Campbell-Grant
NE Neighborhood Association Meeting

November
25th, 2019, Ward III office

Attendance:  Brian Silverstein, Cindy Sorrensen, Chris Janton, Vicki Mills, Ana Maria Lopez Medrano, Cathy Rex, Jim Croxen, David Owen, Elana Summers, Georgia O’Neill, Connie Trecartin, Jeff Bennan, Thomas Williams, Bill Tylutki, Kris and Humberto Teran, Jenny Bell, C. Bahnsak, Mathew Brown and S. Meade

Guests:  None

Minutes
of the October meeting were approved.

Treasurer’s
report – Vicki
Mills – We have $1661.27 in bank. Expenses for the picnic were: Kathy Nichols
(face painter) $50.00 (check 1140). Vicki Mills 92.16 for food and drinks
(checks 1141 and 1142). During the picnic there was a total of $255.00 in dues
paid and donation.  Thirty-nine households have paid dues this year.

Report
about the picnic in November –

The picnic
was very successful.  It is impossible to get an accurate head count as people come and go during the hours of the picnic, but we estimate 50-60 people came. 
It was the biggest turnout for the picnic ever.

Changes to Conner Park
–

At the October meeting, U of A Architecture students
presented a plan to redesign the park and to improve flooding issues. Their
design was emailed to the neighbors and it included removing the backstop,
moving the children’s playground and transforming the space into an open field for
games with more trees planted in other areas. 
The plan was interesting, but the chances of getting the money to implement it are slim.

At the same time as the students were working on a
plan for the park, neighbors with houses adjoining the park asked the City to
have the backstop removed. One of the neighbors had her window broken four
times. This issue has been brought to the City of Tucson in the past and one of
the solutions given before was to place a sign by the backstop that states:
“For 12 and under”. However, this sign had not deterred older kids and grown
ups from using the backstop to hit hard balls. When people play with hard
baseballs, the rest of the park feels pretty unsafe because you cannot predict
where a hard ball may land, so people tend to leave the park when some grown
kids play baseball.

Occasionally there are little kids that play t-ball
with their parents at the backstop, but there is not a great need to have the
backstop to continue using the park in this manner.

Another complaint is that baseballs have hit cars
passing on Glenn. A neighbor commented that there is no other park in the city
with a backstop that is located so near a street.  It was pointed out that our park is really too small for baseball. 

Most neighbors at the meeting supported removing the
backstop but were concerned about the idea of planting more than a few trees
where the backstops are located now.   We wanted to keep the open space open for playing games. 

Neighbors would like to ask the City of Tucson for a
list of the types of trees that are allow to be planted in public parks to
consider the options. In addition, neighbors proposed to have a dog drinking
fountain placed on the west side of the park to avoid dogs going into the kids
playing area to get water.

Current
Problematic Issues at Conner Park –

There is an outgoing problem with homeless people
staying in the park all day and sometimes overnight.  Also some neighbors complained about college age people gathering at the park past 10 pm closing time  making lots of noise and disturbing neighbors.

There is at least one couple that stays in the park all
day. There are other people acting belligerent at night. The bathrooms are
dirty and kids have found used syringes in them. Adults have also found used
condoms and other drug related things.

It is felt that the bathrooms attract the homeless
people and that with their locking doors, they provide a place to sleep and to
do drugs.  There are other parks that have more open designs of bathrooms that are not so private and inviting.  It was suggested that we could lock the bathrooms temporarily to see what impact this has on drug and homeless activity at the park.  There was a concern about the family use of the bathrooms, if they were locked during the day. But with the condition of the bathrooms some families are not using them anyway.  The Ward III will be contacted to see what kind of solutions they may offer for these current issues and to see if we can try locking the bathrooms and seeing if that makes a difference on the homeless problem.

One neighbor proposed to take pictures of the evidence
found at the bathrooms and send it to the City of Tucson. Neighbors call the
police, but they don’t come promptly or at all. It was felt that sending lots
of pictures might spur the city to action.

A neighbor has installed lights in her property that
helps deter homeless from camping near her property. Another neighbor suggested
redesigning the layout of the bathrooms to prevent people from locking
themselves to do illegal activities.

It was suggested that we invite Ward III and Tucson
Parks and Rec personnel to our January meeting to hear our neighborhood
concerns about Conner Park.

Parking around Prep and Pastry –

The cars from Prep and Pastry are still causing
problems parking in the neighborhood. 
There is a neighbor interested in starting a committee to explore the feasibility of one or more round-abouts in that part of the neighborhood.  The round abouts would cost money, but the owner of Prep and Pastry did say at our meeting that he would help with expenses to help alleviate the parking problem. 
We should also look into a 4 way stop at the corner of Mitchell and Norris, if we can’t get a round-about.  We think that the painting of the curbs to discourage parking too close to the corner is underway.

Caroling in the Park

There will be caroling in the park on Saturday Dec 21
in the late afternoon.  We decided to have the caroling before it gets too dark, as we don’t need lights for the event.  There will be hot chocolate, hot cider and cookies provided.  Cindy Sorrensen will organize the event and put out an email with details.

Minutes
submitted by Ana Maria Lopez Medrano, secretary

Campbell-Grant NE Neighborhood Association Meeting

September 23, 2019, Ward III office

Attendance:  Brian Silverstein, Cindy Sorrensen, Chris Janton, Ana Maria Lopez Medrano, Vicki Mills, Robert Mitchell, Cathy Rex, Tom Rex, James Croxen, David Owen, Leilani Bew, Elana Rose Summers, Andy Laurenzi, John Lundberg, Barbara Fransway, Georgia O’Neill, Chris Scott, Connie Trecartin, Richard Margolis 

Guests:  Matt Kopec, Ward III office, Ofc. Joseph Gradias

Wilson Wash – Andy Laurenzi – Andy has set up a meeting on October 23 at 8:30 at Copper and the wash with Elizabeth Liebold of TDOT (Dept of Transportation) and others from the public right of way maintenance staff.  Anyone who is interested from the neighborhood can attend. They will look over the wash and discuss regular maintenance – a schedule we can depend on; the channel and sediment buildup and drainage problems and what can be done; and the possible use of chicanes (bump outs) to plant trees along the wash as a way to make the area more attractive – is there room for these on the street, are they feasible?  If we could do chicanes, then we would have to figure out how to get money to pay for them.  

This meeting will happen the week before our next neighborhood meeting, so Andy or others can report about it at that meeting.

Meeting with Banner about Development of southeast corner of Campbell/Grant – Andy was unable to attend the meeting.  Jim Sauer did attend and sent out a detailed message about the meeting to our email list on 9/20.  There is a white paper about this on the Coalition website.  The white paper is at http://www.grantroadcoalition.com/campbellgrant-white-paper.html

Minutes of the August meeting were approved.

Treasurer’s report – Vicki Mills – We have $1646.27 in bank and 24 households that have paid dues so far in 2019.  We haven’t spent much money this year, but our big expense, the picnic, is coming in November.  This is also when most people pay their dues.

Picnic – Vicki Mills – We have a small committee who will plan the picnic.  The two possible days are Sunday Nov 3 and 17.  The majority of the people at the meeting chose Nov 17. The picnic will be in Conner Park from 11-1.  There will be more about the picnic on email.

Postcard mailed to all homes – The city will print and mail one newsletter or postcard per year for each neighborhood.  To save time, we will send a postcard this year announcing the picnic, meeting dates and how to subscribe to our email list.

Prep and Pastry – No word from the Nathan Ares about parking issues.  Chris J. said the alley behind P&P has been repaired.  You can stop in and tell them you are from neighborhood and get free coffee and discounts on food.  

Painting of Speed Bumps – Matt Kopec was asked to look into getting this done.  

Garden Club – Two members of club harvested prickly pears. It was suggested that maybe the club could map the citrus trees in the neighborhood for more efficient harvesting. Also maybe do a workshop on planting milkweed in the neighborhood. 

December activities – For the past two years we have done caroling in the park.  It was suggested that we do it this year before dark, so we don’t need to worry about lights.  We have also had a Holiday potluck in the past.  We need to see if we can get any volunteers to help with these activities.

Recycling — biweekly schedule will start September 30^th. The city sent a calendar. The neighborhood is in the A schedule. If neighbors need an additional trash can, the city will provide it. In addition if you have a broken trash can, the city will replace at no charge.

Officer Gradias – Stopped by towards the end of the meeting to hear any concerns neighbors have or have heard of.  He heard about the previous meeting concern regarding homeless staying the whole day and night at the park.

Minutes submitted by Ana Maria Lopez Medrano, secretary

Campbell-Grant
NE Neighborhood Association Meeting

August 26,
2019, Ward III office

Attendance:  Brian Silverstein, Cindy Sorrensen, Chris Janton, Ana Maria Lopez Medrano, Vicki Mills, Robert Mitchell, Cathy Rex, Tom Rex, James Croxen, Kris Teran, Humberto Teran, Leilani Bew, Yvonne Windham, Rene R. Simmers, Andrew Messer, Regina Lundhug, Beverly Rutter, Jessica Lansdon kukolich, Connie Trecartin, Tom Spencer, and Linda Spencer.

Guests:  Nathan Ares, owner Prep & Pastry Restaurant; Paul Durham, Ward III Councilperson

Prep & Pastry
Parking Issues —

Nate is very aware
of the parking problems in the neighborhood caused by Prep & Pastry and he
very much wants to be a good neighbor and to work with the neighborhood to find
solutions to the problems.  He is trying to work with the city and other neighborhood businesses to find ways to lessen the parking and traffic problems.  He has already met with some of the neighbors. 
He is trying to contact Jesse Soto, the City’s Transportation Project Manager, to see what kinds of traffic control can be used to help the problems – things that were mentioned were: painting curbs for no-parking areas,  speed humps, traffic circles and/or 4 way stops in the parts of the neighborhood close to Prep & Pastry, where cars are parking and traffic is cutting through the neighborhood (Mitchell, Norris and Conner Stravenue area).  There was already a problem with cars cutting through that part of the neighborhood to avoid the light at Glenn and Campbell and P&P traffic has only made that problem worse. Nate is also asking businesses around his restaurant for use of their parking on weekends for his employees and for customers.  He had counted on the use of parking spaces from Adobe Antiques, but they have refused. 
However, they are moving out and Grey House Antiques is hoping to move into that space and they will share their parking with P&P. 

Nate has paid
someone to watch the parking and have people move if they are parking too close
to corners or driveways.  Other ideas that were brought up were an incentive program for customers who bike, bus or walk and a sign in the lobby of restaurant about being considerate parkers.  Nate also felt that when Snooze, the new breakfast restaurant being built at Tucson and Grant, opened, it would siphon off some of his customers. 

Questions and Answers – Paul Durham —

* Neighbors asked if
there are funds available to paint existing speed humps. Paul asked them to
call his office to request this.

* Wilson Wash issues: Weeds are overgrown and Kris Teran had
called the Brush and Bulky and then the  Street Department several times about mowing the wash (Phone number 791-3154). The Street Department opened a request to clean the Wilson Wash (#12308). Neighbors can call again to remind them to clean up the Wash. Paul asked Brian to call his office with the request number for him to follow up. {Apparently something worked because the wash has been trimmed and mowed since this meeting. Thanks to Kris for her persistence on getting the wash mowed.}

Andy Laurenzi will be meeting with someone from the City of Tucson transportation department at the wash to explore
what are the options for ways to make it safer and more attractive. Andy
couldn’t come to the neighborhood meeting, but he will arrange the tour of the
wash and let neighbors know when it is. 
He will also report back on the email list.

*Conner Park:  Neighbors are concerned about homeless staying all day at Conner Park. There is the fear that families will stay away from the park, because of too many homeless being there. Paul shared the different strategies the city is using to support homeless in Tucson. Police follow the Homeless Protocol, which is checking on homeless in parks, seeing if they need services and/or housing and often moving them out of a park. However, the issue of the homeless is a complicated and city-wide one.  He will ask for additional attention for Conner Park.  There is a Park Safety Program with pairs of officers who go to public parks to provide more police presence to make people feel safer and to check the homeless. The City of Tucson has shifted its emphasis to Low Barrier Housing, which provides housing to homeless and then help them solve other issues, such as addiction problems, etc. All Pueblo Community Services provide services for homeless.

Neighbors were encouraged to use the park regularly to make
it less appealing to homeless to stay all day. 

* Neighbor asked Paul assistance with an issue at the Donna
R Liggins Recreation Center. The air conditioning was not working and there is
a need to change the location of a bench within the center so seniors could
easily use it, but the manager has refused to make the change.

Treasurer Report –
Vicki Mills

Balance as of last meeting, 7/22/19 $1,499.00 + Dues and
donations (checks and cash) $110.00 – Expenses (check to Vicki Mills for
refreshments for July meeting) $6.99 = Balance as of 8/25/19 $1,602.01

Minutes from July
2019 meeting were approved.

TEP sponsored FREE
workshop –

* We need at least 20 people willing to participate in a
free 90-minute workshop provided by TEP on Home Energy Efficiency. Participant
will receive a free Energy Efficiency Kit. We will look into trying to hold this
workshop, will send flyer with information to the neighborhood.

Minutes submitted by Ana Maria Lopez Medrano, secretary