Midtown Neighborhood Association
Minutes of General Meeting held November 20, 2001

John B. Wright Elementary School

 GREETINGS

            Brad Holland, president of the Midtown Neighborhood Assn., called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. He asked for volunteers to help with clean up afterwards. He introduced Phuong Ly, who with her husband, Cac Dao, operate Dao’s Hunan, a multiethnic Asian cuisine restaurant at the corner of Swan & Speedway. Cac and Phuong, residents of the neighborhood until recently, provided samples the restaurant’s menu to supplement the meeting potluck.

            Uncle Henry and Brad Holland led the pledge of allegiance.

            The minutes of the last meeting, which had been posted on the website, were still being copied in the school office and it was agreed that they would be addressed later in the evening, after members had received copies and reviewed them.

 UPDATES:

                    John B. Wright Report (Lisa Langford, principal).
            Lisa thanked everyone for the support of the Fall Fest. She happily reported that construction on the school ended today, November 20, and Wright Elementary now has a new roof, air conditioning, and 4 additional classrooms. Minor modifications will be made as needed in upcoming weeks. She will offer tours at the December meeting.

             She also asked that residents shop at Fry’s Market to benefit the school through the “swipe-card” program. She also asked that residents participate by collecting pop-tops for the Ronald McDonald House. If anyone would like to have a pop-tops collection box to place at his or her business or apartment complex, she will be happy to provide one.

 Chile Festival Fund-Raiser (Carri Rondeau on behalf of Anna Marie Patti)

            Carri reported on the sale of paletas at the Chile Festival held at the Tucson Botanical Gardens in late October. Carri emphasized that Anna Marie worked extremely hard to organize this very successful fund-raising effort, which earned approximately $560 for the Association. Many volunteers participated, and the sale was a bigger success than the previous year. She also reported that Anna Marie has 300 paletas stored in her refrigerator, which the Association is selling at $12/dozen. Carri made a plea that people contribute by purchasing a portion of this delicious stockpile.

Green Retrofit/Tree Planting (Samantha Sims)

             Samantha reported that 6 households received 12 trees as a result of the recent campaign. She emphasized that if anyone who wants a tree missed the deadline, you can still call Doug Koppinger at Trees for Tucson 791-3109, and he can assist you.

 Proposed Modifications to the Association’s Bylaws

Brad Holland explained the chronology of events leading to tonight’s vote. He explained that from March to September, a volunteer bylaw revision committee had been created and was assigned the task of working on bylaw amendments during summer 2001. At the September meeting it was discovered that the bylaw committee had failed to meet. Therefore in September, members nominated Brad to proceed with the modifications of the Association’s current bylaws, to be presented in October. Brad studied several Neighborhood Associations and local/regional non-profit organizations to glean proposed modifications for the Midtown Association. At the October meeting, these proposed changes were distributed to members, discussed at length and modified for membership approval. The newsletter subsequently reported that the proposed changes were available on the MNA web site and/or could be requested by contacting any MNA officer. After the October meeting, CNS mailed a notice postcard to all 2,400 households in the neighborhood. The postcard contained this same information and notified residents that the vote on the proposed modifications would take place per current bylaws, at the November meeting. Brad then explained that attendees would vote during tonight’s meeting to approve or not approve the modifications. Discussion would be limited to comments and questions of clarification.  He then opened the floor to specific questions or comments on the proposed bylaws.

 Samantha Sims, objected that she had volunteered during the April meeting to participate on the committee to revise the bylaws yet she had never been called to any meetings. She explained that she had not had an opportunity to participate or provide her input into the process. David Kha explained that since March, he and others had repeatedly given notice to Ms. Sims via e-mail, and telephone.  Ms. Sims failed to respond to this notice.  When asked if she had convened a meeting of the committee, Kathy Arnit, the volunteer co-chairperson of the bylaw committee and also a close friend and next door neighbor to Miss Sims, said that she failed to call a bylaw committee meeting. Dan Arnit asked for the floor and shouted that some members of the community had not had the opportunity to contribute to the modification process.  Melissa Good added her voice to the complaint. There was general dissent and discord about whether those who were making this claim had or had not been given sufficient opportunity to participate.

 Carol Clark, representative of Fred Ronstadt’s office in Ward 6, reminded the meeting that certain procedures had to be followed in this process and that the MNA board with the participation of Citizen and Neighborhood Services (CNS), had followed them. She corroborated that a mailing was sent to all neighborhood households giving notice and a timetable for the voting on the modifications and explaining where residents could view them or obtain copies. It was pointed out that none of those who were voicing objections had notified Brad Holland or any other officer, nor had they asked for assistance in rectifying what they viewed as a shortcoming in content or communications.

 Samantha Sims asked to be heard and insisted that she and Kathy Arnit had formally volunteered to sit on the committee yet they had never been called to participate. She explained that she had missed only one meeting in the past 12, but because of that one absence, she had had no opportunity to give her input.

 Brad Holland responded that ample and equal opportunity had been given to all members for input on proposed bylaws.  Kathy Arnit and Samantha Sims had failed to organize or work on the bylaw committee they had created.  At the September meeting, seeing no work had been accomplished, Brad Holland again asked for a volunteer committee chair and/or members.  No one came forward.  Members then nominated Brad Holland to work on proposed bylaws, and he requested that anyone interested in participating should contact him at any of the published numbers and/or email addresses.  At the September meeting, Mr. Holland also announced that proposed amendments to the bylaws would be discussed in detail and revised at the October meeting.  Ms. Sims and Mrs. Arnit acknowledge they were both present at that September meeting.  During September, no volunteers came forward.  In October, Mr. Holland distributed copies of proposed revisions.  An extensive member discussion was held, modifications were made and a final draft was created and approved by consensus.  A motion to notify the neighborhood of the vote on the modified bylaws was seconded and this motion was passed unanimously by the membership.

A postcard was mailed to all residents containing the web site address with bylaw modifications. The postcard also indicated that anyone seeking a copy could also contact any MidTown officer directly.  These steps followed the rules mandated by the MidTown bylaws in force at the time.  These steps also complied with CNS guidelines.

        Kathy Arnit then took the floor and said that she never received the names of the other committee members, and she asked to know why Brad, who was aware that she had volunteered, never contacted her. Sentiment from the floor let it be known that it was her community responsibility to contact Brad if she wanted to be included in the process.  At the spring committee organizational meeting, Mrs. Arnit had been responsible for collecting all phone numbers and email addresses of those interested in bylaw committee efforts. At this meeting, that information had been posted by the volunteers themselves on large sheets of butcher paper. Mrs. Arnit helped to organize that meeting and had been present.  Mr. Holland then stated Ms. Arnit was out of order, and moved the meeting forward, asking other members for their questions pertaining specifically to amendment clarification. At this point, Melissa Good left the meeting, voicing loud and profane protest. 

             Dan Arnit demanded that the objections raised by Ms. Good, Samantha Sims, and others be noted in the minutes of the meetings. Carol Ward assured him that a record of their concerns is being made for the minutes.

            Member, Jim Intintolli asked for clarification on the Dues amendment.  Brad explained that the new rules mandate a $15-per-year Association membership fee. He pointed out that this fee may be waived if a member attends 4 meetings prior to the Association’s annual meeting in February. 

            Members discussed a question concerning Article V, which addresses the location of the annual and regular meetings. It was determined that the modifications indicate that the meetings would be held at John B. Wright Elementary School, but should the school be unavailable, the modifications empower the president, in compliance with notice requirements, to designate an alternate time and place for the meeting.

            Samantha Sims asked for general clarification about the current bylaws. She asked if proposed revisions could be discussed tonight during the meeting. Brad explained that ample notice and opportunity had been given to the membership for questions and revisions.  A total of five meetings over eight months had been dedicated to forming volunteer committees, formulating and then refining bylaws. These amendments had been approved by the membership at the October meeting and unanimously slated for a vote.  The membership had been officially notified that only a vote, not revisions of the bylaws, would on the agenda for tonight’s meeting.  Any modifications of the bylaws at tonight’s meeting would therefore constitute a violation of  due process. He repeated again that the postcard mailed to all residents served as notice of the vote and met all the requirements for providing residents with access to the text of the proposed modifications.

           Paula Deyoe moved that a vote be taken on the proposed amendments to the bylaws. Marty Ittner seconded the motion. A ballot was taken up, showing 29 meeting attendees voting in favor of the modifications, and 2 voting against.  Brad Holland abstained.  During the tallying of the votes the Arnits and Samantha Sims left the meeting.

 MINUTES:

            Minutes of the October meeting, distributed during the bylaw discussion, were now approved on a motion by Martha Cooper, seconded by David Kha.

 ANNOUNCEMENTS:

            The December 18 meeting will be the annual Holiday Party. Brad exhorted everyone to come and partake in the festivities and singing of holiday music from many faiths and cultures. The Association will provide the food and beverages.

           Brad Holland reviewed the upcoming election of Association officers that will occur in February 2002. He encouraged members to consider nominations for officers. He again reviewed the requirements for waiving membership fees, per the new bylaws, but encouraged those who qualify for a waiver to contribute anyway by writing a check to Midtown: The Garden District and giving it to Treasurer David Kha. The election will be at the regular meeting time in February. At the January meeting, individuals may nominate themselves or others. Please notify Brad or another officer of your nomination. This will allow one month for “vigorous” campaigning.

NEW BUSINESS:

             Frank Domanico , representing the Tucson Police Department, encouraged residents to speak up about their security concerns. He explained that if anyone is afraid of being targeted for having made an open complaint, they should contact him privately by telephone or personally after the meeting. Sal, from 1615 Columbus St., who is head of his neighborhood watch, said that he had tried to reach the community officer for two-and-half months without success. Marty Ittner asked that Frank address the Midtown crime-incidence report, which he had just distributed to the meeting. He explained the method for reading the report, and he said that very serious crime-rate problems exist in Midtown (defined as Craycroft to 1^st & Euclid, and the railroad tracks north to the city limits). However, he reported that they have made considerable progress in the Midtown Garden District. A police department program was so successful that Friday-Saturday night cruising on Speedway had been substantially reduced two months ahead of the program’s goal of November. Frank and Brad emphasized that more people out on the street—walking dogs, visiting with neighbors, etc.—is an effective crime deterant. If an area looks uncared for and appears to have residents who are uninvolved, criminals will think that they can “run a racket” unobserved. Rather than simply putting bars on windows, the goal is to make “bad” people “de-select” the neighborhood by encouraging visible and overt community involvement.

               Uncle Henry complained that sex solicitors had entered the neighborhood and Frank explained that plainclothes policemen are working in the area to rid it of the problem but funding makes it impossible for them to be present on a daily basis.

              Frank emphasized that residents should never hesitate to call 911 at the appearance of suspicious behavior.

               Carrie Rondeau mentioned that the Tucson Police Department had received an award. Frank explained that CALECA,  a national organization, evaluated the department during August. In addition, he reported on the details of the capture of 2 armed robbers. In one case, he was directly involved in a high-speed chase.

               Brad alerted residents to a problem with loud music from ice-cream vending trucks. He first emphasized that the presence of these vehicles is a boon to the neighborhood because it brings people outside and creates a sense of community. However, loud music, in addition to being annoying, is dangerous for children because it leads them (and their parents) to believe mistakenly that the truck is in the immediate vicinity. When it does not appear, children can become distracted and wander off. He asked that people note the phone number of the vendors and call to ask—politely and after reinforcing how delighted the neighborhood is to have its ice cream—that a lower volume would be appreciated.

              David Kha introduced long-term residents—but new participants in the Association—Michelle and Keith.

              Carol Clark, representative of Ward 6, announced that she has resigned from her position at Ward VI to work with Councilwoman Dunbar in Ward 3. She explained that her 14 years of service in the ward have been a pleasure for her, and she thanked everyone for making her experience so enriching. She said that the staff in Fred Ronstadt’s office will be reorganized.  It is not certain who will replace her, but it may be Andy Squires. Brad Holland noted that no one would be able to replace Carol, who has made a tremendous contribution to the community.

            On a motion by Margaret and a second by Amra the meeting was adjourned on schedule at 8:03 p.m. The next meeting, the Holiday Party, will be held in the Wright Cafeteria on December 18, 2001.

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