Minutes
Riverside Park Neighborhood Association
January 23, 2007 

*The meeting was called to order at 6:30.  

There were two guests: Kay Baldwin, of the Murray Hill NA, and Else Ankel of the Cambridge Woods NA, on their experiences and advice. 

*The Murray Hill NA was formed in 2001, and has a formal structure, with 30 block captains covering 58 blocks, and a board of 9.  It has 8 goals, including informing and empowering residents.  There is a wide range of structures among NAs: some have officers and committees; some have facilitators.  Murray Hill has official membership, a newsletter and dues, while RiverWest NA does not.  Murray Hill has committees, e.g. membership, social, housing, phone, finance.  (Note: the Dept of Neighborhood Services has lost many inspectors, and the Murray Hill housing committee serves as eyes.)   Advice includes the need to be more than issue-oriented, because it polarizes, and the need to be apolitical unless neighborhood well-being is at stake.  Murray Hill takes polls. 

Ms Baldwin was asked how a focus was determined: Athere is no need to go looking for issues in Murray Hill@.  The University-Neighborhood Association was formed in 2002, and got into police, transportation, parking, the Columbia campus, and Chapter 17 concerns.  Currently, there are development meetings throughout the east side.  

*The Cambridge Woods NA was formed in 2002, growing out of meetings in Ms. Ankel=s living room.  It does not have formal membership.  Ms Ankel stressed the importance of drawing on neighborhood assets (e.g. the Urban Ecology Center), on the special interests and time of members, and not looking for the Aindispensable man@ (since people move).    Thus people with lots of time can be used for long-term tasks, while people with limited time can work on specific projects.  She emphasized the importance of having fun, building community, and mentioned the February 11 chili fest to be held at the firehouse.  Cambridge Woods has some notable accomplishments, e.g. providing some 100 bikes for students, and providing 54 rain barrels.  

Ms Ankel was asked about involvement of students and renters: Cambridge Woods e-mailed students, but it was not very successful.  She was asked about controlling residency, and selling only to owner-occupants, and also about getting action from the city.  

Both speakers were thanked.

 *Question about finances (i.e. reimbursing Terri).  Fundraisers and group rummage sales were discussed, and it was decided to make reimbursement voluntary for the time being. 

*The city has plans for the use of space in the neighborhood, and has plats and street names for undeveloped property owned by Peeter Godfrey. 

*Members were reminded of the website: RSPNA.org. 

*Discussion of the offers made for 7 houses in the 2700 block of Bartlett, with a February 28 deadline. 

*Future meetings:

- February 11: Cambridge Woods Chili Fest
- February 27: regular meeting of RSPNA, with Janet Grau of the DCD as guest.

 

 

 Submitted by:

Joan Moore