Durham INC

Bringing Neighborhoods Together in Durham

March 2009 PDF Print E-mail

INC Meeting
Draft Minutes
March 24, 2009

Meeting called to order by President, Craigie Sanders at 7:05pm.

Introductions were made.   Attending were:

Pat Carstensen, Cross Country
Craigie Sanders, Grove Park
Myers Sugg,  Tuscaloosa Lakewood
Tom Miller, Watts-Hillandale
Eric Strother, WHRNA
Mike Shiflett, Northgate Park
Michael Brooks, Parkwood
Nancy Cox, Hope Valley Farms
Colin Crossman, Trinity Park
Leslie Page, DRAR
Nancy Gallman , Old West Durham
David Harris, Old Farm
T. E Austin, Durham Planning
B. J. Council, D&D
Jeane Bross, Lakewood Park
Bobbe Deason, Morehead Hill
Gwyn Silver, City of Durham
Pauli Hensen, Preservation Durham
Laurie NcLennan, Long Meadow NA
Rosemarie Kitchin, Falconbridge
James Hepler, Roodwood Park
Barry Ragin, DE
Kevin Davis, Bull City Rising
Jeff Ensminger, MHNA
Jim Wise , N&O
Moe Rivera, Old North Durham
Alexandria Ross, Old North Durham
Bill Anderson, Duke Park
Matt Dudek, Cleveland-Hollaway
Paul Hickman, Fairway
Patrick Byker, Rockwood Park
Stephen Messer, Rockwood Park
Scott Carter, Woodcroft
David Nolin, Burch
Jennifer Skahen, Burch
Thelma Glenn White, Emorywood Estates
Christina Fish, Morehead Hills
Joshua Allen, WHHNA
John Schelp, Old West Durham
Melissa Rooney, Fairfield
ANNOUNCEMENTS

Myers Sugg, Treasurer, presented a list of paid neighborhoods as of
today.  As noted in last month's minutes, beginning with the March 2009
delegate meeting, only delegates or alternates from PAID neighborhoods
will be eligible to vote.   Paid neighborhoods are as follows:
Trinity Heights         Grove Park      Woodcroft               Downing
Creek
Trinity Park            Watts Hospital  Morehead Hills          Parkwood
North Garrett Rd.       Lassiter St.    Old West Durham Falconbridge
Lakewood Park           Rockwood Pk     Cleveland Holloway
Northgate Park
Tuscaloosa Lakewood     Walltown        Colonial Village
Duke Park
Old Farm                Long Meadow     Old N. Durham
Southside/St. Theresa
Emorywood Estates

Bylaws revision in process by Colin Crossman and Tom Miller.  They will
bring a draft to present to the delegates at the April Delegates
meeting.

Mike Shiflett spoke about CAI, which is looking for nominations for
awards to neighborhood homeowner associations.  See website for more
info.  CAI provides support to neighborhood and homeowner associations.

Matthew Dudek spoke about copper theft in neighborhoods.  A resolution
(text here) was presented to take back to the neighborhoods.   Motion
was approved unanimously.

Pat Carstensen spoke about changes in UDO.  Two meetings prior to
presentation to JCCPC.   1st Tuesdays at 4pm in City Hall Planning Dept.
Pat will post info to the listserve.

Gwyn Silver, NIS, thanked INC for support of homeownership initiative
and gave an update of NIS's recent activities.  They can be read here:
http://www.Durham-INC.org .

PRESENTATIONS

Nancy Cox updated on the Mentorship Program-there's an initiative in the
state house to nix the program because it's an unfunded mandate that
unfairly impacts inner city school students.
Nancy has made a brochure to promote neighborhood association
involvement in local schools.  For full brochure text click here.

T. E.  Austin This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it from Planning Dept. talked about
upgrades to the Planning Department's website.
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it maintains the list of neighborhoods for the
planning dept.  560-4137 is the main phone number at the planning dept.
On navigation bar, at bottom is outreach section.  Press notification
and enter your contact info to receive info.  Can choose email or
postcard format.Highlights of the website were presented.  To navigate
the site, go to http://www.DurhamNC.gov and click the link for the
planning department.

Bill Anderson led an exercise in prioritizing issues for INC for the
coming year.  The assembled group spent about 10 minutes brainstorming
issues that might be important for Durham neighborhoods.  The issues
were written on large sheets of paper and everyone was given 6 red dots
to stick by the issues most important to them.  The issues and number of
votes each received were as follows (top 5 vote getters highlighted):

Gunshots in city limits - 1
Gun availability - 2
Vacant retail space - 6
Stop light timing - 6
Weedy lots - 3
Dirt yards - 2
Junked Cars - 1
Truancy - 1
Community college access - 7
Overcrowded court dockets - 0
Too much rental - 7
Job Training - 0
Court funding - 7
Illegal signs - 0
Potholes - 2
Park maintenance - 3
Lack of/No sidewalks - 11
Litter/Dumping - 9
Housing assistance - 0
Storm water runoff on residential property - 8
Support neighborhoods - 6
Regional & national image - 3
Illegal businesses - 0
Neighborhood-friendly commercial zones - 3
Repetitive retail/shopping - 0
Gangs - 2
Street crime - 10
Party Houses - 0
Family/community gardens - 7
Property crime - 8
Unbikeable roads - 9
Yard waste in streets - 2
City-owned derelict houses -4
School locations - 0
Effective neighborhood protection overlay zones - 10
High school dropout rate - 4
Inequitable recreation facilities - 5
Parking in yards - 5
Land speculators - 1
Street tree protection - 13
Watershed protection - 10
Loose dogs - 2
Neighborhood traffic control - 12

TREASURER'S REPORT
No expenditures
$1392.00 checking
$2001.74 savings
Motion to approve report was approved unanimously.

February Minutes were approved unanimously.

Resolutions (Note: A role call vote was not taken for any resolution):


1.       Changes to Neighborhood Protection Overlay District -- resolution passed with three neighborhoods abstaining: Grove Park, Hope Valley Farms and Rockwood Park. Mr. Sanders excused himself from the meeting.

2.      Billboards 1-Disapprove Modifications to UDO allowing billboard alteration resolutions -- Debate extended for 5 minutes.  Resolution passed with 2 NO votes (Emorywood Estates and Falconbridge). Four neighborhoods abstained:  Grove Park, Old North Durham, Hope Valley Farms and Rockwood Park.

3.      Billboards 2- Improving Billboard Appearance -- Motion failed with 2 YES votes being Emorywood Estates and Falconbridge. Four neighborhoods abstained: Grove Park, Old North Durham, Hope Valley Farms and Rockwood Park.

Bill Anderson volunteered to become liaison to DCVB motion by Joshua Allen, 2nd , passed unanimously.

Melissa Rooney presented a draft resolution for neighborhoods to take back for consideration.  Due to the quick timing of a scheduled April 13 County Commissioners meeting on Jordan Lake, it was motioned to hold a special called meeting of the delegate body in early April in order for neighborhoods to vote on this issue prior to the CC meeting.  Motion was approved unanimously.  Details about the special called meeting will be on the listserve when the time and place are confirmed.

Meeting was adjourned at 9:40pm.