Meeting Minutes

Click here to download SHNA-EC-meeting -minutes-2019-05-28 (pdf)

In attendance Gary Webber (President), Mathew Paul (Vice President), Joanna Kuczera (Treasurer), Clint Idol (Secretary), Paula Kellogg, Marlene Merrill, Chris Ostrander, Jesus Garcia, Marianne Nieto

Approve February 18 EC minutes, approve Annual Meeting minutes

• Webber moves and Kuczera seconds for February minutes and motions passes unanimously.
• Webber moves and Paul seconds for annual meeting minutes and motion passes unanimously

Treasurer’s Report( Kuczera):
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• Current bank balance is $1,089.45.
• Total membership 142, up from 124 last year
  • Household renewals were down by 6 from last year, but new household members are up from 10 to 34 from last year.
  • Distribution of flyers is thought to have been responsible for increase and attendance at annual meeting

Old Business

• LAN update (Webber)
  • Feb: CDBG grants and HOME Application grants discussed
  • Mar: City of Lawrence has responded to LAN concerns about  Opportunity Zones
  • Apr: Douglas Co. Senior Resource Center seeks help from neighborhood associations in identifying seniors living independently
  • Hugh Carter with Chamber of Commerce discussed Community Benefit component of Plan 2040
• Web Site report (Paul)
  • EC email address has been updated to reflect changes in the EC.
• Update on illegal parking on Crestline after school (Webber)
  • Congestion continues to create perceived hazards during school drop-off and pick-up times. Brad Kempf, WMS Principal,  will be joining the EC when we meet in August. The EC is tasked with coming up with some possible solutions. SRTS plans do involve installation of a sidewalk on Harvard eventually.
• Changes to Ludlum Park (All)
  • Lawrence Parks and Recreation Department (LPRD) has committed approximately 30K to develop the park. A recent survey indicated neighborhood support for a toddler playground. Steve Ozark, an adjacent property owner, has asked for LPRD to clean up the park and keep it clean prior to development. LPRD seems reluctant to promise regular maintenance cost  increases. The EC agrees to continue conversations regarding adoption of the park to keep the maintenance up without the use of pesticides/herbicides.
  • Merrill moves to suggest a multi-use (to include elementary age) playground, seconded by Idol and passed unanimously.  Webber will confirm with Hecker.
• Election of Officers
  • Eliza Darmon is stepping down due to a move from the neighborhood leaving 8 members of the EC.
  • Webber will continue as President and Paul as VP. Kuczera and Idol are ending terms as Treasurer and Secretary respectively.
  • Nieto volunteers to serve a term as Treasurer. Webber moves and Merrill seconds to elect Marianna Nieto and the motion passes unanimously.
  • There are no volunteers to take the position of Secretary. The EC agrees to rotate the responsibility of Secretary until a Secretary can be found.
  • New Neighbor welcome packets: Historically handled by the EC in collaboration with Kimberly Williams. Garcia volunteers to take on the responsibility of coordinating the program.

New Business

• Change to bylaws (Webber):
  • A member has suggested a change to the wording of the SHNA mission statement. Webber proposes to suggest a change in the first paragraph of the bylaws from “whose concerns include, but are not limited to, safety, beautification, residential character and integrity of the area”  to “whose concerns include, but are not limited to, safety, beautification, residential character and integrity of the neighborhood.” during the next annual meeting.
  • The EC discussed staggering renewal of officer terms to avoid a change of multiple officers at one time. This year, for example, we are replacing two of the four officers.  One way would be to make the Secretary’s term two years for this time only.  Then the VP would be replaced next year, the Sec. in two years, and the Treasurer in three years.
• Transit Hub Location (Pees): The city was worked out a deal with the University of Kansas to locate the bus hub along Bob Billings near Crestline. The land is state of Kansas Land, which will be sold to KU Endowment and then leased to the city.
  • Pees has voiced nine concerns with the plans and is not present at this meeting (there has been severe weather at the time of meeting), but the EC agrees to support the concerns of the neighborhood with the upcoming related changes as they affect our neighborhood.
• Community Development Block Grant (Webber)
  • SHNA is now fully qualified to receive CDBG funds.  Webber will investigate the application process for CDBG funds for infrastructure improvements.
• EIN number and not for profit status (Webber)
  • Webber has been in contact with the IRS regarding the EIN. An organizing document must be provided stating that we are a not-for-profit organization and Webber will create and sign; a 990 Form will need to be filed and a $40 fee paid annually.
• Savings account update of signees (Webber)
  • Related to the above 4. Webber and Nieto will meet with Capital Federal to make the bank account signee transition.

New agenda items from participants

• Tornado shelter (Paul): Many homes in this area do not have basements. Area churches are said to open their shelter during severe weather. What is the feasibility of a community shelter? Webber will talk with Brad Kempf (WMS Principal), Paul will visit with Unity Church administration.

Adjourn meeting

• Meeting adjourned at 9:11