Minutes – November 14, 2018

Board Meeting – Minutes of November 14, 2018

Present:  Caitie Eck, Sheila Pastor, Ann Martindale, Brad McGrath, Artis Henderson, Terry Leary

Absent:  Jordan Parrott, John Podczerwinsky, Donna Ellswick

Guests:  Erik Schaum, Sara and Tanner Keilty, Michelle Nugent

  1. President’s Welcome – Caitie Eck. Caitie welcomed everyone to the first meeting of the 2018-2019 fiscal year.
  2. Approval of minutes of meeting of last meeting (April 4, 2018).  Ann called for approval of the minutes, and it was seconded by Sheila. The minutes were approved.
  3. Treasurer’s Report.  Ann provided the attached Treasurer’s Report.  The report showed  a current balance of $11,517.29. “It was a great year. We spent a lot. We did a lot.”
  4. Formation of Nominating Committee & Set Annual Meeting Date. The Nominating Committee for 2018-2019 officers and directors will consist of Caitlyn Eck and Ann Martindale.  Ann suggested it would be a good idea to have an assistant treasurer and to put someone else’s name on the bank account. The annual meeting will be held on December 5, 2018, at the Eck/Schaum home. These are the nine people on the current board: Caitlyn Eck, Sheila Pastor, Ann Martindale, Brad McGrath, Artis Henderson, Terry Leary, Jordan Parrott, John Podczerwinsky and Donna Ellswick.
  5. Report on Historic Preservation Commission – Brad McGrath.
  6. The revised Historic District Design Guidelines will come back for discussion before the Historic Preservation Commission on November 29, 2018.  Ann suggested a group from Dean Park go that that meeting.
  7. On October 25th, the HPC approved amendments to Chapter 114 of the Land Development Code (historic preservation regulations).  Per Brad, they will include the “Ann Martindale amendments,” which everyone liked and thought were good additions. The Planning Board approved these amendments on November 7th.
  8. Old Business.
  9. Status of 2610 Providence Street. Per Michelle, the rental units look ok. There are 10 apartments and one handicap-accessible parking space. They charge $1100 per month. Each are two bedrooms. “That’s good news. Better than we were expecting.”
  10. Status of warehouse property at 2801 Michigan Avenue. Paul’s not here to report. The consensus is that they can get eight to 10 houses on there. The property behind 2810 Michigan Ave. sold, but there’s still a question about whether they will tear down the Gully’s building. It’s a company that does elderly and college housing. For the warehouse property, a developer who would put up single-family homes is suggested.
  11. Status of amendments to Fort Myers Land Development Code. Per Ann, on November 7th, the Planning Board also approved amendments to Chapter 118 of the Land Development Code (Downtown Smart Code) on November 7th. Final approval by the City Council is likely to occur shortly.  These amendments are the specific regulations that implement the unlimited height and unlimited density provisions of the Fort Myers Comprehensive Plan previously approved by the City Council but opposed by many residents of Dean Park and others.
  12. Status of Billie’s Creek pollution issue. Ken Nimmer has moved from Dean Park, and he was particularly interested in pursuing this issue. Ann said she would keep the Board informed about this issue, based on further input from CalusaWaterkeeper.
  13. Status of deanpark.org website. Ann says she has to make the interactive map work, and she’s on that. She added the social season events plus house tour photos and a photo of the Eck/Schaum house to the website.
  14. Status of Nextdoor Dean Park. Caitie: “It’s still active.” Per Brad, we should get out of that. It was supposed to be a neighborhood bulletin board, but now it’s gotten out of hand. It’s impossible to remove Dean Park from it. “It’s largely pretty useless” (Caitie). Michelle suggests that we just stop participating in it.
  15. New Business.
  16. Dean Park events for 2018-2019. Artis shared a list of events. There will be one per month, November through April. “I’m thrilled you took this on” (Ann). For the progressive dinner: one house per course — cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, salad, soup, entree, dessert, cocktail (six houses). Maybe a one dish dinner? A total of 40 people can participate. Each person will be asked to donate a bottle of wine. These will be dropped off at Michelle’s house before the event and distributed for the dinner to the hosting houses. Funds could come from the kitty to offset costs. Starts at 6 p.m.
  17. Triangle decorations. Ann will get together with Donna for decorations, which are stored at Michelle’s warehouse. We’re down to lights and wreath. Perhaps we could come up with a vision for next year? Michelle suggests we invest in commercial lights. Ann will reach out to Donna to see where we are on the city’s updating the electrical system.
  18. Community initiatives. “We have money. The question is what to do with it.” (Caitie) To be added to the agenda for the annual meeting.
  19. Community maintenance issues. There were concerns about the house at 2773 Providence Street, which looks abandoned.  Should we try to have a neighborhood help fund, or does that enable people? The consensus is that it enables people.  Individual homeowners have to maintain to the center of the alley that legally abuts their property.  There was also a discussion about the unoccupied house at 2645 Michigan.
  20. Formation of committee for Dean Park Centennial Celebration in 2020. Saved for another meeting.
  21. Adjournment.  The meeting was adjourned.

Respectfully submitted,
Artis Henderson Secretary