Madison Park

Minutes of Feb. 11, 2008 Madison Park HOA

Feb 18, 2008

Feb. 11, 2008 Madison Park HOA
www.neighborhoodlink.com 28210 Madison Park

Welcome. Meeting called to order at 7:30 by President Marty Doss

38 in Attendance, plus two officers and two speakers

Westover Police Stats- given by Officer Lim
There continues to be a spike in larcenies from autos. In January the crimes:
?• 5000 block of Milford Rd. Damage to a vehicle
?• 5100 block of White Oak. Sweater taken from vehicle
?• 900 block of Stanfield. Purse taken from vehicle
?• 5100 block of Furman Pl. Audio equipment and cd?’s taken from vehicle
?• 4500 block of Wedgewood. Power tools taken from vehicle
?• 5200 block of Glenham. Breaking and entering. Laptop and tv stolen
Officer Hairston said there has been a trend citywide- guys knock on the door during the day. If no one answers, they will kick in the door and rob the home. Officer Hairston reminds you to not open your door if you don?’t recognize the person.
Officer Hairston also reminds us to document the serial numbers on your valuables (tv, computer, electronic equipment), and take pictures of valuables like jewelry. And, as always, dial 911 if you see suspicious people in the neighborhood. Officer Hairston also said if someone runs away from the door to try and get a description of them and their vehicle.

A resident asked about something in the news recently where a woman was pulled over by a man impersonating a cop. Officer Hairston suggests if you are unsure or feel unsafe if unmarked police car tries to pull you over, slow down, turn on your hazard lights and pull over in a well lit area. You call dial *hp (on the highway) or 911 (in the city) and they should be able to tell you if the unmarked car is a legitimate police car.

A resident asked about the corner of Gilmore and Baylor. The residents have seen apparent drug deals take place on the corner. Officer Hairston and Lim suggest trying to get the license tag numbers written down and calling or emailing them at Westover. They can be reached at 704-432-2998 or by email at phairston@cmd.org or glim@cmpd.org


CDOT Vivian Coleman
Murrayhill / Wedgewood Sidewalks
?• CDOT is moving forward this year to install sidewalks on Murrayhill from Woodlawn to Seneca and Wedgewood between Murrayhill and Senneca
?• They plan to have a meeting in about 3 months for all residents that live with ?¼ mile of the area for public comment (they will be sending out notices about this meeting) This is just to address concerns like saving mature trees and to finalize which side of the street the walks will be built on.
?• As of now, they are not sure what side of the street will have the sidewalk.
?• The sidewalk will be 5 foot wide with a planting strip
?• It is harder to retrofit sidewalks into existing older neighborhoods
?• The sidewalks are paid for by street bonds
?• The planned sidewalks are ranked #1 of all City Sidewalk Projects currently.
A resident asked about the bad sidewalks along Tyvola- who should contact to get them repaired. Vivian Coleman said to call 311 to report problems like this. Another resident wanted to know if the sidewalks could be added to the South side of Tyvola Road where the street is so narrow. Vivian said it could be discussed, but no plans were current on doing the South side of Tyvola on Wedgewood Drive.

Here?’s some more general information about sidewalks:
In accordance with the City of Charlotte Sidewalk Retrofit Policy* adopted by the Charlotte City Council on May 23, 2005, residents can formally request a sidewalk be constructed on a City street.

This policy came about after discussion of a group of stakeholders that in part consisted of two of our very own Madison Park residents Judy Bratton and Carole Clark, both served as stakeholders on the discussion that lead to the new policy adopted in May of 2005.

There are four categories (tiers) of sidewalk ranking under this policy. The tiers are primarily based on the traffic volume of each street. The categories are as follows: The new Murrayhill planned sidewalk with connection(s) via Wedgewood Drive to Seneca Place are Tier 3 category sidewalks.

Tier 1: Thoroughfares
Tier 2: Locals and Collectors with traffic volumes
greater than 3000
Tier 3: Locals and Collectors near a park or school
and with traffic volumes between 1000 and 3000
Tier 4: Locals and Collectors with traffic volumes less
than 3000
City Staff will identify and rank sidewalk needs in Tiers 1, 2,
and 3. Tiers 1 and 2 are primarily higher volume roads where there is a need for sidewalks to separate pedestrians from
higher traffic volume (and speeds). Tier 3 identifies sidewalk
needs in areas that are near schools and parks.

Though a resident can contact staff about any location lacking sidewalks, there are certain locations where residents will have to submit a nomination form to get the sidewalk on the Sidewalk Ranking List and submit a petition to get a sidewalk request on the Sidewalk Priority List (Tier 4).


Isaac Moore with Parks and Recs next spoke briefly
?• He works with programs aimed at youth at risk
?• He?’s looking to get programs started at the Marion Deihl center
?• For questions, contact him at 704-432-0098 or Isaac.Moore@mecklenburgCountyNC.gov
?• He also brought a flyer about the 2008 Marion Diehl Youth Baseball groups that are forming for kids aged 5-12 years old. Deadline for registration is 2/29/08. For information, contact Craig.Louallen@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov


Marion Diehl Issue
Tom and Kathy Miller report that water is running off the fields creating a trench that is dumping silt and mud into the creek.
John McClelland reported that the pictures sent by the Miller?’s shows the problem and the issue. He said he will get with others to try and work out a solution.

311 Issues
The HOA fielded multiple questions this month related on 311 issues.
Residents should always go through 311 first to try and resolve issues. If 311 doesn?’t
appear to help then feel free to contact the HOA and we will try and get the proper City Dept. to look at the situation, and remedy the problem if they agree there is a problem. We can also provide you with direct contact info for supervisors most of the time.
One issue that came from multiple sources was a tractor trailer parking in a front yard on Ebb Place and vehicles parking in the front yards of homes on Cooper, Ebb and Longwood. Vehicles cannot be parked on front lawns and doing so subjects the owners to fines or towing. Large trucks over certain weights cannot ever be parked overnight in neighborhoods, expecially in a front yard.

Matching Grants
President Doss attended a matching grants workshop on 2/2/08. He is probably going to attempt to get a grant of some type to help with National Night Out.

25 mph flashing light on Tyvola
President Doss noticed that when he left his street Londonderry Road on Feb. 1, 2008 at 3:25 PM that the flashing light was working at Smith International Language Academy. He returned home at 3:35 PM and noticed the resource officer stepping out into the middle of Tyvola to allow the bus traffic to exit the parking lot. What he noticed was the 25 MPH flashing lights were no longer working. President Doss alerted CDOT and the Principal, Yves Olshausen. Both replied promptly ?…CDOT saying they would have it checked out immediately, and Yves thanking us for being a good neighbor and looking out for the school. When you see things that don?’t seem to be working correctly let someone at 311 know. Don?’t assume someone else has reported it. You might prevent an accident. President Doss assumed this had something to do with the time change, and the timer not being reset for the light.

Edith Clark, on Londonderry Road, reported last week for the second time after requesting information, she has not heard back from CDOT on a street light petition she turned in for an individual light. President Doss has once again contacted Sandy Wise requesting he contact Mrs Clark with any info on her individual light request. If you would like an individual street light call Sandy directly at 704.336.4118 or fax him with details at 704.336.4400. Sandy initially copied President Doss on the following message on 10/18/2007. The following message was sent to Duke Energy requesting a plan be submitted to CDOT on the request.

Todd, please review this and report your findings by submitting a design: Individual Streetlight RQ - Madison Park - Londonderry Rd between 5208 and 5214.
Thank you. Sandy Wise ?– Streetlight Coordinator
Charlotte Department of Transportation
600 East Forth Street
Office (704) 336-4118
Fax (704) 336-4400

SCWWTP Debra Campbell
Debra has been attending the Sugar Creek Waste Water Treatment Plant Stakeholders meetings this year. She reports that there are no plans to expand past their current boundaries. The greenway will be along the creek through the treatment plant. A couple of residents noticed that the odor from the plant seems to have increased recently. Debra Campbell will discuss at the upcoming stakeholders meeting.

Check the Calendar on our web site at www.neighborhoodlink.com 28210 Madison Park for all kinds of important upcoming meetings and invents. Don?’t forget the Neighborhood Symposium on Saturday March 8th, 2008 at the Charlotte Convention Center. There is a link on our web site where you can sign up. You can also call 704.335.2061 to register.
2-9-2008
8:00 AM Rabies Clinic: 8:00am - 11:00am Spay/Neuter Clinic Checkin: 7:00am-8:00am
Animal Shelter 8315 Byrum Dr.
2-11-2008
7:00 PM Madison Park HOA Monthly Meeting
Wedgewood Baptist Church
2-15-2008
12:30 PM 5K Run/Walk to Benefit the Family of Deputy Martin Lawing
McAlpine Creek Park
2-20-2008
6:30 PM Strengthening Your Neighborhood Organization
Freedom Regional Library (1230 Alleghany Street)
2-21-2008
2:00 PM MUMPO Open House
Char-Meck Government Center
2-23-2008
9:00 AM Composting (learn how to compost)
Wedgewood Baptist Church
2-25-2008
2:00 PM P & R Master Plan
2225 Tyvola Road
2-25-2008
6:30 PM Comprehensive Park Master Plan Community
Friendship Missonary Baptist Church
2-26-2008
6:30 PM Building Strong Communication Skills and Strategies
Freedom Regional Library (1230 Alleghany Street)
2-26-2008
6:30 PM 2/26/08 (Tue) Building Strong Communication Skills and Strategies
Freedom Regional Library (1230 A
2-26-2008
6:30 PM Comprehensive Park Master Plan Community
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center
2-27-2008
6:30 PM Park and Recreation Master Plan
Matthews Town Hall
2-28-2008
2:00 PM MUMPO Open House
S. Piedmont Community College
3-8-2008
8:00 AM 13th Annual Neighborhood Symposium
Charlotte Convention Center
3-8-2008
8:00 AM Spay/Neuter Clinic Checkin: 7:00am-8:00am Rabies Clinic: 8:00am - 11:00am
Animal Shelter
3-8-2008
8:00 AM 13th Annual Neighborhood Symposium 8-4
Charlotte Convention Center

Marge Fowler with Wedgewood Baptist Church invites resident to a composting class on Saturday 2/23/08 from 9:00 am until Noon. Anyone that would like to attend this class is welcome.

Open Discussion / Issues / Problems

A resident asked about the portable storage containers that are parked in driveways indefinitely (like the PODS or pack rats). There is no ordinance against these, but Marty suggests contacting the city council members if you think it?’s a problem on this or any issues that there is no policy on. City Council member?’s contacts are on our website. If they see an issue that seems to be occurring city wide they are more apt. to address via a future ordinance. When contacting city council you should contact all four 4 At-Large members, Burgess, Lassiter, Foxx, Peacock along with Andy Dulin our district representative.

Ken Davis- a group of Madison Park board members and just regular members got together to nominate Madison Park in the 2008 Neighborhood Awards. These awards will be announced at the Neighborhood Symposium on 3/08/08. Some of our highlights (the list is very long!):
?• 40+ neighbors attend the monthly meetings
?• Over 4,800 hits a month on our web site
?• We have a functional Neighborhood Watch
?• 500+ attend our National Night Out festival

A resident brought up a question about bad flooding that occurred a few years ago along Mockingbird. You can link from our website to see an interactive flood plain map to see if you are in a flood plain. They were wondering if the city had any plans to buy out any homes. President Doss said to his knowledge the answer is no.

Another resident brought up an article he had recently read about soil and water conservation. You can apply for reimbursement for qualified expenses for conservation. The program is called Urban Cost Share Program. On our web site you can click a link under community pages for more details on this program. For more information visit
http://www.charmeck.org/Departments/LUESA/Water+and+Land+Resources/Programs/Conservation/UCSP.htm

Treasury Report Sue Valentine-Plyler
We have $1,060.22 in the bank with all bills paid. Please pay your 2008 dues now! It is $20 a year. You can send checks to Madison Park Homeowners Association, 5026 Currituck Dr, Charlotte, 28210

Candace Armstrong brought up volunteer project she is involved with. The Augustine Project at St Peters is a group that offers free tutoring to low income children. For more information, please contact Candace at armstrong4300@bellsouth.net

Welcome New Members

Matt Magnasco, the lead petitioner for the Street Lights that were recently installed on Murrayhill and White Oak reports the job is complete. It was noted that at least two lights were out on White Oak. There were a couple of new lights not burning on Murrayhill. Residents can report any street lights not working anywhere in our community by using the online link on our home page at www.neighborhoodlink.com 28210 Madison Park. Just click under community links Report A Street Light outage. http://www.duke-energy.com/north-carolina/service/streetlight-outage.asp Be prepared to give the nearest address or directions to the light being out.

Adjournment