March 2014

1. Call to Order – 7:05pm

2. Sign in and Introductions

3. Treasurer Report – $955.73 (Does not include debit for check for $190 to Dunbar Coalition still in process)

4. Announcements

(a) There have been some issues with people dwelling in abandoned houses in the neighborhood. If you see this or suspect this please call the police.

(b) Several properties are for rent in the neighborhood. 536-538 Ash and several others. Please subscribe to the listserv to receive updates on properties for rent and contact information of the property owners. You can sign- up for the listserv at http://www.dunbarspring.org/

(c) Outdoor movie at Alexander’s place. University and 10th. Starts Sunday March 29th and then every Sunday after that. Starts at 8PM. Sometimes live music from 7-8 PM.

(d) Presentation from Central Tucson for a Social Network introduced app call “Next Door.” Next Door is an app to connect residents in a neighborhood and that also allows connects between neighborhoods. It is a phone app that allows resident to connect in real time. For more information go to nextdoor.com/Tucson. The app is free.

(e) NEIGHBORHOOD ELECTIONS – At next month’s meeting (4/21/14). Please come and run and vote. The positions are: president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, and parliamentarian.

(f) Bufflegrass eradication. Dunbar Spring continues to try to remove bufflegrass from the neighborhood. There are still several areas that have bufflegrass (mostly the chicanes and right of ways) and we will continue to need to work to keep it down. It has been the cause or contributed to a number of fires and is a public safety issue.

(g) TEP substation has dimmed the lights and has replaced some lights with motion censored lights at the substation. Residents and the DSNA are continuing to work with TEP and the City to get better buffering and appropriate vegetation for the site.

(h) Garden potlucks every 2nd Wed of the month at the community garden. Please bring something to share and meet at the garden at 5:30PM.

(i) Articles are needed for the newsletter. Alexander may write a piece on walkability. Harold is writing a piece on the TEP substation. And other are welcome to share stories.

5. Discussion

(a) A vote to write a letter to the COT and Ann Cheneka reiterating the importance of pedestrian and bike crossing at Main Ave. passed unanimously. Harold Thomas will draft the letter. Sky Jacobs will edit and send the letter (see letter here).

(b) A vote to send Corky Poster language for the Downtown Links Overlay Zone passed unanimously. Language posted below was discussed and agreed to during the meeting and will be drafted and send to Corky Poster by Sky Jacobs. The letter will be sent to Corky Poster (see letter here).

1. Heights: 5 stories max; height stepped down in areas adjacent to residences; preserve solar rights for adjacent property owners (both for passive and active solar systems, as well as to preserve growing of food producing and native vegetation)

2. Architectural: We prefer architectural continuity; we prefer appropriate scale and style for the neighborhood and on a block by block basis; we prefer an historical style when possible

3. Landscaping: Landscaping and set-aside habitat with trees and shrubs highly encouraged; all planting should be native and/or edible species; landscaping should be without irrigation when possible and utilize rainwater harvesting techniques; developments must implement vegetative screening for large parking areas

4. Use Type: We strongly prefer mixed use, specifically multi-story with ground-floor business with residences above; we do not want: big box stores, gas stations, convenience stores; we are in a food desert and specifically encourage real food stores; other business types encouraged: cafes, galleries, restaurants, day care, food stores, hardware stores, law offices, local beer establishments, other small business

5. Traffic: Ingress/egress for automobiles should not overly impact residences and small neighborhood streets and will ideally link with highly traveled roadways; ingress/egress design must be bike/ped friendly limiting negative interactions; all businesses must provide appropriate scale bike parking; we highly encourage residential units to offer cheaper rent options for car-free residents

6. Working with the Neighborhood: Developers within the bounds of our neighborhood must engage with the neighborhood prior to implementation; developers must present plans and receive feedback at a minimum of 2 monthly neighborhood association meetings

7. Other: We prefer developments with LEED certification or similar non-certified implementations; absolutely no removal of usable historical buildings; no age-restricted housing; we prefer inclusion of low-income and/or elderly housing

(c) Erik Shapiro will serve for DSNA on the ADEQ community advisory board. He has agreed to complete the application and attend four meetings a year, reporting back on issues pertinent to the neighborhood. Recently a contamination plume was found and resides in parts of the neighborhood. ADEQ will be working to clean it up.

6. Committee Reports

(a) DNARC – March 2014

• City is putting out an RFQ (request for qualifications) for the Ronstadt Center. Priority use is for transit, and can have other development on the site, housing, open space, etc. Money made on the sale of the land will go to transportation uses. May be able to use a site specific sales tax to generate transportation revenue.

• Check out the OIP website – go to tucsonaz.gov, click on departments, click on integrated planning. Lots of good information including when all kinds of meetings are held 

• RFP for parking meters that will take coin or debit cards. They want to link to a smartphone app that can remind you when your meter will run out, or where to find a parking spot and let you pay for the space.

• There will be parking meters on 4th Ave in May or June. $1/hour.

• RFP for car sharing program

• Armory Park has a developer who wants to tear down the Downtown Motor Lodge as part of the Infill Incentive District. The neighborhood was never notified of this project, and since they didn’t express concerns, the developer felt the neighborhood was fine with this plan, even though it is in the Historic Preservation Zone. There is no notification required if someone wants to develop within the Infill Incentive District.

• Menlo Park is doing a walkability study this spring with Living Streets Alliance

• March 25 from 5-8 p.m. there will be a Streetcar Celebration downtown

• April 5, 6 Hulabaloo at Armory Park and April 6 is Cyclovia

(b) Downtown Links – covered in discussion of the letter to Ann Cheneka.

(c) Neighborhood Garden – Meetings for the garden are still needed. It was suggested just having a preliminary meeting to get people on board and then to hold a visioning. Alexander has purchased and will be offering a meter so that the DSNA can track our water use.

(d) Dunbar Coalition – AED machines will be installed and people will be trained on them at the School. Some kitchen repairs are needed and no more kitchen occupants will be there until the repairs are made. A current review of bylaws is underway. The Coalition is looking to diversify funding. At this time there will not be a charter school. The barber academy is doing very well.

7. Approval of Minutes from January – Unanimously approved

8. Adjourn –Adjourned at 9:05pm