The meeting was called to order by Chair Karen Hiller. Board members who were present were introduced. Karen read a postcard from Chuck and Kathy Howard who are touring abroad; they had promised to keep in touch while traveling. Copies of the February meeting agenda, January 6, 2000 Board of Directors Meeting Minutes, and Washburn/Lane Parkway Planning Worksheet – Year 2000 were distributed.
I. November 22, 1999 Meeting Minutes: these minutes were distributed at the January meeting and were approved tonight.
II. Bylaw Change: a change to the Bylaws regarding a quorum of the board was presented at the 1/24/00 membership meeting to be voted on at the February meeting. The change is as follows: "a quorum shall be one quarter (25%) of the board of directors". Motion was made and seconded to approve this change. Motion carried.
III. TAT Website: Beth Cooper demonstrated the website she developed for the TAT. Sections of the TAT website are: Mission Statement, Bylaws, Participating Neighborhoods and Organizations, Minutes of TAT board and general membership meetings, Board of Directors list, and the Washburn-Lane Parkway. Possible additions include "sponsor banners", links to other sites (NA/NIA's). The new website will be a work-in-progress with continuing updates. If you have news of upcoming events of interest to TAT members, email the info to Beth Cooper at webchick@97country.com. Photos may be scanned and emailed to Beth. To access the site, go to the City's website www.Topeka.org, and then click on the Neighborhoods section, then click on the TAT icon.
IV.Communications Team: team members are Marsha Brown (Newsletter Editor), Ann Craig (Board Secretary), Beth Cooper (website developer), Karen Hiller (TAT Chair), Pam Mullins (Membership Secretary), and Deb Swank (Recognition Secretary). Team members met with Beth to review the new website and coordinate TAT communication activities. Marsha Brown has begun the first 2000 edition of the TAT newsletter and requests that NA/NIA news be mailed to her at 1020 Lane, Topeka KS 66604, or emailed to lilbluksu@aol.com . The first 2000 edition should be completed mid-March.
V. Amended Articles of Incorporation: an amendment was needed for us to advance our 501(c)(3) Application; this was announced at the January meeting. The articles have been signed and delivered to the Secretary of State.
VI. Washburn-Lane Parkway: David Leamon announced the City has approved funding for the initial installation of lighting along the Parkway and a project timeline is being established. He will be meeting with the Planning and Forestry Departments to determine where benches, trash containers, and landscaping will be placed. We are still waiting to hear on our CDBG grant applications to see if funds will be allocated for these items. The lights will be 45' apart along the Parkway. The Planning Department asked for a vote of approval on the direction to-date to let the record show the TAT is still working on the Parkway plan as a whole. By a show of hands there were no dissenting votes; all present are in agreement with the direction and plan.
VII. Washburn-Lane Parkway Planning Worksheet-Year 2000: this is a planning piece put together by the TAT board (see attached). We have $200,000 from the City, in 2000 we have $100,00 CIP and $100,000 cash-in-kind and can apply for a T21 grant which pays 4 to 1 for existing privately raised funds, which would allow us to reach $1,000,000 in 2000 – this is the TAT goal. This will be for the first leg of the Parkway: 10th to 12th on Washburn, the next leg is from 12th to 17th on Washburn, then back up Lane Street. By a show of hands with no dissenting votes, TAT membership is in agreement with this direction. Karen Hiller asked that if anyone wants to assist in raising funding and private donations to please contact her or David Leamon. Lights are $1,500 each, benches $300, trash receptacles $250, and banners $50. These items can be donated and the donor will be recognized. Joe Swalwell stated that if anyone wants a specific property along the Parkway repaired, to call him with the address and he'll take a picture of it to present to City agencies. Karen stated that in the past TAT members indicated housing issues should be the responsibility of the individual NA/NIA's, and that the TAT can help if asked officially by the NA or NIA. Deb Swank presented a large map of the Parkway area which lists property owners; the City has software to develop similar maps upon request. Joe stated we need to inform people who live along the Parkway that lighting will be installed so they're prepared before trucks drive up and start digging holes; a flier will be distributed to those homeowners and tenants.
VIII. Ideas/Suggestions: Karen stated that if anyone has ideas or suggestions for TAT activities, to contact a Board member or attend a Board meeting. The next Board Meeting is March 9th at 7:00 pm at the Library and all are welcome to attend.
IX. Mailing List: Karen thanked Joyce Ritchey for all her work on the mailing list and meeting attendance list. Joyce has been making reminder calls to membership for years encouraging people to attend the monthly meetings.
X. Dillon's – Plan for 3/27/00 meeting: the 3/27/00 meeting will be a "Town Meeting" format to discuss the Elmhurst Plaza Dillon's Store. A TAT Team has met with Dillon's management twice, and will meet with them again 3/1/00. We will hopefully receive Dillon's' demographics reports so we can do final planning for the 3/27/00 meeting: "Where do we want Dillon's to go? What do we want the Elmhurst Plaza Store to be like?" We'll be focusing on short-term issues as Kroger, Dillon's' parent company, indicated it will be about 3 years before they do anything at this store location. The 3/27/00 membership meeting will have discussion as a whole group, and then break out into smaller groups for about 20-25 minutes, and then back to the whole group to continue discussion. Volunteers to be small group facilitators include Jim Daniel, Dave Graverson, Dick May, Melody McConnell, Delores Smith, Clardy Vinson, and Sally Zellers. The facilitators will meet at 6:30 pm prior to the 3/27/00 general meeting to coordinate the Town Meeting format.
XI. Announcements: Robinson PTO is selling Taste of the Town cards and these will be available at the 3/27/00 meeting, or you call the Robinson office to order a card. Sally Zeller announced that Safe Streets is sponsoring a "Neighborhood Night" at the Topeka ScareCrows hockey game on 3/23/00; tickets are $5.00. NA/NIA's are encouraged to attend and represent their neighborhood at the game. Community Policing Officers will have tickets to sell at NA/NIA meetings. Sally also announced the next Landlord Training will be 3/28/00, a free class – call Safe Streets to enroll.
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.