Overland Park

Minutes of February 22, 2007 Meeting

Feb 24, 2007

Overland Neighborhood Association (ONA)
Minutes of 2/22/07 Meeting

Call to Order (CTO) by President Catherine Sandy at 6:37pm at John Collins Church, 2320 S. Bannock.

Present: See sign-up sheet.

Vice President Jennifer Pollock proposed a neighborhood improvement scheme, in which those in need (not necessarily elderly) would benefit from landscaping by ONA volunteers, who would thereby earn credits for their own projects. Materials would be donated or paid by the homeowners. Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00am to 3:00pm during April or May as a target was mentioned, as well as a possible flyers distributed by block captains. Judy Greek proposed identifying T-shirts or signs. A sign-up sheet was distributed.

The minutes of last month?’s meeting, composed by Jim Sample and read by Secretary Charley Samson, were approved.

Treasurer Lois Strohmeyer?’s report showing a balance of $1,304.85 was approved, as was a decision to reimburse Director of Deep Thoughts Jack Unruh for the nifty maps.

Julie Connor, representing Councilwoman MacKenzie, noted an Earth Day plan to distribute 7000 free trees April 22-28 for homeowners?’ ?“tree lawns?” (in the public right-of-way). A city forester would inspect proposed sites and recommend appropriate types of trees. Contact Jennifer Pollock for details. Connor also announced a Parks and Recreation meeting on March 8 at 7:00pm at the Montclair Civic Building, 6820 E. 12th Ave., regarding beer, wine and champagne at walk-run races. At the City Council vote on Aqua Golf, MacKenzie inserted language on the need for a bike and pedestrian bridge, which is now a ?“Tier I Project.?” The Infrastructure Task Force needs $390 million just to catch up, which means a probable bond election in November. A Broadway Reconstruction Meeting regarding improvements from Arizona to Iliff will be held Wednesday February 28 at 6:00pm at Cameron Church. Unruh wondered about a pedestrian bridge letter writing campaign to the Mayor and DRCOG (Denver Regional Council of Governments). Connor thought the timing of such a venture should be ?“in the next 2 weeks.?”

Sandy noted 2 new neighborhood restaurants. Joyce Shafer has purchased ?“Famous Pizza,?” now called ?“Joyce?’s Pizza,?” at 2335 S. Broadway. We enjoyed the fruits of her donated labors at the meeting. Also, Alex Stochel (sp?) will open ?“In Cod We Trust?” at 1311 S. Broadway on May 1st, featuring fish ?‘n?’ chips, darts and English Premiership matches on the telly.

The Candidates Forum for District 7 (MacKenzie?’s seat) will be April 17 at 7:00pm here at the church.

Bridge Czar Matt Riley said he was amazed at how much had already been done towards the bike-pedestrian bridge on Iliff. He has been nominated to the Bike Commission, and will therefore wield even more raw power. Unruh proposed talking points for emails and letters. Dawn Dutton thought bike shops would be natural allies.

Development Commissioner Unruh and Kevin Dickson reported on the February 17 meeting at the Gold Course. No city people showed up, but a potential developer for the Delaware & Evans junkyard has emerged. The sound-buffering qualities of three-to-four-story structures on Delaware and two-story townhomes on the west side of Cherokee was noted. Kevin said he has learned that a parking garage at the Evans Light Rail Station is about the ?“worst thing?” that could be imagined. Better would be an ?“action sports zone?” or a ?“green architects zone?” on Delaware. The current zoning loophole for 2-story live-work space has been used by Pat Heath and her husband for their craft business at 1545 S. Acoma. Kevin has created a discussion forum for these issues on our website.

Sergeant Jessie Espinoza of the District 4 Impact Team noted the recent police reorganization, resulting in three 2-man teams (basically an extra patrol for enforcement). Sector 2?’s boundaries are between 6th Avenue and Yale, and Downing to the River. His people can be reached at 720-913-0200. They love to bust drug houses, often employing the ?“lawn chair and donuts method.?” Noting that crimes in Overland have gone down, Connor said that crime statistics are available on the City?’s website.

Sandy mentioned that next month?’s meeting is our annual pot luck. All and sundry are invited to bring their covered dishes and tasty commestibles. We have historical burgers and hot dogs already. Old Overland Saying: ?“If you feed them, they will come.?”

Unruh signaled Millie van Wyke?’s book, The Town of South Denver, as the ?“closest thing to a history of Overland.?” Millie was involved in the Evans Light Rail Station exhibits.

With her clarion call to ?“go home!?” Sandy adjourned the meeting at 7:55pm.