08/23/1976 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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hoods and organizations themselves have to face problems unique to each neighbor- hood. In addition, he said, the proposed change seemed to be asking retroactive chartering of the neighborhood organizations, and the argument is made that any " membership recognition policy requiring absentee owners to have a vote would diminish the credibility of the neighborhood involved. If so, then the city -- is listening to the neighborhoods presenting their points of view would be listen- ing to diminished credibility. Others expressing opposition to the proposed Commission change were Liz Heath, 2087 Law Lane, speaking for the Willakenzie Neighborhood Association; Jean Reeder, 1645 Fairmount Boulevard, Fairmount Neighbors; Randall Thwing, 3760 Onyx Street, Southeast Firs Neighborhood; and Donald J. Hatfield, 2189 Dewey Street, Active Bethel Citizens. They felt generally that each neighborhood should decide its own voting requirements, that neighborhoods as advisory bodies to the Council should present opinions of the residents themselves rather than outside interests which would change the character of neighborhoods, that voting in neighborhoods should require residency as does voting in other jurisdicitions or elections, Mr, Thwing suggested as a possible solution the opening of membershp to all property owners and limiting voting to residents of the area only. He noted some communication problems in his neighborhood organization in not receiving noties in a timely manner and suggested insertion of language that would set some limit for notification in advance of any proposed changes. He noted also some con- fusion about what was meant by the term "commercial advertising" as it applied to newsl'etters. Mr, Hatfield noted that Carl Peterson, represented at this meeting by Tom Evans, had always been allowed a voice in ABC meetings - in fact, the Association felt he had helped the group in some instances. However, he had not been allowed to e vote because he was a nonresident (in line with the present ABC charter). He noted many similar instances, probably because the Bethel area had more large ,- undeveloped parcels than any other area in the community. Were owners of those areas an allowed to vote, Mr. Hatfield said, there was the potential for :getting something across" contrary to what residents of the area themselves wished, . In addition, such developers would be able to vote in other areas of the city where they happened to own property. He presented a letter from the president of the ABC group, Arden Munkres, stating the Association's viewpoint. Margaret Ellis, 2486 Grovedale Drive, Springfield, said property owners were forced by the housing authority and by tenants to help solve problems in the com- munity when they arise. If they were going to do that and pay taxes and assess- ments, they should be allowed to take part in decisions affecting those areas, especially since there are problems common to all neighborhoods - traffic, lighting, Ii vabi Ii ty , etc. She said all neighborhood charters should have the same voting rights, that a person should not be denied the right to be heard because of not being a member of a neighborhood group. Public hearing was closed, there being no further testimony presented. Assistant Manage~ in answer to comments on how to deal with nonresident property owners, said the language of the Commission's proposal does not preclud neighbor- hood organizations from weighting or regulating votes by separating property ownership from residential ownership. It merely suggests they require a vote for nonresidents. With regard to questions about "commercial advertising," Assi~tant Manager said the concern was that public money not be spent for - classified ad type material inserted in neighborhood newsletters - ads solicit- -' ing an association's own membership to engage in a particular activity where individuals would gain materially because of the free advertising. He cited garage sales as an example, He also noted the change affecting identification 8/23/76 - 4 1./. ~ {p'