Jan. Meeting Notes

Woodland Heights Neighborhood Association

Feb 16 Meeting

7:01 p.m. meeting

 Vince – police report; not very active; main focus has been around weather-related traffic incidents

Impounded several cars because of lack of removal

·         24 hour ordinance violation

·         $35 / ticket

·         Over 24 hours – larger ticket

Wrote about 15 tickets for snow related thing; impounded 6 cars; receive 5 complaints for snow

We need to contact Traffic and Transportation – snow removal/verification details

Animal Control issue with dog; taken care of.

Gwen/ Flooding issues from runoff / erosion

Asking Vince to watch:

·         House on 28^th street ; parking on yard again

·         End of Linden street, cars park too close to stop sign; narrow street too difficult for incoming traffic (ordinance to be in effect 10 feet back from the stop sign)

Vince to retire in September.

Letter from city: Roadway Construction Program 31^st from Woodland to Center – summer work on roadways heads up; no assessment for this work.

Letter from Callaghan – want to put out an animated sign; public hearing against the appeal (Wed. 2/24 @ 1 p.m. on the 2^nd floor of city hall)

·         Why 8 feet tall; other information or variations

·         Not a commercial zoning issue

·         Vote to write a letter opposing the sign

·         Principal ? involvement in the association? – can we write a letter

Motion to ask secretary for opposition  - write letter. 7 votes. (draft of letter below)

________

 February 22, 2016

To:  Des Moines City Council

From: Woodland Heights Neighborhood Organization

RE: Public Hearing for Callanan Middle School and Sign Variance Request

Residents in the Woodland Heights Neighborhood received notice from the city regarding an upcoming public hearing to review a request from Callanan Middle School for a variance to install a school sign on. 

During the Woodland Heights Neighborhood Organization’s monthly meeting on Tuesday, February 16, 2016 we discussed this proposal.  As it is outlined in their request, our organization is against the installation of the 8 foot (animated) sign on school grounds (our vote was unanimous).  We feel this sign would be a detriment to housing values and would set a precedent for other schools to construct similar signs.   

We would encourage school officials to discuss their proposal with the neighborhood organization for ideas on finding a balance that benefits both the school and neighborhood residents.  While we have worked with Callanan school officials on other projects, we were surprised to learn about this request through the city. 

We appreciate your attention to this matter and appreciate being able to voice the concerns of the residents of Woodland Heights. 

Thank you.