[NENA] Brief Minutes of D4 6/18 Coalition Meeting

[JOE YARDUMIAN]

                                    BRIEF MINUTES OF THE 6/18/08 D4
                                 COALITION OF NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING 
                                                                                                         6/20/08

The City's Division manager of Senior Affairs, Social Services, B. Baca, gave a brief overview of the current status of the Domingo Baca Park Project plans for the Multi-Generation Center.  Funding for Phase 1 which will include a social hall with movable walls, which can handle around 75 people , a fitness center, computer room, a meeting room, classrooms, and a coffee room, has funding of $7.7 million.  Design is underway and construction is planned for summer 2009, with opening scheduled for Fall 2009.  The parts defined for phase 1 reflect the results of area questionnaires, phone surveys, and several fact finding meetings held with neighborhoods requesting identification of the priority of room functions desired by residents.  Project director, Colleen Frenz remained after the briefing to answer questions from D4 re planning, funding questions, and activity underway.  Current estimate for completed cost is $17 million.

The coalition voted unanimously to continue to fund the D4 Website Webmaster at $10/month

DelRey NA noted that they are not receiving all the City e-mails addressed to D4 NAs and asked that NAs please forward such e-mails to them till the problem is resolved.

Brad Winter noted that an opening is available on the Ethics Board if anyone is interested.  He mentioned that the Council voted 7-2 to fund a $700K study re feasibility of building a city arena and Hotel downtown.  Brad and Ken Sanchez were the 2 NO votes.  Concern is that the study will be done by the same folks proposing the arena, the design and construction and ownership be Alb City, will NOT be private money...all public funded, and the total cost will be around $400 Million.  It was noted that a similar arena in Rio Rancho is Not profitable, as is the case for arenas in general.  Brad welcomes questions from D4 residents.

Council also voted 7-2 in support of Councilman Harris revision to the ONC Charter.  D4 and D8 are in strong opposition to the revised charter as it weakens both the ONC and Recognized Neighborhood Associations.  D4 had previously sent a strong letter to Council requesting that the Charter not be changed.  Letters from D4 and D8 have been prepared for submittal to Mayor Chavez urging him to veto the council bill.  There are indications that if he does so, the subsequent Council vote may well reflect concerns by NAs and uphold the Mayor's veto.  In parallel, D4 is contacting other city NA Coalitions to request letters to the Mayor in opposition to the revised Charter.  D4 has prepared a sample letter for NAs to use which will be sent to D4 NAs shortly.  The urgency is because the Mayor has 10 days after receiving the Council action to approve or deny.

Brad Winter and Joe Yardumian had to recuse themselves from subsequent portions of the meeting at which a discussion of an appeal filed by a member from an NA next to Kohl's regarding EPC approval of the I 25 Sector Plan.

9PM

Respectfully Submitted
Joe Yardumian
NorEste Rep to D4

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