General Minutes January 2000

GENERAL MINUTES OF TURNAROUND TEAM MEETING

The meeting was called to order by Chair Karen Hiller. Board members who were present were introduced.

Copies of the January meeting agenda, October and November minutes, TurnAround Team Goals 2000, TurnAround Team Role, TurnAround Team Officers, and Committee lists were distributed.

I. TurnAround Team Plans for Year, Structure

TurnAround Team Goals for 2000 (attached goldenrod page) were set by the Board at the December Board meeting. The TurnAround Team began in 1993 and the Washburn-Lane Parkway planning began in 1996. TurnAround Team structure for 2000 was announced (attached blue page) and key individuals were introduced.

II. Recognition of 1999 Key Members: Karen introduced three key individuals and asked Clardy

Vinson to assist by presenting letters of thanks. Karen stated Clardy has been very supportive and helpful to the TurnAround Team, and in promoting Central Topeka in general. Curtis Brown was thanked for chairing the organization last year; he was a brand new member and stepped forward in a "caretaker year". Joe Swalwell stepped in last year as vice chair and served as a catalyst to get our corporate affairs in order. Joyce Ritchey was recognized as MVP as she was among the first group of TurnAround Team members and continues her work with the Team.

III. Reports

a) Washburn-Lane Parkway, David Leamon: two grants were submitted for CDBG funds last

Friday: $22,500 for lighting, installation, bench seating, banners, and trash containers for Washburn from 10th to 12th streets; and $80,000 for engineering and planning of phase two of the installation (Washburn 12th to 17th, Lane from 17th to 12th). The first installation of parkway lighting will begin in April 2000 from 10th to 12th streets. After submitting the grants, David was informed the actual cost for phase two will be $125,000, so hopefully we can get CIP funding to add to the grant (if received). The City Council February 1, 2000 agenda will include approval of phase one to go forward; please attend this council meeting to show support of the project. The master plan brochures are available at the front table to take to your neighborhood meetings.

b) Dillon's meetings, Karen Hiller: Marc Galbraith, Pam Mullins, Joyce Ritchey and Karen Hiller are the Dillon's committee members who met with Dillon's management 1/5/00 to begin discussion of the future of the Elmhurst Plaza store. The next meeting is set for 2/2/00 with Dillon's management and their real estate man from Hutchinson to explain the demographics their parent company, Kroger Companies, uses for expansion decisions. The March TurnAround Team general meeting will focus on preparing a major communication to Dillons about community observations and suggestions.
c) Corporate Status, Joe Swalwell: 1999 was a year of housekeeping and restructuring to ensure a successful year in 2000. The 501(c)(3) documentation has been reviewed by Don Paxson and Mike Munz, TurnAround Team accountants; Mike Munz is our resident agent for filings and communications with the Secretary of State and was present at the meeting. Changes to the Articles of Incorporation are needed for us to advance our 501(c)(3) application. The Board has to vote on amendments to the articles of incorporation two times to be in order, so it will take three months to complete this process. Joe also reported as Treasurer for the TurnAround Team; we have a balance of $1,378.73 which will allow us to do some of the small projects we have planned. The Board looks forward to your continued support and strong membership in 2000.
d) Bylaws Change, Karen Hiller: due to the large size of the Board, we have had problems at times with attendance at Board meetings; therefore a suggested change to Article VII, Section I (regarding a quorum of the Board) is proposed. This change is printed at the bottom of tonight's agenda page (see attached beige page). The vote to approve this change to the bylaws will take place at the February 28 general membership meeting.
e) Larry Kilduff consultation January 19 – Jim Daniel and Karen Hiller:

Mayor Wagnon attended a conference which included a retail development session presented by Larry Kilduff of the Community Marketplace Development Institute of Kenosha, Wisconsin. She invited him to Topeka to discuss development along the parkway, East Topeka, and North Topeka. Mr. Kilduff arrived 1/18/00 and the Mayor and staff members took him for a tour of Topeka including grocery stores in Central and East Topeka. That evening he attended the Elmhurst Neighborhood Association monthly meeting and addressed the group regarding retail development in the parkway area. On 1/19/00 he made a presentation to which CDC's and neighborhood associations were invited. Over 20 TurnAround Team members attended that presentation and an afternoon tour of the parkway, College Hill entertainment area, and the 17th and Washburn area. The afternoon tour began at the Topeka Library with a presentation of the parkway by David Leamon. Ann Craig, Marc Galbraith, and Ted Mize stated his presentation was extremely valuable including very detailed information on how to present a marketing plan to Dillon's and other retail organizations.

Jim Daniel gave a wrap-up report of Mr. Kilduff's presentation: he left us with three key ideas:

Medical/Institutional/Library/Commercial area: some houses along Washburn are in poor condition; the owners should be located and asked to repair these homes – we shouldn't allow homes in this area to be boarded up.
Dillon's area: he feels there is enough room at this site for expansion and stated we should stay in close touch with Dillon's management, encouraging them to expand, and make them aware of competitors (Albertson's is reported to be interested in building a "downtown" grocery store). If Dillon's closes this store, we need to save the block for another retail developer/grocery store -- we must not lose this site.
College Hill entertainment area: discussed the needs of Washburn students who require nearby services such as fast food outlets and coffee houses (there are already enough bars in the area); along with the neighborhoods on either side of this area. The area needs to be a walkable area due to traffic routes and parking concerns. We need to be concerned about the appearance of some of the shops and tell the shopping center owner some shops aren't appropriate and suggest they not renew the leases for those businesses.

f) TurnAround Team website, Beth Cooper: Beth is a Norton Neighborhood resident and the Country 97 "web chick" and volunteered to develop a TurnAround Team website; she will bring a laptop to the February meeting for a show-and-tell demonstration. The City of Topeka has volunteered space on their web site for a TurnAround Team link.

IV. Celebration: reports from each NIA and NA present:

a) Elmhurst NA, Marc Galbraith and Pam Mullins: Elmhurst conducted various fund raising activities in 1999 including their ongoing recycling program, tree tour, plant sale, and Holiday Open House Tour. 2000 plans include purchasing additional markers for neighborhood boundaries and they applied for a CDBG grant for markers, along with grant applications to improve sidewalks in some areas, and home improvements for residents who met the income guidelines.
b) Chesney Park, William Thomas, President: Some of this NIA's 1999 activities included a neighborhood garage sale and a "Music Under the Stars" program.
c) Holliday Park NIA, Jack Blossom, NIA representative: this NIA restructured a pond in Central Park including landscaping in the area, conducted a summer concert, Easter Egg Hunt, Halloween party, and Christmas carol sing. They continue services to the elderly on an as-needed basis. They will continue a trash pick-up program in 2000, and will do further work on the Central Park pond. They now have 501 (c) (3) status and several members attended a HUD program to learn how to apply for funds.
d) College Hill NA, Frank Meadows, representative: this NA focused on their Historic Heart in 1999 with the Boswell Square and its Hall of Fame. They are planning a strategic retreat for their leadership to determine their 2000 focus. This NA is proud of the fact Mayor Wagnon lives in College Hill.
e) Norton NA, Betty Dunhaupt: Norton is "the new kid on the block" as their association was formed when Betty began attending TurnAround Team meetings three years ago and realized her neighborhood wasn't organized as a neighborhood association. They held their first bock party in 1999 and are working diligently to get more residents involved in their NA; she stated they're "sticking with it" in organizing their association.
f) Monroe NIA: Karen stated although they didn't have a representative present, the proposed Watertower project is an important project in that area and those residents may need our help in whatever way possible.
g) Tennessee Town NIA, Karen Hiller: although Tennessee Town isn't a member of the TurnAround Team, several residents, including Karen, are involved in the TurnAround Team. The NIA made a grant application to improve several houses in the area. The Buchanan Center, located in Tennessee Town, was upgraded with several remodeling projects in 1999.
h) Old Town NA, Ted Mize: he wishes to apologize for the condition of some houses along the parkway as he hadn't been aware of them; he stated Old Town will work on getting these houses repaired. Old Town worked on the split of land on 8th Street in 1999, and explained this area of their neighborhood was the center of a horse track that was located in front of the former governor's mansion at 8 th and Buchanan. They plan to join their neighbors in Elmhurst and College Hill by installing more neighborhood markers at their boundaries. Their main focus for 2000 is housing.
i) Ward Meade, Mike Amis, President: they're using CDBG funds for ornamental gates and will work on installing lights in 2000. Their focus is to save old homes and general pick up in the area.
j) Kenwood NA, Claudia Luttjohann and Mary Hays representatives: their area consists of 325 houses. They don't have a president or committees but a lot of committed people. They have their own website, a prayer group that meets consistently, an annual ice cream social with children's activities, and alley clean-up and recycling programs. 2000 plans include writing the history of each home in selected areas, a garage sale in June, and setting up funding to donate money for a new dog for Brad Metz with the Sheriff's Department; Brad is a Kenwood resident and his canine partner passed away this year. They completed a phone tree in 1999 which they had to use once and are pleased it worked great.

Karen remarked how rich the TurnAround Team is with the NIA and NA's that comprise the entire Team. Some neighborhoods couldn't attend tonight's meeting, but they are very active in the TurnAround Team.

Meeting was adjourned at 8:45 pm. There were 45 in attendance.

People who are interested in improving the quality and image of Central Topeka, particularly people who live in or own property in the Central Topeka area from Monroe to MacVicar and 21st to the Kansas River, are particularly encouraged to attend. For further information, call 234-2883.