Overland Park

May 2009 Meeting Minutes

Jun 01, 2009

Overland Neighborhood Association Minutes of 5/28/09:

Present: Catherine Sandy (President), Michelle Roof (Treasurer), Belin Fieldson, Kevin Dickson, James T. Sample, Mary Ann McCann, Steven & Glenda Edgar, Marlane Brewer, Ray Ehrenstein, Jennifer Redies (representing City Council Dist. 7) and Denver Police Officers Bouhana and Evans.

President Sandy called the meeting to order at 6:38 PM at John Collins Church 2320 South Bannock, Denver.

Minutes from the last meeting recorded by ONA Secretary Charley (Impeachable Offense) Samson were read by Ray Ehrenstein, then Approved. Treasurer Roof reported $1,032.31 being held in our account. After Sandy included a $50.00 fee paid to the City for our RNO registration. Roof's report was also Approved.

President Sandy explained our Overland neighbor's involvement with the Inter-Neighborhood Cooperation which is a city wide group of Registered Neighborhood Organizations, RNOs (about 70 different neighborhoods) of which we are a member, for a yearly charge of $35.00.
Folks were encouraged to pay their miniscule $5.00 per household membership dues which entitles them to vote in our yearly elections. Business memberships are $35.00 a year.

Catherine Sandy recognized and greeted first time attendees Glenda & Steven Edgar and apologized for omitting this welcome in meetings past and plans to be sure to do so in future. Also she agreed with member Mary Ann McCann that meetings need not be limited to a strict "one hour" but be flexible enough to fit the circumstances.

Then Officer Evans presented a police report regarding Overland and explained that we will be experiencing the "Broken Windows" program which will supply more "Police presence" for our neighborhood. Officer Evans said this program has been shown to decrease gang activity, graffiti and other criminal acts.

He and Officer Bouhana then took information from neighbors who were having problems with drug dealing and other illegal activities on their block. President Sandy photo-copied several documents from the affected neighbors for the officers and Officer Bouhana promised increased police involvement... (including some extraordinary efforts which shall remain unreported to increase the likelihood of success against the miscreants). He also stressed the need for " three signed complaints over a period of six months" from neighbors and also suggested contacting the "Nuisance Abatement" Department for certain other problems. He said, "It's not a fast process sometimes"...but we neighbors should persevere.

Jennifer Redies from Councilman Nevitt's office also addressed the distressed neighbors whom she had spoken with earlier and suggested they meet personally with Council Member Nevitt. Then on Thursday June 4th from 6 to 8 PM, Redies said neighbors should again gather at John Collins to participate in a very important District 7 "New Zoning Code Meeting" with the city's zoning staff and presenters, to view maps and learn how the city's new code will affect us all. Redies promised flyers would be delivered to President Sandy for some of us volunteers to distribute door-to-door to alert our neighbors to this important meeting. Marlane Brewer also offered to help distribute the flyers.

We learned that Kevin Dickson and J.C. have lots available for community gardens...behind J.C.'s EMW Furniture and Kevin's lot is at 2101 S. Cherokee. Neither property is fenced but Kevin said fencing might be obtained through "Ground Breaking Denver". He said he would be willing to fill large containers with water from his adjoining property. Belin Fieldson also suggested that "Habitat for Humanity" might donate fences.

It was agreed that Overland should continue posting it's meeting minutes and other pertinent information on the Neighborhood Link currently used at www.neighborhoodlink.com/denver/overland/ and that residents are encouraged to use this resource for communicating.

It was posited by Sandy to have another one page notice printed for distribution to all homes in Overland to inform the neighbors of the next ONA June meeting on Thursday the 25th when the election of our officers will be held. President Sandy believed that the same firm which formerly printed our newsletter (although they have moved to a location on Santa Fe Drive) would "still give us a good price on printing".

Treasurer Michelle Roof expressed interest in remaining in office and as a member pointed out, Ms Roof has recently completed Accounting courses which should make her even more suited for this position. Charley Samson said earlier to a member that "He would be willing to run for Secretary". Otherwise, President Sandy said that all positions including President and Vice-President are open for aspiring candidates. Jim Sample expressed the hope that President Sandy would run again.

The President announced the annual yard sale. She was asking the member's present when they felt would be the best time to hold this multi-household event. She said the $10.00 fee for participating households should be waved this year and suggested merely that donations be made by participants to ONA. She pointed out that the signs which direct folks to the various blocks are already printed and paid for from last year and we agreed they could be re-used. We then agreed on Saturday September 12, 2009 for the sale day.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:43 PM.

RE for CS