PAC 2 Meeting
Monday, March 9, 2009
Durham Public Schools Staff Development Center
2107 Hillandale Road
Durham, NC 27704
6:00 to 8:00 p m
Facilitators:
Cheryl Shiflett
Bill Anderson
COFFEE WITH COUNCIL
FY 10 BUDGET
We were honored to have the following Members of Council to hear our requests and concerns:Mayor William Bell; Mayor Pro Tem, Cora-Cole McFadden; Eugene Brown; Dianne Catotti; Mike Woodard; Howard Clements; Farad Ali and City Manager, Tom Bonfield.
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Pro Tem, Cora Cole-McFadden.
Youth Members present were recognized as well as City Staff Members.
Bertha Johnson, Budget Development presented a slide show in the 2010 Budget. They desire to engage the public more than ever and ask that everyone prioritize requests. A Public Hearing on the proposed Budget will be held on June 1, 2009 at the regular City Council Meeting.(Print-out of slides was distributed)
Bill Anderson: Duke Park Parking Lot. This lot is used by Durham Parks and Rec for storage. We want this returned to us to be used as a parking lot because of inadequate parking for those visiting the Park.
Page McCullough: Northgate Park. We want our Park completely renovated. We need new picnic tables. Understand bids are out on Phase 1.
Shirley Street: Walltown. Beautification of our sidewalk areas. 1000 block of Onslow having increased break-ins. Increase police patrols.
Mrs. Hooker: Walltown, Thanks and appreciation to everyone who has worked so hard to get the new Community Center built. We have waited more than 54 years and also may we please have a swimming pool? Ground-Breaking is set for March 21, 2009.
Joy: Ellerbee Creek Support needed to accomplish restoration of the stream and renovation of the area.
Andrew Price: Duke Park. Please include funding for the Duke Park Bath House Project
David Harris: Old Farm. Improvement needed in process for obtaining a permit to do building improvements on homes. Streamline the process to cut down on multiple trips to City Hall.
Toby Berla: Durham Open Space and Trails. Continue infrastructure for trails to accommodate bikers and walkers.
Beverly Rush: Argonne Hills. Thanks to City for the Police Sub-station in Eno Square Shopping Center and the black top repair we requested last year. Is there an update on the status of the Mildred Ray Property which adjoins West Point on the Eno Park? City Manager Bonfield reported negotiations are ongoing and the City expects to meet with them in the near future.
Second Concern: Verifying legitimacy of mobile food vendors: Call 560-4700 ext. 281 or 560-7800 and provide make/model of vehicle and license tag number. The Health Department will investigate.
Caroline Odom: Bennett Memorial Road. Requests Street lights.
Josie McNeil: Open Trails Protect our trees and trails and move forward with the State Park acquisition.
Iris Wall: Bragtown. We need sidewalks on Dearborn and an increase in police patrols because mailboxes are being destroyed.
Chic Hinton: Corner of Hillandale and I85 under the bridge area. A man on the corner relieved himself in front of everyone. Clean up that area.
Mark Ambrose: Northgate Park. Requests Improvements under the deferred budget items be done as on-going maintenance.
Ashley Thomas: ADA Access in Durham Buildings. She presented examples of violations in numerous building in Durham and asked how they could have passed inspection with so many violations. Inspectors are failing to catch these violations in new buildings and this is not acceptable. People with disabilities are being subjected to severe indecencies as a result. She has kept a log and asks that all buildings and grounds be brought up to code.
Barry Ragan: Duke Park. Thanks for the good work on the Brookline Trail and to the Police Department. He stated the worst designed intersection in NC is at Roxboro, Markham and Mangum Streets and he wants this improved. The exit signs on I85 to the new Durham Performing Arts Center directs all traffic thur this intersection and it must be improved. Plans were submitted 5 years ago.
Durham Teen Scene: They now have 54 members and they broadcast on Channel 8. Please do not cut us from the Budget.
Dan Read: Duke Park. We really need the Bath House done. Also the Trails cleaned up and the tennis courts renovated. One city employee helped clean up some of the trail and a lot was accomplished, but more is needed.
Herbert Mattox: Drought and rate hikes for water usage during the drought. Do we have contracts with any Companies who do not get a rate hike during a drought? Don Greely responded. We do not have any contracts with companies.
Sean: Walltown. Thanked the police for cleaning out one drug house in that area. Another has started up again and he requests City track the Property Managers and hold them accountable as well as the Porperty Owner.
Alisha Johnson: Old Oxford Highway. We love the Bulk Item pick-ups. The process works. We need sidewalks on Riddle Park. Money is in the package for sidewalks when we widen and resurface Old Oxford Road.
Mike Shiflett: I thank the Police for giving us the uniforms that COP now wear. This did not cost anything and COPs are the eyes and ears of District 2. There are many citizens who are willing to work in numerous capacities to help keep our streets and neighborhoods safe. The “Adopt-A-Park” is another way communities help out and PAC2 members are willing to do more. We are ready to take it to the next step.
Jesse: Eno Trace. Safety Concerns as break-ins have increased. Please step-up Police patrol.
Audrey Mitchell: Walltown. There is no playground equipment in our park. There is space for this so please see that we can something for the children to play on. The house at 614 Onslow Street has overgrown shrubbery. The overgrowth almost covers the entire front of the house. Please take care of this.
Angelo Abbate: I am retired and do a lot of walking. There are no sidewalks from Washington to Roxboro Street. The height of the trees there are a problem and there is no access for kids in strollers.
Margaret Purser: North Point Drive. When the shopping area was built and the traffic increased dramatically, the residents were promised a 10 fence. Then we were told there was no money left for the fence by the builder. We want that fence. Steve Medlin, City/County Planning Director will follow-up with Jerry Dickens, the builder.
George Lang: Red Cedar Circle. Please do not subtract monies in the budget from the Police Department nor the School systems. The safety and education of our children should be top priority.
Rich Barber: Landon Farm Division. More Police Patrol needed for break-ins in the area. Sidewalks needed at Geer Street and East Club.
Denise Powers: Danube Lane. Sidewalks desperately needed, especially for the elderly.
Larry Roseboro: Danube Lane He rode the bus to Northern High School. Then the zoning changed and he had to go to Riverside so now has to drive to school.
City Manager, Tom Bonfield told us he had taken lots of notes and he appreciated our concerns.
Councilman Clements commented that PAC2 was an impressive group. Encouraged us to keep speaking up because the squeaky wheel gets the grease.
Bill Anderson responded that we didn’t want to be “squeaky wheels” but we wanted and are more than willing to join with the City and do the actual work involved in solving some of our problems.
Meeting Adjourned.
Minutes taken by
Carolyn Best, Secretary