Draft of Minutes General Meeting March 25, 2010

The meeting was call to order at 7:10 pm.

41 members attended.

The minutes were approved as published.

Serena Herndon gave the Oread Minute, and recommended the book “Making do Getting Through” by Fred McElhenie available at the KU bookstore for more information on the Oread’s history.

The Vice President, Rob Farha, reported that Jodi Jones resigned her position as ONA Coordinator.

The Secretary, Lois Schneider, introduced the rough draft of the minutes from the March meeting and proposed that in order to go green, and save the cost of printing copies of the minutes, the rough draft of the minutes be put on the ONA web site prior to each meeting. The membership agreed. The agenda will also be put on the web site.

The District 3 Representative, Phil Hemphill reported that the homeless shelter in his district was adversely affecting the neighborhood. Discussion ensued. 

District 4 Representative, David Holroyd requested that any issues or problems relating to his district should be sent to him by email to onarep4@gmail.com

District 2 Representative, Marcie Francisco, brought up the problem of 1043 Indiana. The hotel has been using it as a storage yard since construction began, and now that it has been completed we need to ask them when the storage yard will be cleaned out.

District 1 Representative, Linda Haskins, election was certified by the membership unanimously. 

Discussion of the hotel and 1043 Indiana continued. A motion was made and seconded that someone from the group should contact the owner of 1043 Indiana, and report back at he next meeting if possible. The President appointed Rob Farha.

The future of the Homeless Shelter as discussed by the Planning Commission was reported on, and discussed. They seem to be in favor of locating the Homeless Center out on the east side of town providing a bus route can be established. It appears now that the shelter will not have a Drop in Center, and that the one on 10th and Kentucky will stay open. Discussion ensued about whether or not the ONA should support the new shelter plans.

It was proposed and passed unanimously that Brandy Sutton would write a letter on behalf of the ONA in support of the new shelter, and the new management program the shelter will be implementing. 

Lighting issues in the Oread were discussed, and were tabled for a future agenda. 

Rob Farha then explained the problems ONA will have following all the different city government committees, and requested that members volunteer to monitor the various city boards.

Carol von Tersch reported on the Traffic Safety board meeting she attended. They have decided to redo the traffic count in April and it will be on May’s agenda. Carol will attend in may for ONA.

Marci Fransisco volunteered to report on HRC meetings to ONA.

Carol von Tersh volunteered to report on BZA meetings to ONA.

Rob Farha will attend the April 20th study session and report back to ONA.

Rob went to the March 24th Planning Commission meeting and reported on the discussions about the text amendment that occurred at that meeting discussion followed.

This month’s LAN meeting was not attended, but Marci did explain what LAN is. A representative is needed.

CDBG Marci reported that they met and finalized the recommendation for financing of $9425 for ONA after August 1st 2010. This will fund 3 newsletters and a coordinator the phone funds were cut. $59,410 was also authorized for a lighting pathway project. (It is limited to use for areas around South Park. More money could be obtained, but more work must be done to obtain it. Discussion ensued.
The Community Garden water project (The Community Garden is located next to the liquor store on 9th and Mississippi) will be overseen by Tony Backus, who will discuss it with Margene.

New Business:

The Oread Neighborhood Plan which is separate from the Boarding House Text Amendment was discussed. 

It was moved by Lois Schneider and seconded by Serina Hearn that we discuss the plan now and then send a representative to the City Commission Study session on April 20th. This motion and second were withdrawn.

It then was moved by Brandy Sutton and seconded by Serena Hearn that Rob Farha attend the study session and report back at the next ONA meeting and further that we complete our current agenda then extend the meeting in order to have small group discussions on both the text amendment and the plan. The motion passed unanimously.

Steve Watts request to have his home included in the Oread will be placed on the agenda for the next meeting.

Lighting the entire neighborhood was then discussed. Bill Gabby owner of 1220 Louisiana mentioned that the street light by his house is blocked by a tree in the right of way that the city has refused to trim. James Dunn suggested that the city be contacted as it is working on the budget now. It was moved that we appoint someone to talk to the city and student groups to find out about ways to improve lighting. This motion passed and the President, Rose Fuvurly, appointed John Davis and David Holyroid to talk to the city and students, and then report back.

References in the journal World and UDK referring to certain parts of the Oread as the “Student Ghetto” were discussed. It was decided that this would be put on a future agenda.

The need for a revision of the By Laws for ONA was then discussed. Rose appointed a committee of Fadila Boumaza, Rhonda Hicks, James Hicks, Marci Fransisco, and Jon Josserand to submit a revised by laws plan for the May, June, or July meeting.

This concluded the formal agenda the meeting then moved into small group discussions of the Oread Plan and the Proposed Text Amendment. It was moved at 9:00 that the meeting be extended another 20 minutes which passed unanimously, it was then moved again at 9:20 that the meeting be extended another 15 minutes for further small group discussion, which passed unanimously. 

Adjournment was at 9:35.