Inter-Neighborhood Council, Durham, NC: Minutes 1/99

Minutes, Jan. 99

Minutes of INC Meeting on January 26, 1999.
Approved February 23, 1999.

Attendees

Opening

           Speakers

           Reports

           Business

           Announcements

Closing

Attendees

Neighborhood representatives: Colony Park—Fred Mowry
Cross Country—Pat Carstensen
Duke Park—Johnea Kelley
Dunbarton—J. Clinton Rogers
Fern Valley—Brian Eichler
Forest Hills—Carol Kurtz
Garrett Farms—Stan Hoffman
Grove Park—Rosemarie Kitchin
Hope Valley—Norm Krause
Kenwood Acres—Kathy Wright Moore
Landsbury/Waterbury—Mike Sterner
Morehead Hill—Anne Guyton
Old North Durham—Ann Sundberg
Old West Durham—Kelly Rimer
Parkside—Mary Beach
Trinity Park—Harry Dawley, Maggy Sargent
Tuscaloosa Lakewood —Phillip Porter
Watts Hospital-Hillandale—Mike McKinney
Woodlake—Beth Acierni
Visitors: Ted Abernathy, City of Durham
Steve Bocckino, CAUSE
Marguerite Dingman
Ed Harrison, Sierra Club
Betty Meeler, INC web developer
Sandy Ogburn, Duke Community Affairs
Reuate Wend

Opening

Mike Shiflett invited members to view INC Web page printouts displayed on the board in order to ask questions, offer suggestions, and give input. Betty Meeler prepared the web page, which was well received. She was available to answer questions. One of the objectives of the web page was to incorporate this organization’s minutes, meeting schedules, speakers, and related information in an open environment and to cut down on some of the mailing costs.

The meeting was formally called to order at 7:10. Each attendant introduced him or herself and briefly stated where they lived and what brought them to the meeting.

Speakers

Ted Abernathy Director, City of Durham Economic Development

Ted started off by describing himself and why he took the position. He wants to help diversify economically by assisting the process of creating jobs and hopefully increasing our tax base at the same time. He pointed out five directives of the strategic plan:

Create interstate zones (downtown and in economically challenged areas)
Create loan development pools
Revision of City of Durham’s Improvement Policy
Brownfield study to identify all old buildings and target them for reinvestment
Secured $600,000 from HUD for corridor improvements

Also, he is working to create a minimum commercial code for buildings for small businesses.

Ted runs the Durham training programs from the State and Federal governments. A Job Link was set up for one-stop shopping for employment opportunities. The Job Link is located on Briggs Ave (Unemployment Office).

The welfare program caseload has decreased by 50% since last year. There are now 2100 welfare recipients in training. He estimated an 86% placement rate for welfare/work placements.

Money is being invested in youth programs for at-risk children in our schools and the City is again looking at creating more summer jobs.

Economic Development is working on a strategy for attracting businesses to Downtown Durham. The City has funded a Downtown marketing plan, which will go before the City Council in June. Ted encouraged INC to follow this effort closely.

In addition, Ted said that a review of the Development Process is now underway and should include input from INC.

Challenges that members of INC should watch in his mind were:

Master Plan for Downtown Durham
Realignment of MultiModal System
Light rail train station locations
Façade-improvement initiative
Zoning issues—process involved in getting tax base and ruining our hometown
Keep an eye on welfare-to-work implementations

Ted mentioned that focus groups would be used to get public’s input on these and other issues. He suggested we become more familiar with the Grant processes and look to work with the City in implementing the changes we face together. Ted was available for questions afterwards.
Reports

County Commissioners

County Commissioners set a priority list at their last retreat:

Smart Growth
Merger of City and County Governments
Transportation
Education
Maintaining tax base without a tax increase

Other reported items included the SouthPointe rezoning (whew!!) and the Power Company nuisance.

Announcements for Coffees with Council and County Commissioners were given.

Openings for Boards and Commissions were given by Harry Dawley.

One of the goals of INC is to be a force to be reckoned with regarding zoning issues that impact our communities and neighborhoods. It is to our advantage and the citizens of Durham to have representation on these boards and commissions that speak for us and to have the respect that our collective voice is important in the scheme of the zoning process. Anne Guyton is drafting a letter to be sent to our government leaders expressing this concept.

City Council

No reports.

Business

Mike Shiflett submitted a project to be carried out by the INC. Mike hopes to have neighborhood folks come together on one date (June? Sept?) to link groups/organizations and projects that are impacting communities. A subcommittee was formed including Steve Bocckino, Johnea Kelley, Kathy Wright Moore and Mike Shiflett (there may have been more members, but we couldn't get their names).

Announcements

Newsletter: Rosemarie Kitchin is working on INC Newsletter and requested articles for submission for the next meeting in February. Suggestions included announcing the Web Page, PAC Grants, proposed Neighborhood Summit.

Millennium Art Project for the City of Durham: Ms. Marguerite Dingman gave a presentation of a project she is working on to express the hopes and vision of the City. She mentioned that it could be represented in a collage or some type of art project she wished INC would support. A motion was passed to support her efforts vocally for now.

Dues are due. Mike Shiflett thanked the first four neighborhoods for sending in their dues for the 1999 year: Forrest Hills, Hope Valley, Parkwood, and Tuscaloosa/Lakewood.

Mike reminded the group that we are the one group that tries to represent all of Durham’s Neighborhoods and by representing a unified voice we can be heard.

Participation by neighborhoods is voluntary, but formal membership is by paying annual dues of $25.00 to defray the costs of newsletters, project support, and continuation of our mission.

Closing

The meeting was adjourned at 8:40 PM.

© Copyright 1999 by the Inter-Neighborhood Council of Durham, NC, USA.

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