INTER-NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL
http://www.rtpnet.org/durhminc
Minutes of Meeting of May 25, 1999
Police Department Community Services Room
Pat Bocckino |
27713 |
Fern Valley |
Steve Bocckino |
27713 |
Fern Valley |
John Dagenhart |
27701 |
Trinity Park |
Harry Hutson |
27713 |
Woodlake |
Beth Acierno |
27713 |
Woodlake |
Philip Porter |
27707 |
Hope Valley |
Stan Hoffman |
27705 |
Garrett Farms HOA |
Pat Carstensen |
27707 |
Cross County |
Ed Harrison |
27707 |
Cross County |
Kelly Rimer |
27705 |
Old West Durham |
Stan Hoffman |
27705 |
Garrett Farms |
Ben Phillips |
27713 |
BSA Troop 452 |
Chris Harmon |
27713 |
BSA Troop 452 |
Graeme Heil |
27560 |
BSA Troop 452 |
David Lezette |
Woodcroft - BSA Troop 452 | |
Nathan Davis |
27278 |
BSA Troop 452 |
Andy Sorenson |
27710 |
BSA 452 - Hope Valley Fms. |
Tish Steenbergen |
27707 |
Valleybrook |
Frank Hyman |
27701 |
Burch Ave. |
Adam Vaughan |
27707 |
BSA 452 - Southpoint Apts. |
Dan Joyner |
27705 |
BSA 452 Asst. Scout Master |
Bruce Ledet |
27703 |
Troop 452 Scout Master |
Erick Larson |
27707 |
City Council/Tuscaloosa Lakewood NA |
Fred Mowry |
27705 |
Colony Park |
Mike Shiflett |
27705 |
INC |
Al Stone |
27705 |
Duke Homestead |
Mike Shiflett called the meeting to order at 7:05.
Mike greeted members of Boy Scout Troop 452, who were attending as part of the requirements for the communications merit badge.
Laura Gill, Budget Director for the City of Durham, spoke about the fiscal 2000 budget as recommended by the City Manager. The budget contains new or continuing funding to meet the following goals:
· Improving the quality of life by reducing crime: Thirty-two additional police positions are funded. There are also funds to continue the domestic violence unit and to support the Rape Crisis Center for another year.
· Addressing the root causes of crime: There is support for a program to prevent youth drug abuse in Northeast Central Durham, and for a program to teach job skills.
· Safe and affordable housing: $2.4 million is allocated to a program to remove lead-based paint in older homes.
· Attracting employees to Durham: The budget provides for additional Saturday buses and waives a bus transfer fee.
· Environmental protection: New positions are added for two planners to review site plans; the Environmental Court will start in July; 13 new miles of trails will be added to the existing 31 ½ miles; money for supplemental mowing of highway right of way and litter pickup.
The proposed budget adds 62 new positions, 34 of them in the police department. It gives all city employees a 2% salary raise as a market adjustment, raises the minimum pay, and provides for merit bonuses.
The budget calls for no new taxes - property taxes and water and sewer fees remain the same. Laura speculated that it may be difficult to hold the line on taxes next year. In 2001, however, a property revaluation (the first since 1993) will help the budget but will hit homeowners.
· A motion was made to pass a resolution calling for the elimination of "default voting" in the City Council. Proponents argued that not voting should not be counted as a "yes" vote. After some discussion it was decided to raise the question again in the June INC meeting.
· Mike Shiflett announced that the Neighborhood Summit will be held at the Durham Armory on Saturday, Oct. 9. Tentatively the hours are 8:30 to 12:30. The summit will be a forum for interested people from neighborhoods to meet and compare notes, and to meet with representatives from government and other organizations that deal with neighborhood issues. Tom Miller will do a presentation on how to organize a neighborhood organization.
· Ed Harris reported that the Smart Growth initiative, treated in detail in May's meeting, was focusing on the fall elections.
· Mike Shiflett proposed that INC give Betty Meeler $500 as an honorarium for her work building the INC Web site. The motion was passed unanimously.
· Ed Harrison reported that starting June 5 a farmers' market will be held in the concession area of the old Durham Athletic Park. Plans are to hold the market every Saturday from 8:00 am to noon.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:15.
AAS
6/21/99