East CAC Meeting Minutes
July 2009
Submitted by Secretary Sue Sturgis
Chair Mark Turner called the July meeting of Raleigh’s East Citizens Advisory Council to order shortly after 7 p.m. on Monday, July 15 at Lions Park Community Center. Throughout the evening there were about 80 people in attendance, including City Councilors James West and Russ Stephenson. Attendees approved the minutes for May and June, and Mark passed out a sheet with information on various community e-mail listservs.
ANNOUNCEMENTS: In good news from around the CAC:
* City Council agreed to adjust its rules for neighborhood improvement grants so neighborhoods seeking to erect identifying signs that encroach on the city’s right of way will not be required to purchase insurance in perpetuity;
* Woodcrest threw a neighborhood party, which was a good opportunity for residents to get together; and
* It appears the area’s real estate market has picked up, with houses in the CAC seeming to be selling quicker than before.
Mr. Don Halliday then reported on the innovative work he’s doing with youth in the community. A former Philadelphia police officer, Mr. Halliday now works as a found object artist who also seeks to find “young men who aren’t clear what they’re doing and put them in a more positive direction” through The King’s Institute of the Arts, a planned learning center in Raleigh. The young men work with him on creating art from found materials, and most Saturdays and Sundays they sell their jewelry and other work at the State Farmers Market to support the organization. Mr. Halliday is also interested in forming a drill team, which he sees as a good way to instill discipline in youth. For more information, call 919-755-3381 or e-mail broday04 at hotmail dot com.
PARKS AND RECREATION REPORT: Christy Jones of Lions Park reported that the department was a gold medal finalist for a national award bestowed by the American Academy of Parks and Recreation Administration. Lions Park and other community centers across the city will be offering a teen outreach program for youth ages 13 to 17 that will be offered after school from 3 to 6 p.m. Two registrations are coming up at Lions Park for children ages 7 to 13, with football at $32 and cheerleading at $35. Part-time athletic officials and volunteer football and cheerleading coaches are needed; for more information contact Christy at (919) 996-5718.
PROPOSED LONGVIEW GARDENS NATIONAL HISTORIC DISTRICT: Martha Hobbs with the Planning Department’s Historic Districts Commission (http://www.rhdc.org/) spoke about the nomination of part of Longview Gardens to be added to the National Register of Historic Districts. She observed that some people are concerned the registration will lead to problematic rules, but she noted there are significant benefits to residents. For example, someone who lives in what’s considered a “contributing structure” can get tax credits for rehab work.
Raleigh currently has 24 registered historic districts and is considering adding four more, which besides Longview Gardens are Battery Heights, Capitol Heights and Madonna Acres—all post-WWII developments. There will be a community forum on Aug. 10 at 6:15 p.m. at the Tarboro Road Community Center, 121 N. Tarboro St., to discuss the process. Representatives of the state will be there to talk about available tax credits. It was pointed out that not all of Longview Gardens would be included, but only that area with a certain density of relevant structures.
The Triangle Modernist website (http://www.trianglemodernisthouses.com/) has information on some of the homes in Longview Gardens. If you know of others that should be included, contact george at trianglemodernisthouses dot com.
POLICE REPORT: Community Police Officer James Kryskowiak distributed handouts summarizing crime in the area over the past month. He noted that there were 18 aggravated assaults, but at least seven were domestic-related and two involved drugs, so those were not all random incidents. He also reported that a vehicle stop at the Tivoli Court apartments led to the apprehension of a burglary suspect. He brought the CAC up to date on the recent fight at Raleigh North Apartments in which two women were stabbed; four people have been arrested for that incident thanks in part to cooperation from the complex’s management. He also reported that a raid on a store at the Food Lion shopping center on Raleigh Boulevard turned up $20,000 worth of counterfeit merchandise.
Police Chief Harry Dolan noted that his department with support of City Council is reviving community-oriented policing, a program that Office Kryskowiak is part of. This effort is also getting Inspections involved to address problem properties. In discussing the importance of this community-oriented work, Chief Dolan observed, “When you erase the anonymity of hoodlums, the difference is incredible.” He also mentioned that President Obama is reinvesting in community police.
Councilor West emphasized that tackling crime takes the community coming together and being engaged. Quoting a woman who spoke at a city forum on neighborhood issues, he advised: “Don’t agonize—organize!” Councilor Stephenson observed that the CAC is another important part of the community policing initiative.
BRAINSTORM ON POLICING PRIORITIES: Chief Dolan led the CAC in a brainstorming session aimed at better aligning the police department’s resources with the community’s needs. He began by asking everyone to list what they thought the two or three top priorities are in their neighborhood. He then had attendees break into five smaller groups to discuss collective priorities. Each group then had their priorities, many of which were the same or similar, put on a master list. Everyone then got three colored dots to put next to their top three priorities.
The priorities that emerged from the exercise included tackling problems at the Food Lion shopping Center on Raleigh Boulevard and the Maxway on Poole Road; addressing problem businesses and residences; getting a field office in the area for Officer Kryskowiak; offering more programs for youth; gunshots; speeding; littering; gang activity; police response time; neighborhood watches; drugs and prostitution; youth curfews; greenway patrols; and police empathy. Chief Dolan said he would be back to give the CAC updates.
RALEIGH POLICE VOLUNTEER PROGRAM: Retired Police Lt. Bruce Embry reported that he is leading the department’s new volunteer program, which is currently looking for interested people. Volunteers will wear special uniforms different from regular officers, and they will undertake assignments such as neighborhood and greenway patrols. The department hopes the program will help build stronger relationships between the police and citizens. There is also a separate Retired Senior Volunteer Program already underway that involves people over the age of 55.
CAC OPPORTUNITIES: Charlene Willard with the Community Services department reported that the CAC is forming an outreach committee and encouraged people to get involved, especially “creative types.” She also reminded people that the Neighborhood College’s fall session begins Sept. 10 and runs through Dec. 3. CAC Chair Mark Turner, a graduate, called it an “excellent program” that gives useful insight into how the city works.
The meeting adjourned shortly after 8:30 p.m.