Midvale Heights Community Association Board Meeting Agenda
Tuesday, February 24, 2015 – 6:45 p.m. – Sequoya Branch Library
Area directors present: Chuck Kreimendahl, Ron Rotter, Ed Rogers, Jenny Chipault, Denise Lamb, Mary J. Armstrong, Paul Haskew, Jonn Lager, Kay Reuter-Krohn, Tom Jarvis, Greg Fischer
- Call to Order & Introductions - C Kreimendahl
- Passed around informational document regarding a city planning permit for fixing up water utility brick building by beltline. Circulated document for board review.
- Prior Minutes Review/Approval Board
- T Jarvis says there had to be a high percentage of involvement in the neighborhood watch before a neighborhood watch sign would be put up, but we don’t know exact percent.
- J Chipault to remove percentage.
- Move to approve, motion carries
- T Jarvis says there had to be a high percentage of involvement in the neighborhood watch before a neighborhood watch sign would be put up, but we don’t know exact percent.
- Treasurer’s Report - R Rotter
- Passed out hard copy of spreadsheet
- Total of $38,000 and $108 in PayPal
- Added another column to spreadsheet that shows how we’ve spent money for the year (well, last 12 months) for each category (with plus/minus). Easier way to see what we’ve spent money on for past year. Also still column for last month's spending.
- D Lamb provided funding from newsletter advertisements
- D Lamb say ad revenue for each issue fluctuates a bit, but think the ads pay for about half the newsletter.
- R Rotter says spending less lately because printing fewer copies.
- C Kreimendahl asks how our overall cash balance now compared to two years ago, or five years ago.
- R Rotter says just keeps going up. Without t-ball fees, we’d probably be breaking even, although membership dues might keep us in the black.
- Legislative Reports - Maurice Cheeks/Carousel Bayrd
- Not present
- M Armstrong says C Bayrd likely has meeting about jail tonight
- Not present
- Segoe Park Project Planning - E Rogers
- Not too many updates since last meeting. He’s had some input from board members about what our priorities should be. G Poulson not present sent an email with guidance for a direction forward and he suggested we should send board-adopted letter outlining our priorities. Three ideas that have popped up above the rest are: trees near the playground, summer concert series, and work with MMOCA to do the art cart in the park. E Rogers has done some legwork on first two.
- Regarding trees, we can purchase potted for $50, plus $25 staking/supplements/mulch, volunteer labor to plant, can add $15 soil sample with UW Extension which will tell you if there’s a tree to avoid for the area (which would show due diligence to the city). So 5 trees would be $450. E Rogers got recommendations for species from a nursery (pending soil samples). Maple, aspen, and hawthorn are all fast growing. Step one would be wait for ground to thaw, then sample soil, then decide on what trees and, in parallel, get parks on board.
- E Rogers put together email for neighborhood grant to put in trees but was told that Parks would do that, even though they haven't.
- Regarding music concert series, D Lamb and P Haskew had discussions with E Rogers. Only cost would be paying the performers, approximately $500 per performance. So three times this summer would be $1500. Power for amplifier can be done from a car and musicians provide amps. We’d do advertising.
- Regarding Art Cart, D Lamb used to get notice from them and she’d put announcement in newsletter. D Lamb sends them a list of any park that people from Midvale Heights could attend.
- P Haskew says if we got good turnout could maybe get them in our neighborhood more times. We could advertise. They have all sorts of supplies, tutors.
- D Lamb says they cover city
- P Haskew think if a lot of kids would show up at a certain location, they would have a good time, and might inspire our neighbors to volunteer in the park as a follow-up.
- C Kreimendahl asks of P Haskew could see if MMOCA would be receptive.
- Yes, P Haskew will contact MMOCA.
- M Armstrong suggests we use sandwich boards or signs (like what we use for median clean-ups) for Art Cart and could use them for concert series too. Put them on Segoe and Tokay.
- D Lamb says could bring up events at annual picnic
- Back to music, D Lamb has two groups that are interested in playing (jazz and Cajun). Weekend night, or perhaps schedule for Friday and have Saturday night be rain date. Both leaders have expressed concerns about scheduling because it’s summer, but we can possibly just work around their schedule. Suggests 6:30 to 9 (because parks close at 9). Advertise in newsletter, put sign in park, tell our friends, then should be able to get group of 40-50, which would be fine. Concrete pavilion would provide some shelter for performers if needed in borderline weather. D Lamb will look for one more band that’s a different genre. We should have a small table with newsletters and membership information. Could have bottles of water available/for sale if really hot.
- M Armstrong wonders about doing it on a weeknight because people are out of town on the weekends in summer
- D Lamb will check around to see if there are days to avoid
- K Reuter-Krohn brings up concerts on the square nights
- D Lamb will check around to see if there are days to avoid
- D Lamb will check with Parks to make sure all this ok.
- P Haskew knows how to run power.
- M Armstrong moves to approve $750 per evening for summer concert series in Segoe Park.
- Motion carries
- R Rotter asks if we should check with people that live right by park
- E Rogers says it’d be the neighborly thing to do
- D Lamb says we can see what night they prefer, but should at least let them know.
- T-ball games – better to avoid or plan concert on same night as t-ball since people already gathered?
- Could go either way.
- M Armstrong wonders about doing it on a weeknight because people are out of town on the weekends in summer
- Back to G Poulson's suggestion of a letter to Parks. We should mention concert series and have board-supported motion about trees.
- E Rogers moves to plant 5 trees to the south of the playground equipment at Segoe Park
- C Kreimendahl asks what if they are planning to replace all the park playground equipment
- Maybe our proposal should be two-fold: 1) we would like to have new equipment and 2) let’s get trees in for current equipment if it’ll be years before current is replaced.
- There are trees north of the equipment, there are some younger trees along Segoe Road and E Rogers did a bit of math and closest tree would have to grow over 100 feet to cast shade.
- M Armstrong brings up an awning or canvas.
- R Rotter says it’ll be a while before they replace Segoe equipment because it’s relatively new
- E Rogers says that letter could include thought about new playground equipment.
- J Chipault suggests deadline (e.g., 2-3 years)
- R Rotter says but we want trees now, regardless
- D Lamb says there were options: buy tree and plant, buy tree they plant, buy tree they plant and they do care… so might not costs us much to find a nursery that would plant a tree.
- Move to contact Parks in hopes of planting 5 trees for cost of $600 and express enthusiasm for any plans they have for new playground equipment
- R Rotter says they might say $600 is one tree. Suggests “we are willing to help finance” and then we can discuss whatever figure they give us.
- C Kreimendahl says Kiwanis has westside group that meets at local church on Fridays and he dashed off an email a week or so ago and mentioned that we have projects for Segoe Park that partially youth-oriented, but he hasn't heard back.
- R Rotter wanted playground in Odana Park years ago so he got petition going and asked people if they could provide any funding. Went door-to-door. City had a matching fund. Put in playground by golf course and he got to pick equipment. Suggests we go house to house to see if people will sign petition and/or give money.
- E Rogers says website indicates that they support neighborhoods getting involved in projects. Park Foundation might provide funds or support.
- Motion carries to send letter to parks 1) indicating that we want to plant trees and "we are willing to help finance" and 2) mentioning music series.
- C Kreimendahl and E Rogers will both sign letter to Parks
- Relevant to concert series, T Jarvis has information about T-ball schedule in Segoe Park: starting June 9, Tuesday and Thursday, 6 and 7pm.
- Regarding trees, we can purchase potted for $50, plus $25 staking/supplements/mulch, volunteer labor to plant, can add $15 soil sample with UW Extension which will tell you if there’s a tree to avoid for the area (which would show due diligence to the city). So 5 trees would be $450. E Rogers got recommendations for species from a nursery (pending soil samples). Maple, aspen, and hawthorn are all fast growing. Step one would be wait for ground to thaw, then sample soil, then decide on what trees and, in parallel, get parks on board.
- Not too many updates since last meeting. He’s had some input from board members about what our priorities should be. G Poulson not present sent an email with guidance for a direction forward and he suggested we should send board-adopted letter outlining our priorities. Three ideas that have popped up above the rest are: trees near the playground, summer concert series, and work with MMOCA to do the art cart in the park. E Rogers has done some legwork on first two.
- Kids Clubhouse Sponsorship - C Kreimendahl
- New program that started in Piper Park last year. Deborah Still says they’re interested in returning this year so we should formally sponsor it. It didn’t cost us anything, but we promote it. C Kreimendahl proposes that we support it again this year.
- D Lamb asks what the role of the previous neighborhood liaison was?
- Promote it, answer questions
- P Haskew asks if they make money
- Money all goes through KIVA and they provide coaches, porta-potties, etc.
- E Rogers wonders if there’s anything the board can do to enhance
- C Kreimendahl says it would be nice to have local contact in our neighborhood. We should scout for someone to be new liaison
- Afternoon program, think it was Tuesdays.
- Motion to support Kids Clubhouse in 2015, motion carries
- D Lamb asks what the role of the previous neighborhood liaison was?
- New program that started in Piper Park last year. Deborah Still says they’re interested in returning this year so we should formally sponsor it. It didn’t cost us anything, but we promote it. C Kreimendahl proposes that we support it again this year.
- Area 7 Director Appointment? - C Kreimendahl
- C Kreimendahl hasn’t heard anything. He may have authority to appoint someone. He might call people who are members in that area to see if anyone available. This area is north of Tokay. Steve Graham had been on board briefly. C Kreimendahl has already contacted Charles Bunge (prior Area 7 director).
- T Jarvis says there are four block captains, one is not a member. Steve Graham is one, Charles Bunge is one, so one person who is block captain and a member.
- D Lamb got a new block captain by stuffing note into newsletters
- J Chipault thinks getting new person on board would be optimal for new ideas and to better represent that geographical space
- T Jarvis will send all the members in Area 7 an email to ask if anyone willing to be Area Director.
- C Kreimendahl hasn’t heard anything. He may have authority to appoint someone. He might call people who are members in that area to see if anyone available. This area is north of Tokay. Steve Graham had been on board briefly. C Kreimendahl has already contacted Charles Bunge (prior Area 7 director).
- Announcements - Board
- D Lamb wonders if anyone knows of any mayoral debates
- K Reuter-Krohn says there was one in the paper today
- D Lamb says newsletter will be done this week.
- C Kreimendahl can put Kids Clubhouse write-up in if there is space
- C Kreimendahl was at Midvale School because of referendum on school building and renovation in April. He posted information on the MHCA website because it’s of community interest. Fairly modest project, not a new building. They have plans for what they’re proposing to do for each school. Tax implications were 0.26 x 1000 x property value which is $60-80/year for 10 years.
- D Lamb says there will be an information session at the library on March 23 that CAST (Communities and Schools Together) will sponsor
- Make Music Madison – E Rogers brought it up in early spring last year so perhaps next meeting we should discuss this more
- E Rogers will check on website
- Emerald Ash Borer is here. They found it at park near beltline (Midvale, by gas stations). City refers you to state agriculture website that has information and planning guides for homeowners so if you have ash trees you should check these websites out.
- There will be article in newsletter about this too.
- Dream Bikes contacted C Kreimendahl and they have a project through which they’ll come to neighborhood for free and repair bikes. They’re proposing to do this at many sites throughout the city. Think we should ask them to come to new Bison Prairie bike repair pad.
- J Chipault says if they put up sign there, they’d get a lot of publicity.
- E Rogers said it’s also advantageous because at border of four neighborhoods
- D Lamb wonders if anyone knows of any mayoral debates
- Adjourned 8:00pm
Notes recorded by J Chipault, secretary
Where Do I Vote?