December 12 2005
MINUTES
Committee Members Present: Sean Wherley, Melinda Ludwiczak, Niki Valens, Natalie Lenz, Arthur Knowles
Committee Members Absent: Barb Chung, Lisa Rudy, Ryan Raleigh, Sam Zordich Wayne Anderson
Others Present:Â Sarah Linnes-Robinson (KFNA)
The Committee reviewed C&E Matrix from Redevelopment.
There was some discussion concerning the amount of funding that should go to the emergency Home Repair Grant Program; NRP Members largely felt that there should be more. Linnes-Robinson explained how the grant was structured and informed the group that the money is being utilized very slowly. She recommended leaving the amount as redevelopment requested for preparation of the NRP Plan, and suggested that research could be done into the grant structure to see if the program specifics still make sense. The committee felt it was time that this should be done again and requested Linnes-Robinson to do so within the next few months specifically looking at the grant amount, the household income cut-off for funding, and our publicity campaign.
Further discussion was held concerning the wording of the summary which specified, “expand and improve business nodes†and “grocery store†as strategies. The committee felt that these goals could be accomplished but needed to be done so in the scope of a mixed-use development, so the money allocated by KFNA NRP funds can be used as housing dollars.
The committee then approved the Redevelopment recommendation for the NRP Plan as suggested by the committee.
The committee reviewed the Green Matrix, which was broken down into four strategies. After comparing these with Redevelopment, where there was some crossover in ideas and potential projects. The Steering Committee accepted the recommendation.
The remaining dollars of the overall NRP Phase II allocation were then left for the Steering Committee to distribute to the Community Development Matrix (and left over items). The following chart depicts their funding allocation.
The group then reviewed the final report by the Skyway Senior Center for the $5000 Social Service Grant they received in 2005. Within their report was a request for an additional year of funding. Knowles moved to approve the grant and Valens seconded. All approved. Knowles then moved to fund the same project, printing of their Chatter newsletter and targeted outreach to location sin Kingfield, in 2006. Valens again seconded. All approved again.
Linnes-Robinson updated the group on the DNR ReLeaf grant. Linnes-Robinson informed the committee that the number of tree vacancies as estimated (counted) by the park board had jumped from around 200 in February 2005 to about 320 currently, and the Park Board was not able to tell KFNA how many trees had been removed in 2005 and if this could account for the discrepancy. Although Linnes-Robinson recommended planting no additional trees with kFNA funds in 2006, a recommendation had come from the Dave Saddoris of the KFNA Green Committee to partner the funds as originally committed and target blocks that expressed interest and then plant every other tree. Basically the committee agreed with this and after some discussion of the ReLeaf, Park Board and KFNA budgets Ludwiczak moved that 57 trees, costing up to $4800, be paid for by KFNA NRP funds in the spring 2006 planting. Knowles seconded and all agreed.
Lastly Linnes-Robinson updated the committee on the Community Arts Organizing Project, Art is the Key, and the Storm Water Management Project and asked for consent to form a Bus Shelter Task Force to investigate the feasibility of wrapping the Kingfield Bus Shelters with art photos. The committee agreed that if we want to move ahead with shelter art in 2006, the idea needs to be research further immediately.  The committee also discussed allocating funding to it so the task Force would know there is a commitment behind the idea of the shelter art if they determine it can be done. Knowles moved that up to $12,000 be committed for the design and wrapping of four bus shelters. Ludwiczak seconded and the rest of the committee agreed.
The meeting was adjourned.
Minutes prepared by Sarah Linnes-Robinson, kFNA executive Director 1/3/06.