Betton Hills Neighborhood Association Minutes

September 4, 2008

 

We met at the home of Donna Legare. Chair Tom Vickers called the meeting to order at 7:35 p.m.

Attendees included:  Mary Kay Falconer, Kathy Moulton, Tom Vickers, Peter Butzin, Dean Hansen, Melissa Jacoby, Andy Grayson, Eric Thorn, Mike Brezin, Hal Beardall, Donna Legare, Tom Schulte and Andy Fink.

 

Donna Legare presented the report of the treasurer as follows:

 

Treasurer’s Report, September 4, 2008                   

Submitted by Donna Legare, 386-1148

dlegare@comcast.net

 

Balance as of September 4, 2008:  $3791.07

 

Checks written since last report:

1227    06/16/08          56.60   Native Nurseries         island plants (Dean)

1228    06/25/08          300.00 Friends of Our Parks  recycling bins Winthrop

1229    06/29/08          429.66 Dean Hansen              reim.for T-shirts

 

Deposits:

06/26/08          40.00   dues and funds

08/04/08          10.00   dues

 

A letter from the Tallahassee “Friends of Our Parks thanking BHNA for its gift of recycling containers for Winthrop Park was read.

 

Dean announced that he had presented Ed Oaksford with a BHNA T shirt for helping resolve an issue with bee hives.

 

The minutes of the June meeting were approved.

 

A thank you letter from Leon High for our contribution to the annual Project Graduation was read.

 

Tom Vickers reported that 366 members out of about 800 households have joined the organization, compared with 429 from the previous year.

 

Melissa Jacoby reported on activities from CONA. She was unable to attend the August meeting, but reported that fellow BHNA member Charles Pattison’s presentation at the June meeting was well received. (Charles summarized his presentation at the June BHNA meeting.)

 

The board discussed cutbacks to the City’s neighborhood programs, including maintenance of the rose garden at Winthrop Park. At a cost of over $13,000 per year, the garden will likely be eliminated. Because of the high maintenance, including application of toxic pesticides we agreed that BHNA could not take over responsibility for the garden’s maintenance. We agreed to recommend replacing the rose bushes with native, more easily and inexpensively maintained varieties. A suggestion was made that perhaps the mature rose bushes could be sold, with the proceeds used for lower maintenance replacement plants. We also agreed that the small garden on Spruce, originally provided as a memorial to long-time BHNA board member, activist and City Commissioner Carol Bellamy continue to be maintained. We agreed that this would be an appropriate use for the Bellamy Fund, should the City need assistance. [On September 10th Tom distributed an “alert” from CONA indicating that the City plans to cut neighborhood services by 56% and asked for letters to Commissioners opposing the cuts. The announcement is attached.]

 

Donna Legare presented an offer from Superior Bank that it manage our dues deposits and provide checking account services at no charge. While we appreciate the offer, we decided to retain our account at Premier Bank.

 

Andy reported that one of the Plexiglas panels in the kiosk that his son built in McCord Park requires replacement. He offered to replace the panel for just the cost of the materials, which is anticipated to be about $100. A motion was passed to pay for the expense.

 

Kathy Moulton reported that the City’s pet waste ordinance went into effect on August 1st. It requires pet owners to pick up after their pets when they defecate in “public places”. The wording of the ordinance is not ideal, since it does not mention private yards, nor does it define “public place”. Kathy will provide an article for the newsletter.

 

Mike indicated that he plans to publish the next newsletter in late September. This will be the annual membership drive issue that is sent to all households.

 

The BHNA Annual Membership Meeting will be from 3 to 5 PM on October 12th. This is our annual ice cream social. Tom Schulte agreed to organize volunteer responsibilities, which are as follows:

 

1. Tammy Franklin- arts and crafts;

2. Mike Brezin- Soft drinks i.e., root beer (2), coke (2), diet coke (2), bottled water;

3. Dean Hansen- ice cream and cones;

4. Andy Fink-signs;

5. Mary Kay- reserving the structure at Winthrop;

6. Dona Legare- steel drum band;

7. Tom Vickers and Kathy Moulton- membership table (Mike B. will bring the table);

8. Hal Beardall- ice chest and ice; and

9. Peter Butzin- paper products.

 

A motion to approve expenses for the refreshments and entertainment for this event was approved. We agreed that there will be no raffle. The expenses last year were about $600.

 

Melissa Jacoby reported that the City has removed trees that had threatened a home that neighbors the cemetery on Betton Road.

 

Discussion turned to the need for new board members and leadership. Eric Thorn agreed to see if several people he knows from the neighborhood might be interested in joining the board.

 

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:40 PM.

 

Respectfully Submitted,

 

 

 

 

Peter Butzin, Secretary

 

CONA Slogan

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Council of Neighborhood Associations Newsletter

Updated Alert -
Breaking News from CONA
September 10, 2008 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Dear Tom,

ALERT-BREAKING NEWS FROM CONA:


CITY PROPOSES 56% CUT TO NEIGHBORHOODS BUDGET!!!
Talking Points for Neighborhoods

The Facts:

Neighbors, the Division of Neighborhood Affairs is in serious trouble. It faces cuts of an enormous magnitude 56% (from $204,000 to just $90,000, and a staff cut from 2 to 1! If approved, this is going to send shockwaves through neighborhoods.

Today, the City Commission workshopped their recommended budget but did nothing to restore funding for the Division! This is a very serious concern to CONA and member neighborhoods.


If you agree that this funding should be restored, you must act NOW! If you wait, it will be too late! The public hearing is TONIGHT, Wednesday,  September 10, at 6:00 p.m. in the City Commission Chambers on the 2nd floor of City Hall.

 
What CONA needs YOU to do IMMEDIATELY!!!

Please have at least one person from your neighborhood (and/or on behalf of your board):

  • Email City Commissioners and tell them to make neighborhoods a priority and restore funding for Neighborhood Affairs (it can be as simple as just saying "make neighborhoods a priority-restore funding for Neighborhood Affairs" or something more elaborate-your call).
  • Attend the budget public hearing at City Hall on Wednesday night, September 10, at 4:00 p.m.   Whether you want to speak or not, come out to the public hearing and show your support for neighborhoods.  Of course, we would like speakers even if you just stand up and tell them to restore funding.

What you can tell them:

The reduction raises questions about the level of the city's commitment to our neighborhoods!

Budgeting is about setting priorities and neighborhoods should be a top priority!

Great taxpayer value; reduces costs to other departments.

The same things their staff told them would occur if funding were eliminated:

  • Decreased focus on the concerns and integrity of various city neighborhoods.
  • Neighborhood and citizen complaints - (will no longer have) direct advocates to expedite resolution. (CONA-We know that funding cut would leave many neighborhood issues and concerns unresolved/delayed, and adversely affect neighborhood improvements.)
  • Liaison/coordination between the city and county, across departments, and with citizens will no longer exist. (CONA-We know it is difficult to navigate the maze and know who to contact in which department for help with neighborhood concerns, much less coordinate the various players to find a solution.
  • The database of neighborhoods may not be maintained. (CONA-This means neighborhoods may not be notified of issues such as proposed comp plan amendments to student housing.

By providing information and coordination services early, Neighborhood Affairs can head-off many issues before they escalate into much bigger problems.

Better yet, share your Neighborhood Affairs story if you have one!
 

THANK YOU!           THANK YOU!           THANK YOU!