Minutes ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Rosewood Neighborhood Contact Team Monthly Meeting Thursday, October 18, 2007 6:15 p.m. Conley Guerrero Senior Activity Center Present ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Louis Herrera, Mocha Jean Herrup, Gilbert Rivera, Jane Rivera, Kit Campbell, Greg Hammond, and Robert Alvarado Old Business ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Since there was no quorum, the September minutes were not approved. Director's Report ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Report on Transportation issues in Rosewood: Jane was called to meet yesterday with the division directors of the divisions responsible for the transportation issues in the planning area following her complaints to Council Member Martinez's office and to City Manager Futrell. The response to the specific items we presented to them were: Neighborhood Immediate Problem Response Austin Heights People cut through the corner from Higgins to MLK from Airport Blvd. Property owner put up fence; contact Public Works if fence goes down and they'll put up barrier. Clifford Sanchez Need safe way for children to cross MLK. Public Works does not want to create crosswalks at places other than cross streets. No action. Foster Heights New York is a busy cut-over from Chicon to Pleasant Valley. Are on list for speed calming, but all of Rosewood will be low on that list due to small traffic volume. Homewood Heights Residents on Ridgeway afraid to back out of their driveway due to speeding. Ask police to help keep the speed limits in area. Public Works can take no action. Homewood Heights Traffic cuts through from 12th St. to Oak Springs. Are on list for speed calming, but all of Rosewood will be low on that list due to small traffic volume. McKinley Heights The streets that hit Airport are used as short cuts (E. 14th 1/2 and 16th St.) Are on list for speed calming, but all of Rosewood will be low on that list due to small traffic volume. McKinley Heights Harvey is a long straight away with no stop signs. Are on list for speed calming, but all of Rosewood will be low on that list due to small traffic volume. Rosewood Glen Oaks Pleasant Valley between Webberville Rd and 12th St has a 40 mph speed limit and people go as much as 65. They will conduct a speed study after the re-striping to see if it supports changing to the 35 mph speed that is found both south and north of this stretch. Rosewood Glen Oaks Pleasant Valley Rd between Webberville Rd and 12th St is winding, has poor visibility, people speed, but there are residences and City services. This stretch was just restriped to one lane each direction, a bike lane on both sides, and a turn lane in the center. Rosewood Glen Oaks Intersection at Harvgrave hard to see, not anticipated, there was a fatality there in 2001. Traffic volumes do not support the installation of stop signs or a traffic signal. They did put up a crossroad warning sign this fall. The contact person for traffic related issues such as these is Alan Hughes, Supervising Engineer, 974-7202 or They reviewed all the traffic and sidewalk improvements we listed in the Rosewood Neighborhood Plan seven years ago, and most of the traffic issues are covered above. Here is their response to the sidewalk issues in the plan: Street Immediate Problem Response Thompson Repair broken sidewalks on N side Done 13th Street Connect short gap between 13th and Airport Will do this one MLK Install retaining wall on S side just W of Airport Will do this one Pleasant Valley Complete gaps from 12th to Webberville Done Manor Complete S side from Walnut to Airport Can't do; would have to move utilities McKinley Add sidewalk to W side from Harvey to 12th Low ranking based on Public Works evaluation grid Sanchez Add sidewalk to W side Can't build there as Right of Way restricted by Bell System structure Clifford Complete E side Low ranking based on Public Works evaluation grid Poquito Add sidewalk on E side from 12th to Rosewood Low ranking based on Public Works evaluation grid Chestnut Add sidewalk to E side from 12th to Rosewood Drainage easement along E side prevents such building New York Add sidewalk to S side from Chicon to Poquito Will get done when have $36,000 to do it; listed as a high priority Pennsylvania Complete N side from Chicon to Poquito Will get done when have $33,000 to do it; listed as a high priority They assign a numerical priority based on number of residents affected, "attractors" such as stores that encourage pedestrians, and a number of other factors. You can see the matrix of these factors at the City web site: . The contact person for sidewalk related issues such as these is Mike Curtis, Manager, 974-7056 or . Boggy Creek sewer improvements (see Attachment A): the City is planning to start the reconstruction of the sewer line out of Boggy Creek. There will be a meeting Thursday October 25, 2007 at Conley Guerrero Senior Center from 6:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. to meet the contractor. Jane suggested that each neighborhood association send at least one representative, as even though the construction will not affect every neighborhood, traffic may be redirected or other changes may be a result of the work. Attachment B shows the route of the work. Code Enforcement Overview and Specific Locations ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Kit Campbell, Asst.Div. Mgr., East District, and Robert Alvarado, Lead Investigator, COA Solid Waste Services Code Enforcement Division. Overview: They showed their DVD that is an overview of COA Solid Waste Services Code Enforcement Division programs. They can assess a fine of up to $2,000 per violation. More code enforcement is happening now due to community involvement. They can assist with pointing owners to proper agencies for assistance, if appropriate. They also provided us with brochures about what they investigate, which is: Dangerous structures Substandard living conditions Weeds and grass over 12" high Illegal dumping Accumulations of trash and debris Improper storage of RVs and boats Illegal home businesses Signs in the Right of Way Tree limbs in the Right of Way Stagnant water Garbage carts at the curb Improper location of adult-oriented businesses Work without permit Neighborhood Cleanup: They can host a cleanup at selected sites in a neighborhood. This project would be for one day, 6 hours, and they would bring their up to 8 staff, and around 20-25 volunteers to match with an equal number of volunteers from Rosewood. You can deal with alleys, drainage easements, or individual properties. The goal is to help any residents who have need for assistance such as the elderly, disabled, or those with financial need. Jane noted Rosewood has not done a neighborhood cleanup for a number of years, and it would be a good idea. Please note: be thinking of appropriate residents and/or areas in your neighborhood for discussion in January. Complaints: They shared with us the status of complaints we made about two properties before and several properties about which Rosewood Glen Oaks Neighborhood Association just made complaints: 2810 Oak Springs The property owner's son lives on the site in a mobile home without utilities or permits. Code Enforcement has told another resident in an RV they can't live there. They have started mowing the property as directed. There are Municipal Court cases pending on vehicles, RVs, and debris. They have also been placed on the "cut list" (Code Enforcement has contractor mow the property, bills owner, and placed lien for amount on property). They found 35 tires on the back of the property and 4 vehicles and removed those. This property was cleaned off 4 years ago, but most of the issues came back. 1015 Nile The investigator was unable to identify additional issues at the back of the property and the case was closed. However, they have this property on the re-check list to make sure problems do not come back. 1171 Graham and 1189 Graham The owners were told to cut and clean the properties. If they don't comply, they will go on the cut list. 1013 Glen Oaks They didn't see the commercial vehicle but will return and once they do see it, they'll notify the owner to remove it. Yellowjacket Field They saw no trash outside the fence on the day of the investigation. You can call APD at the time it occurs if people park all over the place for a game. Shaw's Garage They have cleaned out the front area, which is no longer full of vehicles. The street across the front of the property is also cleared. The back of the property is properly screened from view and is therefore not considered a violation. The front is on the cut list. This property has been in the same family and in the same business for 35 years. In response to a question about Michael Jennings 17 rental properties in Rosewood, Mr. Campbell says they really need a complaint from the renter to do an interior inspection. They respond to a dangerous situation, so if you can see from the exterior broken windows, hanging gutters, dilapidation, swayed roof, or some obviously dangerous wiring, they can take action. Their services end at the City limits but within the Extra Territorial Jurisdiction they can take some actions such as billboards and illegal dumping. Next Meeting in January: Jane proposed, given the low attendance this month and the holidays pending in November and December, to hold no meetings those months. In January there would be two agenda items: Election of Officers Neighborhood Cleanup *meeting adjourned*