MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF THE LAFAYETTE PARK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION FOR APRIL 18, 2022

Members in attendance: Randie Denker, President; Matt Duke; Sam Kimelman; Bill Mattox; Kathy McGuire; Ellery Sedgwick; Craig Shaw
Others attending: Nina Alexander; Julie Dils

The meeting was called to order at 7:02 p.m.

The minutes of the March meeting were previously approved.

Agenda Item 1, Midtown Working Group.  Kathy announced that the Midtown Working Group has been redesignated as the Midtown Stakeholders' Committee. The Chair, Jake Varn, wants to wrap up the Committee's set of requests and turn over its recommendations to a consultant who will actually create a master plan. Mr. Varn called separate meetings of business interests and neighborhood groups to get their input. Members of the LPNA including Kathy, Randie, Ellery, and John drafted some ideas for consideration, such as emphasizing walkability, that were endorsed by several other neighborhoods. Kathy advised that the Committee would meet in early May to formulate a list of what they'd like to see done. The recommendations would then go to the appropriate city officials for consideration. Randie commented that future city elections may result in a commission that would be more sympathetic to our neighborhood's concerns.

Agenda Item 2, Grant Money for Neighborhood Projects. Bill conferred with KCCI, which he reported has been extremely active in furthering art projects at Kate Sullivan Elementary and Cobb Middle School, and possibly Leon High School. Bill reported that Betsy Couch of KCCI will be meeting with the city regarding its support of the projects. Bill also reported that KCCI has been touting designs from an artist from Tampa for possible implementation here, because KCCI feels that the success of Tampa projects would enhance the possibility that our neighborhood could get approval for local projects from both the city and county. Bill then brought up the possibility that crosswalk art could have a positive traffic safety effect. Bill intends to draft a letter at KCCI's request that it can take to a meeting with city officials later this week. Bill stressed that KCCI's opinion is that the best chance of getting our project done was to couple it with the KCCI proposals for Cobb and Kate Sullivan. After extensive discussion about the relative merits of having local versus out-of-town artists design and execute the work, on motion made, the Board voted 5-2 to have Bill draft a letter to KCCI that we tentatively approve going forward to the project but that we reserve a veto power over the design.

Agenda Item 3, Update on Activities of  Alliance of Tallahassee Neighborhoods. Kathy briefly reported on recent city meetings concerning the Northwood property..

Agenda Item 4, Annual Picnic Planning. The Board agreed to go ahead with the annual neighborhood picnic in Lafayette Park on Sunday, May 1, from 4 to 7 p.m., and agreed to plan via email and text over the next few days to coordinate planning for items such as budgeting, signage, and possible programs at the event.

Committee Reports:
Development and Growth Committee: No report.
Outreach Committee: Handouts are now available for delivery to new neighbors.
Police Liaison Committee: No report.
Newsletter Committee: No report.
Communications Committee: Matt stated that notice of the picnic will be posted on the neighborhood's Facebook page.
Disaster Preparedness Committee: No report.
Traffic Committee: No report.

The meeting adjourned at 7:52 p.m.