September 2009 Membership Meeting

September 15, 2009

Minutes of July2009 Meeting

Posted on the Website

Financial Report

Expenditures in August:$1,912.20 NNO

$137,963.60. Total Assets

No outstanding debt

Updates/Reports

Police Report LT. Yvonne Baltz

  • Robbery in the 100 E. Leigh Street block on 9/14/09; appears to have been a domestic violence incident
  • As of 9/1/09 to this date, there has been one motor vehicle theft
  • Advised to send an e-mail to LT. Yvonne Baltz if party houses are a problem. But, keep in mind these types of calls are a low priority
  • As interjected by Board President Finley, HJWA needs to look at making a request to VCU Police to widentheir jurisdiction to Jackson Ward due to there being a sizeable number of VCU students living in the Jackson Ward community.
  • LT. Baltz will look into the policecommunity service group that usually assists, to clean Duvall Street at the annual JW Fall Clean-up
  • School Board Vice-Chair, Kim Gray, voiced her appreciation for the rapid response to her call for a crowd of individuals loitering at the Abner Clay Park play ground.
  • Board member, Lynn Lancaster mentioned an increase in graffiti since VCU is back in session. LT. Baltz suggested calling the Graffiti Hotline under the Public Works Department

City Council Update – Council Charles Samuels – Absent, no report

School Board Update - Kim Gray

  • A group of individuals is planning/hosting a reception in Jackson Ward for the new VCU President, at the BlackHistoryMuseum.
  • Based on information from state level, our portion of sales tax revenue is down by $7 million across the state. The city of Richmond’s budget will be greatly impacted by this short fall. Ms. Gray states there may be need for folks to come out and support our district needs
  • Ms. Gray has petitioned for a change in the School Board By-Laws to allow citizens ample time to sign up for public comments atschool board meetings. The meetings are open to the public. Work sessions are held the 1st and 3rd Mondays at 4 pm and the formal meetings begin at 6 pm.

Business Items

2009 Harvest Festival – Beth McAdams, Delegate Jennifer McClellan Staff

  • The purpose of the Harvest Festival is to have a safe place for children to go to celebrate Halloween
  • This year the Harvest Festival will be held on 11/30/09, a Friday night, from 6 – 8 pm
  • Last year 4000 children and family members attended.
  • There will be food, prizes, games, etc.
  • The communities of Carver, Jackson Ward, Oregon Hill and other surrounding areas are all invited
  • On behalf of Delegate McClellan, Ms. McAdams, is requesting support from the Historic Jackson Ward Association again this year to support this community event. The request is for $150 to off-set the costs of candy, refreshments. Volunteers and extra candy are welcome.

Community Project Updates

Gateway Signage Project

  • Funded by a grant from Altria, city permits have finally been delivered and a check has been delivered to have the signs fabricated. Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens will provide landscaping around the signs.

Abner Clay Park

  • Grant from the Community Design Assistance Project to make improvements in Abner Clay Park. A community meeting was held on 8/11/09 at the new Police Precinct building on Chamberlayne. There was a good turnout.
  • Discussions from citizens centered on what was wanted and what was not wanted; one suggestion was a dog park.
  • The CDAP developed several story boards, historic context maps and boundaries map.
  • The Project team will come back to Richmond to meet with the City on 9/18/09.
  • They will come to the October 2009 HJWA Membership meeting.
  • Rachel Flynn, Director of the Community Development Department did a park walk to gain a better idea of the layout of Abner Clay Park.
  • We need volunteer hours for our match to the grant money.
  • Our obligation is a little over $6,000.
  • Volunteer hours will be billed at a professional rate.

Neighborhood Clean-Up – Vicki Mollenauer

  • October 24, 2009 from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00
  • There will be refreshments hopefully including Bob’s biscuits
  • Please send Vicki an e-mail if you see anything in the alleys for pick-up
  • The William and Mary students may return this year
  • There is a possible contact for volunteers from VCU

Restricted Parking

  • There is a volunteer, Diedre Trent, that wants to put this back on the table and she will need volunteers for her committee.

Community Concerns/Issues

Announcements

  • There’s a problems with folk parking in the alley at the driveway of 318 W. Marshall St.

Meeting Adjourned