[Durham INC] DRAFT Sept Minutes

[Pat Carstensen]

We didn't pass these in October meeting because we ran out of time and there were some things to be fixed.  So here they are again.  Regards, pat















InterNeighborhood
Council 

Minutes of the
September 27, 2011, Meeting

 

In attendance:

Colony Park-Don Lebkes

Downing Creek-Dick Ford

Duke Park-Bill Anderson, Ian Kipp

Falconbridge-Rosemarie Kitchin (RK)

Golden Belt-John Martin

Long Meadow – Pakis Bessias

Northgate Park-Mike Shiflett  (MS)

Old Farm-Fred Foster

Old North Durham- Pete Katz (PK)

Old West Durham-Eric Heidt (EH)

Trinity Park-Philip Azar

Tuscaloosa-Lakewood-Susan Sewell  (SS)

Watts Hospital Hillandale-Mike Woodard
(MW)

Woodcroft-Scott Carter  (SC)

 

 Visitors:

Jim Wise-N&O

Linwood Best-NIS

Rick Hester  (RH)

Will Wilson

Wib Gulley

 

I.            Welcome
and Introductions:  Scott Carter
called the meeting to order at 19:02 p.m. and had those in attendance announce
their names and associations.

 

II.            Speaker
– Rick Hester City of Durham:  Scott
Carter moved the speaker up on the agenda.  Rick Hester gave an update on the Proactive Residential
Inspection Program and provided a handout comparing old program (legislation)
versus the enacted authority with changes citing General Statutes pertaining to
each.   He said that the focus
is on rental properties and not necessarily owner-occupied properties (except
when complaint driven).  Mr. Hester
mentioned the difficulty in dealing with rentals in HOA’s, especially those
still under construction with a valid (3 year) construction permit.  He stated that NIS has already taken 3
cases to the Community Life Court. 
He promised to provide the handout in electronic format for distribution
to those not in attendance and make it available on-line for those requesting
more information.   A Landlord
training class is coming up on Oct 22nd ($5 fee, no meal) at the Golden Belt
NIS location.  Mr. Hester is working
to create a program for neighborhoods and HOA’s to send out a courtesy letter
to violators.   

 

III.            Minutes:  Mike Woodard moved to approve minutes
as submitted.   Rosemarie
Kitchin seconded his motion.  It
was approved.

 

IV.            Financial
Report:   Mike Woodard moved to
accept report given by Peter Katz. 
Rosemarie Kitchin seconded the motion.   See Appendix. 
The motion was approved.

 

V.            Transit
Tax Referendum Resolution:  Mike
Shiflett moved to approve the resolution. 
Mike Woodard seconded the motion.   Discussion followed.   Vote failed for lack of 2/3 majority with seven abstentions.   Some delegates stated that they
still needed more information; others were not given authorization to vote for
or against it.  Mike Woodard moved to
bring the item back to INC at October meeting.  Ian Kipp seconded the motion.  Mike Shiflett questioned the procedure and application of
INC’s By-Laws in relationship to abstentions and asked the President and
President Elect to research the issue taking in consideration not only the
By-Laws but also Roberts Rule of Order concerning abstentions.  Mr. Woodard also interjected the
importance and critical role INC plays (and will play) regarding taking
overarching policy decisions along with the role delegates play in forming public
policy and how that is affected when their voice (votes) are absented.  The motion carried.

 

VI.            Education
Tax Referendum Resolution:  This
was prepared by Pat Carstensen. Delegates are to take the resolution to their
respective associations for consideration

 

VII.            Elections:   The Nominating Committee
submitted its report:

President - John Martin            
Vice President - Scott Carter   Secretary - Pat Carstensen

Peter Katz - Treasurer   Mike Brooks - at large  Ian Kipp - at large   Brett Walters - 
at large

Mike Shifflet moved to receive the report.  Mike Woodard seconded the motion. It
passed.   Eric Heidt stated
that Brett Walters told him that he wanted to have his name taken off.   Mike Woodard moved to request
that President Tom Miller move the Annual Meeting to October.  Phillip Azar seconded the motion. It passed.

 

VIII.            Report
on Defense of Marriage Act: 
Phillip Azar reported that Trinity Park voted unanimously support for
the INC resolution.   Mr.
Carter noted that the NC Legislature has already approved constitutional
amendment referendum for the May ballot.

 

IX.            Neighborhood
Reports:

Fairfield – Mike Woodard reported that a temporary injunction
to stop the provision of sewer in the 751 case was filed but thrown out by
judge.   Judge ruled that
decision did not give vested rights.   The County Commissioners voted on Monday to provide the
development with sewer.

·      Golden Belt – John Martin reported that the Rescue Mission
project is back to square one, no action has been taken on the plan.   There is still a need to have
active and constructive discussions with the developer and with the Planning Department
to come to resolution especially dealing with street closings and development plan.

·      Old West Durham – Eric Heidt reported that there has been
some progress with working with developers and The Planning Department given
the recent changes.

·      WH-HNA- Mike Woodard reported that SunTrust negotiations
regarding Hillandale Golf course still in development.  The city is interested in the gift of
the facility, but will require that property be unencumbered.

·      Tuscaloosa-Lakewood - Susan Sewell reported that TL hosts a
number of houses occupied by Duke University students and fraternities.  Talks with students have been productive
and the action plan that has been put in place works especially in regards to
clean-up after parties, police presence, and violation follow-up by student
residents in the neighborhood.

 

X.            Announcements:  Fred Foster presented opportunity to
join him in capital punishment event at Duke with NAACP.

 

XI.            Adjournment:
Mike Woodard moved that the meeting adjourn.  His motion was seconded by Rosemarie Kithcin.  The motion was approved.

Respectfully submitted

Substituted Secretary, Mike Shiflett

  




 

Appendix A: Treasurer’s Report

INC’s current balance is: $3061.48

 Dues have been
paid by:

Morehead Hill

Cross-Countries

Old West

Parkwood

Burch Ave

Colony Park

Duke Park

WHHNA

Tuscaloosa-Lakewood

Long Meadow

Woodcroft

Trinity Park

Magnolia Place

Old North Durham

Northgate Park

Downing Creek

Falcon Bridge

Old Farm

 

Please note: If you’re association mailed a check this month
it may not be reflected in the list until next month.  If your neighborhood hasn’t paid yet, you can bring payment
to the monthly meeting for $25 (or more) or mail it to:

1110 Virginia Ave, Durham NC 27705, care of Tom Miller.

 




 

Appendix B: 
Text of Open Resolutions

Resolution on Education Tax Referendum

 

Whereas, state funding for education has declined in recent
years and money from the federal EdJobs programs has now run out; and

 

Whereas, the estimated $9,000,000 raised by a ¼ ¢ sales tax
will cover approximately 150 in-classroom jobs, as well as some debt service
for previously passed school bonds, a much-needed expansion of pre-K services
for at-risk kids, and work-study and grant funds to students at Durham
Technical College; and

 

Whereas, approximately 50% of the tax will be paid by people
who shop in Durham County but do not live here; and

Whereas, many necessities, such as food, rent, gas, and
prescriptions, will not be taxed; and

 

Whereas, although the text of the ballot referendum does not
mention education, the Board of County Commissioners has promised to dedicate
the funds to education.

 

Whereas, our neighborhoods benefit from a strong school
system;

 

Therefore, be it resolved that the InterNeighborhood Council
of Durham supports the passage of the Education Tax Referendum.

Potential amendment: [The INC further urges some sort of
mechanism be created to ensure that this education tax be used as advertised.]

 

 

------

Resolution on Transit
Referendum

WHEREAS, a transit system that will maintain our quality of
life with the projected growth in Durham County’s population, direct that
growth in smarter ways, give people more choices, provide good jobs and
economic opportunities, and realize social justice,  and

 

WHEREAS, this election season, Durham County is the first
jurisdiction in the state to hold a referendum to adopt a ½ cent sales tax to
be used exclusively to transit, since such referenda were authorized by the NC
legislature in 2009, and

 

WHEREAS, the referendum was preceded by development of a
detailed “financial plan” for how revenues will be spent to encourage mobility;
this plan calls for 3 phases – bus expansion, then commuter rail to Wake
County, and finally light rail to Orange County, and

 

WHEREAS, Durham County is especially critical for the
regional transit plan related to the financial plan: it sits midway between
Orange and Wake Counties, and commuters come and go from many directions into
and through the county.  

 

Therefore, be it resolved that the InterNeighborhood Council
of Durham supports the passage of the Transportation Tax Referendum.

 

[Furthermore, INC and its member neighborhoods looks forward
to being part of the process of planning the evolution of the areas around the
transit stops.] 

(Note: The last sentence was proposed as an amendment over
the list-serve after the meeting, following up on discussion about the
resolution.)

 

 

 

-----

Resolution on Urban Open Space Plan Objectives

 

Whereas, the Durham City and County Planning Department is
undertaking the development of an Urban Open Space Plan, which should provide
the City with proper guidance for further decision-making processes, including
possible acquisition/preservation or development of those areas deemed
important to Durham’s quality of life and our environment; and

 

Whereas, general open space planning has concentrated on
aesthetic, recreational and wildlife benefits, and (as shown in the background
below), with urban open space we need to add health, social and environmental
benefits; and


Whereas, Durham has a certain amount of ad hoc data laying
out issues and opportunities for open space in downtown Durham, but nothing
like the scientifically designed collection that other cities are doing.

 

Whereas, many neighborhoods have a stake in downtown Durham,
and the recent history of Old North Durham Park has shown that these interests
can conflict;


Therefore, be it resolved that the InterNeighborhood Council
encourages the Durham City/County Planning Department development of Durham’s
Urban Open Space Plan should:

1.    
Carefully consider the environmental health and justice aspects, in
addition to the more traditional aesthetic and recreational aspects.

2.     Create an environmental health
survey detailing the above issues

3.    
Pay close attention to process and governance issues to manage /
minimize conflicts over the resource.

 		 	   		  
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