Minutes from April 2, 2000 Meeting

 Meeting was held at the home of Paul Sears 101 Mulberry Street.  

 In attendance were the following:  Darla Iavicola, Bill Malloy, Bob Triggs, Pat Triggs, Don Evans, Jane Hetzel, Ginny White, Paul Kingston, Russ Seelig, Paul Sears, Karen Thomes, Jan Hines and Sandra Collins.

 Meeting was called to order at 7:20pm.

 Motion made for the suspension of rules. Second.  Vote:  all in favor.

Guest Speaker:

  1. Mary Wrobleski, Art teacher from Forest Park Middle School presented information regarding a photography project the students from Photography Club at Forest Park Middle School would like to do in the Forest Park Neighborhood.  Ms. Wrobleski is seeking input on areas, which the students would like to take the pictures, places to display their work and to notify the community that these students will be wandering around taking photos.  The Project is a Photo Essay entitled, “Forest Park Area from A to Z through Our Eyes”.  DISCUSSION-A motion was made to support Ms. Wrobleski and develop a committee to assist her in developing ideas for locations to photograph.  Second.  Vote:  all in favor.  A Committee will be formed consisting of; Paul Sears and Jane Hetzel.  

General Business

Minutes:  A motion to accept the minutes from the last meeting.  Second.  Vote:  all in favor.  There was a question about the number of baskets that are lost/stolen from Food Mart on a monthly basis.  The minutes stated it was 400-some members questioned this number while other members stated they recall hearing the same number.

Treasurer’s report:
A motion to accept the report.  Second.  Voted:  all in favor.  Approximately 400 requests for dues were mailed.  To date 161 have been received.  In the dues request there was an opportunity for people to make a donation to an extra money flow fund.  This extra fund has generated an additional $260.00.  A motion was made to transfer $7,000.00 from the checking account to the money market account.  Second.  Vote:  all in favor.  

Committee Reports:

  1. Community Improvement:  Jan Hines spoke regarding the Dashevsky fund.  Jan has been in contact with the City Forester and he has discouraged any planning in the tree belt.  Jan has driven around the neighborhood scouting locations for beautification planting.  She presented ideas and three areas were selected:  Sumner Terraces, East Alvord and West Alvord triangle and the end of Kenwood Terrace facing Belmont.  She presented planting drought tolerant shrubs.  It would cost approximately 100 per place for a shrub or flowers.  The Park Department would also need to approve any planting.  A motion was made to spend up to $500.00.  Second.  Vote:  all in favor.  A suggestion was made to notify neighbors close to the location of the selected sites for planting to request assistance with planting and maintaining the plants. 
  2. Education:  The main topic of discussion focused on the plans for the Forest Park Middle School building.  The current building plan is not site specific.  The plan is for a sidewalk-to-sidewalk building with no parking for staff and parents.  It would be five stories high enrollment would be for 1,300 students.  A wavier has been submitted with the plan regarding the land size issue.  The City Council votes for the bond to build the School.  A discussion focused on lobbing with City Councilors to voice opinions to reevaluation the plan, the size of enrollment and the possibility for Diamond Match.  There may be a meeting before the end of April and people from both Forest Park and East Forest Park will be invited to attend.  The FPCA would like to see an 800 student building.   A motion was made to support a middle school no larger than 800 students on the current site.  Second.  Vote:  all in favor. 
  3. Historic:  A request has been made by 127-133 Sumner Avenue to replace the windows.
  4. Parks:  Trees near the entrance have recently been removed to allow for an expansion of the entrance drive for a turn around area.  A proposed $145,000.00 improvement plan has been made which includes with widening of the roadway near the entrance.  Trees near the Cyr Arena have also been removed for an expansion of a parking lot.  Motion made for the FPCA encourage tree plantings to off set the removal of trees.  Second.  Vote:  all in favor. Renovations are being planed for the Three Graces and Mausoleum.  The costs are estimated to be $850,000.00.  The Barney Trust will donate $400,000.00.  A motion was made to review the opening of the Trafton Road entrance to the Park during the renovation and instead open the Route 5 entrance for the summer.  Second.  Vote:  all in favor.  The Sumner Avenue entrance will be closed during the renovation of the roadway.
  5. Program/Publicity:  There will be a possible school meeting to discuss the proposed Forest Park Middle School on April 24, 2000 location TBA.  Illumination Night will be June 17, 2000 on Bronson Terrace.
  6. Public Safety:  Ginny White attended the Beat Management Team meeting on April 5, 2000 there were no new statistics regarding crime in the area.  The brick entranceways to the Sumner Avenue Elementary School were removed due to safety concerns. 
  7. X Task Force:  Reminder that the Clean Up day is scheduled for April 15th at 9:00am.  A motion was made for the FPCA to donate $250.00 to the X Main Street Corp for the Farmer’s Market.  Second.  Vote:  all in favor.  Scott Hanson is continuing to work on the lighting situation regarding the installation of historic lights.  Bill Malloy and Richard Marker attended the meeting also.  The lights would be rented and the electric company would maintain them.  The City would pay the monthly rental fee.  Bill Malloy will continue to attend the meetings and provide FPCA with updated information. 
  8. Zoning:  Regarding Leo Valentine and his request for a zone change for 71 Allen Street-the change was approved and it will be send to the City Council for final approval.  It was suggested that surrounding neighbors protest the approval.  Regarding the 42 Bryant Street request to make it a legal three family-this request was defeated 4 to 1 for the variance.  Felix Auto Body on Dickinson recently purchased the old service station on the corner of Johnson and would like to utilize the space for a used car lot.

  

New Business:

There was a donation made by Bob Dashevsky’s daughter to the Dashevsky fund.  Concerned Citizens sold the property at 233 Belmont in February to a Vietnamese family.  The property at 113 Keith Street should be completed in June.  The property at 95 Keith Street also sold.  The property at 46 Forest Park Avenue is currently owned by the City; however, Concerned Citizens will make a proposal to purchase and renovate the home.  The fence at Belmont-Euclid-and Marengo Park should be installed within a month; it was built by students at MCDI.  Concerned Citizens is seeking someone to continue to search the neighborhood for graffiti.  They are also seeking someone to assist with code enforcement.  The position will be a paid position for 3-4 hours a week.  This position will supplement calls already made to code enforcement.

 

The meeting adjourned at 9:50pm.