Meeting Minutes, Sept 1, 2010

Preservation Station, Amberley Pyles, Presiding, Start 6:40 PM

Board Member Attendance:

Term ending August 2011		Term ending August 2012
		Anderson, Bonnie	X
Bromberg, Ryan		Donaldson, David	X
Carson, Ann	X	Garofalo, Joaquin
Grassel, Kathy		Gonzalez, Moises	X
Hoch, Liam	X	Grant, Steve	X
McGivern, Elaine		Pyles, Amberley	X
Thornton, Karla	X	Spittler, Lee	X

Minutes from July 7 and August 4, Approved via email

Future meetings—The January meeting is often poorly attended due to proximity to the holidays.  We want neighbors to feel welcome at all Board meetings. Cancel the January 2011 meeting (approved via email). Change the name of the monthly meetings to “Neighborhood Meetings” (approved via email).

Election of officers—Our bylaws state that an officer can only hold the same position for two consecutive years. Elected unanimously through email

• President – Amberley Pyles
• Vice President – Karla Thornton
• Secretary – Bonnie Anderson
• Treasurer – Joaquin Garofalo

Bernalillo County Assessor—Geraldine Vermire from the County Assessor’s Office discussed the importance of home owners reviewing their property valuation statement and described the protest process, beginning with an informal hearing and progressing through to formal hearings.  She explained the difference between purchased and appraised price, and assessed versus appraised value.  She noted exceptions to normal valuation such as the 3% cap on valuation increase, the head of family exemption, and the freeze on valuation increase if the head of family is 65 or older.  Ms.Vermire directed homeowners to Tom Sams, deputy assessor, for questions or concerns.

Renovations at 409 Walter SE—RobAnne Harrison presented plans and a model of the renovations she is planning for her “shot gun” house across from Ann Carson’s home.  She will be renovating her house, constructing a second “shot gun” house parallel to it, and joining the two at the end away from the street.  The street view of the finished home will mirror the original view of the original structures on this property.  Ann distributed photos of the original houses on this property.  While the original roofs were made of canvas to allow better air circulation for the tuberculosis patients who stayed there, the new roofs will not be made of canvas. Ms. Harrison invited neighbors to drop by and see the interior renovations and the courtyard.

Parking—Karla explained the need for block captains to implement the process for collecting signatures related to possible requests for parking permits.  Some blocks have already started this process; other blocks are waiting to see the impact of the installation of parking meters along Central and the opening of Hotel Parq.  Ideas were voiced about what information to put on a flyer that would be distributed to neighbors.

A half-sheet flyer will be prepared and distributed to the 300 blocks and north about when the meters will go in and what the process will be if a block decides they want parking permits.  The flyer will also have the link to our website where updated information will be provided.  Diane Dolan, Councilor Benton’s assistant, will be informed about the flyer.

Block captains—Neighbors were asked to recruit block captains to improve communication in our neighborhood.

Park—The neighborhood is working with Councilor Benton’s office to see some immediate improvements to our park, rather than waiting for the entire design process to be completed before renovations are begun.  Neighbors are encouraged to participate in the monthly clean up at the park, on the first Saturday of every month at 9:00 AM.  In the future we may be able to enlist the support of Hotel Parq staff since the hotel will have views overlooking the park. Ann will lead the September clean up.

Yard Sale, October 2—We need someone to design, print, and distribute a flyer; create and post directional signs; advertise the event; create a map of the homes participating that will be sold for $10. David volunteered to head up the whole event and the Board thanked him for this generous contribution of time and effort.

Other items of interest:

• Ann announced that the HHHDA account balance as of August 4 was $8,921.54
• Q-staff theater group is trying to renovate the building on the corner of Lead and Broadway to include a theater space, coffee shop, and two apartment units. This renovation will involve adding a second floor.  The LUCC has already addressed the parking issues in their recent hearing on this site proposal.
• The Lead/Coal project came in over expected bid costs so the section from I-25 to Broadway will not be included in this phase.  Our phase was excluded because we had the least safety issues of all the other sections of the project.

Adjourned:            7:45 PM