October 5, 2020 Meeting Notes

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NBN6 Meeting

October 05, 2020

Virtual Meeting on Zoom

Refreshments:    N/A

Moderator: Judy Hay

Nancy Johns-Price Zoom Host

Minutes: Sandy Brewer & Bill Brewer

Welcome by Judy Hay 

I      Crime Prevention Reports – 

A.    Goodman Section – Officer Tony Belliard

1. Ten larcenies – 5 from motor vehicles

2.  Three burglaries – Alpine ST, September 10 – Two houses next to each other had burglaries. One house had wicker chair stolen from it. The other house had candy taken from an open kitchen window. Rear windows broken using chair from back yard.  September 11, Cayuga ST – Entry through door to back yard.

3.  Motor vehicle theft – Gold St.  Keys left in cars that were stolen. No arrests yet.

4.  Stolen Car, Gold ST – Recovered car on Park AVE.

5.  Lt. Rob Wilson has been assigned to the South East Neighborhood Service Center where retired Lt. Frank Alberti served. “ Happy to be here with Nancy Johns-Price. Looking forward to working with the Neighborhood Service Center”. 

B.   Genesee Section – Officer DeMaria

1. Burglary, September 01, 100-200 block of Rossiter RD.

2.  Break-in, September 11 – Single family home.

3.  Car larcenies – 505 Mt. Hope AVE – Cut catalytic converters from Episcopal Senior Living vans. Items stolen from inside cars – credit card, ripped up items.

4.  Package theft, 400 Westfall RD – Package left out with return slip for Fed-Ex, suspect seen on camera.

5. Replacement – Jeff LaFave, new LT, new to Community Affairs, came from the Day Section at Genesee Section, will get him up to speed.

C.   Central Section

1.  No report.

II     Highland Hospital Addition Update – Maureen Malone

A.     Background – The hospital is busy due to the COVID-19. Private rooms are crucial to reach the goal of modernizing rooms to separate patients.

B.     Brenda Michaud – Project update as of October 05

1.   New tower construction design – 80,000 ft2 addition, four levels, construction deliveries to come from South AVE.

2.   Micropiling will start at the end of October 2020. Micropiles are drilled piles, less disruptive to earth. There will be a concrete mixer operating on site from 7 AM to 3:30 PM. Tests cannot find a difference in vibrations when the micropiling work is done and when it stops. Recordings show negligible vibrations.

3.   South Building – Demolish exterior in mid-January 2021.

4.   Bulk of big truck traffic – Late 2020-2022, two-year time span.

5.   Construction site logistics – Primary access from South AVE, Secondary access from Mount Vernon. Construction vehicles are not allowed to go south on Mount Vernon.

6.   Communications – Use Highland Hospital web page and maps, construction timeline. Sign up for e-mail updates. Mike Thompson leads a meeting with neighbors in bi-monthly Zoom meeting with Highland. That group has tackled parking, smoking, vehicle traffic etc. It is open to other neighbors. https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/highland/facilities

7.   Three neighbors from Averill AVE, Linden ST, Hickory ST commented that construction dump trucks travel from Mount Hope Ave through residential streets to South Ave. is a concern. The hospital will communicate with truck drivers and foremen to prevent this.  Contact the contacts on the webpage to let them know of concerns.   

III   Simeon Banister – Rochester Area Community Foundation

A.   Background – The foundation offers Community Grants to strengthen and bring donors together with non-profit groups. RACF works within Monroe County, prioritizes area with two goals – Vitality and Equity. Grants for historical preservation, helping people age in place, reduce poverty, create racial understanding, addressing pernitious history of  segregation. Information on how to access grant opportunities.

B.    The RACF website reveals:

1.     Donors

2.     Homes as resource

3.     Professional advisors – estate planning process

4.     Scholarship program run by the RACF office – 2.5 million dollars for education, students encouraged to take advantage of it for college, mid-career shifts, for community scholarship, flexible, nurses needed.

5.     Grant section on the website – RACF.org, newsletters, grant opportunities. Drop RACF a line, make sure many people see the opportunities, website eligibility. RACF is a 501(c)-3 corporation – they can receive funds to pass on to community groups, expenditure responsibilities.

6.     Go to Grants – Grant Opportunity categories: Aging, Historic preservation, neighborhood/poverty, Education, African American Circle, Young Folks, Development for Persons with Disabilities, Early Childhood Development. Active grants are open and receiving applications. Some have rolling application openings, living donors, 1,300 things under the umbrella, unrestricted donors, donor advised funds and direct dollars.  Special Regional Improvement Grants open February 2021.

7.     Initiatives Portfolio – What have they started? Ex. summer program, early childhood, Quad A for Kids.

C.    Race and Ethnicity Resources – ACT Rochester data collection to help community initiatives with data

1.       Data about Rochester: Data about Real Estate, Community Vitality, Age demographics in Rochester

2.       Data behind the charts: How are students doing in Grade 8?, Data from NY State Community of Education, Poverty – Hard facts update – Race and Economy in Rochester, take a look at Section 7.

3.    How we can be successful together.   Remember why we do this. Difficult times – pull together

a.     Reflection – Sandy Brewer remembered seeing Simeon as a child with his mother, Iris, asking questions at a church community meeting of community speakers discussing the new Rochester City School District Values Policy in the 1990’s. He already understood the importance of asking questions

b.     Judy Bennett – City Landmark needs? Ask for what you need: ex. invitation grant, response grant, application in June for invitation grant

D.   Community Grant

1.       Public Banking – Keeping public dollars in the community. This works in the city and stimulates the local economy.

2.       Concerns – Rochester City School District cost of special education, assignment of children and conditions. Lead ingestion, special education, root of the problem, need to abate lead contamination. Direct connection with what we see and challenges to make systems more effective.

E.    Aging in Place

1.         Elderly persons remaining in their homes longer.  Project Phoenix

2.         Facing major repairs – Young people are trained to do home repairs so older people can stay in their homes – run by Elizabeth McDade

F.    Rochester Energy Efficiency & Weatherization Partnership– RENEW 

   1.   Invest funds to knit together programs from Neighborworks first time home buyer program, Pathstone program, Action for a Better Community – Leverage dollars for windows (ABC paid for windows), train young people to work on projects.  Coordination rather than competition.

G.    Neighborgood Grant -neighbors working together and building cohesion over 30 years. Resident led and resident engaged action.

H.  Five Star Bank – Progress in Action – $10,000 for grants. Groups do not have to be 501(c)-3 corporations for neighborhood funds. Race, gender, equity are important factors.

I.   New opportunities working with Monroe County – Aging Alliance

J.   Currently, 82% of students doing on-line learning for RCSD.

P.    Rochester area population – 65% under age 39.  Partnership with City Department of Human Services (recently changed from Rec. and Youth Services)

Q.   Support for Home Ownership and community stability

R.    Simeon believes in using the Bully Pulpit 

IV   SE Neighborhood Service Center – Nancy Johns-Price

Working on rehab grants  — Concern expressed about neighbor’s home. Talk to inspectors about vacant property, have neighbors write a letter.

V     SW Neighborhood Service Center – James Demps, III was in another meeting

VI     Other Reports: Councilperson Lupien – City Council working on change of newly renamed Dept. Human Services, FACIT team mobile crisis unit, 911 response, proposal to hire DC firm to review police for $250K; County rep. Joshua Barouth – expecting to get the budget soon, and difficult decisions will have to be made; for Assemblyperson Bronson – Bronson head of NYS Aging Committee and concerned with aging in place; co-sponsoring public banking law, Daniel’s Law — seeking input; Bruce Mellon – UMHNA  South Ave./Elmwood Ave Improvement Project public Zoom meeting October 20th. 

VII    Future Meetings

A.    Next NBN6 Meeting – 2nd Monday in November 2020, November 09, 2020, On Zoom at 5:30 PM 

Respectfully Submitted,

       Sandy Brewer

       Bill Brewer

NBN6 Meeting Notes September 14,2020

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NBN6 Meeting

September 14, 2020

Virtual Meeting on Zoom 

Moderator: Lisa Reagan

Nancy Johns-Price Zoom Host

Minutes: Sandy Brewer & Bill Brewer

 Welcome by Lisa Reagan

I      Crime Prevention Reports – 

A.    Goodman Section – Officer Canon

1. Major increase in activity due to disruptive protests

2.  Vehicle larcenies – unlocked cars, if you leave the car unlocked, remove items

3.  Alpine ST – Two houses next to each other had burglaries. One house had wicker chair stolen from enclosed porch. The other house had candy taken from an open window. The officer said the open window enabled a “crime of opportunity.”  Resident questioned whether the basement was entered as reported on Nextdoor.  No report indicating that.  

4.  Accident at Gregory ST and South AVE – Candlelight vigil for deceased motorcyclist, a photo of the victim posted on the clock tower. This vigil will end and area be cleaned up by Sunday, September 18.

B.   Central Section – LT Wilson

1. Burglary on Cypress ST – Middle of the night, entry through unlocked back door, lights were on, with windows open while resident played video games. Console stolen.

2.  Larcenies in Wedge Point.

C.   Genesee Section Lt. Wilson

1.  Homicide in Genesee Valley Park – Male shot

2.  Two burglaries – bike stolen during day ($2,000 bike), Westfall RD, 10-12 PM; single family home, stole money.

3.  Mount Hope AVE – Shoplifting

D.   Question about COVID-19 – There were four cases in the Rochester Police Department after a star member had visited Florida. 

II     Plans for St. John’s Home to add outdoor dining patio area for residents

A.     Shirah Cahill, Design Firm SWBR for St. John’s Home project, gave the presentation.

B.     Elders are important. St. John’s Home provides skilled nursing care.

C.     Interior and exterior plans shown to provide outdoor space for residents and visiting.

D.     Outdoor time of 20 minutes provides health benefits: patients sleep better, eating together provides social interaction. Smaller, more home-like environment with the outdoor café. Small garden, planting and fencing to separate dining area from outside traffic. Warmer lighting, tables and chairs under umbrellas and fabric awnings.

E.      Question – Will there be a wheelchair path to Highland Park? Several attendees supported this idea for residents to be pushed by family to attractive park areas from St. John’s Home.

III   General discussion of the impact of COVID-19 and the death of Mr. Prude concerning effects on neighborhoods

  1. Discussion of changes in neighborhoods – In some areas, 75% of residents are now renters in previously private homes; concern about the effect on stability, loss of economic and racial diversity, gentrification effect, rent leaving the City.
  1. Bruce Mellen – Mount Hope – 60% of house rentals by Mom & Pop owners. Students residents who are away affect the Census results. Neighborhood group not meeting at church room due to COVID-19 restrictions.

C.    Sandy Brewer- Azalea – Our neighborhood is seeing sales with young families with babies moving to the Azalea Neighborhood or home improvement projects.

D.   Judy Hay – The Mayor wants to reach out about the importance of the Census. The death of Daniel Prude raised the question “Is policing a community health issue”? The Black Lives matter movement is calling for a change in policing regarding mental health issues. The community needs to listen to the emergence of the new Black leaders regarding their concerns and support changes in policing. Over the years NBN6 has known many officers and benefited from their relationship to our neighborhoods.

E.    Update Harry Bronson: J.W Cook reported for Harry Bronson, Budget legislators

1.   RE: Daniel Prude – Walk.

2.   Examples in Eugene Oregon of Mental Health Professionals working with police and EMT workers. 911 Cahoots – of Cahoots calls, only needed police backup 1,000 times. Lives saved.

3.   Mental Health funding from the state is a key issue before the legislature.

4.   Decisions – Short term reactive or Long term reactive

Discussion – Impulse to cut police budget as militarization of equipment is a concern. The budget cut the Police Academy in half, loss of one of the most diverse classes. Academy teachers who had been Crime Prevention Officers working proactively for our community lost to the effort to teach incoming officers. Keep dialogue as to what is important and not make unproductive face-saving changes.

6.   Mom & Pop rentals distressed due to renters not able to pay rent, selling to larger institutional firms. With low-intensity rentals people knew neighbors. Need to support first-time homeowners to help keep diverse residential neighborhoods.

F.      Another neighbor – Distressed due to concern for Mr. Prude’s life while she had a working relationship for 26 years with police who are good people.

G.     Concern – Need for resources to assist petitions of people abused in prison and on the street.

H.     Concern – Is policing a community health issue? We need to hear other voices from all sides. 

IV   SE and SW Neighborhood Service Centers

A.    SW Service Center – James Demps III

1.   Shared concerns  raised by protesters– has lived the problems; issues of refugees, 

2.   Civil disobedience in areas, Jefferson AVE – challenge for City crews trying to keep areas clean due to large amounts of trash.

3.   Service Center News – Two new hires, landlord grants and issues for roofs, repairs.

4.   James spoke of concerns for youth today.

B.    SE Service Center – Nancy Johns-Price

1.   Census – Monroe AVE event to fill it out. Last week in September there will be an opportunity to fill out the Census from 9 AM – 4 PM at the Service Center.

2.   Crime prevention Officer could not be here due to a double shift, as all crime prevention officers have, responding to protests.

3.   Mayor’s leadership training – One more applicant needed.

4.   Naming a Police Lt. for the Service Center taking longer as the City would have to remove someone from another position for the Service Center assignment.

5.   Lt. Wilson and Lisa Ball are helping out.

C.   Late-Breaking News from Mayor Warren at 6:00 PM

1.     The Chief of Police is removed today.

2.     Two other public officials suspended for 30 days – Communications Director and Corporation Consul. 

V      Future Events

A.     Next NBN6 Meeting –  REVISED – DUE TO PUBLIC HOLIDAY< NEW MTG DATE First Monday, OCT 5.

Respectfully Submitted,

       Sandy Brewer

       Bill Brewer

NBN 6 meeting –October 5, 202

Zoom Meeting May 4, 2020

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MAY 4, 2020 Agenda by Zoom Meeting

5:30 to 5:50 p.m. RPD Update

5:50 to 6:15 p.m. Jill Wiedrick –Director of Zoning

6:15 to 6:30 p.m. Mary Lupien-city council representative

6:30 to 6:45 p.m. SWNSC & SENSC

6:45 to 7 p.m. Community Update

Any questions, please contact Judy at judylhay.jh@gmail.com

Join Zoom Meeting
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Meeting ID: 342 429 3518
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—
Have you filled out your CENSUS? Please make sure you do and ask neighbors and those you have contact with over the phone or e-mail if they have completed their Census.

March 9, 2020 Meeting Notes

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NBN6 Meeting

March 9, 2020

Olmsted Lodge, 171 Reservoir AVE, Rochester NY

Refreshments:    Linda Baier, Azalea Neighborhood

 Introductions: Judy Hay

Minutes: Sandy and William Brewer

 I      Crime Prevention Reports – 

  1. Central Section
  2. Car stolen from car dealership lot
  3. Assault, stabbing – Victim got off the bus, came over to suspect. A fight started and the victim was stabbed several times.
  4. Incidents in Upper Mt. Hope Ave. area
  5. Package stolen from porch on Westfall Terrace.
  6. Science Parkway burglary – Employee locked up at close. Next day the doors were intact but $400.00 in petty cash was gone from a cupboard. Reviewing log of check-ins to see who might have done this potentially inside job.
  7. Reminder – With warmer weather, be vigilant, if working in your yard, be careful of unlocked house and garage doors.
  8. Comments from attendees
  9. Call 911 if you see people walking in the road and checking driveways.
  10. A neighbor had a power outage. They got a number to call from the city but when she called she heard ads about “if you are over 60, call this phone number.” RG&E crew did arrive in the area and fixed the problem in 20 minutes. Check your recent utility bill for the emergency number to call.
  11. Goodman Section – New Crime Prevention Officer Anthony Bellaird (see report below)

 

II     New Monroe County Director of Parks – Patrick Meredith

  1. Background – Studies, building construction, housing, Thruway, Parkridge Hospital project, Penfield – Assistant Building Inspector – sidewalk increased from 10-20 miles of sidewalk, Penfield and Irondequoit – Deputy Commissioner of Public Works and Irondequoit Commissioner of Public Works, NY State Commissioner of Regional Areas – dealt with emergency and flooding concerns to Albany, Penfield.
  2. In December, Adam Bello, County Manager, asked him to work for Monroe County as Parks Director. David Hamilton will be the Zoo Director.
  3. There will be a meeting to discuss the 2020 Lilac Festival prior to the event.
  4. Park Activities
  5. Zoo – Trail Café, a modern restaurant, hope to be completed next year.
  6. Seneca Park-meeting with residents for best ideas. Parking ideas, grant to improve river access with T deck and lower level for canoes and steps.
  7. Tree Projects – Thousands of trees removed (mostly Ash) and other trees being replaced in parks.
  8. Garden Scape Show and Conservatory
  9. St. Patrick’s Day Parade (The parade this year is cancelled. News arrived after this meeting.)
  10. Neighbor Questions
  11. Sidewalks by parks – Some are owned by the park, some owned by the city or towns. Comment – Some sidewalks are challenging for wheelchairs. Parks will check on responsibility for areas.
  12. Dogs off leash – dog came at lady who used spray to defend herself, then was assaulted by the owner. Police report filed. Nancy Johns-Price will look into this. Recommend calling 911 if problem with offleash dog.
  13. Children’s Pavilion – Highland Park Conservancy has raised $2 million of the $3 million needed. A foundation is looking into contributing.

 

III    PAC TAC – Officer Anthony Bellaird, Crime Prevention Officer – Works with Officer Cannon

  1. Background – 20 years with the Rochester Police Department.
  2.  Criminal activities in the area – Recent robberies; School 12, I phone taken from student; 919 South AVE, cart taken; Blackberry taken from a car. Don’t leave items in your car!
  3. PAC TAC Handouts – Program has been here since 1973. Police give training to groups who walk neighborhoods. They wear special vests to be highly visible, hear concerns, note possible drug houses and report observations. During festivals walk with officers.

PAC TAC application on the Rochester Police Department website. There is no PAC TAC for the Azalea Neighborhood at this time. Hours to walk areas are 10 AM – 6 PM. Best if there are three to five persons in a group in case some can not walk due to absence or vacation. Use log sheet for observations.

Training – Call 585-428-7244

IV    Updates on Projects in NBN6 – Judy Hay

  1. Terrance Building Projecton Elmwood Ave– Judy Hay spoke with Ralph DiTucci, there are third parties who want to develop portions of the property for housing and for commercial uses. They are in the process of conducting their due diligence, which will take a few months to complete. They are currently preparing their site plans for review and comparison to the development concept PDD Planned Development District. There is the possibility of repurposing the Terrance Building instead of demolition of the structure
  2. South Goodman-South Clinton intersection– The intersection was a runner up in the Street Makeover competition by Reconnect Rochester. A new design for a street make-over is due in two weeks from Stantec. Jessie Knoth will share information when it is available.

C   625 South Goodman – Apartments are ready for rent. On Thursday, March 19, 2020, there will be tours of the building at 5:30, 6:00 and 6:30 PM. The site used to be an old shoe factory. The owner of the house across the street by the expressway with the hole in the roof refuses to sell. (Due to the coronavirus the event was cancelled)

  1. South Clinton Ave. Bench Project– The South Clinton Merchants Association purchased two designer benches last year made by artist Stacy Mrva Her website is as follows:  http://www.staceymrva.com

Jesse SEAC, and Jen Topa Highland Planning are submitting a grant to ESL to fund more more benches South Clinton made by the same artist

Rochester Area Foundation Grant– Through the Neighbor Good Grant NBN6 received $1354.98 that paid for projector, screen and etc for NBN6 meetings, plus refreshments. There is $224.00 left for refreshments in the future.

Neighborhood Service Centers – Nancy Johns-Price

A new pamphlet listing resources is available. Uplift – Southeast Quadrant, call 585-428-7for a copy of this pamphlet.

Census 2020

People needing help filling out the form can go to the library

Census jobs are still available that do not involve going door-to-door.

Fill out the census by internet or phone. After five letters inviting response someone will come to the address for the information. The first Invitation Letters start arriving March 12, 2020 and will continue to come out for about a week after that.

South East Area Coalition – Meeting Thursday, March 19, 2020, 5:30 PM at 630 East AVE. Census recruiting, apply in person.

Clean Sweep – Apply by May 9, 2020. There are 25 places. You get volunteers, they provide tools and pick-up. All events are one day. Block cleanup acceptable

VI       Assemblyman Harry Bronson had a representative at the meeting.

Harry is busy with the State Budget due by April 1, 2020. E-mail your concerns to him.

$500,000.00 of the $2,000,000.00 raised for the Children’s Pavilion project came via Harry Bronson’s office.

VII      COVID-19 Update – No local cases known at this time. Treat it like the flu. Wash your hands frequently for 20 seconds with soap and water and dry thoroughly. Towns will respond to it in the best way they can.

 

VIII     Future Events

  1. David Halter Award on March 20, 2020, at 6:00 PM. SWPC City Love (Event cancelled)
  2. Deer continue to be a traffic concern along Elmwood AVE.
  3. Project Share – There is a grant for $350.00 available if you used up your heat benefits and received a turn-off letter from RG&E. Stop in at the Neighborhood Service Center for help with termination letters. There will be a fundraiser at Record Archive with food and live music to raise money to help small projects.
  4. Next NBN6 Meeting – 2ndMonday in April 2020, April 13, at the Olmsted Lodge.

 

Respectfully Submitted,

Sandy Brewer

Bill Brewer

 

 

 

 

 

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