A regular board meeting, held at 2198 Main Street, was called to order by LPNA Board President, Deb Dart, at 6:30 PM.
Members attending: Deb Dart, Suzy Hagglund, Chris Jaensch, Kasy Kane, Mike Shade, Betsy Sublette, Barbara Southard.
Members absent Kate Lowman, Dick Sheldon.
Guests: Katherine Rodgers, LP Resident
Agenda:
1. Minutes of February 27, 2007 General Meeting, were provided to board via email prior to meeting. No changes were recommended. A motion was made by Barbara Southard to approve minutes as distributed. It was seconded by Betsy Sublette and carried unanimously.
2. Betsy Sublette gave Treasurer's report for both February and March.
February report
· Checking account balance as of 2/27/2007: $1699.50
· Credits: $145.00 (Dues and donations $55.00, Advertising $90.00)
· Debits: $527.28 ($Newsletter $387.50, CCNA dues $20.00, Stamps, copies, etc. $58.53, FL Department of state-annual report $61.25)
March report
· Current checking account balance: $1684.50
· Credits: $25.00 (Membership)
· Debits: $40.00 (Annual P.O. Box fee)
· A motion was made by Chris Jaensch to accept treasurer's report. It was seconded by Kasy Kane and passed unanimously.
Note: Debbe Dart excused herself from the meeting at 7:00 PM and Suzy Hagglund chaired the meeting thereafter.
3. Mike Shade gave a membership report.
· Mikes report showed the number of paid members in 2006 was less than in 2005.
· Mike plans to send letters to members that donated in 2005, but did not renew in 2006.
· Mike provided a list of members by name, address, and donations for 2005 and 2006.
· The board discussed other means to stimulate membership including a welcome visit to new residents.
· Kasy Kane agreed to visit new residents as they are identified. For example, Mike sent a welcome letter to owners of new home at the corner of Ohio and Oak St, and Kasy agreed to visit them. The board agreed that personal contact with new residents would stimulate membership.
· The board agreed to forward names and addresses to Kasy when new residents move into the neighborhood.
· Chris asked everyone to try to obtain an email address so that new neighbors can be added to the email update list and be made aware of meetings, crime, activities, etc.
· Mike agreed to send all board members electronic copy of membership application so anyone can give it to new LP residents.
4. Newsletter discussion.
· Chris Jaensch provided a copy the newsletter, to be distributed in March/April for board’s review.
· Chris expects black and white copies will be completed by this weekend and ready for distribution.
· Chris advised board that inserting “who to call” flier would be an additional $50.00 by printer.
· Suzy explained she thought “who to call” flier would be personally delivered to residents and volunteered to distribute.
· Board discussed printing April cleanup and tunes information on back of flier.
· Chris suggested membership application be printed on back of flier. After discussion it was decided that residents probably would not want to cut up “who to call” flier in order to submit application.
5. CCNA report given by Mike Shade
· Mike stated recent CCNA activity was limited to candidate forums so he had nothing new to report.
6. City Liaison Update
· Dick Sheldon was not at the meeting; therefore no report was given.
7. Neighborhood Signage
· Board discussed replacement of Laurel Park sign that used to be located on Osprey Avenue, at north entrance to the neighborhood.
· Board agreed since the damaged sign was removed by the city, that the city should pay to replace it.
· Debbe Dart left notes indicating she would query city about sign replacement.
8. 1938 Laurel Street (Child Advocacy Center and CHT housing units)
· Board discussed 3/19 city commission meeting where change to allow non-residential land use on a portion of this site will be heard.
· Deb Dart left a note querying board whether they would like the same letter that was submitted at the neighborhood meetings and the Planning Board meeting to be submitted @ the city commission meeting.
· The board unanimously agreed they would like the same three elements stated at earlier meetings be presented at the city commission meeting in case the developer fails to develop the property, then the modifications would remain in place for the future.
9. Brick Street Plan progress.
· Two board members who had not signed brick street plan and policy forms signed request form.
· Deb Dart and Suzy Hagglund submitted draft brick street plan and policy to Alex Davis-Shaw, city engineer.
· Plan will go to the city commission for final approval.
· Board discussed adding two items to brick street plan and policy: 1.) protection of the original parallel sidewalk layout, and 2.) preservation of original curbing.
· The board agreed that in situations where the sidewalk and curbing had to be replaced that they would like it replaced with sidewalk and curbing in the same style and scale as the existing sidewalks.
· A motion was made by Kasy Kane to request that the brick street plan and policy be revised to include a LP’s desire to preserve the original sidewalk and curbing; and in situations when this is not possible, replacements be made of similar style and scale. This was seconded by Betsy Sublette and unanimously carried by the board.
10. Cottage Walk Sales Office.
· Suzy Hagglund advised board of request by developer to use construction trailer on property as a sales office.
· Suzy advised board zoning code states 6 parking places and landscaping are required for sales office.
· Tim Litchet, Director of Zoning and Code Compliance at the city asked Deb Dart to meet with him to discuss whether he should allow a special use permit for a sales office at Cottage Walk and under what conditions.
· Deb and Suzy Hagglund met with Tim Litchet and Gretchen Schneider on March 6.
· Suzy reported that they asked that Cottage Walk 1.) erect a 6’ fence of solid wood or masked chain link, 2.) not allow traffic to enter or exit to Hawkins Ct (to preserve brick), 3.) that sales office conduct business during daytime hours, 4.) landscape all dirt right of way areas between sidewalk and curb, 5.) no temporary signage placed in right of ways, 6.) any violation of the conditions will nullify the use, 7.) permit expires 1 year from issuance.
· The board asked Suzy if the sales office would be selling properties other than Cottage Walk units.
· Mike Shade asked when Cottage Walk would be erecting their 6’ fence. Mike reminded the board that during the January meeting, Susan Dodd stated a 6’ fence was required as soon as the project went vertical.
· Suzy advised the board she would follow up with Susan Dodd about this and advise board of the answer.
11. Metro Mondays
· Kasy Kane advised the board that Metro Café holds an open mike night on the first Monday of the month.
· Kasy said the hours LP requested, 5:30-7:30, do not present a conflict with open mike, which starts later.
· However, Kasy spoke with some of the folks that attended March 1st and found that they stayed later than 7:30.
· Suzy mentioned that she and Kasy posted signs advertising Metro Monday. Almost every neighbor they encountered while putting out the signs attended.
· Betsy suggested that Monday might not be a good night for a gathering because they can be a tough workday.
· Deb (via note) asked Chris send out an email update to remind neighbors to patronize the Metro Café.
· Kasy said she would check with Betsy, the owner of Metro, to see if she could arrange to hold Metro Mondays on another night of the month.
12. Suzy Hagglund gave a report about the Little 5 Points Stormwater Project
· The city asked Deb Dart for a volunteer to represent the neighborhood in project meetings and Suzy volunteered.
· The city and county wanted one contact from each affected association to coordinate feedback and issues.
· The project will relocate water lines, and install new, much larger stormwater drainage in their place.
· Suzy attended a short meeting to overview the project on March 8.
· Most of the Burns Sq business owners, some Burns Sq. property owners, county representatives, and city representatives, FPL, and the engineer of record, Boyle Engineering, Inc, attended the meeting.
· Attendees were informed of the estimated time frame (4-6 months) for the project.
· Most of the Burns Sq. merchants asked the county to change the project schedule from August-November, to next year, because of the detrimental effect road closures would have on their business.
· The merchants were concerned that road closures in October and November may put them out of business.
· The county said that the project dates can be changed and this can be discussed in more detail at the first project meeting, which is March 15.
· Other issues discussed were recovering and storing brick, workers parking, working hours.
· Suzy said she expects that all of the residents of Laurel Park will be affected by the road closures and will do her best to keep everyone informed about the project and stay on top of residents’ issues.
13. Women’s Exchange
· The board discussed Burn’s Sq merchants request at the March 5 city commission meeting to approach the Women’s Exchange about erecting a parking garage on their site
· Debbe Dart read a letter reminding the commission of the investment the city has made to designate the Women’s Exchange (Sarasota Herald Building) and as a National Register Historic Building, and nominate Laurel Park as a National Register Historic District.
· The commission approved the request to enter into a negotiation with the Women’s exchange.
· The Women’s Exchange was not present at the city commission meeting.
· Chris Jaensch made a motion that the LP Board stays vigilant in its opposition to any parking structure at the Women’s exchange. This was seconded by Kasy Kane and carried unanimously.
14. Neighborhood Cleanup Day
· April 14 2007, 9-11AM
· Jolie McInnis has chaired this event in the past. Kasy Kane agreed to co-chair the event this year and be the chair next year.
· Board agreed that two hours might not be sufficient to spiff up the neighborhood and someone suggested that we might work more than one shift.
· Everyone agreed to email Kasy about any properties needing attention so that Kasy can generate a list.
· Chris agreed to send an email update stating the positive benefits of participation such as neighborhood beautification, safety, a sense of accomplishment, get to know your neighbors, grant money.
· Everyone agreed that they would encourage other LP residents to participate.
· Board agreed to emphasize the need to “sign in” on cleanup day because our grant dollars are tied to the number of volunteer hours that are recorded.
15. Beautification Assistance Team
· Betsy Sublette explained her desire to help neighbors that may not be able to maintain their yards and improve Laurel Park’s curb appeal at the same time.
· Betsy said she’d like to get volunteers together to clean up and beautify the yards of our neighbors whom may be otherwise not able to keep up their yards
· Chris said he would put something in the next newsletter, and suggested we advertise at Tunes in the Park and post on the bulletin board.
· A motion was made by Chris Jaench to name Betsy as head of the Neighborhood Beautification Team. This was seconded by Suzy Hagglund and passed unanimously.
· Betsy said she would research a method we can use to advertise the program that will avoid embarrassment to recipients.
· Betsy asked if any board members wanted to serve on the committee, Suzy Hagglund volunteered.
16. Spring Tunes in the Park
· Date is not firm, but most likely next Tunes in the Park will be held Saturday, April 28.
· Jolie McInnis, chair of the event asked the board to approve a $300.00 budget
· Portion of expenses will be covered by grant money received last year.
· Volunteers are needed to advertise, buy decorations, set up, clean up, etc.
· Board members suggested a donation bowl be available for those who do not bring a dish to share.
· Mike will not be available to man the membership table so another board member will cover.
· It was suggested that Betsy have a table to inform the neighborhood about the Neighborhood Beautification Team and recruit volunteers.
17. D&O Insurance
· The board discussed whether or not directors and officer’s (D&O) insurance would be a good investment LPNA.
· It was discussed that D&O insurance could protect the board members from a nuisance lawsuit and would cost between $1000 and $1500 per year.
· Barb suggested that we get a quote.
· Mike suggested that we find out whether any other neighborhood associations had this coverage.
· Mike offered to check with CCNA representatives to determine if any other neighborhood associations had this coverage.
· Suzy Hagglund with follow up with Deb Dart and Neighborhood Partnership office to determine if any other associations have this type of insurance.
18. Spring Board Meetings
· The board discussed Deb Dart’s suggestion that we hold April and May meetings in the gazebo at Laurel Park.
· Everyone agreed they would like to hold the next meetings there.
· The next meeting date is April 10, 2007 and will be held in the LP gazebo, weather permitting.
Meeting was adjourned at 8:30 PM
Respectfully submitted b