officer. Lt. John Lee joined us from the RPD. He is the interim commander for the Downtown District. Captain Shermer has been promoted to Major and is now in charge of all field operations.
Points of Issue Raised for Lt. Lee: 1. We have seen an increase of suspicious activity in the n’hood; 2. And had a concern with the time difference between the call to the police department and dispatch.
Lt. Lee explained that there are two principle systems used for dispatch: computers in the cars and radios with all police units. The majority of dispatches are sent through the computer system. When this happens it goes only to cars that have the new system and are in the Downtown District (the 2500 series of cars). If there is a priority call, it may go over a broader system to all cars/officers because it goes to the radio.
For the last month, the “specialists units” have been assigned to the South Saunders area instead of downtown in the business district.
Q. How can we change the system so that the seam of the districts is not right at the point of problem?
A. He’ll speak with the dispatchers to see if they’ll begin to issue joint calls to the 2500 and 2600 cars because they are at the seam of the districts.
Lt. Lee heard at least 45 minutes of issues from the neighborhood residents. Lt Lee noted key areas. There are self-evident problems with children and neglect, littering, potential illegal weapons, drug sales, public urination and noise violations.
He urges us to keep calling. He will take the specialists squad and assign them to the beat area.
Cell and pager number are available:
Pager: 664-0853
Cell: 369-2436.
If you have further information about time, place and type of incidents he recommends that you contact him directly.
Last update was in 1985. Proposed bylaws – amendments from current – were distributed.
Note of interest:
- Under Article III. The meetings time/place section was updated to match current custom.
- Election of Officers would be moved to autumn.
- Under Article IV. The Bank accounts language is updated to match current custom.
- Under Article V. The third paragraph is significantly changed. This point was subject to significant discussion based on the history the article. RE: Officers speaking out of turn for the “whole neighborhood.”
The centerpiece of the issue is about how to authorize the officers to speak for the Association if the policy question has not been noticed and debated at the neighborhood association.
Motion and Second: The proposed bylaws will be referenced in the minutes, and by virtue of the newsletter available to all neighbors, all proposed changes would be referenced both on the Boylan Heights listserv and sent to Kent Lassman for compilation so that we can have orderly discussion at the next meeting’s discussion. Proposed amendments can be sent to klassman@pff.org with “Bylaws” noted in the subject line.
By voice acclamation the motion passed.
Also the issue was raised about the regular time feature of the meeting to maximize attendance.
Jeff Groves reported for the subgroup focused on the website. The subgroup consists of the following people: Catherine Bray, Heidi Nelson, Eric Goforth, Joseph Huberman, Claire Cates, Chris Weedy, Lea Davis, Scott Tran, and Jeff Groves. Catherine, Jeff, Chris, Claire and Joseph worked on a series of visual ideas for the site. Site was debuted at the picnic last week. Jeff has paid for the hosting service and domain name – it is up to date for the year and actually hosted in Canada by a firm called Tera-byte.com.
Paul proposes creating standing committee to handle web related communications and for them to manage all things related to it including payments, content organization of the committee. By analog, the committee would serve like the neighborhood watch and demolition by neglect committees.
Move and second formalize what we’ve done by custom to have a committee. Passed by voice acclamation.
Have not heard back from 501 Cutler Street although Chuck is going to send them a certified letter. If he doesn’t hear back from them then we have already decided to turn them into the city. 705 Florence recently changed hands (the red house) and the new owners are planning fixes.
In August, we’ll probably send letters to people from last year that fixed up their properties and responded favorably to our actions.
Catherine is on top of things and we received a newsletter last month.
As a general rule, we’ll try to get the newsletter text to Derek on the Wednesday prior to the meeting and delivery starting on Friday-Sunday.
We had between 300 to 325 people at the party. We are still tabulating the revenue…it may total upward of $1000. If you have receipts, get them to Leslie K in order for reimbursements.
As an association, we need to write thank you notes. This raises the point about letterhead. Paul volunteered to write thank yous and suggested that he’ll develop a template from which letters can be sent/letterhead.
K.D. R brought dishes in case you forgot yours at the party.
Joseph recommended that each of the committee heads write up a post mortem/instruction observations memo for next year’s organizers.
Traffic Calming
Benson Kirkman’s traffic calming call via the listserv. Joseph went to the meeting. The city has a budget of $450,000 for this type of activity. When roads are narrowed and sight lines are shortened are found to be most helpful in slowing traffic. Four way stop signs and speed bumps to not work as effectively.
Some costs to traffic calming proposals include slalom drivers and slower EMS responses. There are 100 streets are earmarked for study although none of them are in BH. These streets will be ranked for to determine where they should work. Looking for streets where people speed, but there aren’t many drivers yet. This does not include major thoroughfares like Glenwood Avenue.
They sent the report back to the Department of Transportation for their reactions to the it.
Point of Action: No Boylan Heights streets are listed. Next month bring the streets that you wish to be suggested for addition and reasons why ideas to the meeting. Paul will call Benson to tell him that we’re considering this at our next meeting and will have recommendations for his September meeting.
The report can be viewed at www.raleigh-nc.org/transportation and the woman in charge of the program for the city is Catherine Beard (919/890-3440).
Boylan
Heights T-Shirts
Plenty of Tshirts are still available. Small through XXL and long sleeve 2XL and 3XL. If you want one…call Paul. Prices are sensitive to size and sleeve length. $12 to $20.
TTA
TTA signed a letter of understanding with the state for the NC DOT to put in up to 20% of the funding. The key is to contact Representative David Pryce on the federal appropriations committee in the US House.
Joseph is keen on going back to the plan of making the proposed light rail station near Boylan Heights a “destination station.” This is a train station coupled with other businesses i.e. dry-cleaning, restaurants, haircuts etc. The current plan is a “hole with a parking lot on top.” This plan would wipe out two good restaurants and add no new businesses.
TTA promised to have something for us to look at this fall.
Gratitude
Sense of gratitude and appreciation by all to Joseph and Ruth for making their home open to neighbors for the July meeting.
Move to adjourn. 9:11. Seconded and approved.