Bay Creek Neighborhood Association

BCNA Meeting Minutes for Monday, May  14, 2001

 

Officers Present: Amy Turner, Jennifer Zahn

Members Present: Annette Czarnecki, Ben Kadel, Matt Sloan, Jim Winkle, Kristin Hart, Maureen Quinland, Rose Brothers, Daina Zemliauskas, Bob Lockhart, Judy Amburn, Theresa MacDonald, Anonymous, Darwin Carpenter, Betty Carpenter, Kyle Richmond

Guests: None

 

The meeting began at 6:30 pm.

Facilitator: Ben Kadel

Minute Taker: Jennifer Zahn

 

Committee Reports

Treasurer (JZ will call Candace & Steve and get updated info)

• $xxx.xx total in our account
• $xxx.xx in membership
• $xxx.xx in newsletter
• $xxx.xx in web site

 

Contact Person

• Documents and news shared about the following organizations and events:
• WYOU Channel 4 publication
• Community Open Space Summit / Urban Open Space Foundation
• Department of Planning & Development - demoltion of 224 Van Deusen Street; building new single family home
• Neighborhood Conference - Saturday, September 15
• Mad City Marathon through our neighborhood Sunday May 27; Starts 7:30 am, ends at Olin Park; Need for aid station volunteers
• Certified Bicycle Instructor course June 9-10 through Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin. Registration $175
• Request for Information to include in September 15th Neighborhood Conference newsletter; southside tour this year

 

Some Discussion on the Following:

• Lakes & Watershed / Yahara Lakes Week 2001; Stake in the Lakes event June 16-24. Concerns voiced about litter around the lake and bay voiced by many neighbors. Theresa suggested we get involved in Stake in the Lakes event formally. She & Kyle Richmond will organize a BCNA event.

 

Newsletter

• Next newsletter (June / July issue) distributed first week of June.
• Following issue has story deadline of July 9.
• Looking for articles complete with photos and drawings. 500 word maximum.
• Send info to editor or Chris Wagoner (if little to no editing necessary).

 

SMPC

• Join the SMPC at the Park Street Revitilization Forum: Monday, June 4, 6-8 pm at the Labor Temple. Theme is “From possibilities to Reality.” Food and cash incentive ($50) to neighborhood association with most attendees!

 

Welcome

• Committee met 6-6:30 pm on May 14th (immediately prior to BCNA meeting). Jennifer Zahn, Annette Czarnecki, Ben Kadel & Rose Brothers present.
• Follow up needed to find out new neighbors (both renters and owners).
• How do we welcome those who have been around for a while, too, not just the new folks?
• Block Captain system mentioned as an important tool in the “new neighbor discovery” process.
• Focus on promoting awareness of BCNA. Use July 4th picnic and other established events (Rummage Sale) to increase awareness. (See July 4th Picnic below for more info.)
• Rose interested in creating an inventory of every small business in the neighborhood, starting with newsletter advertisers. Long-term project.
• Annette mentioned creation of a Welcoming Packet with coupons, immediate neighbor phone tree, more.
• JZ will create laminated “Welcome to Bay Creek Neighborhood Association!” sign for our Monday meetings.
• Kyle Richmond has finished the BCNA welcome brochure.

 

Web

• Posting police reports from Captain Gaber every 3-4 weeks.
• Posting minutes every month.

 

Sign

• No reports.

 

Alder

• South & West Shore Drive replacing forced sewer main. West Shore will be closed off at W Washington & speed bumps added.
• East Lakeside Street will have some utility lines buried.
• Two speed lines laid across Lakeside Street near Franklin School / railroad tracks. Measuring number of people and speed.
• Matt’s working with a colleague on securing special fund for Traffic Calming opportunities, especially around schools.
• Redistricting information: After the census, Bay Creek is kept whole and not affected by redistricting. 13th District includes Bram’s, Greenbush, Bay View, Brittingham, a bit of Vilas and Bay Creek.
• Change with county redistricting is substantial: xxx??
• Alder Sloan in sponsoring an ordinance to require developers to notify neighborhood associations 30 days in advance prior to pursuing any action with the City. Case in point: Late notice on Van Deusen demolition mentioned in Contact Report above.
• Alder Sloan will also follow up with Captain Gaber on heavy morning traffic at Lakeside and Park Streets; concerns voiced during meeting; there have been numerous calls to police with little follow up witnessed.

 

July 4th Picnic: Contact Bonnie Schmidt to help. Discussion suggested some neighbors felt this event was targeted moreso as a kids/parents event rather than an all-inclusive event. Event ideas included: games for kids; sports for all (MSCR loans out sports equipment at low- to no-cost); potluck; Franklin Field activities including tennis; plant exchange “If you can’t bring children, bring a plant!”; low- to no-cost band with own PA; welcoming committee display on BCNA issues, ways to get involved (volunteer projects per Wortsman brainstorming?), due payment center?; dessert fundraiser (families donate a dessert; you buy what you want; funds go to general BCNA account).

 

Promotion for event includes notice in BCNA bulletin, including Bonnie Schmidt’s contact information. Also, Jennifer Zahn will create handbills with July 4th Potluck info on one side, short needs assessment on other side (name & contact info; what issues are important to you? what special tools/skills are you willing to share with your neighbors?). Turn in handbill at July 4th event to register for prize / raffle. Hand out handbills by walking through neighborhood. Walkers include: Jennifer Zahn, Ben Kadel, Kyle Richmond, Bob Lockhart, Daina Zemliauskas, Annette Czarnecki.

 

Rummage Sale is moved to August 25th. Rose Brothers volunteered to create a list of all addresses involved & map. Church is relieved of date change. If you have items for the rummage but don’t want to host a rummage site, here are two options: 1) Ask your neighbor to sell them for you; 2) Donate them to the BCNA Sale Area, where funds raised will go toward the BCNA general fund. Contact Amy Turner if you have items you wish to donate.

 

Franklin School Outdoor Class is looking for some adult volunteers. Projects will take school children to Bernie’s Beach to plant some flowers, etc. Interested? Talk to Bonnie Schmidt.

 

Bay Creek EcoTeams: From the original Bay Creek Team, the Tadpoles, spawned the Bay Creeps. Creeps recently wrapped up their last meeting, entitled Empowering Others. After a summer break, they will reconvene in August or early September to host an Introduction Meeting. This is an event where new households can sign up and get involved. Participants gather with 5-8 other area households, learn about different ways to lessen your ecological footprint (cut back on energy usage, water consumption) and really get to know your neighbors. After about 15% of our neighborhood households (209) get involved, it is thought that the practices taught in the EcoTeams curriculum will become a part of the neighborhood’s natural functioning. If you’re interested in joining a Bay Creek EcoTeam, contact Jennifer Zahn.

 

Community Adolescent Project exceeded their fundraising goal by 40%! Thanks to all who contributed.

 

Grant Update: Craft Shed / Art Cart project (April 9 minutes; grant application) has not been pursued this year. However, the grant application for the Franklin School Initiative (Lunch Buddy program) has been turned in.

 

Next Meeting Facilitator: Maureen Quinlan

Jodi Wortsman, the SMPC Volunteer Coordinator, will be back for the June BCNA meeting.

 

Meeting adjourned at 7:45 pm.