SEMCA BOARD MEETING

MINUTES

AUGUST 5, 2006

6:00 p.m.

Terry Hunt’s Home

Board Members Present:  Terry Hunt, Bruce Veltema, Maria Spielberg, Doris Siegmann, Maggie Schuesler

Others:  Paul Furtaw, Lynne Edmond, Jasmine Edmond

Absent:  Marguerite Mahler

I.          Minutes of the 5/7/06 Board meeting were approved as written.

II.         Communications from SEMCA residents.

A.     Amy Moore asked to be taken off of the marble-e-news list.  LeRoy Harvey will be contacted to make sure she is removed.

B.     Hunt received a phone call from Lynne Edmond (who arrived later and further discussed her concern).  Due to the number of houses for sale in the SEMCA area that were not selling, Lynne was concerned that the banks were redlining this neighborhood.  After a lengthy discussion, Siegmann volunteered to contact a realtor friend who would know if this was being done.  Schuesler volunteered to talk with the realtor working with the E.L. Housing & Neighborhood Services.

III.       President’s Report  - Terry Hunt

Hunt reported on the neighborhood associations’ presidents breakfast Wed. 8/2/06.  As a result of the neighborhood meetings held this May and June with MSU Pres. Simons, a position is being created for a liaison between the students and permanent residents of E.L.  This liaison will be paid by MSU and will have offices on campus and city hall.  A video has also been made for MSU students to educate them as to how to be a positive part of E.L.

IV.       Financial Report  - Maria Spielberg

             Balance on hand as of 7/31/06 is $1,515.75.

V.        Committee Reports

Newsletter - The fall newsletter should include:  general membership meeting announcement, MSU liaison, pocket park info., Burcham Park update, Hagadorn lane change update, bylaws revision with a statement that copies are available upon request or on the SEMCA website, and 3 Board positions up for election.

VI.      New Business 

Marble Highlights  -  There was discussion about changing the paragraph that the city had written summarizing the comments made by SEMCA residents about why they like living in this neighborhood.  It was agreed that this paragraph was acceptable.  It will be used in different city publications.

VII.      Old Business 

A.     Bylaws  -  After a brief discussion, Schuesler moved to approve the revisions of the Bylaws as presented.  Veltema seconded.  Motion passed.  The Bylaws final revision will be discussed and voted upon at the general membership meeting in October.   The Bylaws committee of Spielberg, Siegmann and Veltema were thanked for their time and effort on the revisions.

B.     Status of SEMCA Goals for 2005-06

1.      Update on Hagadorn lane changes.  City staff is not in favor of changing number of lanes.   Transportation Commission will continue to study changing lanes and re-striping.

2.      Family picnic – Sunday Sept. 10 (rain date Sept. 17)  Furtaw will check with residents living in the dead-end block of Wayland to make sure everyone approves of having the picnic in that block.  Hunt will purchase meat, buns, water/pop and condiments.  Schuesler will have the city print the flyer and then handle distribution.

3.      Burcham Park update -  Schuesler will ask Dave Smith, Dept. of Public works, to write an update for the fall newsletter on the methane mitigating wells that were put in place early in the spring.

4.      Home ownership assistance  -  Schuesler, who is on the E.L. Housing & Neighborhood Services Board, announced that the first house using unrestricted funds for purchasing and refurbishing is now on the market.  715 Linden was a rental, but will be sold as a single family home.

C.     Flower planting research is ongoing. 

D.     Fall Membership meeting – 10/15/06 at Edgewood Church -  The agenda will include the new MSU liaison position, Hagadorn road lane changes, Burcham Park update, Bylaws revision approval, pocket park info., and election of 3 Board positions.  It will be a potluck with coffee, tea and cider provided.  Hunt will ask the new MSU liaison to attend if that position has been filled.

E.      Signs for SEMCA meetings -  No new information.

F.      Pocket Park  -  Spielberg reported on a possible pocket park at the northwest corner of Moorland and Mt. Vernon.  A letter has to delivered to Tim McCaffrey, Parks and Recreation Dept., by the end of August asking for CDBG funds for benches and toddler play equipment.  Siegmann moved to have SEMCA ask the city to consider a pocket park at the corner of Moorland and Mt. Vernon and request CDBG funds for benches and toddler age appropriate play equipment.  Veltema seconded.  Motion passed.  Spielberg will write the letter.

G.     Agenda items for the 11/5/06 were discussed.   Goals for 06/07 should be reviewed.   Schuesler volunteered to host the next meeting.

Meeting adjourned at 8:20 p.m.

Next Board meeting  -  November 5, 2006  -  6:00 p.m.  -  631 Wayland