South Park Neighborhood Association

SPNA Meeting Minutes 4-2-2007

Quincie Douglas Community Center

The meeting was called to order at 6:37 p.m. by Maggie Gerring, co-chair. Introductions were made and the dues basket was passed. The minutes of the meeting held on March 5, 2007 were approved.

Tucson Police Department was present to hear resident questions and concerns. It was reported that there is a trailer on 31st St. near the alley that is attracting a lot of cars, pedestrians and activity that might be drug related. Another resident reported similar activity near Fremont and 34th St. by the school. A man in that vicinity had tried to sell him drugs. SPNA asked that the drug activity signs be removed because they have been graffittied numerous times and are illegible and look very bad. Parking violations continue to be a problem in Casa de Kino. Officers were asked to patrol the area on Friday and Saturday evenings. Officers were also asked to keep a close eye on peddlars in the neighborhood and make sure they are following the requirements. A new peddlar in the vicinity of 22nd and Park Ave. was in violation for hanging an advertising banner in the trees.

A representative from Quincie Douglas Library announced upcoming activities at the library: Homework help on Tues., Weds. and Thurs. 5:00-7:00; Stay & Play parenting group for families with kids up to 5 years on Weds. 3:30-5:00; Puzzle Up! games for kids on Mon. and Thurs. 4:00-6:00; Bilingual storytime for ages up to 5 years on Mon. at 6:00; Family storytime in English on Tues. at 10:00; Preschool storytime for ages 3 and 4 on Tues. at 11:00; Dia de los ninos/Dia de los Libros Celebration on April 30 6:00 to 8:00 featuring folklorico dancers, puppet show and acoustic guitar music; South Park Crafters are starting a new project on gourd crafts and will have an arts and crafts sale at Art4U gallery at 35th and Park Ave. on May 6th 11:00-4:00; and adult book discussion and memoir-writing groups are being formed now.

On March 27 City Council voted 6-1 to approve the rezoning for the Tucson Marketplace at the Bridges development. In celebration, Eastbourne Developers sent t-shirts and caps that were passed out to residents at the meeting. Drainage and grading will be done first and the work will begin west of Park Ave. to relieve flooding in that area. Next "on property" drainage will be addressed and run-off redirected south under the freeway. It was also reported that a commercial development is being built at Ajo Way and Kino Parkway. It will include a Chevron gasoline station and convenience market, storefronts, and possibly an extended-stay motel. In addition, a new residential community will be built by Stardust Development south of our neighborhood between I-10 and Benson Highway.

Maggie Gerring reported on a meeting she had attended about the peddlar ordinance. The peddlars have to have a valid license and permission of the property owner. They must provide trash receptacles, keep the site clean, and cannot run noisy generators or set up on the right-of-way. Their signs can only be displayed on their vehicle and employees must be present at the site during operating hours. They must close by 11:00 p.m. and cannot open before 6:00 a.m. They must remove their vehicle, equipment, and personal property when they close. Violations can be reported to the police or Department of Neighborhood Resources.

Next the group discussed goals and objectives from the Revisiting South Park Neighborhood report. The topic was Employment and Training which the group thought was timely with the new development going on in the area. The group would like to establish what training sources are already available and what services will be needed in the future so it was suggested that representatives from Urban League and Hope VI be invited to the next meeting to join the discussion.

Announcements printed on the agenda were reviewed and the group was reminded that SPNA still needs a treasurer.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:08 p.m.