College Hill Neighborhood Association Board Meeting

January 6, 2005

Attending:  Mary Brammer, Lynn Nielsen, Jill Lankford, Jeanette Winegarden, Kate McElligatt, Daryl Anderson

Absent:  Tom Reisetter, Mike Prophet, Jana Nelson, Courtney Blake

Mary called the meeting to order.  The November minutes were reviewed and accepted.  Jana was not present to give a Treasurer’s report.  Kate has several outstanding bills relating to the tree lighting.

The tree lighting was discussed briefly.  It was well attended even though the date conflicted with a Lab School event.  Mary would like to see the tree lighting taken over by neighborhood families.

The Board needs to be working on the March newsletter.  This will be a “recruitment” newsletter and will be disseminated to all Overlay residents. There was a brief discussion about the benefits of leafleting versus mailing.  We have mailing labels for all addresses, but the list is 1 1/2 years old so some of the names have changed.  We could use the street addresses but address the mailing to the “Occupant“.  Mary has looked into mailing rates for nonprofit groups. This would only be advantageous if we could use an existing nonprofit organization’s number.  Jill indicated that she knew a UNI student in graphic design who might help with the layout.  Loree Rackstraw will also be helping with the newsletter.   Kate has the mailing labels and the computer discs with the names and addresses.  Mary has asked Board members to suggest topics for articles and to submit articles.  The target date for printing is March 15.  Kate suggested that we ask someone from Developmental Services to address the Nuisance Ordinance and Code Enforcement.  Other suggested topics were the Streetscape project and new businesses on the hill.

We have not been recognizing homeowners and landlords who improve (or maintain) their properties on the website in recent months.  Mary Nielsen has volunteered to take this job over.  Ben Schafer is willing to take the photos.  Mary is willing to write the captions.  Ben is willing to work with us to make the website interactive.

The U.S. Cellular site plan for the cell tower on the hill has been approved by the City Council.  It is expected to be in place in the parking lot behind Tony’s and the O.P. by May.  There may be some further discussion at next Monday’s City Council meeting.  Mary plans to visit each business on the hill to let them know of the Council meeting on Monday and to see if they have any concerns relating to the cell tower.

The CHNA annual meeting will be held on April 7 at the Hearst Center.  The event will include a social our, a short program, and the elections. 

Other issues which were discussed briefly were:  1.)Mary has been lobbying the city officials, the university, and the Visitor’s and Tourism Bureau to establish liaison activities, 2.)in June, candidates for city offices will announce their intentions and next fall we plan to host a candidates’ forum.  Mary reported that one of the at-large positions will be up for election.

Earlier in the year, we asked the Planning Department to update the density study, and they have now done so.  Mary would like to see the information spot checked for accuracy.  She would like to know if all rental properties have been inspected and meet fire codes.  In recent years, the rental inspector has been a part-time position.  Mary asked Kate to prepare a list of 40 rental properties in the Overlay area.  The inspector can run these addresses through the city’s database and report how many of the properties have current inspections and permits.

Mary shared information on the Waterloo/Cedar Falls Community Foundation.  They have made grants for neighborhood projects. She sees this as an “untapped resource”.  Mary would like to see the CHNA have a community center or some kind of physical presence in the neighborhood.  Mary would like Board members to be thinking of projects that we might like to develop.

David Sturch sent letters to interested parties about the Streetscape meeting on January 20 at 4:00 p.m.  Mary feels this initiative is a direct result of our efforts.

Mary passed out copies of the  Overlay ordinance.  She is meeting with the city to discuss each section.  Her hope is that a revision will be finished by the summer.  This ordinance addresses some major issues--landscaping, design elements, detached garages, commercial areas, etc.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m.  The next meeting is on February 3, 2005.

Respectfully submitted,

Kate McElligatt

Board Secretary