Steering Committee - District 13

Steering Committee Minutes for April 20, 2004

Apr 26, 2004

Present: Jenny Sangster, Casey Jones, Ray Pierce, David Rhodes, David Marlow, Reggie Paschal, John Gatton, Ron Weston, Steve Clark, Linda Duncan

Absent: Jim Caskey, Inez Lynch

Minutes from the March meeting were read and amended (unofficial Task Force met April 5 instead of April 20 and will meet again as soon as the consultants decide on the cost of doing a combined Neighborhood Plan for Fairdale village and Nash Rd.)


Old Business:

Task Force - The Task Force assembled by Ron must now be recommended to the Mayor who will send this on to Metro Council for approval.

Road pavings - Since our last meeting, Fairdale Rd. and Hornback Park have been paved, and work on Mt. Holly's sidewalks has begun. The plan is for all schools in District 13 to have sidewalks leading from them as far as can be done.

Status of Adult Entertainment Ordinance - Ron reports that this is being modified to be less restrictive and, therefore, more constitutionally acceptable, with time restrictions being placed on the bookstores.

Status of smoking ban - Ron reports that George Melton has proposed that smoking be banned in child-care facilities and restaurants where 75% of the income is derived from food service. Most of the Steering Committee members support this type of limited ban.


New Business:

Discretionary money to schools - Ron has visited our district schools to offer money from the discretionary fund to go toward Youth Services Center / Family Resource Center needs since the state budget has cut education funding. So far, FHS has been granted $2,500 to help pay for the "t-shirt for lunch application" program. This drive helps the school get an accurate picture of students who really qualify for free or reduced lunches and, thus, helps the school to qualify for "at-risk" money provided by federal funding.

Forest - Ron will be making promotional announcements on behalf of Jefferson Memorial Forest, to be aired on Metro TV. These commercial spots wil run at least fifteen minutes per ad.

Signage - Ron is dealing with business owners upset by having to get permits to display signs on their property. Inspectors are citing businesses that do not have these permits, giving them 30 days to acquire permits from IPL or remove their signs. Without the permit process, signage can get out of control and become very unsightly, as it has become inside Fairdale village and elsewhere. David Rhodes suggests a campaign be launched to inform business owners of the ordinance behind permit requirements so that no owner feels picked on.

On memorial signs, the consensus of the Steering Committee is that these are inappropriately located and should be moved to private property rather than placed in right-of-ways.

Ball parks off Stonestreet - A proposed athletic park backing up to Watsonville will be given a public hearing on April 27 at 6:30 p.m. (place?) The owner is seeking a conditional use permit for the land. Steering Committee members are invited to attend.

Neighborhood needs:

Jenny - Check on abandoned Citgo station in front of Furniture Liquidators.

Casey - Is there any way to combine the traffic signals at Fairdale Rd. and Mt. Holly Rd. AND at Mt. Holly and Mitchell Hill?

Ron - The railroad tracks at Fairdal Rd. still need repair. Businesses located within residential areas will be checked on if complaints are turned in to inspectors.

Ray - Need for Metro Council representatives to attend rallies supporting police; need for Pollution Control Board to check on power plants in Indiana that are also contributing to area pollution.

Reggie - Need for information about permits to display banners promoting the Fairdale Fair.

Linda - Need for money to help pay for planting willow trees around Yorktown Lake to help slow down shoreline erosion. Linda will talk to Operation Brightside reps to see what they advise.

Adjourned: 8:00 p.m.
Next meeting: May 18. 2004