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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-09-2014 Inter-Neighborhood Committee Minutes THE INTER-NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL (INC) MEETING OF BOZEMAN, MONTANA DRAFT MEETING MINUTES Thursday, Oct. 09, 2014 Attending: Jennifer Rockne (SCAN) moderator, Kirk Johnson (MarLin), Joe Genovese (NHVN), Ginny Cowan (BCNA), Kathy Powell (UNA), Bob Wall (SENA), Allyson Brekke (City Neighborhood Coordinator), Officer Charley Gappmayer, Sgt. Chris Randall (Bozeman Police Department), Deputy Mayor Carson Taylor (City Com-mission liaison). QUORUM MET. 4:35 Jennifer convened the meeting Review of Sept minutes. Bob moved to approve the minutes. Kathy seconded. Motion passed unanimously. No public comment. Charley Gappmayer, Sgt. Chris Randall – Police Activity Report Sgt. Randall is new to the division. He is taking over Andy Knight’s spot as Support Ser- vices Sergeant. Since Sept. 1, there have been 56 loud party complaints. There has been some decline in complaints due to involvement of Home Owner Associations (HOAs) helping to curb problems. Support Services is currently dealing with houses occupied by more than four unrelated persons. A property management agency is allowing this to occur. There is an accommo- dation permit to allow this, but the application is a lengthy process. There are continuing problems with bike thefts. This has targeted mostly high-end bikes, and they are usually shipped out of town. A software scam has been happening recently – people report receiving phone calls al-legedly from computer tech support. There is also a Northwest Energy scam, often target- ing businesses. The callers initially demand payment for delinquent bills. There will be trick or treating at downtown Bozeman businesses on Oct. 31 from 3-6 PM. There will be an increased police presence at intersections downtown. The Downtown Bozeman Business Partnership has also requested additional volunteers to help. Anyone interested can contact Ellie Staley at 586-4008. 4:55 HOAs and the Neighborhood Recognition Ordinance HOAs are expressing interest in being recognized by the City. The City Charter contains language requiring the City to establish a neighborhood ordinance; the Neighborhood Recognition Ordinance was the result of this requirement. To be recognized, a neighborhood must identify boundaries and establish bylaws that in- clude at least a statement of purpose, the process for election of officers, officer duties, stipulation of at least one annual meeting, defined means of communications with mem- bers, and stipulation of who can be members. Membership must include all residents, businesses, non-profits, and owners, but the bylaws can restrict which members can vote. Discussed the bylaw specifications and how much of a mismatch there might be between existing HOA bylaws and the NRO requirements. The membership stipulations are the most likely problem; many HOA bylaws only extend membership to property owners. Discussion about the size of HOAs – are they too small to be neighborhoods? Discussed a possible solution to allow HOAs to be recognized – an HOA could form a subcommittee to draft bylaws to establish and maintain a separate neighborhood associa-tion. More discussion about neighborhood restrictions; they can’t extend beyond city limits, but there are no size requirements. Discussed what should possible change in the NRO, and how an HOA might apply for recognition. Suggestion was made to provide guidance to create a separate set of bylaws for the neighborhood association and to keep it separate from the HOA. The INC should provide templates for bylaws to simplify the process. Allyson will start working on the template for bylaws, along with an additional checklist of the requirements for recognition. It was suggested that we should review the NRO at our next meeting, Nov. 13. 6:08 FYI Update by Deputy Mayor Taylor. He discussed the recent issue with the Bearcat that the Police Department received. He said Chief Price affirmed that the commitment to com- munity plicing has not changed. The Commission stipulated that the rules of engagement and usage cannot be changed without request to the Commission. The same holds for any changes to the equipment installed on the Bearcat. Deputy Mayor Taylor discussed some of the rationale behind Commissioners’ approval of the Bearcat acquisition and the decision to keep it. They are focused on police safety but want to find ways to satisfy citizens’ concerns about the ways in which the Bearcat might be used. The next meeting will be Nov. 13. Joe moved to adjourn. Bob seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Minutes recorded by Bob Wall.