INC NEWS - DRAFT INC Minutes - August

[Deanna Crossman]

InterNeighborhood Council of Durham
August 26, 2008, 7pm
Herald-Sun Building (2828 Pickett Rd)

Mike Simpson  City of Durham Solid Waste
Sandra Reddish  Durham Co DSS
Lloyd Schmeidler  UMP and ONDA
Janet Hitti  Parkwood
Ellen Beckman  Woodcroft
Mike Shiflett  Northgate Park
Jennifer Snyder  PSN Coord / DPD
David Harris  Old Farm
Bill Anderson  Duke Park
Christina Fish  Morehead
Courtney James  Forest Hills
Tina Motley Pearson  Olive Branch Rd
Scott Pearson  Olive Branch Rd
Tom Miller  WHHNA
Sue Andresen  Solterra
Jennifer Duda  Solterra
Pat Carstensen  Cross County
Craigie Sanders  Grove Park
Melissa Rooney  Fairfield
Rosemarie Kitchin  Falconbridge

Welcome and Introductions 7:10pm

Announcements

Hero Awards – Pick your neighborhood nominee!  Deadline extended to
September 15th – Email scjdurham at aol.com – this will be the 5th annual
Hero Awards!

Make it Durham -  Chamber of Commerce
Started 2 years ago, the goal is to bring more residents to Durham.
They have information packets and resources.  They work with the
Convention and Visitors Bureau and have ambassadors to give tours of
Durham if someone is thinking of moving to Durham.  If you would like
to be an ambassador, please email Gfont at durhamchamber.org.  You can
also call the Chamber of Commerce and ask for Make it Durham!

Eno River Resolution (see below at the end of the minutes) – presented
at the last meeting by Josie, representing Friends of West Point Park.
 The resolution is presented for representatives to take back to their
neighborhoods for a vote next month to join the list of supporters.
More information can be found at www.fowwp.org.  David Harris motions
that the resolution be accepted, taken to their neighborhoods, and
brought to a vote at the September meeting.  Craigie Sanders stepped
out for this discussion.

Durham.MyNC.com – check it out!  You can post information and
announcements that are going on in your neighborhood, and NBC17 added
3 reporters to cover exclusively Durham information.  T

Ellen Beckman – Transportation planner – series of workshops on the
2035 long-range transportation plan – highway, transit, bike/ped,
trail.  3 in Durham in September (look for the information to be
posted to the listserv soon!).  Please come and provide input!

Sierra Club hike Sunday around Duke and urban creeks – 2pm – look for
an announcement on the listserv.

Updates
Solid Waste is billing for the next cycle currently and the fate of
the program's funding is currently being taken up with City Council.

Minutes were approved.  Treasurer's report – current balance $519.92,
1 disbursement for $144 for the INC banner for the foreclosure
workshop

Resolution for Environmentally Responsible Development – Motion to
approve the resolution by Cathy Abernathy.  Seconded.  Motion passed.

Presentations

Project Safe Neighborhoods – Jennifer Snyder
Their mission is to reduce gun crime and gun violence.  For a little
while, the coordinator position was vacant and the data was not
updated.  It is now active again.  One significant contribution is the
neighborhood meetings after a homicide.  Our neighborhood
participation is great.  PSN is a national effort since around 2000.
If you have any ideas to improve the program, reduce gun crime, or
participate, please contact Jennifer at Jennifer.snyder at durhamnc.gov
or 560-4335x243.  If you would like to coordinate a neighborhood
program or presentation for parents or teens, they have a lot of
materials and resources and would love to help.

Becoming a Foster Parents – Sandra Reddish
Durham County Dept Social Services.  267 children in foster care in
Durham and only 87 approved foster homes.  DSS has an array of
services.  Requirements to become a foster parent – 30 hours
pre-service training (free), 21 years or older, criminal and
background check, physical examination of the home (including fire
safety), personal interview, and be able to care for a child that is
not your natural child (that is, being able to let the child go home,
if that becomes possible).  The process takes about 45 days.

Call in to the recruitment line – everything is free – training,
licensing – 919-560-8092 or email sreddish at durhamcountync.gov.  Even
if you're not interested, please pass the information along to a
friend, relative, or your faith-based organization.  They really need
more families!  If you're interested, you can also take the parenting
classes (for free) even if you're not in the program.

One church, One child program – churches partner with social services
to assist them to find access to homes.  They also need help, if
you're not ready to be a foster parent, you can help with the program.

Durham Hens – Christina Fish
Would like to amend the Durham UDO to allow residents to own a small
number of hens inside the city limits.  The JCCPC has agreed to amend
the ordinance and the amendment is being drafted.  They would like
input.  There would be no roosters allowed, and chicken poop is great
compost and they eat bugs.  The hens would be required to be enclosed
and it is probable the limit would be 10 or less hens (likely on a
defined hen/sq ft).  There is a proposed one-time permit of $16.50 and
brief inspection.  Violations would be a zoning issue.  Timeline is
around 4 months until a draft ordinance is proposed.  It will then go
before city council.  More info at durhamhens.yahoo.com

Durham Can You Spare a Change Campaign Launch
The resolution of the debate on whether or not to ban panhandling in
Durham.  The campaign seeks to inform and encourage individuals to
contribute to programs that help homeless people as opposed to giving
money directly to the panhandler.  Often times, the money given
directly to the panhandler is not used to help the individual (likely
drugs or alcohol).

(Lloyd Schmeidler – Urban Ministries) Panhandlers overwhelmingly have
significant mental health needs or are strongly addicted to an illicit
substance.  One in 10 people in our society struggle with an
addiction.  When an individual has become homeless due to an
addiction, they are in incredible need to utilize the services that
the city has to offer, but when they are successful at panhandling,
they are not encouraged to seek those services.  The homeless in our
society have significant skills that can contribute to our community
if they can get the help they need.

(Terry Allenbaugh – Housing for New Hope) The campaign is a step
toward improving the situation of the homeless because it addresses
not only the panhandlers, but the source of their funds – the rest of
the community.  You can let a panhandler know that it is your policy
to not give out money to individuals, but can direct them toward
resources that are available to them.

(Faye Broadwater) Often panhandlers are ex-offenders and are sorely
lacking in resources to support them after their time is done.  There
is a lot of federal money available that Durham is not getting because
there aren't the resources to apply for the grants.

Some great local programs:

Durham Rescue Mission – faith-based and focused on job training with a
minimum of emergency shelter.

TROSA – great program with a main focus on people with substance abuse
issues and some mental health support.

Urban Ministries – Emergency shelter operated for the County, on-site
meals 3x per day in the soup kitchen, food pantry distributing
groceries to families in need and donated clothing.  They are always
looking for volunteers, even once a year!

Housing for New Hope – main focus is outreach and to build housing as
permanent residence for homeless people.

Check out the website – www.CanYouSpareAChange.org

Durham Congregations In Action has also partnered with the campaign.
If you have a neighborhood or group that is looking for a project
(rounding up donations of food or clothing, donation of your time to
help cook in the soup kitchen).

Motion to Adjourn 8:55pm.

A Resolution Supporting the Friends of West Point Park

WHEREAS, the West Point on the Eno Park provides a unique and positive
experience to the people of Durham, and

WHEREAS a 60-acre tract neighboring the park known as the Black Meadow
Ridge overlooks the park and may be the subject of development, and

WHEREAS, the West Point on the Eno Park will be significantly harmed
unless the Black Meadow Ridge is protected from development, and

WHEREAS the state of North Carolina has expressed interest in
acquiring the West Point Park and the Black Meadow Ridge tract for
incorporation into the Eno River State Park,

IT IS THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Interneighborhood Council urge the
City of Durham take all necessary steps to purchase, or cause to be
purchased, the Black Meadow Ridge Tract; that, if the State Park
System's offer is the only means with which to preserve the Tract,
such offer be seriously considered, such that preservation of the
tract is achieved while maintaining flexibility within the park for
Durham residents; and that the Interneighborhood Council express
support for the Friends of West Point Park.