Embudo Canyon Neighborhood Association

EMBUDO CANYON NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION (ECNA) MEETING MINUTES,  08 SEPTEMBER 2011

 

The meeting was called to order by ECNA President Jay Brotz  at 7:00PM.  Officers present were Vice-President  Ray Dymale, Treasurer John Minks, Secretary David Zeuch, and Directors at Large Suzanne Kersten, Floyd Spencer and Nena-Joy Almodovar.

GUEST SPEAKER, APD SARGENT PAUL DURAN

Sargent Duran gave us an update on crime in the area.  There was nothing new to relate for the immediate area that includes the Association.    However, APD has been focusing attention on apartments in neighborhoods that are near ECNA.   This has included investigating problem tenants, problem apartment buildings, and running the license plates of automobiles that are out in the open to find stolen vehicles.

This has had an effect, reducing burglaries by 15% within the Foothills Command.

With the start of school, “kids” have presented problems at the nearby Hastings and MacDonald’s stores.  Bicycle officers have been paying particular attention to these establishments, reducing fights, etc.

Judy Minks mentioned to Sargent Duran and our Beat Officer, Chris Wetterlund, that skateboarders have been observed in the early evening, damaging benches in Embudo Hills Park by jumping up on them.  Both Sargent Duran and Officer Wetterlund indicated that they would try to keep a closer watch on the park during the problem time periods.

  

TREASURER’S REPORT

As of 8 September 2011, the ECNA savings account has $1,301.57, and the checking account has $111.56.

OLD BUSINESS

Neighborhood Support Committee

Judy Minks displayed her draft version of the Neighborhood Support Committee’s “Incident Intake Form.”   The Committee is hoping that the Form can be placed on the ECNA website for direct, on-line use there.  The plan is that only the website administrator, the filer of the Form, and the ECNA Board Member assigned to help the filer will have access to the Form to preserve the confidentiality of the filer.

The form is to be used in the event that the City of Albuquerque’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Program fails to resolve neighborhood or inter-neighbor issues.  In that event, the form will provide a valuable chronological history of further steps that have been take by the filer to resolve the issue.

President Jay Brotz said that he would undertake to get the Form operational on the website.

Nena-Joy Almodovar and Judy Minks will arrange a meeting with the Director of the Office of Neighborhood Coordination to discuss this concept with him, and to see if the Incident Intake Form might have applicability to other Neighborhood Associations.

August’s National Night Out/Ice Cream Social

Secretary Dave Zeuch wrote and signed a “Thank-You” card on behalf of the Association for Apple Mountain Strings & Things, who provided music for the event.  The card was delivered to the music group that same day.

Treasurer John Minks noted that we got two new members at the event, and that he logged 106 visitors.

Mayor Berry turned up at the Ice Cream Social and stayed longer than expected, visiting with many attendees.

Nena-Joy Almodovar indicated that she would get photos of the event e-mailed to Jay for posting on the website.  She also plans to send some photos to the Mayor’s Office.

Planned Vote to Change the Bylaws to Move the Annual Meeting to January

The question arose as to whether or not we had posted on the website sufficiently in advance our intention to vote at the October meeting on moving the ECNA Annual Meeting from July to January.  After some discussion, it was concluded that the membership had received sufficient advance notice for the Board to go ahead and hold the vote in October.

The purpose for the move is the hope that we will have a better Annual Meeting turnout in January than we currently do at the height of summer when so many people are on vacation or otherwise traveling.

NEW BUSINESS

 

Neighborhood Association Signs at Entrances to the Area

Jay Brotz suggested that we should get a permanent “Welcome to the Embudo Canyon Neighborhood Association” sign on which we would also announce our website and other pertinent information.

Judy Minks said that a design was in the works, and that she would get back to the Board as to where it stands.

When the question arose as to where to put such a sign, Nena-Joy Almodovar suggested that we actually need three signs:  One on Indian School east of Tramway,  one at Monte Largo and the northern arroyo, and one somewhere along Lomas.  These are the main entry points to the ECNA.

Jay noted that the Supper Rock Neighborhood Association has a particularly nice, cut steel sign.  He suggested that we ask Supper Rock how much their sign cost.

Fence Repairs Along Lomas

Judy Minks asked permission of the Board to write a letter to the Open Space Division, requesting that they repair fencing along Lomas from Turner to the Embudo Hills Park.  The motion was seconded and passed by acclamation.

Mayor’s Fall Cleanup

Mayor Berry has announced an early, City-wide Fall cleanup (24 September, 9AM-12PM) in preparation for the annual Balloon Fiesta.  The Board  decided to participate again, cleaning up Tramway between Lomas and Indian School.  Dave Zeuch will register the Association’s participation with the City, pick up the City-provided supplies, and arrange a point for pickup of the collected trash.

Jay Brotz will announce the cleanup on the website and via an e-mail to the membership.

Neighborhood Grant Programs

Dave Zeuch brought two announcements from the City soliciting grant proposals from neighborhood associations.  Judy Minks volunteered to look into the call for proposals to fund specific improvements or activities such as workshops.  Judy and Nena-Joy Almodovar volunteered to look into the call for proposals to fund public sculptures within the neighborhood associations.

It was suggested that the library at Lomas & Tramway would be a good site for a new sculpture following their renovation.

New American Flag for the Foothills Command

John and Judy Minks plan to approach Commander Cliff Saylor of the APD Foothills Command, with the intention of donating an American flag that was flown in an F16 over Iraq.  

E-mail Announcements from the City

Jay asked the Board’s advice on what to do with the e-mail announcements  that he receives from the City.  Specifically, should he wanted to know if he should be forwarding them to the Board alone, or top the entire membership.  The Board recommended that he forward them to Board members only, who could then help him decide what, if anything, should be sent on to the entire membership. 

Otherwise, the membership might be “turned off” to participation in ECNA owing to receipt of too many irrelevant e-mails.

Guest Speakers

The Board agreed to consider changing the number of meetings that include formally-announced guest speakers.  Previously, the Board has sought to have such speakers frequently, but a speaker at every meeting tends to draw out the length of meetings and inhibit the amount of work, or topics for consideration, that the Board can undertake.

ADJOURNMENT

 

The meeting was adjourned by President Jay Brotz  at 8:15PM.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

David H. Zeuch, Secretary