Minutes - Miles Neighborhood Meeting March 18, 2009

Miles Neighborhood Meeting – March 18th 2009
Motion to call the meeting to order 1840.

Police Report

Officer Kevin Zinn

• Notes from last month
• Suspected drug activity.
• Police know about it. And cannot comment at this time.
• Reported rire ring in wash, just west of walking bridge. No activity during the day.
• Homeless area is well known at the police station.
• They get in when they can. Will announce our concerns to the department again.
• Dogs on the school ground. Found one resident on the grounds and they agreed not to return with their dogs.
• Neighbor concerns?
• Curious behavior with a scooter pulling another person up and down Highland and Cherry.
• Traffic signs and graffiti.
• Sex offender living in the neighborhood. Is there a law against how close they can live near the school?
• Statistics:
• Property crimes 6 - 7
• 1 stolen vehicle
• 1 Larceny
• Remainder were traffic violations on Broadway
• 54 calls for service - 2/3 are on Broadway
• Police website can search crime statistics and is open to the public.

Abe from Ward Five

• The speed hump slated for removal was not on Highland…but on Vine just east of the school.
• Paving Miles street is on the agenda, the county knows about it.
• We’d like to schedule a April/May agenda to arrange an alley cleanup.
• Question
• Funding for the Arroyo Chico County project?
• The Army Corps of engineers is very busy, country wide, and will get to the project ASAP.
• Bill will ask for an update next month from the Flood Control group.
• What about grass/weeds on main thoroughfares in front of residential properties.
• The easement and alley are your responsibility.
• They will come by the front of the house, but only remove trash. Cannot use weed eaters, etc.
• Weeds are an ordinance and can be reported anonymously.
• Animal control is different they do not report anonymous calls.
• Miles and Santa Rita the entire street gets messy/dirty.
• We would need to call the City Streets department.
• Adult probation can be called to help clean up elderly and handicapped people.

Neighborhood Planning Committee

• Chris reported from meeting last night. The looked over the vision statement
• Took some goals and strategies from the notes and are organizing how they’ll support the vision statement.
• Will we see the vision statement upon its completion?
• The final draft should come to the neighborhood before it goes to city and council…will verify in future.
• The main input comes from the public meetings. So if you are interested in attending please come visit every second Wednesday of the month and suggestions and comments are welcome to the steering council.
• Our liaison with the Planning Committee is going to be cut from her position.
• Calls and comments to Steve Leals office complimenting and Gina Chorover’s work is much appreciated.

Treasurer Report

• $318.05 has been raised so far.
• Bank at Safeway will be host our checking account…Rosanna and Stefan will register the account before next month.
• Stefan will do some math to figure out the costs strictly for the signs and see if we can cover costs for city labor at a later date.

Drachman Institute Update

• The neighborhood and San Antonio meet with Drachman Institute and looked over potential drawings and plans.
• Carmen is still looking for input on these design ideas.
• The building will be a community building.
• What type of ideas could we provide to them as to what the building could be used for.
• Any ideas you can contact Bill directly.
• There are three plans available at the meeting tonight, please provide comments.

Other business

• Peter Norton food raising has continued to grow in the neighborhood.
• Volunteers on 12th and 13th street have been located.
• Up to 200 lbs. of food has been donated weekly.
• Another idea is to bring an extra box to work and accept donations there, then leave them for collection on Sunday.
• Peter will volunteer to speak with other groups or individuals if you know of any that want to get a similar program up and running.
• Some one has volunteered a golf cart for Sunday collection.
• Remember that most consumables can be donated.
• Lotion, food, toilet paper, etc.

To Do

• Bring form later to Josie for free paint…to battle graffitti and committee involvement and give it to Rosanna and Josie…see if Mona at Home Depot can hook use up.
• Get name of person that would be responsible for installing the signs. Bring to Mr. Camacho.

Future Agenda

• Neighborhood Committee Update
• Treasury Update
• Neighborhood Beautification
• Treasurers Report
• Drachman Institute Update
• Arroyo Chico Basin Project Update
• Cherry Avenue Updates

Motion to adjourn 7:42pm.

One can at a Time

Tucson neighborhood trying to change the world one can of food at a time.

Tucson, AZ – Imagine if every household in the Miles Neighborhood left a can of food on the porch every Sunday between 11:30 am and 5 pm. Would anything change? Would there be less hunger in Tucson? That’s exactly what Peter Norback, a Miles Neighborhood resident and all of his neighbors are hoping to prove. (The Miles Neighborhood is triangle shaped and bordered by Broadway, Campbell/Kino and the Arroyo Chino Wash.)

A couple of months ago Peter attended an Obama House Meeting near Prince and Campbell. He was told to bring a community service idea which he did. After he arrived at the meeting, he was also told to put the idea on a Post-It note and stick it on the wall. He did that too.

Toward the end of the meeting the moderator finally got around to Peter’s note. “Whose idea is ‘feed the hungry?’” she asked. Peter took the floor and started to explain. He said based on the increasing demand on the Community Food Bank he thought it would be better if neighbors in every neighborhood in Tucson donated “one can a week” in addition to participating in intermittent food drives. People are hungry three times a day and intermittent won’t do when there is a serious depression going on.

Peter than volunteered to create all of the necessary handouts and IDs and would send anyone who was interested the Word files so they could customize the materials to hand out to their neighbors. Within two weeks Peter had created the handouts and then showed them to Jacob Coldsmith, the logistics manager at the Community Food Bank who read them over and suggested a few changes which Peter then incorporated.

“It was a bit nerve wrecking testing the waters that first Sunday,” Peter admitted. “I wasn’t sure my neighbors would go for the idea so I picked people I knew.”

Everyone said yes, mostly because his spiel was simple and honest. He told his neighbors he was responding to the new administration’s call for community service and collecting food for the Community Food Bank was his personal project. He picked the Community Food Bank because they are a highly respected organization in Tucson and they are facing such a huge demand.

Also, Peter discussed the aspect of helping others to get involved with community service and this “one can a week” program was an easy way for a neighborhood to unite and participate and perhaps solved a pressing community dilemma. With this approach even neighbors Peter did not know well said yes.

To help identify himself quickly to his neighbors, Peter wore a name tag with his photo and address. But what mattered most was the photo of his two Westies he would show them soon after they opened the door. He told them he was the guy who walked the two little white dogs around the neighborhood. “Oh, yes,” most would reply with a smile, “I know who you are.” Peter didn’t mind the shot to his ego. He was putting his neighbors at ease, and people buy ideas better when they are comfortable.

The next Sunday turned out to be nerve wrecking too when Peter began collecting the food donations. He had lots of apprehension figuring people will have forgotten or just didn’t want to get involved. “What a thrill it was when I saw the first can of food on my neighbors porch,” he said. “Then house after house I had visited earlier had the food donations ready. Most had more than one can which was even more of a surprise.”

Every chance he gets, Peter stops and talks with his neighbors about how well the “one can a week” program is going. “A couple of weeks ago, one gentleman told me he likes the donation program because it is very respectful,” Peter said. “He liked the fact that I came to his home to ask him to help. The personal approach really got to him.”

Every week the food donation program in the Miles Neighborhood is growing because Peter is getting around to more and more neighbors. To collect the food, he has gone from a canvas shopping bag to a hand truck with a large box strapped to it. In the past months Peter has gathered over 225 lbs. of food from his neighbors.

The word is getting out about the “one can a week” food donation program. In early April, Peter will address the Kiwanis Club at their monthly luncheon and his friend Beth has initiated the program in her neighborhood which is east on Tanque Verde Road.

The “one can a week” food donation program is spreading. And it could help eliminate hungry families in cities throughout the country if all neighborhoods decided to participate. This in turn would unite these neighborhoods and involved nearly everyone in community service. For sure that would change the world.

For more information on the “one can a week” program, contact Peter Norback at (520) 248-3694 or pnorback@cox.net.

Minutes - Miles Neighborhood Meeting February 18, 2009

Motion to call the meeting to order 1835.

Police Report
Officer Kevin Zinn
• Only has property report for crime.
• One stolen vehicle reported last month.
• Will have other crime stats available next month.
• Discussed four items from last month.
oSuspicious activity at house on 13th. (No narcotic activities though).
• Is the address correct?
o Transients in the neighborhood, continue to report them to police.
o Graffiti abatement program is expected to be scaled back due to budget cuts.
o Officer is researching the option of paint volunteered to neighborhood associations for
painting interior items like our foot bridge.
o Street signs, call the abatement group and tell them about it..they’ll let you know if the sign
needs to be replaced by the traffic department.
o Dogs in the schoolyard are not permitted, report them or let them know dogs are not
allowed.

Carmen Cueva from the Drachman Institute
• Bill and a member from the San Antonio neighborhood wrote Drachman institute to inquire about the option of using the abandoned building on Fremont.
• UA student in the architecture department has volunteered to help.
• Meeting on March 11th or 12th pending reservation of cafeteria.
• This building is part of the larger Arroyo Chico Basin plan.

Josie
• Frank the mailman is retiring
• Pat Garcia, a long time neighbor, past away yesterday.

Neighborhood Food and Donation Collection Project
• Peter has been collecting food for 5 weeks now.
• Very successful.
• One can at a time.
• Every Sunday Peter has been introducing himself more and more the entire breadth of the neighborhood.
• 187 neighborhoods on the Pima County Register.
• The whole idea is to unite the neighborhood.
• Sunday afternoons by 11am…on your porch. Peter will come by and pick it up.
• Concept is for Miles to take credit.
o Ernesto Portillo will cover this story…other media outlets are being considered, TV could
report on effectiveness of the program.
o Peter wrote a news release, Stefan will put it on the website soon.
o Peter met with the food bank and discussed this.

Street Sign Progress
• Miles neighborhood is our legal term as far as the city is concerned; there should not be any conflicts with our homes being in the University Heights District.
• Next month, we’ll have updates on a bank account (Roseanna will check with credit unions on free checking).
• Stefan will have two separate drafts asking seeking donations from neighbors and businesses.
• Stefan presented prices estimates and talked more about the process.

Abe Marques from Ward Five
• Cherry Avenue
o County and ward were dependent upon each other for the money.
o Abe will know more after Friday to make sure the money is still available.
o $70,000 from the ward towards the upgrade of Cherry Avenue…Abe is attending a meeting
Friday and is confident the money is still allocated.
o Upgrades improve sidewalks, curbs and landscaping.
• Report potholes (big ones are done first for safety concerns).
• Abandoned house on Miles, the family owns it again.
• Maybe talk with Barrio Centro about how the association set up their checking account. Contact Abe to get their phone number.

Planning Committee Update
• Mission statement is almost done.
• Next step are the goals.
• One goal is to look at establishing Miles as a historical neighborhood.
• Next month a member of the historical society will be attending answering questions.
• Any other questions? Next meeting is March 11th.

Future Agenda
• Continue promoting fund raising for street signs.
Can we get a list of names from the murals on 15th Street.

Motion to adjourn 7:48pm.

Minutes - Miles Neighborhood Meeting January 21st 2009

Motion to call the meeting to order 6:36pm.

Police Report

• Officer Kevin Zinn - our new officer.
• Tucson local, come back from the east coast.
• Will be at meetings regularly.
• Day time shift 6am - 4pm.
• Knows hot spots in neighborhood.
• School on Park has been called in..Project MORE. Some narcotics reports.
• Brought along a map of the neighborhood broken in to three sections, with crime stats.
• Section 1 - 1 larceny.
• Section 2 - 2 larcenies.
• Section 3 - Higher incidents of activities
• 2 burglaries.
• 3 larcenies on Broadway
• 2 stolen vehicles.
• The program in Rincon Heights has been terminated.
• May through September. It was effective.
• Neighbors should report any suspicious vehicles, or activities in the neighborhood. Call 911 and police will investigate the activity.
• fingerprint evidence is 3-6 months. DNA is up to 12 months.
• TPD has opened a new evidence unit in South Tucson from the downtown office.
• Any reports from Manlove apartments? Not too many in the past few months.
• Evidence from arrests are moved to detectives.
• Could be available on "crime statistics" online, TPD website or contact Elsa Martinez.
• Neighborhood concerns: open space near the Arroyo Chico, transient people around the neighborhood, area behind shopping center at Broadway and Kino..UPS/Famous Sams has several vagrants loitering. Private property is the business owners responsibility.
• Graffiti on the footbridge at Highland and Santa Rita. Officially is owned by the county, will be moved during the Arroyo Chico.
• Possible drug house reported on 13th Street. Lots of sporadic traffic that drives to the front of the house and then to the alley.

Ward Five Report

• Good news/ Bad news
• Speed hump on Highland has complaints from citizens and the school.
• The city now must move it. Not sure yet. But the Ward 5 district must pay to move it.
• Official school complaint is not available.
• City officials (engineer) came out and verified that the speed hump needs to be moved because it poses a flood threat...the neighborhood is confused about this decision.
• The road on Miles between Highland and Santa Rita needs attention. It was several potholes and pools at the Santa Rita intersection.

Neighborhood Planning Committee

• In the process of working on a mission statement. Will go on the cover of the plan.
• Cover all aspects of what we have been talking about: infrastructure, community involvement, crime abatement.
• The hope is to get grant money from the mission statement.
• Next public meeting is February 11th 7 - 8:30.

Street Sign Discussion

• Fluoresco Sign companies.
• Installation is approximately $250.
• Neighbors agreed to investigate other sign companies, will have an approximate bid from several companies next month.

Sidewalks and Street lights in the neighborhood

• Could it be part of the planning committee?
• A preliminary proposal to neighborhood reinvestment has been submitted for the upgrade to Cherry Avenue. Through department of transportation.
• Bill filed this paperwork
• What type of lights would we like to install?
• Possibly something with direct light, less obtrusive rays from post to ground.
• We can include in the planning committee is to suggest we use dark sky lights as a community.
• The neighborhood motioned to vote that we support:
• the neighborhood pursue lighting and sidewalks in the future, and focus on lights that are dark sky lighting
• Motion passed...all in favor, none opposed.

Ideas for raising money

• Bake sale.
• Safeway?
• Miles parking lot?
• A lemonade/snack bar near the TUSD field.
• Autozone...find budget, go to every house in the neighborhood and promote their business, they then pay the advertisement.
• Donations are being accepted.
• Next postcard...if you want to donate towards the signage...have specific dollar amount.
• Hit businesses on the intersections and ask if they'll sponsor the intersections.
• Donations from businesses and raffle them at the bake sale.
• Tip jar for snacks at our monthly meetings.
• Possibly US Bank inside Safeway...could they give us a free account.
• Credit Union, community service.
• Savings account only, we don't need a checkbook...money would be paid in cash or money order.

Other Items

• Lead abatement program in the city
• Future agenda
• Neighborhood Weekly Food & Donation Collection Project
• Rededication of Cherry Field is February 21st 11am.
• Sign Continuation update.
• Put a line of text about donating to sign.
• Proposal update for Cherry Avenue.
• Planning Committee.

Motion to adjourn 8:00 pm.

Minutes - Miles Neighborhood Meeting December 17th 2008

Motion to commence meeting.
Meeting called to order 6:45pm.

Police Report

• Officer Keating was not available.
• We will have a new beat officer in January
• The Association will contact the city to ensure we have representation at our January meeting.
• Any neighborhood concerns?
• Corner of Warren and Miles. House has been neglected.
• House on Cherry and Miles has been getting cleaned up and will possibly be for sale soon.
• If any concerns will dirty houses, yards, etc...please contact 792-CITY (2489).
• Email your congressman about improving the Arroyo Chico

Neighborhood Planning Committee update

• Jamie and his group met on the 9th of December.
• The steering committee will draft a document for the planning committee then send to the council and mayor.
• The components covered are neighborhood improvements (things like sidewalks, lights, etc.) zoning, character of the neighborhood, the houses within the community, the businesses on Broadway
• We are part of a bigger plan (the Arroyo Chico), but this plan is specific to the Miles Neighborhood.
• They talked about roles and responsibilities, the steps of components and steps...looking at various prototypes from other neighborhoods.
• Schedule is set for September 2009. The document will go before council and mayor by September 2009.
• Next public meeting is Wednesday January 14th.
• Tuesday, January 20th is the next steering committee meeting.
• Miramonte neighborhood is a good example if neighbors are interested in what is and what is not included in these type of committees.

Neighborhood signage

• Stefan reported on the progress of the street signs.
• The model was approved, a photo was shown to the neighborhood.
• Check w/ Spencers Sign and check other companies to bid on the job.
• Check w/ Rosie about checking account.
• Keep the money end...accumulate and make the check to the city of Tucson
• Stefan will have a firm cost and number of signs needed for production.

Miles School Upgrades

• David Longoria - Program Coordinator
• Part of the construction that helped build the improvements at Miles.
• Funded through Pima County Neighborhood Reinvestment.
• Here to discuss finishing up and filling the missing parts of the master plan.
• There is $12,000.00 left over from the project account that we might be able to use in the Miles improvement packet.
• The new Ramada on Highland has been installed.
• The sit up bench is going to be reworked.
• The next item to be installed is a seat wall under the ramada.
• 12" wide 18" inches high 24' long...also a rip wrap to improve drainage and a step for pedestrians.
• Conduit and burn holes for future lighting.
• Also will pay for the paint striping on the basketball courts.
• And for painting the basketball post a matching green color (street post, ramada posts).
• Tucson Parks and Rec would be contracted to complete the work.
• The future of the shade over the playground is still up in the air...maybe next summer.
• Motion was passed to approve the upgrades to the Miles School Park
• David asked the neighbors to fill out a ne page survey with feedback about the upgrades to the Miles School Grounds.

Other business

• Tax credit forms were available at the meeting, neighbors can donate up to $200 per individual, $400 for a couple.
• Please designate which program you'd like the money donated (arts, music, PE) on the check. Make sure it is designated to Mile ELC.
• We are also working with Pima County Neighborhood Reinvestments to improve the upgrades on Cherry Avenue. Would include sidewalks, another eight feet of parking and lights(?). Intended to make improves for
• Police have a new graffiti division (same contractor, but have been managed through the police department). Will not cover trash/recycling cans in alleyways.
• Bill addressed the notion that we need to change the verbiage...Stefan will look over the bylaws and charter to address any changes that need to be made regarding this issue.

Future Agenda items

• Sidewalks in the neighborhood and street lights.
• Talk about ways to raise funds for the sign age and other neighborhood events (parties, etc.).
• We will have firm appraisals for the street sign project.

Motion to adjourn.
Meeting adjourned at 7:40pm

Minutes - Miles Neighborhood Meeting November 19th 2008

Motion to commence meeting.
Called to order at 6:38pm.

Police Report

• Officer Keating had nothing to report regarding crime in the neighborhood.
• Burglary is low; there were a few vehicle break-ins.
• Officer Keating is going to be working graveyard starting in January, we should have a new police officer reporting for our meetings.
• Questions from neighbors:
• Dogs barking late in the night, can we call the police? Yes they can cite the household for a noise disturbance, but realize the issue is low priority. The person can also report the neighbors to Animal Control.
• Lights have been seen in the abandoned house on Cherry and Miles. Could be homeless people squatting in the house. Officer Keating will take care of the matter.
• DNR is responsible for the safety of the house. What is the status of this house?

Neighborhood Planning Committee update

• The Planning team from the city held the first presentation the second Tuesday of November.
• The presentation is online at the City of Tucson website under the planning section.
• The first meeting will be held Tuesday December 9th from 6:30pm to 8:30pm in the Miles cafeteria.
• No agenda has been scheduled yet.

Neighborhood signage

• The city has approved our design for neighborhood signage.
• The dimensions are 12” x 24”
• The signs will be assigned at intersections around the perimeter of the neighborhood with two signs per intersection.
• We calculated between 10 and 12 intersections are possible.
• We would like to order 25 signs with an approximate cost of $1,500.00
• Funding letters will be mailed to potential donors (local businesses, ward 5 office, neighbors?)

Ward Five representative

• Abe Marques fielded questions from the neighborhood.
• Status of the basin projects is a funding issue with Congress. These were earmarked in the budget years ago and must be approved.
• The basins are a federal project and the city is generally not usually in the loop.
• Should we invite a representative to speak about the basins?
• Bill reported the Army Corps of Engineers would build the basins in order from east to west.
• Abe had heard the fourth basin would be built first than the two central ones would be built.
• Concern about land locking the two basins in the middle would force homeless people in to public space surrounded by park space.
• Sidewalks and Cherry avenue at the TUSD fields…will parking be a problem? Not likely because events are on the weekends when the neighborhood is not commuting in and out of the neighborhood for work and school.
• We would like to remind TUSD participants to pick up the trash at such events to keep the neighborhood clean.

Cherry Avenue Upgrades

• Bill is still in the planning stages of the project. More news to follow.

Other business

• Our reservations with TUSD for the monthly meetings expire in December. We will contact DNR to reserve the third Wednesday of every month through the end of the school year (May).
• San Antonio neighborhood has been awarded reinvestment money to revitalize a building near Fremont and 13th for community purposes; we could possibly meet there in the future when the school is not available.
• Future agenda items: none.

Motion to adjourn.
Meeting adjourned at 7:20pm

Miles Neighborhood Meeting Minutes October 15th 2008

Motion to commence meeting.
Called to order at 6:45pm.

Police Report

• Officer Keating was predisposed with a traffic accident and could not make our meeting.
• Neighbors reported a van in the Arroyo Chico months ago.
• Police followed up and discovered a large homeless camp.
• Police then haul out a van and dispersed the homeless.
• One of the men is a suspect in various robberies near campus.
• Racist tagging was also reported on the foot bridge of the Arroyo Chico at Santa Rita and 13th Street.
• Four cars had their windows broken during September on 13th Street between Vine and Cherry Avenue.
• Keep your eyes open and report any suspicious activity.

Neighborhood Co-Chair Nominations

• The Co-Chair elections are now two months overdo.
• No one has volunteered, nor been volunteered.
• We know Luis does not wish to continue his service to the neighborhood.
• We must address the bylaws if we want to have Bill continue to serve as Co-Chair.

Neighborhood Planning Committee update

• The initial meeting with the city had a lack of neighborhood volunteers.
• In order to have this Plan be successful we’ll need better input from the neighborhood.
• We will make an effort to get more people involved by moving our monthly meeting to the second Wednesday of every month and incorporate the monthly report from the city as a permanent agenda item.
• Spread the word and let other neighbors know that this is a great opportunity to preserve the Miles neighborhood.

Possible neighborhood signage

• Stefan contacted the neighborhood and was given the brief on neighborhood signage.
• We would need to submit our current design for approval.
• Once approved the neighborhood would need to seek funding to pay for the production and installation of the signs along the perimeter of the neighborhood.
• Funding is some times requested from the Ward or donors.
• Stefan will follow up with the city and seek funding for this possibility.

Cherry Field Update

• TUSD is planning a ribbon cutting ceremony to open the Cherry Avenue fields on November 1st.
• The Chris Rush art work is scheduled to be installed at the end of this month.

Cherry Avenue Upgrades

• Bill is going to submit the meeting notes from our August meeting to Ramon Valadez confirming that the neighborhood voted and approve of the Cherry Avenue upgrades.
• The money will likely come from the Highway Revenue Funds

Other business

• The postcard will emphasize the importance of the Neighborhood Planning Committee.
• Roseanna and Josie will call neighbors and try to get a higher rate of attendance at meetings.

Motion to adjourn.
Meeting adjourned at 7:40pm