General Minutes June 2000

GENERAL MINUTES OF TURNAROUND TEAM MEETING

Robinson Middle School, 7 PM

I. Agenda Approval: Karen added one item to the agenda: Letter of support for the Watertower Project. It was moved and seconded to accept the agenda as amended; motion carried.

II. Approval of 5/22/00 Minutes: It was moved and seconded to approve the 5/22/00 general meeting minutes; motion carried.

III. Old Business

A) Washburn-Lane Parkway:
1. Progress Report: David Leamon, Parkway Committee Chair, announced the bids are less than the total money available, so the lighting and landscaping for the demonstration leg should go to 12th, perhaps farther. Construction will begin around August 1st per Jeff Hunt, City of Topeka. In response to a question, it was announced the demonstration leg of the Parkway will be on Washburn only, both sides of the street, from 10th to 12th streets. The actual bid for the demonstration leg was from 10th to Munson. The City of Topeka is funding the lighting and the $20,000 CDBG grant awarded to the TurnAround Team will be used to purchase banners and landscaping (which includes cleaning up the curb and gutter along the route, and flower plantings on each corner). David encourages any and all contributions to the Parkway however small; so if you know someone who would like to contribute to the Parkway, let David know. The Parkway Fundraising Committee (Jan Gard, Karen Hiller, and David Leamon) is preparing fundraising efforts to begin within the next six weeks. Washburn University, who is funding lighting along Washburn from 17 th to 21st streets, has indicated that they would like their sections to be done at the same time as the 12th to 17th section – hopefully next year.
2. Groundbreaking and Dedication: The groundbreaking is currently scheduled for Wed. August 2nd at 10th and Washburn. That date may move up if the contractor wants to start sooner. The September 25th TAT meeting has been tentatively set for a dedication ceremony for the Parkway, also to be held at 10 th and Washburn, in the Stormont-Vail hospital parking lot at the southeast corner of the intersection. Randy Scott and Joyce Ritchey are Dedication Committee Chairs, and Michael Bell and Mike Munz have volunteered to serve on this committee. Plans include live music, free ice cream, clowns, balloons, and a special guest appearance of some of the Topeka ScareCrows players.
B) Dillons Progress Report: Dillons removed the video department to allow more space in the entrance and plans are underway to remodel the Customer Service area. The TurnAround Team sent a letter to Dillons Hutchinson, Kansas, district management confirming the acceptance of the north half of the Dillons block, landscaping for the parking lot, and TAT plans for painting a mural on the north side of the building. Dillons Hutchinson Real Estate Committee is considering the proposal for the north half of the block and has requested a drawing of our plans to turn the site into a visual park. Bill Riphahn with the City of Topeka is developing the drawing to be submitted to Dillons.
C) 16th & Washburn "Dogleg": Dave Graverson presented options at the 5/22/00 meeting and reviewed them again tonight. The current appearance and two options were displayed and discussed. One option would result in losing the left turn on 16th from Washburn, but no one present had a problem with that option, including several College Hill residents which is the most-affected area. A show-of-hands vote was taken twice on the second option, which involved taking out the continuation of the "dogleg" street north from 16 th (west) to 16th (east) (a jog). There were about 8 votes against. The Board will take the two options and votes under consideration and will report back when the entire Parkway plan is ready to go forward.

IV. New Business

Code Compliance – Meg Perry, City of Topeka Neighborhood Services: Karen stated this will be the first of several sessions in working on the area along the Washburn-Lane Parkway. Meg handed out a "Washburn Lane Parkway Violation List" (see attached) and stated the date and "last nuisance" statement following each property. The list does not include overgrown grass or weed nuisances or Dangerous Structures properties. The 16-digit number following each address is the Shawnee County Real Estate record. She met previously with David Leamon to discuss this area as a lot of money will be spent implementing the Parkway lighting, landscaping, etc. She stated her budget was cut 8-1/2% this year and she has been asked to submit 6.2% less than last year for next year's budget, so the department can't do everything it used to. The department lost two people this year and two part-time weed inspectors, so all staff is doing weed inspections. Therefore, they have to prioritize complaints as to those which threaten life safety first. She stated they can't do anything about certain complaints, such as couches on front porches. If there are cars parked in front yards, complaints should be called to the Police Department. The housing inspectors don't have citation power so all matters must go through procedural steps and be decided in court as a last resort. Her department wants to work with neighborhoods on helping them clean up blighted areas. If you know of elderly people who can't do their own home repairs, let her know so they can be referred to appropriate resources. There are four housing inspectors and four nuisance inspectors; there will be a new rotation of inspectors July 1st and Meg will provide a map of inspectors' assigned areas to Karen. Joe Swalwell asked how many of the properties in question were rentals but Meg didn't have the information with her. Pam Mullins of Elmhurst NA stated there are 28 residences on the west side of Washburn Avenue between Munson and Huntoon, which are within Elmhurst boundaries. Only one is owner-occupied; and most of the other 27 residences are owned by absentee landlords or held in trusts. When a property is held in trust, ownership is shielded from public view, so it isn't known how to contact those property owners. Meg stated if there are complaints about a residence with constant "garage sales", to contact Gaylene Epke, City Zoning Inspector. Copies of the code compliance ordinances are available at the Law Enforcement Center. It was also mentioned that if you have brick sidewalks where tree roots have pushed up the bricks, if you take up the brick, the City will grind the roots down for you. The group as a whole reviewed Meg's list, property by property, on Washburn, from 6 th to past 13th, exchanging information and alternatives on properties where there were questions or issues. The decision was made to adjourn the meeting and continue to address the blighted property concerns at the next two TAT General Membership meetings, as well as address problems with code administration and too many codes. David Leamon stated that as a group we should be able to do something. He suggested we go to the City Council and say if they can't take care of the problem, we'll find council members who can. Karen stated we will discuss this issue again at the July 24th TAT meeting. Frank Hoge from Chesney Park stated Lincoln, Nebraska has a very effective code ordinance and he will bring a copy to the TurnAround Team. Meg's phone number is 368-3161, call for further questions or follow-up.

V. Letter of Support for the Watertower Project: Karen stated that Eunice Baggerly, one of the affected property owners who would have to relocate if the project is implemented, is a regular member of TAT. She and Alvin Georgia, Monroe NIA representative to the TAT, both would like to see the current Watertower plan approved. People have been waiting for 17 years on something to happen in that area, and the only closure for them at this point is development. Karen emailed a letter of support to board members and read it to the general membership (see attached). The CDAC approved the expenditure of CDBG funds for the project and Eunice Baggerly and Alvin Georgia also approved it. A show-of-hands majority vote approved the letter of support with one amendment that was to identify the $500,000 as "CDBG" funds, not just "public" funds. Alvin Georgia will present our letter to the City Council at the 6/27/00 meeting.

VI. Announcements

A) TAT newsletter: the second issue has been mailed and TAT spent $150 for printing costs but will have the next issue printed for free. Big thank-you's this time go to Dick May and Coldwell Banker Griffith and Blair for taking care of all mailing expenses and to Jack and Mary Ann Blossom and their friends who did all the labeling and zip code sorting and, of course, to Editor Marsha Brown. People commented that they thought the newsletter looked good.
B) National Night Out: Sally Zellers stated NNO is August 1st and she has handouts for anyone who's interested.
C) Property being moved from Holy Name Church block: Joyce Ritchey stated houses in this area are being moved and lots are needed for placement.
D) Monroe NIA picnic: Eunice Baggerly invited everyone to a picnic at the 12th & Madison trolley park on July 20. Channel 49 is giving Monroe the picnic.

Meeting was adjourned

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.