[Durham INC] Draft October minutes

[Scott Carter]

October Delegate Meeting of the InterNeighborhood Council of Durham

NIS Conference Room, Golden Belt

October 25, 2016



Attending the meeting were:

Neighborhoods

Berini Drive - Lanea Christensen

Colony Park - Don Lebkes

Golden Belt - DeDreana Freeman

Lockhaven Hills - Tom Buhrman

Long Meadow - Pakis Bessias

Northgate Park - Debra Hawkins

Old Farm - David Harris

Old North Durham - John Martin

Old North Durham - Pete Katz

Trinity Park - Diane Amato

Waterford - Carolyn Eckhardt

Watts-Hillandale - Tom Miller

Woodcroft - Jose Sandoval

Woodcroft - Scott Carter



Visitors

Will Wilson - DOST

Lynwood D. Best - City of Durham, NIS

Jillian Johnson - City Council

John Killeen - City of Durham, NIS



President DeDreana Freeman opened the meeting.  Those present introduced themselves.   Since our secretary was not in attendance, Scott Carter agreed to take minutes.



Tom Miller moved to approve the September minutes that were distributed by email.  David Harris seconded, and the delegates voted unanimously to approve the minutes.



Participatory Budgeting - Jillian Johnson, Durham City Council

Jillian Johnson presented an overview of participatory budgeting.  As a member of the citty council, she is trying to get the council to adopt this approach as part of its budgeting process.  It is a democratic process in which community members directly decide how to spend part of the city budget.  The process includes several steps:  1) Brainstorm ideas,  2) Develop Project Proposals, 3) Vote,  and 4) Fund Top Projects.    There are a number of   reasons to implement this, including deepening and broadening of citizen participation;  promoting transparency, accountability, and fairer spending;   improving civic education; building community; and others. This process was started in 1989 in South America and has spread to several other cities, including Greensboro last year.   The goal of the project for US cities is to use participatory budgeting for 1% of the budget total, and Ms. Johnson hopes that Durham will allocate $1M in the next budget cycle.



Neighborhood Compass 2.0 - John Killeen, City of Durham NIS

John Killeen presented the highlights of the new Neighborhood Compass interactive web tool, which is used to view and analyze demographic and other data about specific cross sections of Durham.   It is census based, but pulls in data from a number of other sources.   In the latest version of the tool, a number of improvements have been made to make it easier to use and more powerful.   It can view longitudinal and horizontal data, and includes data from 1970 to 2010.   One current challenge where the Compass is being used is with gentrification.    John reported that the city will be spinning off the city staff who created NC  in 2017 into a new 501c3 non-profit group called Neighborhood Data Works.   This will allow more flexibility in securing funding sources.



Pakis Bessias reported on behalf of the Communication Committee that they are brainstorming about improvements to the website and listserv.   The website was created in 2009 but has had little improvement since then.   The committee is asking for additional input on these improvements.



The Bond Referendum resolution that was presented last month was brought to a vote.   This resolution stated INC's support of the four bonds that are on the November ballot.   A motion was made to approve the resolution by Tom Miller and seconded by Pete Katz.   The motion was approved unanimously with one abstention.



Neighborhood Reports



  *  Carolyn Eckhardt and Lanea Christensen reported on a rezoning request for 84 acres near Berini Drive.   Pulte Homes is proposing to change the zoning to PDR4, or 4 homes per acre for a total of about 300 homes.  Most of the surrounding neighborhoods are RS20.   The request includes clear cutting and mass grading of the property, including removing a pond and creek and creating a new stormwater management plan.   The result will be 70% impervious surface.   The property is in the headwater area of Ellerbe Creek.  The project is in conflict with the 2010 Durham Watershed Management Improvement Plan.   The adjacent neighborhoods are concerned with the lack of consistency of this project with surrounding neighborhoods as well as traffic from two access points both on Berini Drive.   The Planning Commission unanimously rejected this request, and it goes to the City Council on Nov 7.   Carolyn and Lanea requested INC support at this council meeting.

  *  Tom Miller reported that Watts Hillandale has been approached by a developer about property on the corner of I-85 and Hillandale Road.  It is an 8 acre tract.   The developer wants to work with the neighborhood on a plan for this property.

  *  Debra Hawkins reported that the last Northgate Park Food Truck Rodeo will be in October.

  *  Debra Hawkins reported that the Zombie Lurch will be held on Friday, 10/28, starting at Sam's Quik Shop.  Details on facebook.



The meeting was adjourned at 8:35pm.

Minutes respectfully submitted by Scott Carter.






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