Overland Park

August 2014 - Minutes

Overland Park Neighborhood Association (OPNA) – August 28 2014

 

Meeting called to order at 6:30 pm by President Catherine Sandy

Present:

Catherine Sandy, Ronnie Crawford, Terry Pasqua, Tracey Hardeman, Paul Bodor, Jim Sample, Judy Greek, Jack Unruh, Ray Ehrenstein, Mara Owen, Andrew Gehauf, Peter Kelly, Kelli Kelly, Jeff Gregory, Jason Crum, Mitch Day, Casey Davenhill, Helene Orr, Kevin Dickson

Agenda

 

• Minutes from July meeting
• Treasurer Report
• Police Report
• Chris Nevitt’s Office
• Trash Removal Update
• Dana Miller – Local Foods
• Michael Bouchard
• Evans Bridge Walkability Update
• Announcements

 

Business

• Minutes from July meeting approved as read. 

 

• Treasurer Report

            Beginning Balance              $429.05

            Deposit/Payments                   00.00

Ending Balance of               $429.05

 

 

• Police Report

No police report this month.

 

• Chris Nevitt’s Office update (Nathan Batchelder)

Nathan spoke regarding the follow up to the Evans Bridge walkability event with Jack (see below). 

 

• Trash talk with Ronnie Crawford

 

Ronnie gave a brief overview of the waste management meetings he has been attending.  The neighborhood is now scheduled for the transition to 2 carts between Nov 3 – 14.  The 2 carts will be one for trash and the other for recycle.  Each house will be issued a new black trash can.  Composting will start later.  Platt Park and Rosedale neighborhoods are first starting early Oct.  There will be a public meeting and postcards sent out in inform us when it will happen.  Educational materials will also be sent.  Large items are still planned for pickup on a quarterly basis.  The waste meetings have finished for now as they are regrouping.  Casey asked about whether with plastic containers, should we keep the lids on or off?  Answer for now is to take them off. 

 

• Local Foods (Dana Miller)

 

Dana Miller from Grow Local Colorado announced that the sustainable food act has passed!  Thanks to city council member Robin Kniech who helped promote.  Information is available on the City website.  www.denvergov.org/homebusiness  To participate, there is a $20 zoning permit required.  Find out about classes if you plan to sell Cottage Foods or to just sell produce at http://www.denverext.colostate.edu

 

Find out more about Plant Grow Share at www.produceforpantries.com or contact the Hunger Free Hotline at 855-855-4626.

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• River Improvements (Michael Bouchard)

 

Michael from Denver Parks and Rec gave an update on the South Platte River Vision which includes 2 projects

1. River project

The following plans are in place now for the River project

1. Florida spillway structure to be removed, replaced with 2-3 ft structure and others up the river.  There will be a low flow channel and wetland benches along the edge.
2. Main Contractor Is Naranjo Civil Constructors who will start October and complete by next June.  Construction access will be on the west side of the river. 
3. The existing 10ft trail will stay and a 5 ft surface walking path will be added winding thru the area and give access down to a river jetty.  More tree planting is planned. 
4. A Time lapse camera will be installed in the Florida area to capture the changes made to the river.
5. Some trees (Siberian elms) will be taken down mid September. 
6. With the upcoming plans for Levitt pavilion consideration has been made to  accommodate any foot bridge over the river.
7. North of Florida, on the west side there are plans for another jetty. 
8. The Florida underpass will be improved to be wider and safer with better visibility.
9. Casey requested that the Audubon Society be contacted with this information as it could affect their Friday gatherings. 

 

1. Pasquinel’s Landing and Grant Frontier Parks (Schedule C). 

Plan to start next February, currently finalizing the design, maybe by October.  Then it will go out for bid with the revised design.  For Pasquinel’s Landing, the proposed channel and island is back in where the existing trail will be pushed to the back near Asbury with a possible small park.  Plans for the playground will stay but may be completed later 2016-2017. 

 

For Grant Frontier park, plans are to also push the existing trail to the back and also the existing parking lot will shift.  Montana City will be the gateway into the observation point where the existing cottonwood tree will remain overlooking the River.  Plan for native wildflowers, retaining walls and informal seating.  Also a gathering area inspired by OPNA solstice parties will include tables.  Plan to be a jetty by the river with an island and secondary channel.  More trees are to be removed by the river to allow for channel and river but they will try to keep the cottonwoods and willows.  Casey asked about the plan for maintenance.  Habitat Management Inc. will have a 2 year contract for maintenance including weed control.  Michael is scheduled to come to the next Sept meeting. 

 

• Evans Bridge Walkability Update (Jack Unruh and Nathan Batchelder)

 

Jack spoke about the Walkability event, a neighborhood activity which happened during Denver Days.  It was meant to continue to bring attention to the bridge that divides and connects Overland Park.  Several members turned out carrying signs related to yielding to pedestrians.  We would like to see a countdown for the existing walkman as  pedestrians currently have no idea how much time is given to navigate the busy intersections entering and exiting Santa Fe.  A few days after the march, we received an email from Chris Nevitt which felt to some of us like push back. 

 

Nathan from Chris Nevitt’s office responded that his office was very happy to have the activity which helps to bring more awareness of the needs of the neighborhood.  Chris’s office thanked us for this great event and encourages us to continue to be the eyes and ears of the neighborhood.  The city continues to be proponents of walkability but since Evans is a state road and Evans bridge a state bridge, battles were fought to widen the existing pedestrian walk and complete the other improvements.  Nathan plans to go to Public Works to have them do an analysis of the existing signage and signals to find out whether anything can be done to improve the current situation.  He believes that our vision of having art on the bridge is a good idea in that it could help slow down the traffic. 

 

A question was raised about possible dedicated pedestrian/bike bridge over Santa Fe at either Jewell or Iliff.  Nathan said that the ped/bike bridge has been in the (Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) for several years now.  With the Levitt Pavilion continuing to move forward, money may become available to complete this project. 

 

Nathan also mentioned about the Walk Denver group who has staff available to do walk audits, community walks, workshops, etc.  They are currently scheduled to be at our next September meeting.

 

 

 

• Announcements and New Business

 

-       Elections for board member positions will happen in the October meeting which is the last meeting of this calendar year and a potluck is also planned for that meeting.

 

-       Jack suggested that the next Solstice party (September 23^rd) should be held in Grant Frontier.  Announcements to follow. 

 

 

 

Meeting adjourned at 8:00 pm.

Next neighborhood meeting will be on Thursday, September 25, 2014, at 6:30 pm at John Collins Church, 2320 South Bannock.  Come join us and find out what is happening in our neighborhood. Also, check us out and Like us on Facebook.

  Overland Park Neighborhood, Colorado

 

 

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