Drake Neighborhood Association
Board meeting minutes
March 12, 2003
Present: Trish Davis, Jennifer Lawler, Jim Dietz-Kilen, David Courard-Hauri, Larry James, Dolph Pulliam, Tony Schmitt, Andrew Pinneke, Dustin Smith, Michelle Saveraid, Eldon MacAfee
Absent: Carl McPherson (excused), Patty Daniels (excused)
NBSD
Police Report - Brochures on cars – 500 given out. Let’s people know why they are getting ticketed. Well received – will get 500 more made.
Narcotics complaints – same month to month. 77 residential burglaries in DM, down 28% from Feb. 2001. Drake area has been very quiet, very little activity. 2200 block of University prostitution arrest.
Ed – Mondamin/Chataqua Park – having staff shortages that are affecting service delivery. Territories not reorganized yet – Ed and a few other staffers are filling in.
2600 Kingman – watching closely. Manager is talking about getting security – will continue to stay on top of. Problems with noise and vandalism. Working on public nuisances.
Organization Reports
Drake – no report
NDC – Taking bids on old habitat building. Termite infested area coming down. Exterior will match CCI building. Looking for tenants.
House Tour – Half of homes confirmed for tour. Plans going well – sponsorships already in, including new sponsors and a few new memberships.
Beautification – Two meetings so far, good turnout. Will work on ends of major islands – Cottage Grove/31st/35th/42nd. Will make brick walkways. May 3 – first work day scheduled. Will get bricks from pile and begin work. Will coincide with Botanical Center flower giveaway. Will coincide with House Tour. Flowers and bricks with cap islands. Plan to plant daffodils in fall. Will talk to those who are keeping up other beds and try to coordinate a uniform look. Discussion about triangle at Carpenter Park – entryway to neighborhood. Also talked about artistic signage at entry to neighborhood. Landscape architect will come up with flower ideas – and propose options to be posted on website.
Newsletter Meeting – Until there are more volunteers/writers, it will go to every other month. If there is more interest, it can go back to every month. Let Jen know if you are interested in writing articles.
Membership – Trish wants to let board members know who the new members are at board. Trish will work with Denise.
Guests
Hubbell School – Bob Gernes. Built in 1910 – undertaking renovations beginning after school lets out this spring thanks to local option sales tax. Hubbell covers area from University to the north, 31st to the east, Polk to West, Ingersoll to south – zigzags diagonally from 35th to 235 and back to 31st. Plans include a new gymnasium and atrium entry on South. The exterior facing 42nd will remain the same – new windows. Other renovations will be interior, improved drop off area, main entrance moved to South through new atrium, expanded library, new music room, renovated bathrooms.
Fundraising – $3-4 Million project. Still $500,000 short. Looking to community for support to bridge gap. Coming to DNA to ask for support. Will be contacting corporations, alumni, looking for block captains. Will also be taking a neighborhood approach – a letter will go to all Hubbell neighborhood members in mid-April. Asking to share information with neighbors. School Board has required $300,000 committed by end of May.
Old Business
Drug Town signage – Catherine said that the issue was part of the original agreement – waiting for instructions from DNA board. If board wants to pursue it further, it can be. Issue concerns exterior signage and neon signs in window. Discussion about whether the board has concerns. Catherine will get a copy of the original agreement so the board can address when a copy is obtained. Issue tabled until next meeting.
Meeting of Iowa Substance Abuse Association. Mon. April 14 at 3:30 p.m. at Airport Holiday Inn. Will discuss community-based substance abuse programs. Susan Lombard has invited other board members to attend.
Forest Ave. redevelopment – Meeting on March 4 – now at stage where zoning is being discussed – will follow with where dollars should be focused. Will ask city to re-zone corner of Forest and MLK to 24th to npc– will only include strip along Forest. Will focus on specific sites/intersections. Next meeting scheduled for April 14 at 6:30 p.m. at Senior Center.
DNA T-Shirts – T-Shirts - $5.80/Polo - $15/ Denim - $18-$22. Use t-shirts for DNA House tour volunteers or to sell at the tour. Outlay for DNA would be $2000. Mark-up would allow DNA to profit from selling shirts.
Motion to order 100 t-shirts, motion seconded. Passes by unanimous voice vote.
Designs will be presented at next board meeting for approval.
Motion to order 25 polo shirts and 25 denim shirts. Motion seconded, passes unanimously.
Bob Mickle Community Center – Pace moving into lower floor (access from south side). Will be self-contained. On main floor – open area with meeting space for use by neighborhood associations/groups. 20-30 rooms, 10x14 with bathrooms. Will rent as offices for non-profits or other organizations looking for office space. Stage West has moved in, a church has moved offices there. Office space available at below market rate for non-profits. DNA could set up office there, but it’s not in the neighborhood. Discussion about whether or not we want to open an office. No interest due to the fact that it is not in the neighborhood. Issue presented about the need for a neighborhood association archive.
Film Fest – Andrew trying to gather information to apply for Teva’s grant – due April 1. Budget is difficult - around $800 to get screen, etc. Exploring option of buying projector/screen for future use. Could cost $15K. Has talked to local bands to play before dark, and then follow with band. Tentatively schedule for last two Saturdays in August and first two Saturdays in September. Andrew will be contacting Drake businesses for door prizes. Iowa Humanities grant – up to $10K for similar events. Discussion about scheduling one or two Saturdays and renting equipment to get the event off the ground. Andrew will continue to explore.
Drake Marathon – need help at water station at 33rd/Kingman. Dave/Tony/Larry/Kendall/Michelle will help.
Quarterly Meeting – Marketing meeting scheduled for May 3 at 10 a.m.
New Board member – Nathan Allen unable to continue on board. Need suggestions for new board member. West side member?? Bring ideas to next meeting.
Pam Tedesco – managed Kum and Go at 22nd/University. Has talked to city about buying property at MLK and Forest. Board supported the idea of her and her husband running convenience store at that location. King Irving residents concerned about gas station going into neighborhood. King School PTA voted in favor of plan. Since that time, Forest Ave. development plan has developed, including plans to create comprehensive plan for entire area. The Board of Supervisors will discuss plans at meeting on 3/13. Discussion about whether or not we should change position in light of Forest Ave. development. Will wait to see the result of Forest Ave. Will invite Tedescos back to board meeting to explain situation/plans.
Motion – based on the information we have, DNA Board position has not changed, but we are seeking updated information about plans. Motion seconded, passed by unanimous voice vote.
Zoning Ordinance Change Meeting March 13 at UW building from 7-9 p.m. Put on by RDG – starting to rewrite zoning process for city. Larry planning on attending
Salvage from 30th Street houses – CHDC did salvage, but a lot of stuff is left, including 60 doors. Larry paid $220 to have them taken out of houses – fundraising opportunity for DNA.
Motion to reimburse Larry for $220 for removing salvage from houses. Motion seconded, passed by unanimous voice vote
Motion to sell exterior doors for $50, $25 for interior doors. $1/foot for trim. Other items at Larry’s discretion. Motion seconded, passes by unanimous voice vote.
Kingman Island Cruise – set for August 23rd at 4 p.m. Bands TBD Budget - $300
Motion to spend up to $500 for band for Kingman Cruise. Passesby unanimous voice vote.
Scrub Days – April 5, 7 a.m. - Noon at Drake parking lot 24/Forest. Sept 27 at Grace United Methodist Church.
26th Street Parking – passed – signs to go up soon.
The meeting notes are copied and pasted from a variety of sources, and so the font sizes may be inconsistent. If you have trouble reading any of the notes, please let us know.