Regent Neighborhood Association

Spring Community Meeting

7 PM, May 24^th, 2006

Madison West High School, LMC

Minutes - DRAFT

1. New Business, Spring Community Meeting

Election of Officers

Troy discussed the slate of officers. Joel moved, Karen seconded. There was no discussion. The slate was approved unanimously.

Community Updates: Olive Jones, Public Safety, Neighborhood Development Plans

Kevin asked which issues were of priority for the nights discussion. Lulu’s, Allen Street Bridge, Trader Joe’s, Student Housing, and crime were brought up as priority issues.

Olive Jones. Tory gave an update on the Olive Jones redesign. Jody Knaus has been the lead and has been in planning for two years. Plan includes environmental impacts and design elements that allow for multiple uses, including parking, amphitheatre, playground for school, handicapped access to the school, new sidewalk, and a community playground. The school district budget has over $100,000 for improvements. Plan will then go to the Park District to approve the plan and begin redevelopment. The issue of football fans using the area as a bathroom was raised. The University should have a responsibility to provide bathroom facilities if they use the reserved spaces for the VIPs.

Lulu’s and Lombardino’s. The current information is that Lulu’s will be going into the used bookstore space and is committed to staying in the neighborhood. The Mullins Group, which owns most of the property except for the Lombardino’s building, has said that he plans to make the first floor commercial/retail and would like to keep as many local businesses as possible.

Goodwill Store. The property will likely become a coffeehouse restaurant.

Crime. The listserve is an important tool for informing the police of any small crimes and to inform the neighborhood. The police monitor the listserve. Kevin also encouraged members to develop more immediate communication (phone trees, talking to neighbors, etc) about crime problems. Kevin discussed the Akasha house problems but that various neighborhoods have organized and involved the police to address any crime issues. West High officials should also be notified of any activities by students or student age. Troy discussed the “one lunch” program to make sure there was one common time for

Dana Chabot, the lay minister at the church that houses Akasha, said they had heard the concerns about the lack of communication and crime issues and want to do something to address them. There will be an open house, Saturday June 3rd from 11 AM to 1 PM. The hope is to improve relations between the community and the church. David Worzala also recommended that the walk around done by Ron Rosner would be a good opportunity to give students information on how to report crime also.

Action Item: Troy will contact Jim Wheeler to send a general message about any arrests related to car break-ins last year.

Allen Street Bridge. There is no timeline for completion.

Trader Joe’s. David Gundersen asked for likely impact on Regent Neighborhood Coop. George Hall discussed the fact that the Regent Grocery Store is developing an active business plan. They anticipate a challenge but think they can compete. There was some research that the store might take as large as a 10-15 percent. The RNA will do an active promotion of the Coop.

Old University Avenue. George discussed the distribution of the RFP to secure a community planner. The RFP now is focused on the Old University corridor as its priority development. Robbie Weber has agreed to send out information to the neighborhood on any future hearings about the plan. If anybody is interested in being more actively involved they can contact George at 238-7490. Joy Drummond discussed the fact that the RNA is closely tracking development. The RNA had very effective community meetings to review Steve Brown project and is now developing a new proposal. The plan is an important tool for defining what does and does not get approved by the city planning commission. It is also a valuable tool in defining zoning and how old housing and apartments are redeveloped.

The Isthmus Neighborhood Network is a conglomeration of neighborhood associations that have met with the city to better maintain coding and standards for rental housing.

There is also a likelihood that the corridor will be a future site of a stop on the commuter rail system.

2. Additional Updates

Troy made an appeal for people to get involved with the various committees.

· Alder and Supervisor Updates

· David Worzala gave an update on his committee appointments and key issues facing those committees. Health, arts, and water are the issues he discussed.

· Neighborhood Plan

· Co-Gen Advisory Committee

· Community Activities

· Joint West Committee

· University Relations Committee

· NIC/Zoning

· Streets and Transportation

· School Relations

· West High Ad Hoc

· Membership

· Communications

· Green Space

· Garden Tour will feature the University Heights area on July 16^th, 10 AM to 4PM.

3. Other Items

Amy Caes, is dog walking this summer and if you’re interested please contact her at 233-1731.

Nancy McMahon, the Madison Trust for Historic Preservation. Hilldale is having a walking tour. The Trust has three historic walks annually.

The Fourth of July event is recruiting volunteers for the cake walk, cardboard box maze, cooking brats, coordinating children’s games, set up, clean up, and booth coordination.

Next Meeting: Board Meeting, June 28^th, 2006