INC NEWS - DRAFT Minutes June Meeting

[Deanna Crossman]

Minutes for InterNeighborhood Council
May 27, 2008
Herald Sun Building 7pm

In Attendance
David Harris		Old Farm
Melissa Rooney	Fairfield
Myers Sugg		Tuscaloosa Lakewood
Rosemarie Kitchin	Falconbridge
Annette Smith		Durham Parks and Rec
Deanna Crossman	Walltown
Colin Crossman	 Walltown
Emily Weinstein	  Colony Woods
Cathy Abernathy  Hope Valley
Ellen Whitaker	Morehead Hill
Amanda Arrington	N Garrett Rd
Bill Anderson		Duke Park
Craigie Sanders	Grove Park
Ken Gasch		Colonial Village
Tina Motley-Pearson	Olive Branch Rd
Scott Pearson		Olive Branch Rd
Mary Beth San Filipo	Olive Branch Rd
Tracy San Filipo	Olive Branch Rd
Ellie Mayer		Woodcroft
Mike Shiflett		Northgate Park
Cheryl Shiflett		Northgate Park
Jay Levy		Forest Hills
Marty Wilaby		Hope Valley North
Todd Twigg		Tuscaloosa Lakewood
Phillip Barron		Old West Durham
Cynthia Mebane-Watter	NIS
Nancy Cox		Hope Valley
Scott Carter		Woodcroft
DeDreana Freeman	Golden Belt
Fran Lerner		Colony Park	
Dorothy Gianturco	Colony Park


Welcome and Introductions  7:10pm

Amanda Arrington -- Proposed Ban on the Continuous Chaining of Dogs –
Coalition to Unchain Dogs
	Chair of the Animal Control Advisory Committee.  Since Sept '06,
tasked with examining whether or not it was possible/feasible to ban
the continuous chaining of dogs in Durham.  Their recommendation is
that we should.
	Chained dogs are notorious for becoming aggressive and can cause
injury.  Also, most are not licensed or vaccinated.  It's a safety
issue for the dog, as well, and contributes to unwanted litters (since
without a fence, un-fixed dogs are freely accessible to roaming other
dogs).
	The coalition has unchained 100 dogs in Durham so far.  Ever county
with an ordinance like this has seen a reduction of dog bites and
animal cruelty calls.  They have not seen a prolonged spike in
abandoned dogs.
	There will be a 12-month education period, followed by a 3-month
phase-in period (where only warnings are issued).  After that, the
offender will still receive a warning at first, before the dog is
removed.
	This issue will be on the County Commissioners work session in August
and could be on the agenda as early as September.  At that point,
they'll need people who support the proposed ban to come to the
commissioners meeting to show their support.
	You can find out more information on their website,
UnchainedDogs.net.  If you're interested, they always need volunteers
to help build fences!  Contact them!

Melissa Rooney -- Clear-cutting and Mass-grading in South Durham
	Here to talk about the Tree Save Resolution.  Many developments in
South Durham clear-cut and that leads to sedimentation, run-ff,
erosion, and water quality issues.  $334 million is going toward
cleaning up the watershed right now (according to the Herald Sun).
	There are tree-save requirements in the ordinance, but there is no
clear-cutting ban, so the developers tend to clear-cut most of the
plot, and leave trees around 1 or 2 edges.  The ordinance dictates to
save a certain number of trees per acre, but they do not have to leave
trees on each acre.
	She's been fighting developments on an individual basis, and working
on the new conservation subdivision ordinances that just passed.
She's drawn up a tree-save resolution (that's been posted on the
listserv) that's been discussed with the Sierra Club, County
Commissioners, Planning commission, and many others.
	If you're interested, you should express that to the Planning Dept
(Steve Medlin), Planning Commission, City Councilors, and County
commissioners to let them know you support the resolution, or a
similar ordinance.
	David Harris motions that INC support Melissa with her efforts and
support the resolution, Bill seconds.  Colin Crossman motions that the
vote is tabled until after Craigie speaks.  Rosemarie Kitchin
seconded.  Passed.

Craigie Sanders – Tree Protection
	Steve Medlin spoke about environmental protection ordinances and
noted that the ordinances do need to be tweaked.  Craigie was on the
Planning Commission 10 years ago when the first environmental
ordinances were enacted.  There are problems with erosion and
clear-cutting – these are problems of enforcement, not the ordinance
more often than not.
	The Ordinances need to be revised to address current problems and the
Planning Dept is in the process of reviewing the current ordinances
and in 1 year they will be bringing forward additional language to
strengthen the ordinances.
	Worries that the ordinances can end up re-written to be too specific
and cause more problems when written by well-intentioned people that
are not schooled in the problem.  He thinks INC Should Support
strengthening the environmental ordinances as a policy, but not to
contribute specifics – let the experts define the specifics, but
maintain a pressure to increase the protections.
	Steve Medlin would like the chance to propose well-educated ordinance
changes that are in line with the policies that the neighborhoods and
neighbors want for Durham.
	Cheryl Shiflett mentioned that the problem often is that the soil is
not compact enough and the inspector says more soil has to go or they
can't build the house, which is why the soil is taken away.  Also,
saving mature trees is not always the entire picture – there are three
extremely large trees that were saved in Trinity Heights a few years
ago that it turns out are hollow to the core and a liability because
they're near the end of their life.  Maybe the answer is to make
infill easier and rural development harder.
	Enforcement is an issue – the planning department needs funds to
pursue enforcement of erosion and sedimentation control.  Melissa says
enforcement is not the problem (except for storm water issues), but a
legal interpretation of the ordinance.  Melissa was encouraged to
include specifics.
	Point is raised that maybe as specific as we need to be is to support
a ban on clear-cutting and mass-grading.
	Another point is made that we are a neighborhood council, not the
city council, and that the resolution will be used as a message that
we're interested in seeing these kinds of ideas,
	David Harris motions that we support the resolution presented by
Melissa.  Mike Shifflett seconded.  Friendly amendment that we not
make a decision today, but that we vote on a resolution in a month or
two that will support strengthening the environmental protection
ordinance and attach Melissa's resolution as an example document.
	Melissa is willing to let the delegates take it back to their
neighborhoods to present, discuss, and vote, and come back to the July
meeting to discuss changes/suggestions and vote in July or August.
	Everyone discuss at your next meeting!  We're voting next month!
	Scott Carter motions that delegates present it at their next
neighborhood meeting and be ready to vote in July.

ANNOUNCEMENTS
Herald Sun has printed every concert that will be held in Durham from
now until October for free!

Parks and Rec: Joint 4th of July event with the Durham Bulls (with
Kevin Costner) and at 8:30pm the gates will open for everyone for a
fireworks show.  It's hard to see the fireworks from outside the park
now because of all the development.

Foreclosure Workshop – open to everyone – July 19th at the Education
Building at NCCU – Noon to 3pm.  1000 foreclosures in Durham alone in
2008.  Targeted to individuals who are on the road to or in
foreclosure.  There will be bankers, councilors, and others who can
provide information and resources, including 25 housing councilors,
who will meet with people individually.  Free childcare will be
available.  Free to attend – contact Neighborhood Improvement Services
for more information.

Solid Waste - due to budget restraints, the comprehensive program was
not funded.  Yard waste program will remain the same as before (billed
yearly or monthly).

Curbside bulky item pickup will start in October for the first Monday
of the month of your trash week.

Minutes approved from last month as sent on the INC listserv.
Treasurer still needs to send dues bills for this year.

31,000 Durham, Can You Spare a Change brochures have been printed!  If
you or your organization would like to distribute them, contact Ken
Gasch directly (ken at kengasch.com) and he will get them to you.  They
will also be distribute by Durham CAN and Housing for New Hope.

UPDATES

INC is on the way to becoming a 501(c)3 non-profit.  The goal is to
allow neighborhoods
to come in under the non-profit umbrella as independent subsidiaries

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!

Neighborhood Hero nomination deadlines August 15th!  Start thinking
about who your neighborhood hero is!  We'll send more information in
the coming weeks.

2nd Monday in July at PAC-2 (DPS Facility at Hillandale Dr).  What to
do when you have a door-to-door solicitor, scammer, or other?
Discussion and good information!

This Saturday 11am-2pm Citizens on Patrol having their annual picnic
at Piney Park across from Woodcroft, in Woodlake.  Everyone's invited!

Habitat for Humanity Full-moon Bike ride on July 19th.  8:30pm, 17mile
slow-ride, annual fundraiser.  $20 entry fee.

Motion to adjourn.  9:00pm.