Minutes from Executive Committee Meeting 1/10/08

Sherwood Forest Neighborhood Association Executive Committee Meeting
January 10, 2008
411 Kalmia Drive
6:30 p.m.

Present: Larry Hembree, Ed Tilden, Rhett Bailey, Lewis Kirk, Kirby Shealy, Bud Tibshrany
Absent: Cari Pulliam

Updates and Discussions:

1. Toppers and CANDO Grant
Lewis Kirk provided a visual of the topper to be recommended to the SFNA. It was determined that the neighborhood was established in 1940, which will be the date going on the signage. Larry will write the Cando grant after Lewis gives him the final estimates, which will most likely be under the $2500 that we can ask for from the CANDO without having to match. We are looking at a topper installation party on or about April 1st.

2. Four Way Stop Signs
The request for our four way stop signs at Kalmia-Bloomwood and Kalmia-Yale have been approved by the City and are now being assessed by DOT.

3. Interim Measures for Community Character Protection
The Planning Commission will recommend to City Council that they change their original status on having a majority of a neighborhood association vote to opt in and instead require that half of the property owners vote yes to opt in. The public hearing will be held January 23. Larry and Lewis have attended 2 meetings regarding this matter.

4. Belser Arboretum Endowment
Several SFNA members recently met with Chris DeWolfe, head of raising money for the USC School of Arts and Sciences, under which the Dept. of Biology is located. The School is trying to raise $500,000 for the Arboretum endowment in order to hire a half time person to maintain the arboretum after Pat retires from the project. Naming opportunities were suggested by Pat and numbers were assigned by Chris. The naming opportunities will be approved at the next USC board’s naming committee.

5. Committee Chairs
Larry will meet with the committee chairs, listed below, to see if they are interested in serving another year in this position. If not, they will need to find a replacement. If they would like assistance, officers can help find one.
Safety - John Hudson , Beautification- Brad Painter Social- Rachel Peavy, Membership - Russell Jones, Communications- Lewis Kirk , Legal - Kirby Shealy

6. February General Meeting Agenda
a. There will be a bylaw change to be voted on at the February general meeting where the nominating committee will now be made up of three SFNA members, the past president and two people he or she appoints to assist instead of the full executive committee.

b. At the February general meeting, city council candidates in the April election have been invited to make 5 minute speeches. A child will draw the order at the meeting and someone will hold the candidates to the five minutes. Larry will make sure they all know this before the meeting. The candidates who have expressed a desire to speak at the meeting include Gergel, Boyer, Rickenmann and Runyan.

7. Discussion of Goals for 2008
After much discussion of potential goals for the upcoming calendar year, the following goals are prioritized in order of importance. The next step will be to flesh out action steps in more detail.

1. Highlight Safety and Security as a major area of focus.
2. Create vision and mission statement and objectives for the SFNA (Ed & Larry).
3. Create and publicize neighborhood networking and social events, including educational opportunities.
4. Define the process for handling zoning and code violations (Ed).
5. Increase SFNA membership by 10% this year, with focus on retaining current membership.
6. As a neighborhood association, figure out methods to hold the city more accountable for services such as trash pickup, code violation enforcement, etc.

Other of less priority, in no order:
• Increase use of the webpage as a communications tool.
• Create Oral History of Neighborhood (Regina Monteith & Bud Tibshrany).
• Develop process for record keeping and historical document storage.
• Understand our association’s relationship with Shiloh community and Kilbourne Hills.
• Start process of repaving streets in Sherwood Forest.
• Create a new resident welcome packet, & investigate a formal Welcome Wagon organization.

8. Additional Business
Lewis was given the OK to purchase $10.00 gift certificates from the Piggly Wiggly for the Block Captains as a thank-you for their support and hard work.