Meeting Notice

WESTWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION

MEETING AGENDA DATE: September 18, 7 :00 pm

Place: Westwood United Methodist Church 538 Nichols Road. Enter through the North East doors. Go down the stairs to the theatre. If Stairs are a problem, call 269-303-3485 and we will let you in a different door where elevator access is available.

No Zoom will be available.

I. Record names of attendees (sign-up sheets)

II. Additions or deletions to agenda.

III. Agenda:

A. Safety Committee Report.

   1. Guest speakers: Sgt Aaron Jackson (KPSO) Derek Thompson (TKPD)

   2. Committee Member

B. Activities Committee Report.

   1. National Night Out Update

   2. IK 2025 Update

   3. Triangle Garden Update  

C. Friendship Village Update.

D. Kalamazoo Township 

   1. Planning Commission Notes. (if available).

   2. Township Updates.

E. WMU Fireworks and use of canon. (communication channel) 

IV. Public Comments – Chance for neighbors to bring up issues not discussed. 

(Please limit to three minutes unless prior approval granted by the board).

At this time, we still have no way to have the meeting on Zoom as well as live in person.

Next meeting: WNA Meeting November 20, 2024 at 7:00 pm.  At this time, it is planned that we will have an in-person meeting at the Westwood United Methodist Church, 538 Nichols Road. Details later.

Westwood Neighborhood Association

Minutes for Sept. 18, 2024 meeting

Location: WWUMC 538 Nichols Rd.

Attendees: Ron Huster, Pres., Marti Nuyen, Secretary, Beth Van den Hombergh, co-chair WW NNO, Janet Hay, co-chair WW NNO, Mary Catherine Morris, Kalamazoo Twsp Police CPO, Dirck Thompson K Twsp Police, Jae Slabey, Neighborhood Activator for IK 2025-2035, Keanah Smith WMU athletics, Joyce McNally, Coco and Warren Cook, Mike Boersma, CRC, Gary and Diana Rankinen, Fran Jess, Sue Jacobs, Carrie Lyon

Meeting began 1902

Additions or deletions to Agenda-none

Safety Committee Report:

1. Mary Catherine Morris introduced as new DPO for Township Police

2. Thank you for attending NNO and having great interactions with Westwood Community. The kids had a blast because you played and danced with them!

3. Note uptick in INVADING unlocked cars. If you don’t want your car invaded then Lock it and remove tempting items. These are typically NOT Breaking and Entering. Rationale is that perpetrators do not want to take the time or make the noise of breaking into cars.

Activity Committee Reports

NNO by Beth and Janet: 

1. Another successful NNO in spite of less than ideal weather

2. Review of plans and changes for 2025

IK 2025-2035 by Jae Slabey:

1.  IK 2025 WW approved by city in June. There is $7500 in monies to spend. Note there is a deadline for spending this money (? Dec. 1)

2. Previous developed list revolves around Frays park improvement

3. Grant $$ (MEDC) needed for popular items such as pavilion and toddler play equipment. Cost of just the structure for pavilions is ~$50,000 and does not include electricity.

4. Items we can get now include bike racks, bike repair station, mile markers along track, Traffic Play ground (quick and easy makes good advertising for success of IK2025 WW

5. Tree Maintenance workshop at Frays park by Greenleaf. Do we have time to set that up and well advertise? Cost $2300 for Arborist (~4 hours) could include a tree planting demo but we would have to purchase trees

6. Financial support to Elliott Anderson for Pollinator Garden (this was later agreed on with amount $500 by IK2025 WW members and Jae was notified with request to please expedite.

7. Suggesting use for of Frays park for different sustainability practices such as Food Scrap recycling, promoting use of rain barrels and compost bins. Educating on Native Species.

Triangle Garden Update by Ron: Cleanup continues. Hot and dry conditions make it difficult but there is improvement.

Kalamazoo Twsp Updates by Warren Cook:

1. Cannabis company wishes to change to both production and processing (did I get this right) No change in actual footprint 

2. Tree Fellers is wanting to use building on their property to begin a furniture and design business. Township has been working with them for quite a while on this but also in the need to clean up the property that has large piles of wood on it

3. Township has a new master plan with a land use map. He applauds the hard work of Jae Slabey in working with them to promote smooth transitions of WW township plans with that of the city, noting, we all live and work and play throughout WW and we want it to be cohesive (so this was me using what I hope is correct editorial license)

WMU Fireworks and use of Cannon, welcome guest Keanah Smith representing WMU Athletics Department:

People were reporting “Shots Fired” during recent WMU home game, in relation to cannon being fired at opening of game and after touchdowns (yay we won!) and fireworks. Ms. Smith has since provided Ron with list of home games for remainder of season so that they can be posted on Social Media, with enhanced awareness to use of cannon and fireworks (Not every game) In addition,WMU is sensitive to the loudness of band music that can be heard in the the surrounding vicinity and are trying to “aim” the band towards a less dense area.

Road construction and Safe Streets for all Initiative by Mike Boersma and Jae Slabey:

1. Grants have been awarded for $25,000,000 to the county and $35,000,000 to the Road Commission

2. There will be projects over the next 3 years. One involves Nickles Rd from West Main to county line

Ron, since I left, please add anything else.

Don’t have end time but I left at 2020

Respectfully submitted,

Marti Nuyen

WESTWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION

July Meeting

 DATE: July 17, 7 :00 pm

Place: Westwood United Methodist Church 538 Nichols Road. 

No Zoom was available

I. Recorded names of attendees (sign-up sheets)

II. Additions or deletions to agenda. None

III. Agenda:

A. Safety Committee Report.

1. Guest speakers: Sgt Aaron Jackson (KPSO) Derek Thompson (TKPD)

Sgt Jackson spoke about reduced crime in the city portion of Westwood and hopes it will continue.

Sgt Thompson spoke of a new community policing plan he hopes to get started in the next 30-45 days. This plan will put more officers in contact with the community and will be able to address specific issues directly.

2. Committee Member Janet spoke of the issues still of car break-ins and reminded us all to lock your cars.

1. National Night Out Update

Beth informed of the many food vendors, public service agencies and businesses that will be represented at National Night Out on Tuesday August 6th. Looks like City and Township Police will be there and we still have hopes for a fire truck. 

Volunteers still needed.

2. IK 2025 Update Jae announced the recent approval of our 2025 plan and some project funding that is now available for Westwood.

C. Community Canopy Restoration

1. Guest Speaker: Craig Sherwood – Spoke about the shrinking tree canopy from storms and mature trees. Problems of what and where to plant. 

The group will meet at his home 538 Wealthy on Sunday, July 28th. 3-5 pm

D. Kalamazoo Township Planning Commission Notes. (if available).

Township planning commission reminded that IK2025 is a City plan and not Township. The Township uses their Master Plan which is formulated from surveys and peoples comments at their meetings.

The Township has been invited to join the city and neighborhood. To discuss connections to WMU properties. 

E. Friendship Village Update. Beth presented pictures and information supporting her concerns that the new Friendship Village expansion will not follow the plan as the last one destroyed trees that were to be a buffer zone. She also expressed concern about how Friendship Village was interacting with the adjoining property owners. 

IV. Public Comments – Discussion about the small garden area at West Main & Nichols and it’s maintenance and upkeep. Steve Leuty and his wife have recently started to do what they can, but a group is needed. The Association expressed safety concerns for the people doing the work and exchanged info with Mr Boersma from the road commission, at the meeting.

Julie Rogers advised us about upcoming meetings to discuss problems and issues. 

Toni Kennedy spoke up about lack of programs for veterans and monies that are available for lower income families to repair their homes.

Next Meeting Wednesday September 18, 2024, at Westwood United Methodist Church.

WESTWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION

Meeting Agenda July 17, 2024 7:00pm

Location: Westwood United Methodist Church 538 Nichols 

No Zoom broadcasting is available.

 I. Sign up sheets to record names of attendees.

II. Additions or deletions to the agenda.

III. Agenda.

     A.Safety Committee Report

           1. Guest Speakers: Sgt Aaron Jackson (KPSO) Derek Thompson (TKPD)

           2. Committee Chair Janet

     B. Friendship Village Update:

           1. Beth

     C. Activities Committee Report:

           1. National Night Out Update

           2. IK 2025 Update

     D. Community Canopy Restoration

          1. Guest Speaker: Craig 

     E. Kalamazoo Township Planning Commission Update.

          1. Guest Speaker: Denise

IV. Public Comments: Chance for our neighbors to bring up issues not discussed. (Please limit your presentation to three minutes unless prior approval granted by the board)

Next meeting: September 18, 2024 at 7:00 pm. At this time, planned location is the same, Westwood United Methodist Church.

Details later.