Lewton-Rich Neighborhood Association Minutes

September 18th, 2008

  1. Welcome – 7:05 p.m.
  2. Pledge
  3. Introductions – 29 present
  4. Victor Celentino – County Commissioner.
    1. Working on a balanced budget.
    2. Currently only cutting three positions, may get it down further.
    3. It has been a difficult budget.
    4. South Side 911 tower has been completed and city is accepting testing.
    5. Airport budget is balanced. With layoff up to six persons and five may take early retirement. Lost revenue with losing Delta and be able to hold the current millage. Still trying to encourage other counties share responsibility.
    6. Vic is up for re-election in November; he has appreciated our support in the past and hopes to have it in November.
    7. He wished Principal Wood a successful upcoming year.
  5. Approval of Minutes
    1. Accepted.
  6. Treasurer Report
    1. Previous balance of $209.60
    2. Received grant for $200 for picnic
    3. Cost of picnic was $239.
    4. Current Balance is $150.45
    5. Any contributions are most appreciated
  7. Tony Woods; Principal of New City Academy on Holmes Road.
    1. Tony Woods gave us his history, he taught in Okemos and now works as school leader of New City Academy.
    2. Some of our residence’s children attend.
    3. It is Charter School with Leona Group.
    4. Was formerly a typical urban school, struggling. Now has found a niche in academics.
    5. He has a vision of volunteerism; and be mentored with established leaders.
    6. Currently has fully certified staff, with before and after programs beginning at 6:00 a.m.
    7. Also provides services for parents by meeting with them every two weeks.
    8. Formative and Summative (like MEAP) testing, a goal on the latter, with tutoring until 6:00 p.m.
    9. Slogan; “New Day, New Academy and New You.”
    10. Current population began this year at 77 and is now at 105; 20 staff, six instructors and others. Meals are provided.
    11. Formerly “Hope Academy”.
    12. Asking for volunteers and leaving information for us to read and digest.
  8. Peter Kuehnmuench – Board Member and Representative from CATA speaks.
    1. Life long Lansing residence.
    2. Asking for support for milleage increase on CATA Bus service
    3. Facing shrinking state financing and increase usage.
    4. Currently at 30% by state and shrinking in future to under 20%.
    5. Increased fares 25% - from $1.00 to $1.25 last April. And found 6% increase immediately after, although it was expected to see an initial 8% reduction.
    6. Prior August, a milleage failed and is responding with 7.87mils.
    7. Employees have accepted participating on benefits costs, before this request.
    8. Down town routes are increasing significantly.
    9. CATA is the preferred method alternate to personal transportation.
    10. Bringing in more efficient equipment such as Hybrid Electric and jointed busses.
    11. Response to question: if it fails there will be a 15 to 25% reduction of routes, which will affect Spec Tran and their services.
    12. The milleage will generate about $5 million a year for five years.
    13. MSU services provided by CATA are 100% paid by MSU
    14. The routes provided to Clinton areas are 100% paid by those residents.

Q) What is the occupancy rate? They look mostly empty.

A) Some rush hours busses are full but they do slack off during the day. We appear to be above the typical usage for an area of our size.

Q) Why a big bus on weekend when only five persons are on it rather then a smaller bus?

A)  Not sure why and can hook up you with someone for answer. It is thought they are attempted to be sized. And end of line is different then beginning.

Q) How much Federal money is provided for Spec Tran?

A) It is heavier then normal line.

o.  The bottom line is:  It will only cost $39.50 per year, per home owner to pass this millage.  This is badly needed.  If we do not pass this, many folks who take the bus (those with special needs, etc), will not be able to take Spec Tran, as those routes will be greatly reduced or eliminated.

  1. Marie Irish – Assessor for the City of Lansing
    1. Passed out flyers about the assessment process
    2. Expect that there will be an overall decrease in assessed taxes.
    3. Typically increases are about $50 to $60 dollars a year.
    4. And increase will be determined after study determines values.
    5. Please note that previous owners’ taxes do not represent true and current value. Please call office to get an estimate.
  2. Bishop David Maxwell; Mayors Department of Community Faith Based Initiatives.
    1. Intended to extend power of faith organizations and allows them to have voice in the administration.
    2. Currently there is collaboration on Friday, September 26th with 40 to 50 administrators about alcohol awareness.
    3. Ramadan Diner on September 26th - $20 and will have a diverse attendants.
    4. Saturday, September 20th there will be a Mobile Food Pantry at Pleasant View School on Pleasant Grove Road and they will dispense non-perishable items.

*           There is a registration of picture ID.

Pamphlets:

*           Lansing Now

                        *           Go Green Pledge

    1. Rain has overwhelmed all systems and providing non-financial help to persons affected. It is important to fill out the application if you’ve suffered damage during this time.
    2. Insurance should be the first line of assistance for flood damage.
    3. Can assist with finding local residences to assist and help neighbors.
  1. Police – Sgt. Frank Koenigsknecht

f.        Crime Map is clear for our area.

g.     Area just south of us had several break-ins.

h.     Down turn in economics relate to increase in crimes, and in response, you need to increase habits of locking and preventative measures.

i.        In the Colonial Village area someone left a moped out and it was taken, it should have been put away.

j.        Problems on Victor and Pleasant Grove – the neighbor witnessed it but did not call it in, which prevented K9 from responding and an immediate search.

k.      Truancy is an issue and should be called in.

l.        Recently there was a person ringing door bells to see if homes were empty. Recent report indicated that resident locked door and caught persons trying to enter after ringing.

m.   Property Crimes are up in all regions even outside of Lansing.

Q) I’m a single resident; is it better to leave my car outside indicating occupancy or is it safer to lock it in the garage?

A)     If you leave it out – Lock it and with nothing visible such as money or purse.  Or put it in the garage and use lights to indicate occupancy. (put lights on timers scattered though our your home).

    1. Meridian TWP is having problem with burglary of vans.

Q)  There was a question about a recent phone call to LPD regarding a red pick up loitering for an hour-plus on Hanover. What was the response to the call when caller provided license plate?  The police won’t call back to provide update.

A)   Sgt. will check in to it.

    1. You can get a schedule of school times, to check truancy.
    2. Prevent opportunistic crime.
  1. City Council – Carol Wood and Brain Jeffries and A’Lynne Robinson

Carol Wood

    1. She passed out flood assistance pamphlet.
    2. Provide neighborhoods that qualify for a clean-up to rent a roll off dumpster.
    3. Citizen Observer is a web system providing an email alert of crime status.
    4. Provide samples of graphs of crime rate details.
    5. Oct 6th is the last day to register to vote

*           She brought Voter Register applications.

                      * Mich.gov can download the form.

    1. Michigan Voters Guide
    2. Parks and Recreation Fall and Winter Schedule.

*           There are scholarships for kids under 18 to participate in Lansing Park and Rec programs.

    1. Mayors Office has proposed to eliminate Code Compliance Manager’s Position.

*           Proposed to move responsibility to Building Safety    Manager.

*           Mayor has proposed elimination of nine positions.

A’Lynne Robinson

    1. Cell Tower though IGR, now needs to be sent through Planning Board.
    2. Moratorium is in place and extended until November.

*           One was requested and not assigned until Moratorium.

    1. T-Mobile Law suit for Averill Cell Tower was dropped.
    2. South side surveillance cameras are in place but not operational yet.

*           Police and Neighbors worked as to placement

    1. LPD radio system – has been improved and tested in difficult locations and we look forward to getting feedback on its success.
    2. Host Halloween home

*        Such houses would be a neighborhood center for cider and doughnuts and be a safe location.

*        Each of the three Council persons at tonight’s meeting and the Mayors office offered $25 each (total $100) for LRNA to host one to four homes “Halloween Safe Homes” to cover costs.

Brian Jeffries

    1. Deficit Plan to fill about $3.8M caused by loss of expected incomes.
    2. Working to reduce positions without loosing persons.
    3. Revenue adjustments that are helping.
    4. Golf courses $200K places them in Budget Elimination Plan and allows the issue to be frozen.
    5. Close to taking a motion to accept or reject, and will address it next COW meeting.
    6. Cable TV starting to televise COW meetings. Not just Monday Council Meetings.
    7. Spent a lot of time at today’s COW meeting on the rain event.
    8. Potential sale of North Capital Ramp, (across from LCC), to LCC for $2.7M; the profit should be $3M+ and non-profit should be $3.8M.

*        Currently we get $160K per year. And the city has offices that will then be leased from LCC.

*        Avoids city to be required to make major investment improvements in four years. LCC would invest $5+M on facade.

*        LCC was looking at building a new ramp on other side of street, that would cost $18M. Alternate space could be a new Performing Arts Center.

    1. City Market – Agreement, removed provision to pay back fee to purchase lot.

*           Wage detail information to city to track income tax from outside persons.

*           Preference to local work force.

*           Commitment of property tax to Lansing for 100% -15 yrs from occupancy, regardless if property being sold to non-profit.

  1. Gregg Scrimger – Our Code Compliance Officer
    1. Call Code Compliance Officer Walter Allen if Greg is busy.
    2. House on 1201 Mt. Hope was written up for trash and debris, from eviction.
    3. Public Safety Committee; addressed that eviction does not have to be placed on yard by law. It can be placed in garage or other areas; owner typically chooses yard.
    4. City can declare emergency clean up if debris or material meets criteria.
    5. Working with owners to clean up flood related problems and not write violations.
    6. 2911 Belaire, dumpster in yard.
    7. Local neighbor who had dirt in drive way for 7-8 years or so, now has a drive way that is dirt-free, due to another neighbor reporting his home and sending in a picture to City Pulse as “Eye Soar of the Week”.  Everyone in the entire neighborhood is thankful to that person for doing this, since it was a thorn in everyone’s side!!!
  2. pamphlets either attached to agenda or read aloud:
    1. Personal Identity theft prevention
    2. Pet vaccination
    3. Outdoor classroom build day; Magnet program to build an outdoor classroom at Dwight-Rich.
    4. Capital City Run Sept 8th  
    5. Educational series on Mental Health.
  3. South Side Community (Jonathan Solis) reports:
    1. Project Fresh Coupon $20 coupon books to pass out to seniors (60 yrs or older) for fresh fruits and vegetables. Valid at any farmers market.
    2. Working to be part of FDA to increase number of booklets.
    3. Still waiting for grant – 20 to be chosen to get a farmers market.
  4. Raffle
  5. Adjourn 9:21am

 

Michael P. Flaga, Secretary and Web Master