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DPNA Meeting Minutes
DPNA Board Meeting, July 12, 2007
Neighbors present: Dan Read (president), Melissa Godwin (vice president), Pam Campa (treasurer), Claire Doyle (secretary), Barry Ragin, Carol Donin, Bill Anderson, Marty Jarrell (members-at-large), Esther Bent, Andrew Preiss, Chuck Grant, Katherine O’Brien, Frances Hall.
National Night Out: Officer Eric Hester would rather have one big event than lots of small events. Melissa Godwin is planning one at Rand and Markham; Claire Doyle is planning one on the Shawnee St. cul-de-sac. Dan Read also talked to Officer Hester about neighborhood watch captains. Andrew Preiss suggested having an immediate-neighborhood phone tree. Dan showed a list of people already signed up as block captains.
Treasurer's report: We have $1957 in our account. We had expenses of $189 for the 4th of july picnic.
Movies in the park: Tom Whiteside wants to show a movie at the park and would like to have a donation from DPNA. This would be a one-time event. Katherine O'Brien and Brian Green have offered to pull together some resources. We should consider it if we can pass the hat to recoup some of the money. We should invite Tom to the board meeting in August to discuss in more detail.
Traffic circle planting: Katherine said that Angelo Abbate wants to be a part of any committee. The city is done with what they are going to do; it is up to us to plant and/or decorate. There don’t appear to be any limitations, based on the precedent of other circles in the city. DPNA will not take a stand on this at this time, but allow it to remain free-form.
Roxboro & Knox Crosswalk: Phil Loziuk says that the traffic counts are done. There are 17K+ cars per day; the peak is around 1600-1700 cars per hour in the afternoon. The average speed is close to the speed limit. The 85th percentile is 42 MPH, which is not high enough to ask for drastic measures, but police could be asked to increase enforcement. Phil is not comfortable with lowering the speed limit. He does support a pedestrian-activated crosswalk, especially in the northbound lane. A pushbutton at the crosswalk that would flash 150 feet or so up the hill. The cost is $1000-2000. Cars are faster and visibility is worse in that lane. He needs NCDOT signoff. Barry Ragin would like the signal in both directions if possible. He’s encouraging the city/state to add “State Law: Yield to Pedestrians” signs. Motion: DPNA accepts the proposal but recommends it be done in both direction. Passed.
Bathhouse/DPPI: Duke Park Preservation Initiative meeting is scheduled for July 14 at 4pm. People can join for $15. There will be an election of a new board of directors. The meet will be held at Dan’s house.
Quality of life issues: Barry & Claire met with Rick Soles about a problem property on Avondale. There are more conflicts in the neighborhood between owners of poorly maintained rentals and homeowners who take pride in their homes and want a decent neighborhood. Trash, noise, improper disposal of motor oil, tied up dogs, loose dogs are all issues. Ken Gasch now owns property on Markham and wants to be active in anything DPNA does in this regard. He’s been effective in Colonial Village, and is the incoming president of the INC. Brian Green and others have been buying up properties along Markham and renovating them. We need to revive the Quality of Life committee. There are also rumours of streetwalking prostitutes in the neighborhood. There is a problem with graffiti on properties that back up to Pamlico. Barry thinks sidewalks and bus shelters will help raise the quality of life (and safety) on Avondale.
Speakers for upcoming meetings: Judy Kincaid wants to do a talk for Clean Energy Durham. This could be scheduled for November. It was proposed to invite Officer Hester to come to our meeting in September.
Bollards on Brookline: NCDOT has moved some of their stuff out of there. Durham Parks & Recreation is waiting for NCDOT to sign it over to them so that they can install bollards. Currently, you can drive right onto the trail. The trail is supposed to hook up with South Ellerbe creek trail, but they don’t connect now— you have to walk out into traffic on Washington to get from one to the other. This would be solved if we got the sidewalks on Washington that we’ve requested from the city. Duke Park is also supposed to have access to the area of the park that’s now being used as P&R storage.
Duke Park neighborhood borders: Dan got a map from the city and distributed them at the meeting.
Concerts in the park: Esther Bent would like to have Duke Park put on the schedule for next year's concerts. Motion: Esther will write a letter to P&R to put Duke Park on the schedule for next year. Passed.
Brochures: Pam reminded people that we have hundreds of brochures about DPNA. Pam would like to get them to realtors to give to new neighbors.
Board election: Need to send an email out for nominations.
Post-meeting Amendment: Board voted via email to support funding Tom Whiteside $54 to rent film equipment.
The next DPNA event will be the August 9th board meeting..