Maple Prairie Neighborhood Association Meeting Minutes



Maple Prairie Neighborhood Association Annual Meeting Minutes

5/22/08

Heritage Congregational Church 7:00 pm

Present: Mike and Julie Bormett, Matt Hanson, Monica Launder, Pat and Amy Whaley, Ryan Olson, Tami Thiesenhusen, Sharon Lindsay, Paula Wiltzius, Timothy Norwood, Michael Hart, Darlene Weisberger, Richard and Darlene Zimmerman, Paula Oltrogge, Barbara Stamm, Elly Patton, Michael Hancock, Karin Rudnicki, John Pollard, Mariana and Matt Clark

1. Zach Brandon Update –

● Stoplight at Manchester approved; will be in this summer

● It has been a quiet spring with regard to police calls

● If traffic calming application is accepted, next steps are presentation of plan by city and a ballot to residents for approval; need 60% to move forward. VP Matt Hanson explained that Mark Winters contacted him about the approval of our neighborhood for traffic calming sometime this summer. Zach was not aware of this approval. Matt will confirm with Mark Winters.

● Corner of PD and Maple Grove remains zoned for medical; no DMV; recent meeting for builder to ask what the neighborhood would like; some proposed ideas are a family-style restaurant or hardware store

2. Questions for Zach –

● Has there ever been a study to see potential for a stop sign at Putnam and Prairie?

Traffic and Engineering for Madison wants to keep traffic on Prairie as a way to get to Raymond. They are not interested in putting in signage that might route traffic onto other roads that can’t handle the volume. There was some discussion about plans to connect South High Point Road to High Point Road, the city’s desire to increase the size of Elver Park, Meriter Way, and a roundabout planned for Nesbit and Fitchrona.

● Will the $100 million IOU in the State’s transportation department budget

impact traffic calming?

No. Traffic calming is funded out of the City of Madison’s budget.

● A neighbor expressed concern that traffic calming plantings might become an eyesore. Can we donate plantings?

Zach said median maintenance/plantings are an association responsibility – if not done, city will pave-over w/ concrete. President Mike said there will need to be a committee established to help with weeding and care of plantings. Donations can be made within guidelines set by the City.

● Would pedestrian flags be a possibility in our neighborhood?

The Safe Communities Coalition chooses locations of high volume traffic to place pedestrian flags. Zach suggested contacting the West Madison Police Precinct for information about the possibility of starting pedestrian flags in our neighborhood.

• Can we make the pedestrian flags ourselves?

There would be no Madison enforcement or monitoring, so not a good idea. Usually only place pedestrian flags in areas where there is a consistent high volume of pedestrian crossing. It was suggested that we wait for traffic calming.

• Concern was raised about new garbage cans that are being stored in front of some homes or cars that are sitting in driveways with flat tires. What can be done?

Residents can call building inspection or report a complaint online with the city. If a car is in the street, it can be towed after 48 hours. Cars cannot be parked on lawns. If a car is parked in the driveway, that is within resident rights. It is important to decide which battles are worth taking on. Most neighborhood associations are communication tools rather than aggressively enforcing issues through the law. Zach stressed the importance of building relationships within the neighborhood for the collective good. Neighbor vs. neighbor situations should be avoided. Zach is willing to help in extreme cases. When Architectural Control is reestablished, this committee can help as well.

3. Fiscal Report 07-08: (Monica Launder)

Income $1,292

Membership dues $ 540 (36 families)

Park & Raffle donations $ 752

Expenses $ 819

Administration $ 341

July 4 picnic costs $ 478

Net Income $ 473

Current bank balance $1,891

4. By-Laws

Original bylaws were established in 1995.

Proposed changes:

• Establish new MPNA membership year from July to June.

• Change terms for the officers from one year to two years.

• Modification/creation of standing committees

• Make explicit that electronic communication is a valid form of communication

A vote was taken with 22 households present, exceeding the 20 needed for the required 5% quorum. The changes were unanimously approved.

5. Forming committees

• Social and Activities Committee – July 4th parade/picnic, garage sale if interest, possible welcome package for new families that move in

• Communications Committee - new webmaster is Marcie Young, possible newsletter on web 2-3x per year, directory, Block Captains

• Safety & Development Committee –

1. Architectural Control subcommittee as a communication tool to get the covenants to the neighbors, contact residents about issues, and send routine reminder letters

2. Parks and Landscaping subcommittee – park improvements, traffic median upkeep, sign landscaping/maintenance

President Mike: Sign-up forms for committees are available tonight. Please consider helping in some way. You will be contacted soon to get committees started.

6. Possible Neighborhood Park Projects (Matt Hanson)

• Formal Shelter – long-term idea; costly $40-50,000; must use City building options and City employees to construct

• Canopy Shelter – approx. $25,000 with a 50/50 match from the City

• Kiosk – short-term idea; approx. $2,000; provide neighborhood information at entrance to park; could be built with volunteer help

With all of these options the rewards/risks must be weighed. Park improvement for all to enjoy must be looked at with potential for unwanted behavior or vandalism in mind.

Questions/Comments during discussion:

Could we get some fund matching from the Maple Grove Apartments?

Who will maintain any improvements?

We should create a “big-picture” plan and shop it around to area businesses for assistance with funding.

The City is cutting back on parks funding and are discouraging improvements to minimize maintenance costs.

President Mike said that if a Parks & Landscaping subcommittee is formed, it could take a larger view of the park and possible options to present to officers and association.

7. Neighborhood Signage

The City of Madison won’t pay to maintain easements or current signage anymore.

Sign options:

• Maple Grove Neighbors repair existing signs – maybe less than $1,000; short term fix; no funding assistance

• Maple Grove Neighbors replace existing signs– a few thousand dollars; possible long term fix depending on type of sign chosen; no funding assistance

• Both Maple Grove and Prairie Hills neighborhoods plan new signage as a unification project. Possibility of four neighborhood signs (by keeping two at current locations in Maple Grove and possibly adding one by the water tower and one by the retention pond on Hwy PD). Possibility of new name (Maple Prairie) due to combination. Based on information from a Madison City Planning meeting in January, there may be funds available for an innovative project like this that creates unification or identity.

Questions/Comments:

North of Putnam there is another Prairie Hills neighborhood association. Would that create confusion with new signage?

With so many options this project might possibly have to have its own committee.

Could we combine the kiosk and signage project?

8. The meeting was adjourned at 8:50 PM.

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