1996-10-14 - Laserfiche WebLink

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t78 STAFF REPORT: PROSPECT AREA NEIGHBORHOOD TASK FORCE Mr. Leon Churchill, Assistant City Manager, explained that the Prospect Area Task Force, including the neighborhoods of Blue Ridge, Forest Hills, and Orangedale, was a continuance of task forces in Westhaven and Garrett Square, originally driven by police issues and broadened to include other issue of interest to the neighborhood. Ms. Martha Levering, 815 Orangedale Avenue, President of the Orangedale Neighborhood Association, explained that a survey of neighborhood issues and concerns was conducted in March of 1996, and included concern about litter, safety, crime, and drug activity. Ms. Levering said that Orangedale is in the beginning stages of organizing resident patrols. Mr. James Tolliver, Orangedale Neighborhood Association, said that residents have been trying to deal with open air drug markets, but they cannot be dealt with under the current laws of loitering and noise. Mr. Tolliver said the neighborhood has gained some ground and would tike to continue to work with the City on addressing some of the remaining problems. Mr. Jim McGinnis, Forest Hills Neighborhood Association, said he ~vould like to see a curfew ordinance, strengthening of the noise ordinance, exploration of an anti-loitering ordinance, more foot patrols, and community policing. Mr. McGinnis said they have had good cooperation working with landlords and would appreciate anything else the City can do to enlist cooperation of other property owners Responding to a question from Ms. Daugherty, Ms. Levering said she supports a curfew ordinance because she has seen young people on the street after 11:00 p.m. engaged in negative activities, and she feels the curfew ordinance would give the police leverage to do something. Mr. Cox recommended that an action plan be developed over the next year with the City for the Prospect Area. Ms. Richards commended the Neighborhood Task Force for their hard work and efforts and said she is pleased that concrete recommendations were made that the city can follow-up on. Ms. Richards said she is committed to traffic calming efforts and to investigating noise and loitering ordinances. Ms. Slaughter expressed appreciation for work done with landlords. Ms. Slaughter recommended that additional staffwork be done in the area. Mr. Ned Slaughter, ovmer of two duplexes on Prospect Avenue, cited a real reversal that has taken place in the last six months in the neighborhood, and credited the Task Force and Assistant City Manager for the changes. Mr. Slaughter said he hopes that more home ownership will occur in the area. Mr. Churchill commended all Task Force participants and noted that the process transitioned from being police oriented to a community-oriented. STAFF REPORT: COUNCIL WORKPLAN Ms. Slaughter summarized ideas and themes from the Council's annual retreat. Mr. O'Connell explained that within each priority area there are numerous actions that need prioritizing and further discussion about how and when they will occur. Mr. O'Connell said that Council also need to disCUss in more detail how it conducts its meetings. Mr. Cox said Council also needs to look at the broader picture, such as education, in addition to more specific actions. It was agreed that a work session on Council's workplan would be held on October 30th at 7:00 p.m.