INC NEWS - DRAFT - Minutes July 2008

[Melissa Rooney]

Thanks for the prompt posting of the minutes. Since Frank read a prepared statement, I presume he gave a copy to the INC. Can we have this statement posted to the listserv as part of the minutes (that's what's done at all my neighborhood meetings when statements are read, and at city council and the BOCC, I think)? This way we get the HBA's concerns/input straight from the horse's mouth...

Thanks in advance,
Melissa





--- On Wed, 7/23/08, Deanna Crossman <deanna at crc32.com> wrote:

> From: Deanna Crossman <deanna at crc32.com>
> Subject: INC NEWS - DRAFT - Minutes July 2008
> To: "INC List RTPNET" <inc-list at rtpnet.org>
> Date: Wednesday, July 23, 2008, 1:04 PM
> Minutes for InterNeighborhood Council
> July 22, 2008
> Herald Sun Building 7pm
> 
> In Attendance
> Deanna Crossman	Walltown
> Jay Levy	Forest Hills
> Courtney James	Forest Hills
> Christina Fish	Morehead Hill
> Melissa Rooney	Fairfield
> Nancy Cox	Hope Valley Farms
> Tine Motley-Pearson	Olive Branch Rd
> Scott Pearson	Olive Branch Rd
> Susan Glowacz	Woods Edge / APS
> Dan Willett	Lall Rd / APS
> Heidi Carter 	Woodcroft
> David Harris	Old Farm
> Mitchell Archer	City of Durham Solid Waste
> Bill Anderson	Duke Park
> Cathy Abernathy	Hope Valley
> Andrew Brown	Duke Student Government
> Cheryl and Mike Shiflett	Northgate Park
> Vicki Westbrook	City of Durham
> Frank Thomas		Home Builders Assoc
> Leslie Page	DRAR
> Colin Crossman	Walltown
> Craigie Sanders	Grove Park
> DeDreana Freeman	Golden Belt
> Antoine Freeman	Golden Belt
> Pat Carstensen		Cross County
> Ken Gasch	Colonial Village
> 
> Welcome and Introductions  7:10pm
> 
> ANNOUNCEMENTS
> 
> 2 changes to the UDO – change language for a minor
> special use permit
> to take into account not just adjoining neighbors, but the
> whole
> neighborhood.  Also more specific language on the
> Development Plan
> with regards to "what you see is what you get." 
> It will be discussed
> at City Council and the County Commissioners.
> 
> NEIGHBORHOOD HERO nomination deadlines August 15th!  Start
> thinking
> about who your neighborhood hero is!  Email
> scjdurham at aol.com.
> 
> West Point Park – the potential purchase of 60 acres just
> south of the
> West Point on the Eno park has been in the news recently to
> protect
> it.  More info at www.fowpp.org  or email Josie at
> riojosie at aol.com
> 
> Durham County Library – over the last 18 months the
> library has been
> the decision to restore or rebuild the Main Library.  July
> 29th they
> are having a meeting for community input (watch for more
> information
> on the listserv).
> 
> UPDATES
> 
> Starting in October, Solid Waste will initiate a pilot
> program to
> pickup bulky items, curbside, for free.  It will be on the
> Monday of
> the first week of the month of your trash pickup.
> 
> Minutes approved from last month as sent on the INC
> listserv.
> 
> Neighborhood Improvement Services – 560-4570 – has a
> new meeting
> facility in the Golden Belt that they can lend to
> neighborhoods.
> 
> Treasurer's Report: $100 dues received this month. 
> $638 in account
> and no expenditures.
> 
> INC is on the way to becoming a 501(c)3 non-profit.  It has
> been
> incorporated and is now a North Carolina non-profit
> corporation.  The
> goal is to allow neighborhoods to come in under the
> non-profit
> umbrella as independent subsidiaries.
> 
> Foreclosure workshop – was a big success!  Over 150
> people attended.
> Thanks to everyone for spreading the word and helping out!
> 
> Elections in September for INC Board.  Spread word out to
> those who
> may be interested.  It's a great way to have a voice
> and be involved!
> Contact Craigie if interested m-
> csanders at kennedycovington.com.
> 
> PRESENTATIONS
> 
> 1) Abandoned Pets due to foreclosure – Susan Glowacz
> With the Animal Protection Society of Durham.  There have
> been an
> average of double digit (22-36%) percent increase in pet
> abandonment
> to the shelters due to foreclosure.  Durham is up 12% for
> this time of
> year.
> 
> People have several options.  Some leave the people in the
> property
> when they abandon it, or let the pet loose when they leave
> to fend for
> themselves.  We don't want this!  Several pets have
> been placed in
> closed closets furthest from doors and windows, probably
> due to
> embarrassment.
> 
> The Humane Society and Animal Protection Society are here
> to help!  If
> someone takes their animal to APS, the APS will provide
> water, food,
> medical help and human interaction.  If you have any
> questions, please
> contact Susan at susan.glowacz at duke.edu.
> 
> 2) Proposed Environmental Resolution – Frank Thomas –
> Home Builders Association
> Concerns over clear-cutting and mass-grading.  Urban
> sprawl,
> affordable housing, and carbon emissions are also important
> concerns.
> Compact, high-density communities are the most
> environmentally
> friendly.  Trinity Park was originally clear-cut and
> mass-graded.  The
> current storm-water rules may be effective, but we
> don't know because
> they aren't well enforced.
> 
> The Home Builders strongly think the primary problem is
> enforcement
> and wholly endorse more fervent enforcement and fines for
> violating
> the existing rules and codes.
> 
> Ken asked if there were ways to incentivize the developers
> to do good
> development and asked Frank to take that back to the Home
> Builder's
> Association.
> 
> Motion from Colin for the delegates to carry this
> resolution to their
> neighborhoods and be prepared to vote at the August
> meeting.  Motion
> passed.
> 
> 3) Durham Water: Tiered Rates and Future Plans – Vicki
> Westbrook
> Look for the tips and details on the new Tiered water rates
> in your
> upcoming water bill.  Tiered rates are not due to the
> drought and
> reduced water revenues (water revenue was stable compared
> to
> estimates, but they did have a lot of one-time expenses
> including
> buying water from other towns, installing the tap at Teer
> Quarry,
> etc).  Rates are often implemented after a 1-2 year study. 
> When they
> were finally approved, Council wanted them implemented by
> summer, so
> their time to study was extremely reduced.
> 
> The goal is to apply the rates to a single family residence
> with an
> individual water meter.  For single family residences, the
> new rates
> will be seen on your September water bill (but the water
> you started
> using July 1st is at the new rate).
> 
> On a hot day like today, it is not uncommon to see a 40%
> increase in
> water consumption due to cooling towers, which is why
> non-residential
> customers are billed at Tier 3.
> 
> Tier 1-2 will see a slight increase in usage ($1.58 per CCF
> to $1.72
> per CCF, plus an increased service charge – likely in the
> range of $10
> every two months).  On their website –
> www.DurhamSavesWater.org for a
> bill calculator that will help you plan for what the
> increases will
> look like.
> 
> Durham Water has the showerhead exchange program.  At
> CenterFest,
> Earth Day, and other events and you can bring your
> showerhead to them
> and get a free 1.5gpm showerhead.  Or, at City Hall, where
> you pay
> your water bill, you can pay $3 for a showerhead (the
> city's cost).
> 
> Coming soon – a high efficiency toilet rebate program for
> owner-occupied single family customers - $100 credit on
> your water
> bill if you have your receipt and proof it's a 1.28gal.
>  It will come
> online (with more information on their website) in August,
> but be
> retroactive to January 2008, so save those receipts!
> 
> Automated meter reading (installed 20,000 at a time) –
> all meters will
> be replaced and automatically read by 2010!  Once you get a
> new meter,
> you will be converted to the new system and be billed
> monthly.
> 
> So Check The Website – www.DurhamSavesWater.org for 111
> Tips to save
> water at home and work.
> 
> Motion to Adjourn 9:05pm.
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