RHCA Meeting Minutes

July 11, 2006 - Approved

Franciscan Center - 3010 N. Perry Ave.
7:00 p.m.

Desiree T. Valdes, President

Introductions

Procedure of Meeting - By-Laws

Neighborhood Quadrant Representatives
North West, North East, South West, South East
Ridge and Commercial Corridor

Block Captains

Standing Committees
Code Enforcement Committee, Neighborhood Membership Committee, Communications Committee, Special Events/Community Service Committee, Historic Preservation, Trees & Beautification Committee, Neighborhood Watch Committee

Special Committees
Candidate/Elections Committee
Economic Development Committee ¡V CDBG

Association Dues $12.00

Reports Patti Schweers, Vice President
Mini-Grant Application and Upcoming Events
Community Garage Sale ¡V Saturday, July 15, 2006
Clean SWEEP ¡V City Clean up- Saturday, July 22, 2006
National Night Out Event ¡V Tuesday, August 1, 2006
Mayor¡¦s Town Hall Meeting ¡V Tuesday, August 15, 2006

Sonia Barcena, Crime Watch Coordinator Report

Eileen Norton/Sharon Keene ¡V Treasurer¡¦s Report

General Comments from the floor
Please state your name and address when speaking

Adjournment



Next Meeting- August 8th
Special Guest; TPD Chief Stephen Hogue & Lorena Rivas, City Neighborhood Liaison

Please review the Proposed bylaws posted on our front page of our website Proposed bylaws to be voted on at the next meeting August 8th
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August 8, 2006

Riverside Heights Neighborhood Association & Crime Watch
August 8, 2006
7:00 Franciscan Center

In attendence
Desirea Valdes -President
Patricia Schweers ¡VVice President
Sonia Barcena¡XCrime Watch Coordinator
Tracy Turbeville¡XSecretary

Vicky Mccarthy
Angel Garcia
Shannon Drwiega
Richard Angelo Jf
Jonny Dugon
Elena Perry
Kathy Evans
Reid Evans
Brad Hissing Jenifer Saul
Sr. Mary McNary
Barry Shalinsky
Sandra Rodriguez
Jane Fleegel
Mike Suarez
Laura Arkenbruck

Agenda
Call to Order Desiree T. Valdes, President

Invocation ¡V Sister Cathy Cahill
Approval of minutes for July 7, 2006 Meeting

Special guest welcome and introduction:
Chief Stephen Hogue¡XTampa Police Department
Mayor Iorio appointed Chief Hogue in 2003. His approach to reducing crime, especially in economically areas, involves focusing on crime at the street level. In 2002 Tampa ranked #1 in on the FBI crime list for cities with population 250-400K. Since becoming Chief, Chief Hogue¡¦s street level approach has helped reduce crime by 40%.

To do you small part to help keep crime down Chief Hogue suggests:
„h Residents should know their neighbors and neighborhood.
„h Know who belongs, so you can recognize when something or someone is out of place.
„h Don¡¦t be hesitant about calling the police when you see something suspicious.

Six officers are dedicated to specified areas, so the officers patrolling each are familiar with the trends on the neighborhood level. Six crime analysts are also employed to help understand to gather practical data to help focus resources to best prevent crime.

Lorena Rivas, Neighborhood Liaison
Phone Number ¡V 813-274-7416
Email: Lorena.Rivas@Tampagov.net
The Neighborhood & Community Relations Office serves as the Customer Service Center for the entire City of Tampa. The Neighborhood & Community Relations Office is available to address inquiries made by phone or in person regarding questions, complaints, problems, requests, suggestions or compliments about City of Tampa services. We are not in a position to fix or solve problems but to provide the citizens information and submit their concerns or suggestions to the Customer Service Center or forward to the appropriate department.

Ms. Rivas also announced the upcoming Town Hall Meeting with Mayor Iorio at Tampa Bay Elementary on August 15th.

She Also reminded that persons with disabilities and special needs should register with the Health Department to ensure that there is space for them in the special needs shelter.

Dennis Fernandez-- Manager of Historic Preservation, City of Tampa

Mr. Fernandez spoke regarding the historic designation of the Columbus Bridge.

The Historic Designation Commission recommended six bridges be granted a historic designation. The Columbus Bridge is one of the six. Among the six, perhaps Columbus is the most distinctive in that it is the last bobtail swinging bridge in the state. (Bobtail bridges swing off-center.)

The Commission can only make a recommendation. The bridge is actually owned by the county. Recently, consultants were hired to assess bridge i.e. the cost and impact of replacement vs. rehabilitation. They estimated that it would cost 40 million to replace, but only 7-8 million for bridge rehabilitation.

The historic designation would not slow down plans for bridge rehabilitation. The plans in place already comply with historic designation standards.

Historic designation will not protect bridge if it is deemed ¡§functionally obsolete¡¨ in the future.

Reports
Patty Schweers¡XNational Night Out was a success.

A mini-grant has been submitted for a Fall Festival. The date is set for Saturday, October 28th. Volunteers are needed for the festival.

The Neighborhood grant is $1500. Food and drink donations are appreciated.

Quadrant leaders have been assigned, but all have not been contacted. Once they have been contacted and accept the commission, then the announcement will be made.

Desiree Valdes offered to send a letter of support to the Council for the historic designation of the Columbus Bridge. All in attendance concurred.

Next scheduled meeting 9/12/2006.

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September 12, 2006

Riverside Heights Neighborhood Association & Crime Watch
Spetember 12, 2006
7:00 Franciscan Center

In attendence
Desirea Valdes -President
Tracy Turbeville¡XSecretary

Nora O¡¦Shea
Merylyn Hogue
Gavin Greco
Sister Cathy Cahill
R. G. ¡§Marty¡¨ Martinez Jenifer Saul
Ernie Herce
Barry Shalinsky
Cariline Tesche


Agenda
Call to Order Desiree T. Valdes, President

Invocation ¡V Sister Cathy Cahill
Sister Cahill also announced The Blessing of the Animals on 10/4 at the Franciscan center.

Desiree Valdes
All in attendance approved the new RHCA bylaws.

The Fall Festival will be on Saturday, October 28th. Volunteers are needed.

On October 10, 2006 a candidate forum will be held. The forum will be hosted by RHCA in conjunction with Southeast Seminole Heights, Business guild of Seminole Heights, Old Seminole Heights, Tampa Heights Civic Association, South Seminole Heights and Sulphur Springs Action League.

Currently, it is planned to take place at Seminole Heights Baptist Church. You may e-mail Desiree Valdes with any question that you would like the candidates to address.

Kevin Frenzel and Desiree Valdes met with Karen Palus, City Park and Recreation Director, regarding neighborhood plantings to improve our neighborhood parks. (The proposed idea is to allow us, RHCA members, to plant and help care for our park. This idea is common in many urban areas across the country with great success.)

Currently, the Tampa does not have any urban garden projects. Ms. Palus is investigating how other communities organized and support this approach in an effort to potentially bring this approach to our community.

Additionally, studies are underway to convert Duran Park into a dog park.

Nora O¡¦Shea-- Recent rains flooded homes in the neighborhood.

Open discussion occurred regarding the flooding issues. The outcome was an agreement to try to have some solidarity when dealing with the Storm Water Department. Individuals with flood damage were encouraged to post on the RHCA web site. Tracy Turbeville also agreed to help people with flooding to get in contact with each other. They were encouraged to email her at tturbevi@hsc.usf.edu. She agreed to forward contact information from neighbors with flood damage to others neighborhood victims of flooding.
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Email us
DesireeRHNA@aol.com