South Park Neighborhood Association

SPNA Meeting Minutes, 1-8-2007

Quincie Douglas Community Center

The meeting was called to order at 6:35 p.m. by Shirley Hockett, Co-Chair. Introductions were made and dues were collected. The minutes from the meeting on December 4, 2006 were read and approved.

Officer Beau Wilson was present for the police report, however he is a newly assigned officer and did not have much to share yet. Residents informed him that young men have been throwing rocks in Silverlake Park and have broken several streetlights, and also that young people have been going door-to-door in Casa de Kino offering to clean carpet "for free", possibly as a tactic to case homes for theft.

A list of announcements printed on the agenda was reviewed, and the following items were added:
The Silverlake Park adopt-a-park trash clean-up day will be January 20, 2007 at 9:00 a.m. The first few individuals or families to arrive will receive a small stipend for their assistance.
Tucson Pro Neighborhoods will offer a workshop on graffiti control on January 13, 2007. Registration is required. Call 791-4605 or 882-5885 before noon on January 10.
Barbea Williams passed out flyers about dance classes beginning January 10, 2007. Call 628-7785.

Residents inquired about the progress of development on the Little America site south of 36th St. The Ward 5 representative reported that the pad for phase 1 (concerning the size that buildings can be) has been submitted to Mayor and Council. There is likely to be a public hearing regarding this in February or March. Phase 2 will concern the variance for a "big box" store and is likely to follow in March or April. When actual groundbreaking occurs, it will begin with grading and drainage repair to avoid any further flooding in the future like was experienced in the neighborhood in summer 2006.

The group began to review the South Park Neighborhood Report. Suggestions to boost participation in the neighborhood association included offering food, door prizes, transportation, and calling people to remind them. Those present thought it would be a good idea to have a website and to offer South Park information at Quincie Douglas Center. It was also suggested that a letter be sent to churches and schools to encourage them to be active in the organization. One of the recommendations in the neighborhood report involved drug treatment. There was some question about what drug prevention and treatment programs are already being offered in the area, and it was suggested that a speaker could possibly address this at an upcoming meeting. Discussion of the report will continue at the next meeting with "Safety and Security".

The meeting was adjourned at 8:10 p.m.