10-13-2016, 06:25 PM
Council of Neighborhood Associations
Membership Meeting – Minutes
September 21, 2016
Membership Meeting – Minutes
September 21, 2016
The meeting was called to order by President Marlene Murray. She introduced special guests Mike Dove of the Neighborhood Affairs Department, Chris Claus of the Water Conservation Resources and Councilwoman Darden Rice.
Darden Rice provided an updated overview of the City’s sewerage issues, including the repairs needed and the capacity issues that exist. She was candid regarding the need for transparency to citizens and a clear timeline on the repairs. She reviewed options available to the City and stated that the Council needs more expertise in order to better negotiate the procurement process. She reviewed possible funding options and said the EPA Director would be coming to St. Petersburg to tour the system.
Darden also reviewed the impact of Super Pacs on elections at the local, citing Austin, TX as a recent example where $10 million was spent on the Uber issue influence support on behalf of Uber. Darden would like to ban foreign monies from being used in local elections. On October 27th this issues will be reviewed by the Committee of the Whole.
John Mason provided the membership with Emergency Guides to distribute to neighborhoods.
CONA is requesting the mayor to bring the community together to discuss building inspections and inspections of new construction projects. A discussion of the Building Department took place and CONA is recommending increasing staff with two more building inspectors. CONA is also requesting two more Code officers.
Judy Landon reviewed the presentation to be made by the Land Design Regulations Committee on September 27th. The Committee did a great deal of work and has a clear set of guidelines they want the City to adopt, as well as a strategy for getting the LDRs amended. A Pattern Book is being done for the historic districts, and CONA would like a similar pattern book for all new construction in neighborhoods. She urged members to attend the September 27th meeting.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:25 p.m.