Saturday, March 23, 2013

GH &WBT Minutes March 18, 2013

Opening and agenda-Samuel 
*MPD D5 Presentation-Officer Osiewalski
} Statistics and trends in neighborhood-low in crime, Contact Sheets-updated
} Select Milwaukee Program information
} Residents questioned number of officers on duty at a time to respond to complaints and if there are enough as some wait times are exceptionally long. In addition, residents asked about police response to noise complaints and the ability to do so anonymously.

Voter Registration- Cecelia, neighborhood deputy register 
}  Process of registering-mail in/absentee, in-person, at polls, is available to register at homes
}  Next date to vote-April 2nd

Residency and bills- Senator Lena Taylor
ØAbsentee ballots have started.
ØBallot includes school board, County supervisor, judges, and referendum
ØSupport for residency for all employees
ØInformation about two controversial bills being pardons and county board: Ab82 and Ab85.
ØFarm credits to increase urban farming for jobs and self-sufficiency also up for discussion

County Board Update- Supervisor Johnson
>Supervisor Johnson answered questions about the pending legislation regarding the county board.  Residents are concerned that their issues will not be addressed nor their voices heard on quality of life issues.  More detail about the legislation, its impact, and comparisons to other counties were requested.  Supervisor passed out a county comparison guide and agreed to host a listening session in April.

Renaissance Place- Malcolm Martin.   This place of venue is still controversial.  Those residents closer to the 4101 N. Port Washington have concerns.  Those a little farther away were still concerned if the venue is a tavern but as described a vote was taken.  The neighborhood was given the following description of the place.
ØThe venue is a private event venue geared to adults 40 and over for the following types of activities.  The group was told that Mr. Martin was told by someone in the licensing department to put the age of “30” on the application but he wanted to create a “niche for the mature adult 40 and over.”
Ø The types of events described to be held there are Weddings, Rehearsal dinners, Showers. Anniversary celebrations, Retirement parties, Fund-raising events, and Birthday parties.
ØThe group was told that the venue is not a tavern and will only have liquor when a special event permit was granted to distribute liquor and told that there are a limited number per year.  This statement was further clarified by for Mayor Marvin Pratt, that there are a limited amount and a request must be turned in prior to event.
ØThe group was told that the people would only be allowed inside the establishment if their names appeared on a guest list and If not, they would not be allowed on the premises.
ØThe group was told events would end and to respect the neighborhood request due to noise concerns, all guests would depart from parking lots and premises by 12 midnight.
ØThe group was informed that the owner would live on the premises.
ØThe group was told that the days of operation would be the weekends: Fri, Sat, and Sun. Later, during questioning, he added Thurs.  So the days of operation were explained as Thurs-Saturday.
ØThe group was told that an agreement to use the parking lot of Froze at 4067 N. Port Washington was in place.
ØThe group was told that security would be on the premises.
Given this information a vote was taken.  Out of the individuals present 14 were in favor and 4 not in favor 6 abstaining.  Three individuals who voted for the tavern were not residents or official gov’t representatives of the area, but had been customers of previous businesses of Mr. Martin.  Some individuals called into question that many of the ayes were from individuals who do not live directly around, behind or across from the site.  They were encouraged to speak their concerns at the upcoming licensing hearing.
 
Community Needs Assessment-Pastor Calhoun 
}  Please answer the following and email in your responses (groverheights@gmail.com).
}  Gender, age, employment status, educational level, length of residency in the community
}  What are the problems/concerns/issues you see in the community?
}  What are the needs of the community as you see it?
}  What would you like to see done in the community?
}  What is your vision for the community?
}  Pastor Calhoun extended camps as part of the Healthy schools safe start initiative.

Neighborhood updates and committees & volunteers-board and committee representatives 
ØSecretary/treasurer report given that accounted for any kind of donations and for the types of activities for which donations were received.

Updates and needed volunteers for monitoring- Road construction reminder- Betty
}  Accomplishments 2012-Meetings with Lalonde as work was taking place, traffic lights updated with countdowns, rekeyed stop signs, reinspection of the Capitol Bridge, sewer relining, some work done on 6th street, alley pavings 6-8th streets (40 &4100), sewers cleaned and vacuumed over the area, inlets placed in sewers, traffic controls on Capitol and Port Washington , investigation and monitoring of traffic at Fiebrantz and Port Washington, Keefe Ave. work completed, work completed on Keefe, King, and Seventh, Speed signs investigated and some installed (others yet to be), north/south yield sign at 6th and Abert, mowing on Capitol and 8th Streets
ØScheduled work for 2013 includes repainting of lines in street, traffic control and parking signs for Messmer area, stop lights installed on Port and Capitol, possible digging up of 6-8th streets, work to be completed on Fiebrantz, need to call Alderwoman and MMSD/DPW to be considered on project list for sewer laterals installed and dirt issues on Port Washington, BID contracts for Capitol and 8th Streets

First Clean Up-April 20, 2013
}  Everyone in the neighborhood is asked to clean the area, especially their front, back, street, sewers, and alleys around their home. 
}  Dumpsters are tentatively scheduled for placement at 8th and Fiebrantz and 6th and Vienna/Abert.
}  Time is 10am-4pm.
}  Bags, brooms, etc…for general neighborhood pick up.
}  We need additional people and youngsters (at least 15)  who will clean the area in general besides just the home area.  Cleaning area is from Olive to Keefe and from Port Washington to Martin Luther King Dr.

Elderly assist committee-Rick
}  Assist elderly in running errands.
}  Call them weekly to make sure that everything is fine or if there are complaints.
}  Call them to see what resources they need and connect them to programs.
 }  Get a major contact number and email for each elder.
}  Assist with mowing or snow removal even at no cost to them.

*New projects and announcement for 2013-
Health and Environmental Concerns-Samuel
}  Issues to research:  general health of seniors in the area and causes of death of those in the area who were seniors
}  EPA reports of environmental hazards from freeway, various traffic ways, towers, cementary, water systems, and transformation of former uses of land to current uses
}  Funding for areas that have the kinds of environmental concerns.
}  Kinds of health issues that are chronic in the area:  asthma, ovarian cancer, other lung and breathing problems, nose bleeds, etc….
}  Where to find kinds of information:  EPA, City Plans, Research, Research
}  Residents brought up the fact that the housing abandoned and vacant number has risen to 44,that two buildings were razed and residents did not receive notifications.  It was also brought up the fact that enotify is not enough because not everyone has computers, the internet, and a lot of the residents are elders who do not have the access to that information and that City Hall or whichever department needs to do a better job of keeping residents informed of developments in the area.  Several residents expressed concerns that no paper notices were received for several things.  There were also some concerns about hazards and what protections are used to ensure resident safety and nonendangerment to health when razing a building.  One resident used how asbestos was being removed when classes were going on in Milwaukee schools.  She questioned the precautions in neighborhoods.
}  There were also questions raised about Common Ground, use of funds, dispersal in other areas, determination of areas for repair,  and other funding for housing and development projects.  Other questions re: funding, is the concentration of funds in one area.

Announcements from Supervisor Johnson and Alderwoman Coggs
}  County Supervisor Listening Session held 3rd Monday in April at Grace Fellowship from 6-7:30pm. 
}  County Supervisor Activities
}  Post Office Hiring –usps.com/employment
}  Tips from Mil Citizens about MPD call 1-855-544-5132 or email at community.milwaukee@usdoj.gov
}  Alderwoman Coggs’ Girls’ Day March 20th at City hall call 286-2994 for more info.
}  New Ordinance re: smoke Detectors with 10 year batteries start June 1, 2013 complaince by Oct 1, 2017.
}  Call 608-266-1212 if you agree with maintaining residency
Earn and Learn Intership Applications due April 5, 2013 for our Yourh. $7.25 an hour www.milwaukee.gov/syip

Closing-Samuel

}  Reminder to sign up for committees.
}  Reminder:  Leadership third Saturday in April.
}  Reminder:  Next general block club meeting third Monday in April
}  Reminder:  Contact committees before next meeting and prepare some reports.
}  Thank you to the distribution committee:  Officer Osiewalski, Gracelyn Wilson, Betty, Diana, Elsie, Reggie, Rick, Samuel, Churchill, Carolyn, and Andrea
}  Thank you to the leadership coach Dr. Calhoun and Grace Fellowship for hosting the meeting.
}  Thank you to Betty of Westside MBC for refreshments and other in kind donations.



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