South Park Neighborhood Association

SPNA Meeting Minutes 3-3-2008

Quincie Douglas Neighborhood Center

The meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m. by Shirley Hockett, pro tem chair. Following introductions, and with no objections, deviation from the printed agenda allowed some presenters to leave early for other engagements.

Ann Vargas, COT Community Services, introduced Corky Poster, who presented information about the proposed reassignment of the Army Reserve facility on Silverlake under the Base Reassignment and Closing (BRAC) program. He provided a packet explaining the reassignment process and the five proposals submitted. The organizations submitting proposals are: Southern Arizona Regional Emergency Management and Homeland Security (Em. Mgt.), Tucson Planning Council for the Homeless (TPCH), Pima Community College (PCC), COT Parks and Recreation (Parks & Rec), and COPE together with RISE (a recycling program). The first public meeting will be on March 4. More information will be provided at SPNA meetings on May 5 and June 2. There will be two more public meetings on April 22 and June 3. Questions were asked about parking, employment opportunities, and operating hours of proposed facilities. Concerns were raised about increasing the presence of transients in the neighborhood and the possibility of litter and debris from recycling operations.

TPD Officer Clark Burnett provided crime statistics for January and February. Violent crime is up: a homicide in the neighborhood and 2 sexual assaults, 2 robberies, 3 aggravated assaults and 13 assaults, the majority of these causing no injuries. There have also been 7 burglaries, 24 larcenies, 14 motor vehicle thefts, 1 arson, 20 criminal damages, 5 prostitution cases, 29 narcotics (mostly paraphernalia), 5 liquor violations, 17 disturbances and 41 suspicious activities. Officer Mike LaPedus reported that overtime has been approved for 2 officers to patrol Quincie Douglas Library and Center. They are continuing to work drug problems at Mirasol Park. CSO Blair discussed junk vehicles. Vehicles that are not registered and not operational cannot be left in the street, alley or yard and these vehicles can be towed. Approximately 150 residences are being noticed about junk vehicles.

Voni Harris and Pat DeVito from Metropolitan Housing provided a handout and information about the Blanche Johnson Courtyard Apartments on 36th Street. Applications will be accepted beginning March 31 at the ArtCulture Center. There are income limits.

Jim Portner, representing the Bridges Development, introduced Leo Smith, Pima County Flood Control. which will be beginning work on the Bridges project flood control measures. They will be digging a 22 acre retention basin that will be landscaped for recreation and ball fields. A 5-foot underground pipe will drain water from the basin under the freeway to the diversion channel on the south side. Work should begin within the next 60 days.

Bill Seitz spoke about the status of the project to widen 22nd Street and improve the intersection with Kino. The Citizens Advisory Committee is selecting an intersection style and it appears that a "single point urban interchange" with only one signal moves traffic best and creates the fewest number of problems. Kino Parkway will overpass 22nd Street, access to the post office will be changed. Billboards in the area have become an issue lately because residents would like them removed, but they cannot be affected unless the road project needs to take the land that the billboard is built upon.
Shirley reported that the grant to buy books for the children's book club (approved last month) was given to the library. The children will receive the books and meet the author at a book-signing at the library on April 30.

Attention was called to a list of announcements on the agenda. Four door prizes were awarded and the meeting adjourned at 8:00 p.m.