DPNA Meeting Minutes

Regular Monthly Meeting
August 12, 2004

Board Members Present: Carol Donin (President), Andrew Preiss (Vice President), Rob Dilworth (Secretary), Pam Campa (Treasurer), Esther Bent (At-Large Member), Jesse Eustice (At-Large Member), Daniel Kirk (At-Large Member), Peg Lanier (At-Large Member)

Neighbors Present: Peter Bent, Claire Doyle, Barry Ragin

1. Treasurer's Report

Pam Campa reported that the DPNA currently has $3,006 in its account. Different ways for handling membership renewals were discussed. For example, Esther Bent suggested putting a list of active members in each newsletter, Claire Doyle suggested having a tear-off "reminder" receipt with each membership form in the newsletter, and Daniel Kirk suggested sending out renewal reminders by mail.

2. Inter-Neighborhood Council (INC) Report

Jesse Eustice attended the last INC meeting, at which the following topics were discussed:

*The city's free tree replacement initiative. Attendees agreed to think of areas within Duke Park that may need new trees, so that we can take advantage of the city's free initiative.

*Unified Development Ordinance (UDO). The UDO is the biggest change in the city's planning ordinances in thirty years. The minutes of the INC's June meeting stated that the UDO is "changing the [planning] framework, in ways that will let Durham do better development. However . . . some pieces [are] missing. To make sure that neighborhood pieces aren't missing, people should be looking at new zoning maps in areas of concern to them, and what is allowed in those zones." Barry Ragin noted that there's a movement in place to approve the new Comprehensive Plan before the UDO.

*Traffic calming. Various issues related to traffic calming were discussed.

*"Honor Your Neighborhood Hero" Award. Nominations for the INC's neighborhood hero award are being accepted through August 20. The INC's flyer about this year's award states, "Do you have a neighborhood hero? Perhaps someone who fights crime on your block, or picks up litter, or takes in lost pets, or created your neighborhood association's Web site? The Inter-Neighborhood Council's Annual `Honor Your Neighborhood Hero' Award is the perfect way to make sure your hero gets a well-deserved pat on the back. Nominate your unsung hero, so that he or she can be recognized this September at the prestigious Washington Duke Inn and Golf Club. In 200 words or less, let us know how this individual makes a difference in your neighborhood." Nominations must be received by August 20, 2004. Mail to INC, 1308 Broad St., Durham, NC, 27705.

3. PACII (Partner's Against Crime, District 2) Report

Peg Lanier reported that the main discussion at the PACII meeting was about solid waste issues, especially the problem of residents who leave trash carts at the street. The fact that the city requires citizens to pay an annual fee to have yard waste picked up was also discussed. The board agreed to send a letter to the city, disapproving of some of its solid waste policies.

4. DPNA Brochure

Rob Dilworth reported that the brochure is moving forward and that he hopes to have it completed soon.

5. Park Update

Andrew Preiss mentioned that the city's planning department has approved the plans to renovate the park. The contracts for the renovation, however, still have to go through a bureaucratic process. The planning department informed Andrew that the city no longer has money to create the skateboard park. The renovation priorities now will be installing new playground equipment and shutting off the loop and repaving it. Everyone at the meeting expressed frustration with the city's lack of tangible progress and agreed to revisit the situation in a month.

6. Board Nominations for the Next DPNA Fiscal Year, Beginning in September 2004

The following individuals were nominated for board positions:

President: Barry Ragin
Vice President: Rob Dilworth
Secretary: Claire Doyle
Treasurer: Pam Campa
At-Large Member: David Eustice
At-Large Member: Daniel Kirk
At-Large Member: Peg Lanier
At-Large Member: Katherine O'Brien
At-Large Member: Andrew Preiss

Per the DPNA's bylaws, only four at-large members can be elected to the board. The elections will occur at the DPNA meeting in September.

7. Round Robin

Neighborhood sign. Peg Lanier mentioned the need to complete the neighborhood sign project and a discussion followed about how to do this.

Web site. Claire Doyle said that she would continue to maintain the Web site and would update it soon.

The July DPNA meeting was the July 4th picnic & parade. No business was conducted.
The June DPNA meeting was cancelled.
The May DPNA meeting was conducted on May 13. Minutes are not available.
Minutes of the April DPNA Meeting, April 1, 2004
Minutes of the March Monthly Meeting, March 11, 2004
The February DPNA meeting was a potluck. No business was conducted.
Minutes of the January Monthly Meeting, January 8, 2004

Minutes of the December Monthly Meeting, December 11, 2003
Minutes of the November Monthly Meeting, November 13, 2003
The October DPNA meeting was the fall potlluck. No business was conducted.
Minutes of the September Monthly Meeting, September 11, 2003
Minutes of the August Monthly Meeting, August 14, 2003
The July DPNA meeting was the July 4th picnic. No business was conducted.
Minutes of June Monthly Meeting, June 12, 2003
Minutes of May Monthly Meeting, May 8, 2003
The April DPNA meeting was a potluck dinner. No business was conducted. Minutes of March Monthly Meeting. Mar. 13, 2003
Minutes of Feb. Monthly Meeting to Discuss Duke Park Renovations Feb. 13, 2003
Minutes of Special Session to Discuss Duke Park Renovations Feb. 20, 2003