Advertising  Joni Nuetra has generated a list on names to be contacted as possible advertisers in 2011.  She got some additional suggestions from the Board.

Block Captains  After a review of the purpose of block captions (to build a sense of community and increase neighborhood participation in community events), Karla volunteered to be the person listed on our website as the contact for this project.  If she

Schedule of Events

Amberley encouraged the Board to plan events one year in advance as a strategy for improving participation:

• The December 1 meeting will not be a formal neighborhood/Board meeting but rather a final planning session for the Dickens event
• Dickens of a Dinner – Dec. 4 (see article in this newsletter)
• No meeting in January
• The Easter Egg Hunt may be held on Saturday, April 23, 10:00, if we have a neighbor who will volunteer to head this up.

Election of officers—Our bylaws state that an officer can only hold the same position for two consecutive years. Elected unanimously through email

• President – Amberley Pyles
• Vice President – Karla Thornton
• Secretary – Bonnie Anderson
• Treasurer – Joaquin Garofalo

This was the annual meeting of HHHDA, so the format was changed to accommodate elections.  Upon entering, people turned in a membership form and paid their dues in order to receive a ballot and a copy of the annual report.

Community Garden—Bonnie thanked recent donors to the garden:

• Penny Spittler for the lovely cast iron bird bath
• Lee for supplying electrical out to the new bird bath to run a fountain feature
• Salley Trefethen and Lissa Hammett for the wrought iron glider bench and large cobalt blue planter

Adopt a Park—The Grants led the clean-up in June which went well with the hula hoop activity following drawing several families.  David

Design Guidelines—Landmarks Commission lead, Mary Ellen Hennessey, reviewed the next steps for implementing the proposed design guidelines for our neighborhood and other area historic neighborhoods.  She needs to schedule a public hearing now that our Board has approved the guidelines and suggested that August would be the best time to do that. Mary Ellen will post the proposed guidelines on the City website and Salley Trefethen, the HHHDA webmaster, will create a link on our site to the guidelines.

Historic Tree Project—Nick Kuhn, the forester for the City, explained a new project he hoped we would help him pilot.  He wants to create an online tree tour of our neighborhood, featuring special trees and their stories: oldest, biggest, most unusual, etc.

HHHDA leadership—Joaquin announced that he needs to pull back his work for HHHDA due to family and business obligations.  He is willing to step aside or, if the Board wishes, he would continue to conduct meetings but will not be able to do any work between meetings.  Amberley declined when asked if she would be willing to take over leadership. No one else was willing to take over leadership.

Lead Coal Project—Construction is still slated to begin in May and continue for 18 – 24 months.  Environmental soil samples along the corridor tested “clean.”  The only remaining decision is the color of the light standards: fir green, black-red, or black.

The first vote was split between fir green and black-red.  After a brief discussion, the Board agreed on black-red.

First Baptist Church – Art School—Albuquerque Public Schools has an option to buy this property to use as an art school. The Board supports this use for the property.

OLD BUSINESS

Dickens—Ann reported that although profits from this year’s event were still not finalized, it was clear that less profit was made than in previous years.  In addition, guests reportedly missed the ambience created by visiting historic homes that had been decorated for the season.  Kay reported that certain aspects of the event were easier for volunteers: using a professional kitchen; not having to arrange for houses to host the dinner.

Agenda item: Dickens

Discussion: Ann reported that there were 62 paid attendees, including 30 for the Ball.  Overall, the profit was between $600 and $700.  (Only an estimate was available since not all bills had been submitted and paid.)  Ann noted that in previous years, the event had netted about $1200.  Ann and Cindy Carson summarized comments from attendees indicating that they preferred the previous event, held in historic homes in the neighborhood, to the current year’s event held at the Greek church.  Attendees also noted that they preferred the menu in previous years to this year’s menu.  There was a brief discussion of the extent of decorations this year compared to previous years, and whether it might be possible to resurrect some sort of carriage ride in future years, even if the horses we used in the past were not available.

Agenda item:  Minutes from October 7, 2009

Discussion: Members asked if Liam was still interested in serving on the Board.

Action: Minutes were approved by a unanimous vote.

 

Agenda item: Property Concerns – 402 Broadway SE

Discussion: This vacant commercial building on the corner of Lead and Broadway is a magnet for crime in the area. Neighbor Kat Owensby has asked the Board for help.  Options were discussed. Amberley reported that the current owner of the building, Brian Rothman, is looking for a buyer.

Action: Karen volunteered to call Bill Hoch, former Board member and current member of the Safe City Task Force, to see what he recommended.