Weinland Park Community Civic Association
Minutes of the monthly meeting of March 28, 2018
Omar Elhagmusa, vice president of the civic association, called the meeting to order at 6:50 p.m.
Nomination of officers. Mr. Elhagmusa announced the first item of business was the nomination of persons for the positions of president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer. The election of the officers for two-year terms will take place at the next monthly meeting on April 25. Jen Mankin, president, and Ed Chin, secretary, are not seeking re-election. The treasurer position is currently vacant.
Laura Bidwa explained she had been concerned last fall that persons might not step forward to serve in leadership positions with the civic association this spring. She and Mr. Elhagmusa talked to a number of persons throughout the winter about serving as leaders. She also expressed concern that the officer positions, particularly the presidency, may require too much of a time commitment for one person. Ms. Bidwa said she and Mr. Elhagmusa were willing to serve as president or vice president and that Lydia Yoder was willing to serve as secretary.
Tamika Tanyhill nominated herself for the position as president. She spoke about her experience living in Weinland Park for more than 20 years.
Mr. Elhagmusa said he and Ms. Bidwa were interested in serving, perhaps, as co-presidents in order to share the workload of the office. He invited Ms. Tanyhill to consider the possibility of three persons sharing that role. Ahmed Ebady expressed concern that the civic association’s constitution doesn’t provide for co-presidents.
Lydia Yoder introduced herself and expressed interest in serving as secretary. She had served as secretary from 2012-14.
Marque Majors introduced herself and expressed interest in serving as vice president. She has been active as a parent advocate at Weinland Park Elementary School.
Ms. Bidwa introduced herself and explained that she had served in several offices with the civic association and currently was co-chair of the Housing Committee. She expressed interest in possibly serving in a co-president position.
Amendments to constitution. Ms. Bidwa explained the proposed amendments to the Weinland Park Community Civic Association’s constitution that were prepared by the civic association’s Steering Committee. The constitution and proposed amendments were printed and distributed. She said the proposed amendments would bring the constitution into line with the civic association’s current practices, would permit committee chairs to serve up to six consecutive one-year terms, require civic association meetings at least for times each year, and clarify the establishment of committees. The proposed amendments will be voted on at the civic association meeting April 25.
Gardens. Mr. Elhagmusa thanked Evelyn Van Til for her leadership with the constellation of community gardens in Weinland Park. Ms. Van Til announced activities and dates this spring and summer for maintenance of the gardens.
Short North Parking. Rory Krupp and Ms. Van Til served on the city’s Short North Parking Working Group representing Weinland Park. The working group wasn’t able to reach a consensus on ways to alleviate the shortage of parking in Italian Village, Victorian Village, and part of Weinland Park, so the city dissolved the working group and started over. Mr. Krupp distributed printed information with the latest proposed Short North Parking Plan. The southwest portion of Weinland Park (bounded by East Ninth Avenue on the north, East Fifth Avenue on the south, Summit Street on the east and High Street on the west) is included in the parking plan. Among other elements, the proposed parking plan would give residents in the portion of Weinland Park included in the plan the option to purchase an annual on-street parking permit with 300 24-hour guest passes for $100 or an annual on-street parking permit with no guest passes for $25.
Civic association members had a wide-ranging discussion of the proposed parking plan, including the cost of a permit for low-income families and the impact of the plan on the rest of Weinland Park not included in the plan. Members didn’t reach consensus on reaction to the plan.
Mr. Krupp strongly urged residents to attend one of two public meetings to learn more about the plan and to voice their concerns. The Short North Parking Summits will be Saturday, April 7, from 8:30 a.m. to noon and Tuesday, April 10, from 8 to 10:30 a.m. Both summits will be in the Short North Ballroom of the Greater Columbus Convention Center. Residents can register for the summit meetings at www.columbus.gov/publicservice/parking. Mr. Krupp urged residents to complete a survey at that website to express their concerns. Ms. Van Til said residents also can contact her with their concerns and she will relay them to the appropriate officials. She is at evelynvantil@gmail.com.
Festival. Laura Kogan, chair of the festival planning committee, reported her committee had its first meeting earlier that evening. The Weinland Park Neighborhood Festival will be Saturday, August 18, from noon to 4 p.m. in the city park behind the elementary school. She asked for volunteers to help plan the festival. The next festival planning committee meeting will be Wednesday, April 25, at 5 p.m. The location is likely to be the Schoenbaum Family Center, but that hasn’t been confirmed yet.
Fundraising dance. Ms. Kogan reported the Weinland Park Elementary School Parent-Teacher Organization will sponsor a fundraising dance on the evening of Wednesday, May 23, at the elementary school. Mr. Elhagmusa announced the civic association’s Steering Committee has agreed that the civic association will participate in the dance, rather than have its regular monthly meeting that evening. Ms. Kogan encouraged residents to help stage the dance.
Seniors. Katie Beaumont, executive director of At Home by High, explained that her relatively new organization serves adults 50 years of age and older in the Short North neighborhoods and Milo-Grogan. At Home by High arranges social activities for seniors and recruits volunteers to assist seniors. Ms. Beaumont said her goal is to connect neighbors with each other.
Music. Deshawn Toney of Godman Guild agreed to bring recorded music to play at the beginning and close of the next meeting on April 25.
Mr. Elhagmusa adjourned the meeting at 8:05 p.m.