PINE HILLS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION

MONTHLY MEETING

March 20, 2014

Speaker: Lt. Paul Kirwan, Albany Police Department

  • Traffic Safety
  • Albany Co. Traffic Safety Stakeholders Committee
  • Composed of 3 components/committees education, engineering, and enforcement.
  • Bicyclists, motorcyclist groups, etc. have been active.
  • 3 pedestrian fatalities have been reported as the fault of pedestrians either on the phone or with earphones.
  • Education is provided to students including a public service announcement contest for high school students.
  • A re-design of Madison Ave. is underway (similar to what was done on Delaware Ave.) by the engineering committee. Signal improvements, bicycle lanes, motorcycle-friendly pavement markings, etc.
  • Education for traffic enforcement comes from grants and the governor’s traffic safety committee.
  • What can the Pine Hills Neighborhood Association do?
  • The committee meetings are open to public involvement. Whoever is interested can send a message to Lt. Kirwan.
  • This is the only police department in the state doing this!

Speaker: Kate Lawrence, Albany Planning Department

  • Bicycle/Pedestrian advisory committee
  • Project: Complete Streets Guidebook: what amenities, etc.
  • Revisit 2009 master plan for road treatments.

Public Safety

  • A number of daytime burglaries have taken place. One arrest has been made and another suspect is being sought.

Zoning

  • St. Andrew’s (#472) has been denied a demo permit

Pine Hills Improvement Group (PHIG)

  • Areas: Block review, beautification, event planning.
  • Bagel brunch for students? General improvements in neighborhood.
  • Meeting this Monday at 6pm in Pine Hills Library
  • Meetings are typically 4th Monday of the month at 6:30 at the Pine Hills library.

Friends of Ridgefield Park

  • Looking to hold two movie nights during the summer using equipment from Christ Church. Tentative dates: Fri July 25th (setup 6pm, music 7:30, move start @ 8:30) Sept 27th.
  • PHNA will sponsor and provide funding for permit.

Common Council

  • Made progress on oil train/tank dilemma
  • Livingston Ave. Bridge (construction to start in 2016): advocated for an accessible walkway at DOT hearing.
  • Land bank was passed.
  • Park South study starting soon and done w/I 2 months.
  • Bonding and street improvements funding has been reduced (half the number will be done). Colvin Ave. is under the first contract.
  • Funding coming from community development block grants.

Community Accountability Board

  • A senior student from Washington Ave. was present to apologize for his arrest regarding a party held at his residence involving 100+ people and underage drinking.
  • Two females were present through 8:30 but left the meeting before they had a chance to speak.

Refreshments donated by: Bread & Honey

Adjourned at 8:50pm.