LAFAYETTE PARK

         NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION

                   ANNUAL MEETING MINUTES                            DECEMBER 14, 2008 

The Annual Meeting of the Incorporated Lafayette Park Neighborhood Association took place at 651 East 6^th Avenue on Sunday December 14, 2008 during the open house Holiday Party. The meeting had been widely announced in the most recent LPNA Newsletter, on the Association web site and in the Tallahassee Democrat.com Lafayette Park Neighborhood blog site.

  

Present during the Business Meeting:

  

 Alice Vickers, John Wallace, Lizzie Ruse, Alexa Roche, Kathy McGuire, Jim Skofronick, Michaela Lupiani, David Mitchell, Amy Mitchell, Barbara Linthicum, Jan RuBino, Michael Ruse, Richard RuBino, Brian Lupiani, Steve Been, Bill Chamberlain, Daniel Pullen, Dot Skofronick, Jim Roche, Jim Pfost, Ann Bidlingmaier

  New Business:  

Nominations of new Board of Directors had been solicited through the November 2008 Lafayette Park Neighborhood Newsletter.  Nominees coming forth included David Mitchell 826 Cherry Street, Bradford Lewis 813 Ingleside Avenue, and Andy McLeod 502 Beard Street.  No other nominations were received at this meeting.

  

A voice vote of those present at the meeting was called for by Association President Jim Pfost.  The vote was unanimous.  David Mitchell, Bradford Lewis and Andy McLeod are new Lafayette Park Neighborhood Association board of directors members elected for the calendar years of 2009 and 2010.

  

Acknowledgements of jobs well done were made for board members Alice Vickers and Serena Moyle who are leaving the board of directors as of December 31, 2008. 

  Old Business: Representatives, including Ann Bidlingmaier, from the Tallahassee Heritage Foundation attended the Annual Meeting to again discuss their wish to have a home tour in the Lafayette Park Neighborhood.  It was decided by the Foundation not to have a Spring Tour as previously proposed of homes on Beard, Ingleside and 6^th Avenue. They will try Fall Tour that would include homes on the South side of the park. Adjournment: Having no further business, the meeting was adjourned. Next Annual Meeting: December 2009.  Exact date and place to be announced at a later time.     Lafayette Park Neighborhood Association Meeting MinutesOctober 21, 2008 Present:     Jim Pfost, Alice Vickers, Molly McKinstry, John Wallace; Lizzie Ruse, Michaela Lupiani; Kathy McGuire Absent:       Edward Gray; Matthew Kennedy, Alexa Roche, Polly McAuliffe, Serena Moyle I. Approval of Minutes - Minutes from the August meeting were approved. II. New Business 

1. Florida Heritage Foundation 2009 Home Tour

The Foundation wants to conduct a tour of 10-12 Lafayette Park neighborhood historic homes. They expect 200 people, 4 hours, 1^st Sunday in May.  Jim e-mailed homeowners identified by the Trust and so far there has been little interest.   Kathy will email Ann Bidlingmaier and suggest a walking tour (outside only) instead.

 B. Nominations for New Board Members Current members who are not staying on the Board include Serena Moyle and Alice Vickers.  Neighbors interested in becoming new Board members are Jack Davis of Washington Street, Bradford Lewis of Ingleside Avenue, David Mitchell of Cherry Street, Andy McLeod who lives on Beard Street.  Elections of new Board members will occur at December Annual Meeting/ Holiday Party. III. Sub-Committee Reports A.     Historical PreservationKathy McGuire reported that Marion Street has now been included in the HP District designation. The City Planning Department will conduct a public workshop to hear any concerns and answer questions about Historic Preservation. This workshop is now set for December 11, 2008 and all homeowners within the proposed District will be notified by mail. B. Holiday Party/Annual MeetingA discussion was conducted as to whether the Annual Meeting/Party should be relocated.  A Motion made and passed to continue to have the function at the home of Board member Lizzie Ruse (651 E 6^th Ave).  It will be a potluck from 2:00-5:00 on 12/7 (later changed to December 14, 2008 via email vote).  The newsletter will provide the details to the neighborhood. C. HalloweenJim has obtained permission from police to post barricades on Beard and Ingleside. Phillip Stuart of Ingleside Avenue, Mike Hewitt-Brown and Jim Pfost will share the cost of the barricades. The Haunted House decoration contest judging will occur at 3:00 Sunday, October 26; judges will be Julian Pecquet (Tallahassee Democrat) and Debra Thomas (Neighborhood Affairs Office). D. CONA, Zoning, City GrantThe October 13, 2008 Council of Neighborhood Associations (CONA) meeting included a workshop on City Code Enforcement. President Stephen Hogge states that a citywide neighborhood contest will start in January as to conservation of energy. E. NewsletterOctober issue was circulated; the next newsletter to be distributed by November 20 for Halloween outcome and Holiday Party/Annual Meeting notice. F. Crime, Code Enforcement & ComplaintsJim Report on the Code Enforcement details in his CONA meeting report. IV. Old Business A.     E-mail Data BaseWe have about 70 neighborhood e-mail addresses on the database for distributing timely news and police crime alerts. We need to include another request in the next newsletter to continue gathering addresses. B.     Neighborhood SignsThe City of Tallahassee Planning Department has the capacity to build neighborhood signs. This may be an option for obtaining Lafayette Park Neighborhood signs. Other options will be searched and reported upon at the January, 2009 meeting. V. Adjournment 

Next meeting:  Annual Meeting December 14, 2008

 

 

 

Lafayette Park Neighborhood AssociationMeeting MinutesAugust 6, 2008  

Present: Jim Pfost, Molly McKinstry, John Wallace, Michaela Lupiani, Kathy McGuire, Serene Moyle, Polly McAuliffe

 

Absent: Lizzie Ruse, Edward Gray, Matthew Kennedy, Alexa Roche, Alice Vickers

 

Guest: Bradford Lewis, 813 Ingleside

  1. Treasurer’s Report

Michaela reported that $5,000 was recently moved from our checking account at Capitol City Bank where it was getting no interest to SCORE Credit Union where it will get 2.75% in a money market account. A small amount of money will be kept in the new checking account.We will also look at putting some money into CDs – a bit in a CD each month so there is always cash becoming available but we continue to earn respectable interest.

 2. Board Members Needed for Next Year:

We will need at least five people to come onto the Association Board of Directors next year. Please begin to talk to neighbors. We would love to have a broader geographic range represented.

 3. Sub-Committee Reports Historic Preservation

Mike Wing will present our application to the Architectural Review Board on August 7, 2008. Jim will speak upon behalf of the neighborhood. Neighbors with questions regarding the Historic Trust should check the Neighborhood Association website. Neighbors should also know that there is some grant money available to homeowners for repairs to their property in historic districts.

Newsletter

Molly needs articles. The next issue will focus on the Historic Preservation designation and the Halloween decorating contest.

 

Halloween & Holiday Party/Annual Meeting

Halloween falls on a Friday this year.

 

The neighborhood Holiday Party/Association Annual Meeting is being planned. We will move it to a neutral location this year, thereby attracting more people from all parts of the neighborhood. We wish to thank Lizzie Ruse for having it at her home the last two years.

   CONA

Land Use Committee met on July 31. City personnel from the Growth Management Department answered questions. In attendance were John Wallace, our neighborhood representative, Jim Pfost and Sam Hand. The CONA next town hall  meeting is August 11 at 6 p.m.

   Crime/Code Enforcement

We are now getting emails directly from the police department that give us notice of criminal activity in our area. Most recently a description of a burglary suspect was sent out. Not too long ago the ‘Bicycle Bandit’ who operated in our area, was caught and is now in jail.

 New Business

Due to budget problems, the City is trying to eliminate some neighborhood services.  Please go to the City’s website and look in the neighborhood section to see the services offered. If there are some you feel strongly about, email the City and voice your opinion. CONA is trying to save the Neighborhood Affairs Office from being eliminated.

 

We should apply for grant money for neighborhood signs now and work on the design and locations as we can. Currently the money is still available for this.

 

Meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m.

 

Next Meeting:

            October 21, 2008

            Community Center

Lafayette Park Neighborhood Association Meeting MinutesMay 20, 2008 Present:     Jim Pfost, Alice Vickers, Matthew Kennedy, Molly McKinstry, Alexa Roche; Polly McAuliffeAbsent:       Edward Gray; John Wallace; Lizzie Ruse, Michaela Lupiani; Kathy McGuire, Serene Moyle  1. Treasurers ReportMichaela reported to Jim prior to the meeting. 73 households are currently members in LPNA. 47 of those are lifetime memberships and 26 are annual memberships.a) Based upon a discussion at the March meeting, Jim and Michaela will go to the bank to move the LPNA account to an interest bearing account.  2.  Election of Officersa)  Vice President: still vacant. Kathy McGuire might be willing to co-VP.c) Continued need for new members and for experienced members in leadership roles. How about some Gilchrist and Ingleside folks? Will ask some folks again. 3. New Business: Sub-Committee Reportsa) Recycling – Discussed the idea of recycling containers in the park. Tiffiny will contact community center as they collect cans and bottles and may want to have cans of their own.  b) Neighborhood Garden: Tiffiny Hewitt-Brown will contact the city. c)  Newsletter: Molly McKinstry– Latest newsletter out. Next issue will address Halloween. Concern was raised that  Halloween falls on a Friday night this year and last year @Chez began what they hope is an annual event on Halloween night. The concern is regarding Trick or Treaters clashing with an increase in traffic and parking on the street.  d) Code Enforcement: Jim Pfost

-  Revolving police officers make it difficult to follow up on local issues.

- Alexa brought up neighborhood disruption caused by the size and number of AA meetings. There has been a significant change in activity. Based on discussion at the meeting, Jim sent a letter from LPNA to Chez Pierre owners, opening some lines of communication.

- Noise as an immediate vicinity item was raised. i.e. Roosters sound nice at a distance but not always enjoyed by the immediate neighbors.- Chez Pierre: Issue of permitting raised. Apparently they may not have permits for deck and bands and have made a business decision to just pay fines.- Based on discussion at the last meeting, Jim sent a letter from LPNA to Chez’s owners, opening some lines of communication. - Desire to meet with Midtown Business Merchants Association to establish a working partnership.  e) Historic Preservation: Kathy McGuire

- Some trees on the new Education Building lot were saved by quick action on the part of neighborhood people involving the county. The action involved some quick emails, site visits, phone calls to the county and city and getting other activists involved.

 f) Parties & Halloween:– Neighborhood May Party was well attended. Tiffiny Hewitt-Brown; Stacey Rutledge and Elizabeth Kuhlman coordinated this nice event. The steel drum band was great, as was the food and conversation.  e)New Neighbor Welcoming: Michaela Lupiani; Lizzie Russo & Polly McAuliffe- We will soon have a new neighbor at Beard and Cherry - Andy McLeod  and family. We will get a neighborhood welcome pack to them when they move in. Others? g) CONA- Waverly Hills won Best Neighborhood of the Year with a nice clean up of their pond and the building of a gazebo.- John Wallace attended the last CONA meeting as our representative. 4)  New Business: GeneralII)      The Florida Association of Neighborhoods will meet in Tallahassee. LPNA was represented by Jim Pfost, who encouraged others to attend. Meeting was adjourned at 8:20 p.m.  Next Meeting:          August 5^th at 7:00p.m. Lafayette Park Neighborhood Association Meeting MinutesMarch 18, 2008 Present:   Jim Pfost; Michaela Lupiani; Kathy McGuire; Molly McKinstry; Serene Moyle; Alexa Roche; Polly McAuliffeAbsent:       Matt Kennedy; Edward Gray; John Wallace; Alice Vickers  1)      Treasurers Reporta)      Discussion was to look into moving money from the CD that is due in May to a Money Market with a higher interest rate. b)      Upcoming expenditure under consideration:·        Permanent signs to identify LPNA events with changeable elements – dates or locations – for use at events such as Neighborhood dinners; LPNA meetings,…·        Permanent signs identifying the neighborhood, placed at a few entrance areas. 2)      Election of Officersa)      Secretary: Polly McAuliffe was elected to the positionb)     Vice President: Vacantc)  General discussion about the need for new members and for experienced members to step up to leadership roles. 3)      New Business: Sub-Committee Reports a)      Newsletter: Molly McKinstry·        We will hold off for a couple of weeks in order to cover the Lafayette event, an update on the historical preservation and to allow for placement of other items in the center spread. b)     Code Enforcement: Jim Pfost·        Did not currently see this as an area of concern for the neighborhood.·        A complaint regarding the Leon High School night alarms ringing  is being handled by John Wallace. c)Historic Preservation: Kathy McGuire·        Survey is complete and full of great information. ·        It is on schedule to get to the Architectural Review Board in May, then a hearing before the City/County Planning Board (June or July), and then, City Commission (August?). d)     Parties & Halloween:·        Neighborhood May Party is May 3^rd in the Park. Tiffiny Hewitt-Brown; Stacey Rutledge and Elizabeth Kuhlman are coordinating. This is a covered dish/cook out, music and May Pole event. Music, such as a local band or Steel band is still being investigated by Molly and Alexa.  e)New Neighbor Welcoming: Michaela Lupiani; Lizzie Russo & Polly McAuliffe·        Michaela put together a packet of essential information to be delivered to new residents. Please email Polly names and addresses of new people as you become aware of them. We have the names of all the recent Beard Street residents and will be delivering packets with the local history and recent newsletter. 4)      New Business: GeneralI)        Lafayette 250^th Anniversary Series Finale: Jim Pfost·        Friday, March 21^st 7 p.m. Board members were asked to pass out information in the neighborhood about the event to be held in the Park Community Center. Ii)      Website: Jim Pfost

·        Site is currently down due to a server crash. Jim trying to clean up the site itself.  Serena is checking on the name of a new server host so the web site can be moved.

 Iii)    Tallahassee Democrat Blog site: Jim Pfost·        Forum is up and running and doing well. We were one of the first on the site and have had several blogs on the featured blog page of the Democrat.  Jim will work on a neighborhood history based upon the information from the 1985 survey. This history will be available on the web site and on our forum at Tallahassee.com.  Iv)   Neighborhood of the Year Event: May 15^th·        Jim has submitted out application in the newly created “large” neighborhood category and we have a good chance of winning.  Meeting was adjourned at 8:20 p.m.  Next Meeting: May 20^th

         Community Center

Lafayette Park Neighborhood AssociationMeeting MinutesTuesday, January 2008Lafayette Park Community Center7:00 pm                                                                             Board members Ed Gray, Alexa Kleinbard, Michaela Lupiani, Kathy McGuire, Jim Pfost, Lizzie Ruse, and Alice Vickers attended.  Matthew Kennedy, Molly McKinstry, Serena Moyle, Polly McAuliffe, and John Wallace were absent. Election of OfficersThe group voted Jim Pfost as President and Michaela Lupiani as Treasurer.  We will elect Secretary and Vice-President at a later meeting when more board members are in attendance. NEW BUSINESSMeeting ScheduleThe full board will meet every other month on the 3^rd Tuesday at the community center.  The schedule for the remaining meetings in 2008 is as follows.March 18^thMay 20August 19October 21December holiday partyAccording to the bylaws, members that do not attend at least one quarterly meeting per year shall no longer serve on the board. Meeting SpeakersWe discussed whether to have speakers at our board meetings.  Jim will invite the city code enforcement specialist to speak at our March meeting for approximately 15 minutes. Sub-Committee AssignmentsThe board will work in the following subcommittees and report back at the full board meetings.·        Newsletter: Michaela, Molly, Serena, and Matt·        Crime, Code Enforcement & Complaints: Alexa, Ed, John, and Jim·        CONA, Zoning & City Grant: Alice, Kathy, and John·        Historical Preservation: Matt, Serena, and Kathy·        Parties & Halloween: Alexa, Ed, Jim, and Elizabeth, Stacy, and Tiffany·        New Neighbor Welcoming Committee: Lizzie, PollySubcommittees are encouraged to include neighbors who are not on the board. 2008 Plans & ObjectivesWe will continue to strive to achieve historic preservation designation. Old BusinessThere was no old business to discuss, and the meeting adjourned at 8:15 pm.  Our next meeting will be Tuesday, March 18^th at Lafayette Park community center at 7:00 pm. Respectfully submitted, Kathy McGuire, acting Secretary.