Minutes from Duckpond Neighborhood Association (DNA)

Minutes from the Duckpond Neighborhood Association (DNA)

General Meeting

Nov. 24, 2008, 7:00 p.m.

DNA President Randy Wells called the meeting to order at 7:06 in a First United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall on NE 1st St., Gainesville, FL.

(See supplementary materials and agenda handouts for this meeting.)

Announcements and Actions:

Randy Wells:

• Volunteers are requested to help with the Dec. 6 (rain date, Dec. 7) holiday luminary and wagon ride projects. Since it is the same day as the SEC football championship, overlapping times are especially needed.

Kirby Stewart:

• Toys for Tots boxes are now out in the community, and the Marine vets are soliciting donations of new or very gently used items. Korean Vets are also holding a donation raffle for the Bridge Program that helps Vets from Iraq and Afghanistan pay for college expenses until their military benefits kick in. A Gator football helmet signed by key players [e.g. Tebow, Wuerful, Spurrier] is the prize; $10 donation is asked. There will once again be a Pearl Harbor Day (Dec. 7) program at the Vets Memorial Park.

Melanie Barr:

• A Historic Haille house tour, usually $5, will be free on Dec. 7 from noon-4:00.

• The American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer on October 4 netted $3400 in donations.

• There will be a dedication program on January 18, 2009 for the new historic marker to be placed at the Thelma Boltin Center. One side of this marker will inform the visitors about who Thelma Boltin was and why the Center was named for her. The other side will discuss the original use of the building which provided activities for WWII soldiers at Camp Blanding and UF. Melanie requested that the DNA allocate $50 to pay for refreshments at the event.

Action Taken:

• President Randy Wells asked that those present consider approving four expenditures in one motion. It was moved, seconded, and passed that the DNA treasury pay for the following:

(1) $50 for the Thelma Boltin program; (2) $1100 for wagon rental for the holiday events on Dec. 6 [to be reimbursed by sponsor and ticket costs]; (3) $420 to reimburse Pearse Hayes for attempts to reintroduce ducks into the duck pond; and (4) $8100, representing 90% of the neighborhood’s share of the NE 10th Ave. entry feature cost, excluding the DNA sign yet to be placed on the structure.

Special Program:

Guest speaker Joe Pine, of Metro Cime Prevention, presented a program on how to avoid falling victim and reduce crime in the neighborhood. His common sense suggestions and demonstration of products that can be of help in this endeavor were followed by a question and answer period.

Crime Watch/Police Report:

Lt. Pete Backhaus of the Gainesville Police Department made some general comments about a recent rash of burglaries and vehicle break-ins in the neighborhood. Although at least one of the culprits has apparently been arrested, he urged residents to be alert to suspicious individuals. He provided three phone numbers that residents might find useful:

339-6237 (his cell phone number)

334-2422 (office)

955-1818 (General dispatch number for non urgent calls)

Other Comments from Residents:

• Bill Warinner reported that neighbor Michelle Anderson, who had an article about “on street” parking by non-residents printed in the September 2008 DNA newsletter, has met with City staff. A parking study and response proposal will be completed and presented to the DNA residents so they may ask questions, and, if desired, vote for or against a recommended action.

Adjourned 8:30 p.m. Submitted by Joanne Auth, Secretary