Minutes from the July 9, 2012 6:30 pm

Meeting of Martin Drive Neighborhood Association

WASHINGTON PARK SENIOR CENTER - 4420 W Vliet Street


The mission of the Martin Drive Neighborhood Association, through its programs and projects, is to embrace and foster a sense of belonging and common purpose, in order to create a neighborhood that is beautiful, diverse, secure, and fun for everyone!

 

Raymond Duncan, organizer of the Projects and Planning Committee, called the meeting to order at 6:38 PM.  Everyone was asked to introduce themselves and talk about any good news.

 

 

1. Mary Andres talked about the work of the Projects and Planning Committee from the previous month. They made a survey and use it to inventory property appearance using a sample, each choosing a block. Mary talked about how neighbors need paint for the outside of their home, some need a new roof, and some need new porches. The Projects and Planning Committee were contacted by Teig Whaley-Smith from Washington Park Partners and we requested that he present his idea.

 

 

2. Teig Whaley-Smith from Washington Park Partners was introduced and explained the previous work of Washington Park Partners. They sponsor several events around Martin Drive such as the Vliet Street Community Green Farmer’s Market, West Side Guide, and worked with other organizations such as Habitat for Humanity (built 30 homes). Washington Park Partners have a Sustainable Communities Plan on their website.

 

He explained the idea of a Neighborhood Improvement District. This is new under a new law passed. He explained how it is similar to a Business Improvement District (with some changes). Every property owner would be assessed $50.00 on their tax bill, per unit (example, duplex $50.00 times 2 equals $100.00). Owners of apartments will also be assessed (max $500 per property). $160,000 total would be raised, per year in this manner. The board for the Neighborhood Improvement District can decide if we want to sunset the Neighborhood Improvement District, or have a special vote for it to continue. The breakdown of how money would be spent is the following:

  • $40,000 Washington Park Partners for staff working on projects.
  • $40,000 project sponsorships, such as the Vliet Street Community Green Farmer’s Market, West Side Guide.
  • $80,000 for home owners (must live on property). Neighbors had questions on how it would operate and what the money would be spent on and who would be eligible. Whaley-Smith explained how many programs that are out there today are geared for new homeowners, but not for homeowners who have already bought the property years ago. One neighbor asked if there would be income restrictions. Whaley-Smith said there would not. He explained how Washington Park Partners can plan how to spend the money through committees. He said the City of Milwaukee will not take the money for another purpose. A required audit would be done every year.

Park Partners for staff working on projects. $40,000 project sponsorships, such as the Vliet Street Community Green Farmer’s Market, West Side Guide, and etc. $80,000 for home owners (must live in property). Neighbors had questions on how it would operate, what the money would be spent on and who would be eligible. Whaley-Smith explained how many programs that are out there today are geared for new homeowners, but not for homeowners that have lived in the property for several years. One neighbor asked if there would be income restrictions. Whaley-Smith said there would not. He explained how the neighborhood can plan how to spend the money through committees with Washington Park Partners and decide because it would be our money. He said the City of Milwaukee can not take the money for another purpose. A required audit would be done every year.

Under a Neighborhood Improvement District, there would be 15 board members to manage funds that require a vote of the neighborhood to elect people to the board. The board would be made up of ten owner-occupied members (neighbors) and five commercial property owners (preferably that live in the neighborhood). They vote separately on issues before them.

Whaley-Smith said that in a Business Improvement District assessed property values can increase. This would be the second Neighborhood Improvement District in Wisconsin. The first is the Zilber Development (by Highway 43).

One neighbor suggested $50 might not be enough. Whaley-Smith said that this is a manageable fee for homeowners and that it will not automatically increase (not a percent). One neighbor asked if interest free loans or extended payment loans could be available for neighbors rather than grants. Whaley-Smith said this is possible because we can decide how the money is spent.

Another neighbor asked what we do with property owners that probably should not be property owners. Whaley-Smith said this is an incentive, but using Code Compliance will be a “stick”.

 

Whaley-Smith explained how the approval process requesting that we develop a Neighborhood Improvement District for a targeted area including Martin Drive would occur:

  1. Introduced at the Milwaukee City Council.
  2. This information will be sent by certified mail to every homeowner,
  3. $40,000 would be spent by Washington Park Partners using private funds for postage.
  4. An objection of fifty percent of homeowners could block this program.

 

Our Martin Drive Neighborhood Association task is to review, discuss and then vote on this idea. Due to funding deadlines, we will need to vote on if we as an Association support this at our September meeting.

 

 

3. The neighborhood Summer Sizzle Potluck Picnic is July 28th at the Martin Drive Community Gardens (46th & Vliet) Noon to 4 p.m. Raymond said that Evites went out to neighbors (make sure you are on martin-drive@yahoogroups.com) He is looking for a grill near 46th Street, and neighbors to help setup, take down. Neighbors would setup the tents early so that they can go home and clean up before the picnic starts at Noon. Please contact raymond.duncan@gmail.com ASAP if you can share a grill.

 

 

4. There are concerts at the Washington Park Band shell 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays. There is a flier at www.martin-drive.org

 

 

5. The Vliet Street Community Green Farmers Market is at the Washington Park Senior Center (4420 W Vliet). There will be a flea market there this Sunday, Amaranth Café & Bakery.

 

 

6. Steve the “Garden Guy” needs people to help in the Community Garden this Thursday. Raymond said he helps to water the garden, and that he just shows up, no RSVP needed.

 

 

7. Linda Devitt said there is roughly $5000 in the Martin Drive Neighborhood Association checking account. Raymond said recent expenses should be $75 per meeting at Washington Park Senior Center or $225 for the last three meetings of the year, and reimbursing Steve for expenses from the garden.

 

 

8. Alderman Michael Murphy said that the vacant boarded property on North 44th Street will be torn down this summer. The space is good to build a new home. The space will be offered for sale to adjacent neighbors. It costs $8,000-$15,000 for the City of Milwaukee to tear down a property. It is done through a competitive bid. He said he has a new assistant Megan O’Connor, a former intern at the White House. A neighbor said the building inspectors have been very responsive. A neighbor asked about the “bogus tickets” recently aired on local TV news. He asked the Department of Public Works for a response. Murphy said there are inaccuracies. He does not want to waste anyone’s time for an inappropriately written parking ticket.

 

He said local businesses are hiring workers. Menominee Valley has seen growth. A Suzy’s Cheesecake, a previous Vliet Street business is moving its operations to the Valley. A new coffee bean roasting business is being planned for Vliet Street in the current dry cleaners space at 60th and Vliet.

 

He said the Governor’s race did not help us when it was said that Milwaukee is a bad place. We want to see everyone employed. The City of Milwaukee will use every tool to encourage new businesses. Perception of Milwaukee from areas outside the city is not good.

 

A neighbor asked about assessed property values going down this year. Murphy said that they have gone down 12%. The tax levy for the city is expected to increase up to a max of 1.5%. If your property has gone down more than 12% you could pay less property taxes (for the city portion).

 

Murphy said he is working with Common Ground and the 5 major banks that were a part of the Foreclosure Crisis. Private money was used to rehab 3 homes to sell and employ young people to help maintain properties.

 

Murphy says that between housing prices and interest rates being at a 40 year low, it is a great time to buy a home in the City of Milwaukee. Contact his office for more information, mmurph@milwaukee.gov . There are grants up to $20,000 to fix up a home for new home owners. Murphy said that the world economy does affect us. He met with Chinese investors recently. There have been $200 million in foreign investment in the last 4 years. The new Marriott Hotel is being built using foreign money.

 

Murphy was pleased with the first Freshwater School with UWM. They will have advanced degrees for water-based industries.

 

Murphy said that trade jobs need employees. They do not go to a 4 year university. He said you cannot outsource a steamfitter. You cannot outsource a carpenter.

 

 

9. The Neighborhood Rummage Sale is this Saturday. You can still register by calling Sharon at 414-933-6800 or emailing martin-drive@yahoogroups.com leave your address, phone, and email. Raymond said that we can get a Salvation Army truck to pick up your stuff that you do not want to take back inside, but you would need to register first. A neighbor mentioned that she will have copies of the Westside Guide at her rummage sale on 46th Street. They are also at http://www.martin-drive.org/shopping_and_attractions.html

 

 

10. Please watch your email for a Candidate Forum, being scheduled for a date in August. We will have for the first time in a while no incumbent Wisconsin Assembly Person or Wisconsin State Senator to elect. Many new candidates are running for both positions. The primary election is August 14th.

 

The meeting ended at 7:52 p.m.

 

 

Our next meeting will be on September 10th 2012, 6:30 p.m. at the Washington Park Senior Center. We will decide at this meeting if we will be a part of a Neighborhood Improvement District.