Minutes for April 8, 2013
Meeting Date: Monday, April 8, 2013
Time: 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Place: First Baptist Church, lower level meeting room, 518 N. Franklin Ave.
Attendance: 22 people attended
Meeting started at 7:05 p.m. and adjourned at 9 p.m.
Introductions
Lead: Toby Lathrop
All attendees gave their names and where they lived.
Background of Rocky Bluff Neighborhood Association (RBNA)
Lead: Phil Ryan and Carolyn Janette
Founding father Phil reviewed the start of RBNA related to the development of the Hoyt Park Plan in April 2012. He and his wife Carolyn met with Jule Stroick with the City of Madison to learn the process. A group of neighborhood residents developed a constitution and by-laws after reviewing other neighborhood association’s constitutions. A public meeting was held and RBNA was formed in May 2012.
RBNA gives neighborhood residents a voice with the City in general.
2012 – 2013 RBNA Accomplishments
Lead: Phil and Carolyn
- Developed a Constitution/By-laws, held a public meeting, elected officers (President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer). There are also Street Liaison Officers who connect with neighbors on their street.
- RBNA logo designed by Mike Martin
- Involvement in Hoyt Park Area Joint Neighborhood Plan process – There was a core group of about six people who consistently went to the meetings every 2 – 3 months.
- Email address: rockybluffna@gmail.com
- Facebook page: www.facebook.com/RockyBluffMadison – Like the page!
- Exploring establishment of Friends of Quarry Park
- Website: www.RockyBluffMadison.org. Thanks to Barb Wagner!
- Recent April 5, 2013 Isthmus article reviewed the history of the Hoyt Park area:
- www.isthmus.com/isthmus/article.php?article=39587
Hoyt Park Area Joint Neighborhood Plan and Letter of Support
Lead: Toby
- Plan is available at http://www.cityofmadison.com/planning/HoytParkPlan/ (scroll down to the March 13, 2013 version)
- The plan is basically final – will go to the City Council in late April/May.
- RBNA was successful in having plan changed to better reflect RBNA wishes and concerns
- City is looking for a Letter of Support from RBNA. It is being worked on and will be emailed to RNBA members.
- Issues affecting our neighborhood:
- Sidewalks not desired on Ridge
- Building heights limited on University
- Any Les Chateaux re-development to be in appropriate scale to fit with neighborhood
- There is a traffic study being conducted on the University Avenue corridor from Breese Terrace to Segoe Road. Here’s a link to the online survey open to all residents: www.surveymonkey.com/s/DBVCKW5
- Bus route 14 – Route change proposed by city – meeting on Wednesday, April 10 at 215 Martin Luther King Drive.
Friends of Hoyt Park
Lead: Carolyn
- Friends of Hoyt Park would like a member of Rocky Bluff to be on their Board of Directors.
- The FHP Board meets every month, except August and December, on the 2nd Thursday of the month in the meeting room at Sequoya Library from 6:45 to 8:45 p.m.
- All members and concerned citizens are welcome.
- Upcoming meetings: Thursday, April 11; May 9; June 13
- For more information about Friends of Hoyt Park: www.hoytpark.org
- The Friends encourage RBNA folks to become members. $30 annual membership fee. Become a member at http://www.hoytpark.org/documents/2013memberform.pdf
- Gunnar Anderson volunteered to represent RBNA. Toby will share responsibility with Gunnar.
Amendments to Constitution/Bylaws
Lead: Toby
- Discussion and vote. Each amendment requires a two-thirds vote of those present to pass.
- Geographic boundaries to exclude Hoyt Park – proposed amendment:
- Article 2:
- On the East: Franklin Avenue
- On the South: South side Bluff Street/DuRose Terrace
- This change was requested by Friends of Hoyt Park. Discussion of history of Hoyt Park in that four neighborhood associations border the park and there was a ‘gentlemen’s agreement’ that no one association would have the park in their boundaries. RBNA was not aware of this history or this agreement when RBNA formed in May 2012.
- The Friends of Hoyt Park have a representative from each bordering neighborhood association on their Board.
- Passed with greater than 2/3 vote
- Article 2:
- Meetings – proposed amendments:
- Article 7: Term:
- Meetings will be held at least quarterly.
- Passed with greater than 2/3 vote
- Meetings will be held at least quarterly.
- Article 8: General Membership Meetings
- Meetings will be held at least quarterly.
- Passed with greater than 2/3 vote
- Meetings will be held at least quarterly.
- Special meetings may be called by two officers with at least one week’s notice.
- Passed with greater than 2/3 vote
- In the case of no business to conduct, a quarterly meeting may be canceled by two officers with as much notice given to the membership as possible.
- Did not pass. Greater than 2/3 against.
- Annual meeting will be held in the second quarter of the calendar year (April to June).
- Passed with greater than 2/3 vote (17 for)
- Currently there are 7 meetings per year. Proposed change to 4 quarterly meetings and 1 annual meeting for 5 meetings per year.
- Discussion regarding meeting cancellation – should set up a protocol for this. It is a public meeting and it is better to have the meetings on a regular basis.
- Carolyn will make approved changes to Constitution and By-Laws and will send to Jule Stroick with the City of Madison.
- Article 7: Term:
Election of Officer – Treasurer
Lead: Toby
- Carolyn Janette has volunteered to be treasurer
- Asked for other volunteers – No other volunteers
- Election: Voted in – unanimous
- Contribution jar.
- RBNA has no annual dues and occasionally there are small bills to be paid, like website hosting which is $99 per year.
- There was a ‘Contribution Jar’ in the back of the room and members chipped in what they wanted to the jar.
Garlic Mustard Collection Update
Lead: Betty Bauhs
- Quarry Park garlic mustard collection to coincide with Madison Parks Earth Day Challenge
- Saturday, April 27
- 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Come by any time to the park entrance between Stevens and Barlow Streets
- The city provides collection bags and will can also pick up trash to put in bags.
- Bring your own work or gardening gloves
- Betty developed a flyer and a poster that will be distributed
Street Liaison Officers (SLOs)
Lead: Carolyn
- Reviewed description from Constitution and By-Laws:
- Provide information to people on their street regarding upcoming meetings, ask people about concerns and items they want brought to the Officer’s attention/voted upon.
- Reviewed current SLOs and area assignments
- Judy Kimball is not the liaison for West Harvey to Schmidt Place
- Need a volunteer for Schmidt Place to East Harvey.
- Gunnar Anderson volunteered to cover Harvey for the time being. Still need two volunteers to cover Harvey Street.
Judith Siers-PoissonWest Harvey to Schmidt Place
** Need volunteer
Schmidt Place to East Harvey
** Need volunteer
Barlow
Betty Bauhs
Stevens
Gunnar Anderson
Shepard and Franklin
Nancy Wrenn Bauch
Palomino/DuRose
Andy Manis
McKinley
Julianne Dwyer
Ridge
Jeff Brown
Bluff
Rebecca Laird
Les Chateau Apartments
BJ Haman
- SLOs requested a small flyer be developed that they could personalize that would help them introduce themselves to their neighbors. Suggestion to put liaison’s name on the flyer. Carolyn volunteered to draft a flyer.
- Discussion about how to get information to apartment residents. Some leave flyers on door mat, tape to entrance door. Could try contacting apartment management and asking them for assistance.
Other Business
- Meeting Location
- Whole Foods Community Room – First Baptist Church – is there a preference?
- Yes – people prefer First Baptist Church.
- Meeting Time
- Start time: 6:30 or 7? People prefer 6:30
- Length: Two hours or 1.5 hours? People prefer 1.5 hours.
- Meetings going forward will be from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
- Summer / Fall Plans
- Neighborhood party – Yes people are interested in having a party. A group will start working on this: Gunnar Anderson, David Lohrentz, Barb Wagner, Phil Ryan.
- Membership involvement:
- Sign up for mailing list
- Send an email to rockybluffna@gmail.com with your name, email , and street address OR
- Sign up here today
- “Like” the Facebook page: www.Facebook.com/RockyBluffMadison
Next Meeting
- Monday, June 10, 2013 from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
- Will need to check with First Baptist Church to see if lower level is available.