SHNA Executive Committee Meeting
Wednesday, September 6, 2017, 6:00 pm
907 Murrow Ct.

Meeting Minutes

Click here to view or download the EC meeting minutes in pdf format.

In attendance: Gary Webber (President), Kathy Heppert (Vice President), Joanna Kuczera (Treasurer), Clint Idol (Secretary), Paula Kellogg, Susie Nightingale, Faye Hale, Matthew Paul, and Jeanne Pees, Marlene Merrill.

• Treasurer’s Report( Kuczera)
  Click here to view the full report (pdf)
• Old Business
  • LAN update (Heppert)
  • Rockledge update (Idol)
  • Web Site (Paul)
  • Discussion of rental property letter and flyer
  • Schwarz Rd. Neighborhood Watch
• New Business
  • Email newsletter, permission to include Safe Routes meeting announcement (Webber)
  • Walkability survey (Nightingale)
  • Curb and gutter repair, Orchard Lane, Harvard, Rockledge
  • Cutoff date for membership renewal (Wiorkiewicz-Kuczera)
  • Crosswalk of Crestline at Harvard
  • Dedication and vacation of easements, 2515 W. 6^th. (CC Sept 19, 2017
  • Street light update to LED
  • Safe Routes for All Town Hall 2.0
  • Neighborhood cleanup, trash pickup, potluck
  • New agenda items from participants
• Adjourn meeting

• Lawrence Association of Neighborhoods (LAN) Report provided by Kathy Heppert:
  • New Sign Code accepted August 15 by CC
  • Sidewalk Repair funding survey being developed by Charlie Bryan,
    • Sales tax for sidewalk repair was not approved by the CC
  • Parking Regulations –
  • Air BnB – some parking intersection
  • City elections
    • Opportunity to submit questions still open. Questions would be asked of candidates in forum.
  • Bus Transfer (same as “Transit Hub” topic): public comment forums – Lawrence Listens on City website.
  • Neighborhood Reports-
  • September 21 SRTS town hall meeting scheduled at Liberty Hall.
    • Gary Webber and Clint Idol identified as SRTS “Champions,” which will encourage/facilitate SRTS for Sunset Hill Elementary – one additional Champion needs to be identified, 2 more need to be designated for West Middle School.
  • Education in City Planning and Governance
• Rockledge Traffic Calming:
  • Approval being recommended by the Transportation Commission meeting on Monday, Sept 11. Clint Idol to visit with neighbors to encourage attendance and comment.
• Website:
  • Site is up and running. Matthew Paul is donating the hosting for the time being, but the registration does need to be independent at some point.
  • Notes on content: Bylaws, business directory, links to school websites. City resources. Online SHNA membership link: Do we want the ability to pay membership through site? Group decides on a fillable PDF, which would be printable to be mailed in.
  • Donate button being changed from Mathew Paul as recipient. Do we want to tie this to an email address for the Treasurer. Could this affect tax status? Consider editing bylaws next meeting to allow donations without the donor becoming a member.
  • The site should move slowly toward further automation.
  • FAQ section
• Facebook moderator still needed. Invite will be included in neighborhood newsletter
• Rental property letter: Due to recent property acquisition, Matthew Paul to represent landlord concerns at the EC along with Paula Kellogg. The landlord letter was linked to 19 new (landlord) SHNA members in 2017. The landlord letter will not be carried out in ’18, but is being planned for 2018. Primary purpose is to reach out to include all property owners.
• Schwarz Rd neighborhood watch has dissolved, perhaps partly due to discouragement by neighborhood resource officer, and lack of initiative of neighborhood. Program did not reach completion.
• Newsletter  
  • Walkability survey: Contacting the Pedestrian Coalition. This topic intersects with the SRTS townhall meeting. Crosswalk at Harvard across Crestline to be considered by CC.
• Curb and gutter repair: Jeanne prepared curb and gutter repair summary including completed projects and outstanding needs. List to be submitted to Perkins, Soules, and Crist at City of Lawrence.
• Cutoff date for membership renewal: Sept 1, those unpaid will be taken off the membership list.
• Dedication of easements: City Commission meeting on Sept 19 – property at former Cadilac Ranch to be considered as dedication and vacation of easements – 2515 W 6^th
• Street lights being replaced with LED lights – the bulbs that are being installed may be too “blue” or have too long a wavelength. There are complaints that the bulbs are too bright. 4.4 million dollar project from Westar to replace all lights throughout the city. A Nextdoor survey could be considered to poll neighborhood feedback regarding the new bulbs.
• Safe Routes For All town hall meeting – Sept 21 – Mark Fenton to give interactive presentation/polling.
  • A letter was sent to neighborhood associations throughout Lawrence to request donations for this cause/event. Motion made and seconded to donate $25 to the event and this passes unanimously.
• Should we raise membership dues? No, not at this time.  Requires chance in Bylaws.
• Motion made and seconded to coordinate a spring trash pickup in conjunction with the April 2018 annual meeting. Motion passes unanimously.
  • Neighborhood trash pick-up day: trucks come around to collect and/or neighborhood collects trash on streets and sidewalks– neighborhood cleanup. What is not allowed must be stated in the flyer. NOTE: city no longer offers this service.
  • Potluck plans will be developed for the next year, and not coordinated for the same year as trash pick-up/cleanup.
• New Neighbor packets. Paula is working on this, Joanna will assist.
• Applause awards. Nominations to be given to Joan Stone, with information regarding reasons for nomination. Awards will be given in October.
• New agenda items from EC?
• Next meeting considered for 6pm Tuesday, November 28. Kellogg residence 1051 Wellington.
• First 2018 meeting considered for Feb 27. Kellogg residence 1051 Wellington.
• Motion to adjourn, seconded. Meeting adjourns at 7:55.