February 2019 Meeting Minutes

Minutes Date

Treasurer's Report:

Tucson Old Pueblo Credit Union downtown location closing, however, DSNA will not seek an alternate credit union and will stay with TOPCU.

Announcements:

Meet Lane Santa Cruz - Candidate for Ward 1, Tucson City Council.

“I am a second generation Tucsonan born and raised on the Southside. My father migrated from Eudeve-Opata Sonora to be with the rest of his family in Tucson. He met my mother at the El Rio Neighborhood Center when they were taking GED and ESL classes. My dad, a pastor at a Latino Church for over 25 years, and my mom a patient care technician and caretaker, modeled the early teachings of community justice at the Sunday sermons where I was called to be of service. Growing up in low-income housing, I felt disconnected from other parts of the city and I had to learn how to walk and ride the city bus to have access to distant youth employment and sports commitments. As a young person, I did not know about neighborhood associations and much less who my representatives were. When I graduated from Desert View High School, I left to Alabama on a tennis scholarship and then returned home to work my way through my courses at the University of Arizona, earning a Ph.D. in Teaching, Learning, and Sociocultural Studies.”

More information about Lane and her candidacy can he found here:

https://www.tucward1.com

Karen Greene will be providing more information about the Pima County Public Library One Seed event happening in April.

DSNA elections are in April. All positions are open.

DSNA Newsletter is due to the City by March 18th.

Presentation by Andy Bemis

The North Main Ave roadway improvement project associated with the voter-approved Proposition 101 Tucson Delivers Better Streets Program has been greenlighted.

Conceptual plans shared with DSNA and meeting attendees.

More information regarding the connection with Downtown Links and more specifically the whistle zone will be discussed in detail at the March DSNA meeting when Downtown Links representatives present a project update.

Earliest that the North Main Ave project will begin is 2nd quarter 2020.

Some neighborhood discussion and suggestions regarding delineators for proposed bikelines, a crosswalk at 1st to Esteven Park, parallel parking on Main Ave, a crossing at University for cyclist and pedestrians, and other related topics.

More information can be found at Tucson Delivers https://www.tucsonaz.gov/gis/apps/tucsondeliversstreets

Updates:

11th Ave Housing Project (Karen Greene)

No update from the City per se, however, there may be interest in the City selling at market value, however, there has been no movement from Keith at Housing Commission.

Block Pals (Karen Greene)

Karen has been reviewing information from the Assessor's Office to create block zones and is now looking for neighbors to be designated Block Pal.

Block Pals would be responsible for distributing important neighborhood information and general knowing the happens of the block.

If you are interested in being a Block Pal please reach out to Karen Greene.

Proposal for Speed Humps on Queen between Speedway and 1st

Abra Bentley presents:

  • Concern about cars using this section of Queen as a shortcut.
  • An alarming amount of high speed traffic.
  • A petition has been signed by the residents of this block and was submitted to the City.
  • Neighbors are trying to find funding.
  • The City has proposed two speed humps.
  • Transportation Department has lowered the cost of speed humps (approximately $500 each)
  • Karen Greene suggests fundraiser for both 10th and Queen.
  • Karen Greene suggests https://www.ioby.org/ which is crowd sourcing for community-led initiatives.

Committee Reports:

DNARC -

  • Diana Alarcon the new Director of Transportation spoke and is a proponent of Complete Streets.
  • 141 South Stone - Hotel is being constructed.
  • Student Housing - Approved on Park just South of Speedway where the Chase Bank is currently.
  • Park 7 Project - Moving forward at 5th Ave and 7th St.

WAMO - No update.

Community Garden - No update.

Dunbar Coalition - Update will be sent on the Dunbar-Spring listserv.

Neighborhood Foresters - Pruning workshop Nov. 24th.

* No objections to November and December 2018 minutes.