Five Points Neighborhood Association

Minutes of Five Points General Meetings: May,June, July 2202

May 8, 2002

President Robin Reed gave her report on the meeting of 7 Neighborhood Associations concerned about prostitution and drug dealing in motels abutting their areas:

List of motels that are chronic problems: Banyan Tree, Monticello, Landmark
Neighborhood activists plan to picket motels on agreed date, probably late June.

Dan raised the question of how they would determine which hotels to picket – Clifford (of Crescent Lake) assured that only the truly notorious, with long history of drug/prostitution complaints, would be included. The neighborhood groups would pick a date as soon as they heard from the North Shore Neighborhood Association.

Frank Farkas, our Florida Representative (District 52) has expressed interest in a neighborhood event this fall; the seven Associations could put on an event at Crescent lake that would include all ten candidates for state and local office.

CONA: role: proposal for traffic initiatives**

Officer Merritt’s Report:
Two commercial burglaries in past month: one caught running out of El Cap; another attempted break in at Exxon Station. Reports of vehicle burglaries in alley between 35th and 34th Avenue near 4th Street; one car later found at Wilson’s. Still waiting for prostitution bill to be signed by Gov (provisions include Johns lose license on 2nd offense; hookers can get treatment for 1st offense, but 2nd offense felony; incentives to get girls to help make drug arrest

Plan to have motorcycle cops at Block Party/Allendale/June 16;

Re: resident at El Rio sex predator: required to report; violation for not changing ID: when officers arrived to check, he was gone;
Crescent Lake produced several reports of a bicycle pincher;

Robin asked for recommendations re: break-ins; Merritt noted one of the burglaries a window was unlocked, cautioned residents to put stuff away, lock doors and windows, get sensor lights; that with school letting out, burglaries will be up.

Noted that statistics are not as bad as they sound; of 88 calls, 12 from Albertson’s, 2 from Kash N Karry, mostly shoplifting, motor vehicle accidents

Dan noted the Winn-Dixie on the corner of 9th St and 34d Ave South had rash of pocketbook pickers

**
Robin reported on her meeting with Susie Ajoc.

Announced that neighborhood association members could still get 2 free tickets to the June 8 Devil Rays/Padres game if they joined and paid by May 15.

Other announcements: May 18 “Xeriscape U” at )PTEC
State Historic Trust May 16-18

Grants are available from Forfeiture fund for crime prevention projects such as lighting, community education: (poll?)
Citywide grants – neighborhood match required (time worked counts toward match)

Traffic calming discussed

Fundraising ideas requested:
Garage sale suggested (poll?)

Reviewed “characteristics of success” for n’hood associations:
--Positive
--Persistence
--Goals
--Fun

Poll on fundraising passed out
“VISION” – four points:
Unity Committee?

Board of Adjustment Notifications: Robin has been getting them all;
Motion: to keep set of Notifications to bring to meetings:

New Business
Email address procured: 5ptna@juno.com

Suggestions for Speakers requested
Reclaimed Water?

Question: does association want to join CONA? costs $50
not at this time: not enough money

Other matters discussed:
How to get people involved
Business membership?
--better than bake sale

Robin: volunteers for sidewalk committee?
Cl: Should find out what criteria are from city
Dan: volunteers to look into it, also parking restrictions

Off Merritt: mentions incident involving No Parking area (road too narrow): Signs went up; phones lit up with calls from angry neighbors ticketed; had to do survey

Dan – mentioned problem with habitual parking in his yard
No parking: North side of Avenue, West side of Street

Motion to adjourn made
seconded, passed 8:15 PM

June 12, 2002

The meeting was called to order at 7:00 PM
Announcement: Officer Merritt will not be present to give report (on detail)

Treasurer’s Report (in absentia): Bank Account opened at Signature Bank: free checking (as favor): Total in account as of May 27: $180.75

To incorporate or go with CONA?
Cost of incorporation: $75
Cost of joining CONA: $50
Advantages of either unclear; Most neighborhood associations don’t formally join CONA.

Block Party update:
Question—will there be a membership table? not sure..
Plan to have Canine unit of SPPD;
Tables: Maureen will bring 2 long tables.

Update on seven neighborhood associations along 4th and 9th Streets: met to identify concerns regarding crack/prostitution at motels. Group picket planned for July.

Outback grand opening on 4th Street will be July 29: reservations required to attend; Robin keeping list.

State Elections: Idea for “meet the candidates” BBQ – difficulties organizing; expressions of interest from Charlie Christ and Frank Farkas…

Upcoming subjects for public forums: Condos to be built at 19th Avenue (Crescent Lake), 4th Street Beautification projects: lighting, medians, landscaping (from 5th Ave N to 30th Ave N) to be discussed at public forum in August/September

Press Release received: Gov. signed prostitution bill June 5.

GOALS: Seeking to have Traffic Person speak—what kinds of projects are we interested in?
Jeanette—Mke said he’d put us on the list; traffic calming not
Dan—went to his office 3 weeks ago—suggestion—cones “Children at Play” sign, at eye level – gets more attention

Sidewalks: possible grant project – survey; plan—to make grid and have volunteers survey their area of the neighborhood.

Repaint “5 Points” signs

Other Grant ideas:
Lighting on 34th Ave and 7th Street North; note Allendale is seeking traffic calming on 38th Avene, 7th Street – maybe can work together.

“Yard of the Month” sign like Crescent Park
“Good Neighbor” program – Robin will first try to get donation from sign shop

Clifford Hollins: It is illegal to put up advertising in right-of-way; collects trash…
Idea – to use signs to advertise meetings (in yard with owners permission)

Dan—re: newsletter/publicity –small number of people participating
Robin—every 6 months—mail newsletter or postcard to everyone—
Dan—can get cards made up (only two times –Steve)
Meeting days—Realtor—to sponsor

Steve—Put up poster at Publix/Albertsons
Robin—How many homes are in the neighborhood—need to find out so postage cost can be determined
Need to get advertising to support newsletter

Possible Speakers for upcoming meetings (City of St Pete) subjects:
Native Plants
Hurricane awareness
Requirements for City Office
Historic Homes

Dan: Entowne update—last heard from 17 days ago—has not yet selected (plan?); quotes –10 days for permit

NEW BUSINESS
question: Taco Bell all-night drive-through?

Jeanette—7th St and 33rd Av N fire—people still live there--

July 10, 2002

Meeting called to order 7:05
Robin Reed not present: Dan Tower presiding

First item: Neighborhood signs: need buffing, cleaning, clear finish; total number 15, of which 6 need work (sanding); 8 people could do job
Decided to table to next meeting

“Good Neighbor” sign: Bill Sanderson working on ideas

En Towne: has been disassembled: should be ready for demolition by Friday

Newsletter: Don will be seeking RE person to sponsor

Next Meeting: August 14. Speaker: Mike Fredericks on Traffic Calming

Notification:

Meeting signs: Bill Sanderson will make 3 signs for $36

Meeting adj at 7:38pm