Overland Park

September 2006 Newsletter

Sep 27, 2006

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NEXT MEETING: THURSDAY ?– SEPT 28, 6:30...

ONE HOUR SPEED MEETING! Come at 6:00 and visit, help set up; stay 'til 7:00 to plot action!
Please attend and bring a friend so we can GROW ONA and our influence on our future.
Pay measly dues ($5 a calendar year, $35 for businesses) and you get to vote!
Education Building of John Collins Church ?– 2320 S. Bannock ?– follow signs!


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WHAT'S COOKING ON OVERLAND PARK'S FRONT BURNER...

?? PICNIC KUDOS to the dedicated people that made our 9/23 gathering so terrific!
Over 40 Overland neighbors gathered at John Collins Church for a blustery but delightful Saturday all-blocks party. Sadly, weather prevented it being held in Grant-Frontier Park, though the church, with its kitchen and sit-down meal tables, was a more supportive location. The celebration centered on the success we've had with our all-Overland Neighborhood Watch (ONWATCH) sign-ups ?– see below. Burgers and dogs were grilled, tamales and lasagna imported, cakes and cookies were baked... it was so down home that all that was missing was a jug band. The sturdily pitched pavilion failed to achieve lift-off, despite high winds, and somehow the football never smashed into the relish jar. Kids were the key ingredient that made this picnic look like a complete community, real Americana. Now, revisiting those marvelous things to eat...

?? OCTOBER ONA MEETING, just a month away, is our FALL POTLUCK!
If only each of us were to come to the October 26 meeting with bells (or something) on, evangelize one new attendee to join in, and conjure one brilliant edible bombshell from his or her kitchen ?– well, let's just say we could take the rest of the year off in good conscience (we will anyway: Thanksgiving and the high holidays mean no ONA meetings in November and December). So anticipate, breathlessly!

?? OCTOBER ONA MEETING, just a month away, is TIME TO ELECT OFFICERS!
Hats hit the ring at this September meeting: our By-Laws require a brief statement of intent to run, so that interested voters can get to know candidates. Perhaps the best protocol would be to indicate interest at a given point during the meeting, then stay after to glad-hand, let folks mob you with questions and pose for the paparazzi.

?? ONWATCH takes off in the Southeast Quadrant...
We're making a neighborhood out of a vicinity! Under the watchful eye and persistent lash of SE Quadrep Jennifer Pollack, canvassing is rapidly proceeding to the 60% level on each residential block east of Anta Fe and south of Evans. Westside ONWATCH activists will testify that the increased connection with one another and the police has boosted neighborliness remarkably, and the picnic turnout (most SE Block Captains were there) shows the same chemistry in this campaign. In addition to neighbors meeting neighbors, leaders meet leaders and the willing meet the willing. ONA will be so much more powerful...

?? Office of the Independent Monitor ?– keeping Denver Safety Agencies honest?
Jack Unruh passed the gavel to VP Catherine Sandy at last month's meeting so ONA could have a look at this office and its performance. At the spottily attended meeting in College View neighborhood, citizens complained, police reported progress, and Independent Monitor Richard A. Rosenthal summed up the office's first year and annual report. District 4 Commander Sandoval convincingly extolled the Broken Windows policing process. In general it seemed that adequate checks and balances were in place to review police behavior if complainants were dedicated enough for a lengthy process.

?? PLAN OR BE PLANNED UPON Department... (President's Editorial)
Several new faces at the picnic asked about long term trends in Overland Park: development, crime, demographics, new plans afoot? They were so right to wonder. The most devastating impact to our neighborhood in the last twenty-five years has been the growth of Santa Fe to a Class II Expressway. Property was condemned, jobs and dwellings lost, and a huge barrier to walkability and neighborhood identity plunked down: we became a doormat to the north-south commute. Not our plan, but it was somebody's. Not that we could have stopped the unstoppable, but...

The City is more neighbor-responsive these days, but a place at the table needs someone in it. The idea of making Acoma one-way south of the Cherokee-Gates was nixed in the bud because we participated in the South Broadway NEPA process (transportation plans for B'way & I-25). An Evans Station Transit Oriented Development group is preparing our thoughts for a TOD plan the City will address next year. Parks and Rec neglected to include a needed Greenway to AquaGolf backdoor ?– because we didn't see it coming. Cherokee and Lionstone General Development Plans. Overland Neighborhood Plan. South Broadway Transportation and Redevelopment Plan. Shattuck District Plan. The list goes on longer than ONA NEWS permits, but if you are interested in this kind of stuff... well, let's pass around an Action Group sheet at the September meeting and put some like minds together. Warning: it's addictive!

?? COLORADO NEIGHBORHOOD CONFERENCE
Topics like these are shared by many if not all neighborhoods. Four ONA members will capture the give and take at a statewide conference September 30. Look for reports next month.

?? ONA a 501-C3?
A long time ago it was voted to pursue Federal non-profit status. Lack of knowledge and the rush of other issues swamped the effort. Would we gain from potential tax-wise donors? Do grants we might go after require such status? The process is tedious, we are told, but larger projects we might undertake could benefit. Let's look at the idea again.




?? Burton Showroom nominated for a Mayor's Design Award
The urban industrial-chic building across South Delaware from the Evans Station houses the Burton Snowboard Distributorship (you'll have no problem identifying it from that description ?– no competition!). ONA has nominated it for its recycling of both building and materials, its environmentally responsible sustainable design features, and its creative detailing. Thanks are in order to owner John Damiano and architects Tres Birds Workshop for laying down this beachhead of how cool South Delaware should be.

?? Celebrating the Shattuck cleanup ?– now worker-friendly!
The date of the Shattuck celebration has been pushed out to 10:00 a.m., Saturday, November 4, so that more working neighbors and activists can participate (the initial date was during office hours). As she can, Catherine Sandy arranged for the powers that be to rethink the obvious. All the officials who were scheduled will still be in attendance, and some more of us can be, thanks to Catherine.

?? Say, doesn't this ONA NEWS look kind of old?
The Media Action Group formed at the August meeting is still in process, working on a format that can be economically printed and distributed electronically. Volunteers who signed up should come to the September meeting and touch base: we have the talent and expertise ?– it's just a matter of getting to it. In the mean time, for convenience, we've reverted to the old e-mail format. Money for a printed ONA NEWS, however, may be a slight issue... for all the exciting new ONA participation, Treasurer Lois Strohmeyer reports only about 30 paying/voting members. Dues, website, newsletter, database, editing, neighborhood brand, minutes... ever notice how everything seems connected?

?? ONA Meeting Signs ?– IS YOUR SIGN UP? Help a new member remember ?– and don't forget!

Hope to see you all and any number of others on September 28: bring a neighbor to share ONA with!

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OVERLAND NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION BY-LAWS

THE OVERLAND NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION (ONA) Amended By-laws as adopted at
July 28, 2005 monthly ONA meeting

BOUNDARIES The Overland neighborhood extends from Mississippi Ave. on the
north to Yale Ave. on the south; from Broadway Street on the East to the
Platte River on the west; Overland Neighborhood Association, a non-profit
service organization, was founded in 1979. It now exists to promote
responsible development and improved quality of life for residents and
businesses within the above bounds; also included as members are residents
and owners of homes and businesses along the opposite sides of the bounding
streets and river.

PURPOSE AND VISION: ONA exists ?– to encourage communication and
participation among members so that problems can be understood and solved
and opportunities recognized and realized ?– to allow members to distinguish
their own self-interests as a community and recognize how these fit or
conflict with those embraced by other communities and governmental
jurisdictions ?– to make members better aware of the rights and tools to
accomplish these ends available to them within Denver City, Colorado State
and Federal government ?– to leave the subsequent generation with better
neighborhood conditions and possibilities than today's (it is recommended
that resetting of Purpose and Vision take place annually)

STRUCTURE ONA membership consists of all residents, property owners,
business owners and employees working within its boundaries. Its voting
membership consists of its elected officers and paid-up members. These
By-laws as adopted and ongoingly amended define ONA's organization. The
four customary minimal officeholders as defined below are mandatory. The
intent of the By-laws also suggests developing additional structure in the
form of active committees and recommends constant refinement by amendment to
meet new challenges and opportunities.

MEETINGS, ELECTIONS, MEMBERSHIP and VOTING
ONA Executive Board members meet on the fourth Thursday of each
month, January through October (November and December excepted due to
holidays), in the Education Building of the John Collins Church, 2320 S.
Bannock Street. All meetings are open to members and the public, and
attendance is passionately encouraged. The March and October meetings are
general membership meetings dedicated to reviewing long range issues and
electing officers: annual elections are held in October. Candidates for
office must declare and attend at least one meeting prior to elections to
explain positions and qualifications. Executive Board vacancies may be
filled for the term balance at any meeting by vote of the remaining Board
and attending members. Ideal terms of office are three years and Executive
Board members are encouraged to step aside if qualified successors are
present: there are no term limits except by election challenge. Simple
majority rules in all ONA votes. Voting may occur on any issue at any
meeting: only paid members may vote. Dues are $5 annually for residents or
property owners, $35 annually for businesses (promotion of the business
through is ONA included), payable in January or upon joining (there is no
pro-rating of dues).

OFFICERS and OTHER BOARD MEMBERS Officers must be members and Overland
residents or Overland business owners actively working in the area. The ONA
Executive Board consists of President, Vice-President, Secretary, and
Treasurer. The Executive Board is distinguished from other Board members
(see Permanent Chairs below) only by the need to define a minimum operating
structure for the organization: all member votes are equal. A person
serving in a non-Executive role such as those suggested below can request
that the role become a board position by membership vote at the March or
October meeting. These other Board positions (Chairs) offer opportunities
to serve as representatives of focus areas within Overland and in response
to ongoing issues. Chairs must remain active to retain their position and it
is suggested that non-Executive Board Chairs be kept to no more than nine.
Executive Board members may hold additional chairs of committees when they
are vacant, but recruitment of dedicated Chairpersons is encouraged to
better serve the neighborhood.


TREASURER ?– is responsible for monitoring the ONA treasury and issuing
reports as needed; is responsible for maintaining the membership list; is
responsible for tax reporting and incorporation under applicable
jurisdictions (as if, for example, the membership voted to seek 501C3
status). SECRETARY ?– is responsible for recording meeting minutes and
maintaining all records, including amendments to these By-laws, and for
registration with the City and County of Denver and Colorado Secretary of
State (ONA is a Colorado non-profit organization). VICE PRESIDENT ?– shares
all responsibilities of President and serves in President's absence, with
special emphasis on ONA's members and internal communications about meetings
and issues PRESIDENT?– has primary responsibility for chairing meetings,
representing ONA at relevant meetings of neighborhood leaders, remaining
current with and communicating an overview of all ONA issues concerning
Overland Neighborhood; special emphasis is on external communication with
City agencies and other citizen organizations, etc. PERMANENT CHAIRS ?– it is
recommended that ONA volunteers chair committees addressing ongoing issues;
primary examples of such issues are (1) membership, participation and
activism, (2) development, zoning and land use, (3) safety, health, and
environment (addressing contamination, noise, traffic, public health, etc.),
(4) communication (through mailings, newsletters, phone list/trees, web
sites and e-mail, faxes, media events, signs, etc.), (5) services,
assistance and education for Overland residents, and (6) four area
representatives (the neighborhood is quartered by Evans Ave. and Santa Fe
Dr.)

Proactive initiative is what makes ONA work. Informal ad hoc teams for
specific projects (which may be supported by appropriate permanent
committees) are always encouraged and deserve agenda time and vocal
acknowledgement, as do efforts by individuals, organizations, and elected
officials who further Overland as a community.

________________________________________________________________________ ONA BOARD & CHAIRS
President / Contact person: Jack Unruh - 303-733-5493
j.unruh@comcast.net

Vice President: Catherine Sandy - 303-722-5238

Treasurer: Lois Strohmeyer - 303-778-1343

Secretary: Charley Samson - 303-919-6335

Newsletter: Arlene Lipman - 303-733-3824

Shattuck Citizen's Advisory Group: Deb Sanchez - 303-744-8651

Communications/Membership: Catherine Sandy - 303-722-5238

NW QuadReps: John Chapman, Rebecca Nalbandian ?– 303-733-3786

NE QuadRep: Catherine Sandy ?– 303-722-5238

SE QuadRep: Jennifer Pollack ?– 303-433-4883

SW QuadRep: Ray Ehrenstein ?– 303-698-0337

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GENERAL NEIGHBORHOOD NEEDS

Dial 3-1-1 to get a case started for any Denver service or agency

To file an anonymous report of a zoning violation go to
http://www.denvergov.org/Inspection_Services/

POLICE

Dial 9-1-1 for emergency response

Police Dispatch - 720-913-2000 (non-emergency)

Police District 4 ?– 720-913-0200

Neighborhood Resource Officer
Marc Roggeman ?– 720-913-0277

Neighborhood Resource Officer
Brian Tompkins ?– 720-0200 for Voice Mail

Neighborhood Resource Officer
Tim Schwindt ?– 720-0200 for Voice Mail

Community Resource Officer
Rich Blea ?– 720-913-0278

CITY COUNCIL Kathleen MacKenzie - 720-865-8900 (District 7)
kathleen.mackenzie@ci.denver.co.us

Carol Boigon - 720-865-8100 (At Large) carol.boigon@ci.denver.co.us

Doug Linkhart - 720-865-8000 (At Large)
doug.linkhart@ci.denver.co.us

STATE REPRESENTATIVE Anne McGihon - 303-866-2921 (District 3)

STATE SENATOR Dan Grossman - 303-866-4852 (District 32)