Sunset Hill Neighborhood Association
2018 Annual Meeting
7:00 p.m. Monday, April 16, 2018
West Middle School Cafeteria

Meeting Minutes

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

• Welcome and introductions of Executive Committee
  • Gary Webber, 3^rd year member, President
  • Clint Idol, 3^rd year member, Secretary
  • Joanna Kuczera, 2^nd year Member, Treasurer
  • Paula Kellogg, 2^nd year Member
  • Faye Hale, 1^st year member
  • Marlene Merrill, 1^st year member
  • Matthew Paul, 1^st year member
  • Jeanne Pees, Past President
• Leaving the Executive Committee
  • Kathy Heppert, 2^nd year member, Vice President
  • Susie Nightingale, 3^rd year member
• Guest Presentations & questions from floor
  • Brian Jimenez, City Code Enforcement Manager
    • Anyone can report a city code violation by filling out a code violation form at https://lawrenceks.org/pds/code_violation/
    • Merger of utility and public works underway
    • Brian oversees property maintenance code issues with a staff of 4
    • Short Term Rental (STR) ordinance is being proposed to the city commission regarding regulation of short term rentals, but details are not available at this time.
    • Q and A:
      • Is there a new ordinance on vacant properties? Not at this time.  Lawrence doesn’t have the same level of vacancy issues as some other cities that have developed ordinances.
      • How tall can the grass be to warrant complaint? – 12 in.
      • Will there be any movement on sidewalk repair? Code Enforcement does not deal with right of way.
      • Do you work with Development Code? Are there updates and when? Yes, that is chapter 20 of the City Code, which can be found online. Amendments are made regularly.
      • Have there been Sign Code changes? In September of last year, city sign code changed. There can be no signs in the right of way and there are certain times, near elections, when candidacy signs can be posted.

• Drew Fennelly, Lawrence Police Neighborhood Resource Officer:
  • Public Affairs Unit addresses nuisance complaints, social media accounts, public education.
  • Stats for the last year in this neighborhood. 12 burglary reports and 15 auto burglary reports, but Sunset Hill was hit less hard than some other neighborhoods.
  • The number of car stops increased in Sunset Hill, due to feedback from the neighborhood. (parked patrol cars are often report writing.)
  • CommunityCrimeMap.com is a good resource for local crime statistics
  • Coffee with a Cop at Briggs Automotive: Meeting with the new Chief of Police. Thursday, 4.19, 9-11.

• Jennifer Ananda, City Commissioner
  • Elected in November
  • 17 year Lawrence resident, formerly practiced law with Boog Highberger
  • Three key platforms or ideas Ananda uses to evaluate decisions that we make
    • Environmental impact of decisions that we make
    • Impact on humans in the community with regard for health and safety
    • Future economic impact
  • Emphasis on visioning, and attention to detail, which Ananda believes she brings to the City Commission.
  • Q and A:
    • Could you update us on the sidewalk repair issue? City Sidewalk repair continues to be a conversation and the district by district evaluation of sidewalks has been given the green light to continue.
    • Could you update us on the Venture Park development? Ground is being leveled. There are 3 properties being built.
    • A member of the audience invites Commissioner Ananda and other commissioners to witness traffic back-up at Kasold and Harvard due to limitation of traffic to one lane with stop signs in the construction zone.
• Treasurer’s Report (Kuczera):
  • Total household members: 65; Ending balance on 4/5/18 was $870.87
  • Please provide an email address when renewing or joining SHNA. This helps us save $ when sending the quarterly newsletter.  If you do not want to receive email, do not provide an address.
    • All expenditures are geared toward improvement of the neighborhood.
    • Donations were made over the last year to block parties, school gardens and the Lawrence Pedestrian Coalition
• Old Business (Webber)
  • 2017 Rental Property letters: Welcome letters were mailed to landlords of SH properties. 19 new members resulted. Letters will be sent every 2 years
  • 2017 Annual Meeting Flyer: Flyers were delivered to residents door steps announcing the annual meeting last year. 38 new meeting attendees in 2017 are credited to this. The flyers will be delivered every 2 years

• New Business (Webber)
  • Summary of 2017 SHNA Executive Committee actions
    • EC Member Matthew Paul created our new SHNA Web site: SunsetHillNA.org
    • Published first SHNA quarterly newsletter
    • Donated $50 each to Sunset Hill Elementary and West Middle School gardens
    • Donated $50 to Sunset Hill Elementary Library in memory of Hazel Stellmacher
    • Contributed $25 to one block party for food
    • Presented 9 Applause Awards for exemplary homes
    • Worked with Public Works to advocate for street maintenance
    • Audited short term rentals in Sunset Hill
    • Hand-delivered 38 “Welcome Neighbor” packets to new SH property owners
    • Assisted Rockledge residents with efforts to calm traffic on that street (unsuccessful)
    • Attended monthly LAN meetings
  • Election of Nominees to SHNA Executive Committee (1-1 year term, 1-3 year term)
    • Eliza Darmon (serving 3rd year of Kathy Heppert’s term as Vice President)
    • Nominations from the floor for one 3-year term
    • Marianna Nieto is nominated for a position on the EC
    • All in attendance vote in favor of nominations
  • Upcoming Events
    • SHNA Cleanup (April 21, 2018): Residents and property owners are encouraged to take time to help clean up their properties and neighborhood.  This is a great time to pick up litter on your block, arrange for the city to haul away large items of trash, cut up and bundle fallen tree limbs, and do the little things that improve the quality of life of all SHNA residents. You can request pickup for bulky items at trash using the online form. If your house is in good shape, offer to help your neighbors, especially the elderly and disabled, with tasks around their homes. Sunset Hill Elementary and West Middle School will participate at 9:30 on Saturday, April 21 (Eliza Darmon) Cleanup of Centennial Park 3pm on April 21 at the gazebo/shelter near the skate park restrooms (Phyllis Farrar)
    • SHNA Potluck (May 5, 2018): The potluck will be held at 5:30 pm, Saturday, May 5, in Centennial Park East Shelter.  The East Shelter is just west of Biemer’s Barbecue and access is off of Ninth St.  SHNA will provide the main dish (barbecue) and we ask Sunset Hill residents to bring side dishes or desserts, non-alcoholic beverages, and plates, cups and utensils.  This is a great opportunity to meet fellow SHNA members and the SHNA officers and executive committee.
  • Neighborhood Issues & Concerns – Common questions
    • Cars speeding on streets – contact David Cronin, City Engineer, to investigate traffic calming
    • Noise – contact Lawrence Police Dept.
    • Drug or suspicious residences – contact Lawrence Police Dept.
    • Code violations – contact the Code Enforcement Division or complete the online form
    • Dog waste – contact Code Enforcement. NOTE: city Ordinance 7125 requires owners of animals to remove waste and to be in possession of a means to remove waste when outside their property.  Exception for physical disability or visual impairment.  Minimum fine is $10 plus court costs.
  • Questions from the floor
    • Could you please discuss sidewalks in more detail? Sidewalks in eight Lawrence districts will be inspected one at a time beginning in January of 2019. The owners of deficient sidewalks will be sent a letter ordering them to make the necessary repairs. If the owner does not make the repair, the city will repair the sidewalk and add the value of the repair to the owner’s property tax plus a 10% administrative fee. The city will generate funds for those in need of sidewalk repair that make 80% or less of the median income, and will share the cost of sidewalks for property owners with more than one sidewalk.
    • Is there an ordinance regarding cats loose in the neighborhood? Yes, a complaint can be made to city code enforcement.
    • Is there an ordinance about barking dogs? Yes, a complaint can be made to city code enforcement.
    • If I shovel my sidewalk and then the city plows and covers my driveway, who is responsible to shovel the driveway again? The resident is responsible.
    • Public Transit Comment: Phyllis Farrar: 5 Routes serve our neighborhood. Phyllis is a point of contact for PTAC (Public Transportation Advisory Committee). 
• Meeting adjourned at 8:14pm