October 2013

1. Call to Order – 7:04pm
2. Sign in and Introductions
3. Treasurer Report – Balance has not changed: 1,415.71
4. Announcements

(a) Community planters in front of the Joel D. Valdez Main Library have been planted with native seeds or plants. Stop by and take a look. For more information contact the library at (520) 594-5500 or visit the webpage http://www.library.pima.gov/locations/main/index.php

(b) Porch Fest Sunday November 24, 2013 (to coincide with the Mesquite Milling) 3PM-5PM in the Dunbar Spring Neighborhood. To help organize the event contact Karen Greene at kgreene5050@yahoo.com

(c) Desert Harvesters 11th Annual Mesquite Milling (in conjunction with DSN porch fest) Sunday November 24, from 11am to 5pm. See attached flyer for more details or visit www.desertharvesters.org

(d) Sign-up to become a neighborhood steward at http://www.dunbarspring.org/content/sign-be-neighborhood-steward. DSN received some materials from Tucson Clean and Beautiful to help keep trash in the neighborhood picked-up. There may also be opportunities to learn about invasive and non-native species removal in public spaces in the neighborhood.

(e) The Whistle Stop Depot has recently been designated as a community center by the City of Tucson. Check out their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/whistlestoptucson or stop by to see how the space has been transformed. Gabriel Ayala, acoustic musician, has also been named Artistic Director for the Whistle Stop Depot.

5. Discussion

(a) Sustainability and Education – UA class of 26 students will be doing a service learning project in the neighborhood November 16, 2013 from 8am-12noon. The students will take a tour of the neighborhood, and will then work with neighborhood volunteers and several possible projects ranging from water harvesting mapping, invasive/non-native species removal, overall clean-up, tree planting, or like projects. If interested in working with the students and neighborhood volunteers, please contact Sky Jacobs at skyjacobs@gmail.com.

(b) Cooperatives – Martha Dominguez of the Luna Amethyst Cooperative spoke of the benefits of cooperatives for economic, environmental, and cultural sustainability. For more information, contact Martha Dominguez at (520) 822-9302.

(c) Hospitality House – Albert Elias spoke of the Salvation Army Hospitality House and land swap. Elias reiterated that the project is going forward as per the original agreement 9 years ago. Construction for the House will begin in January. The land swap between the City of Tucson and the Salvation Army will move forward after the current anthropological exploration and asbestos abatement process. The site the City will take ownership of will be used for affordable housing, albeit, a partnership between the City and another entity may be needed to fund the project.

(d) Downtown Links – Letter to the City of Tucson (CAC, TDOT) to reiterate that connectivity needs to be ensured for north/south pedestrian and cyclist traffic. North/south connectivity should focus not only on safety but also ease and comfort for north/south connectivity. Discussion postponed, letter to be finalized.

(e) Ronstadt Center – Vote to support the DNARC letter to the City of Tucson. Passed (9 votes – 8 yes; 1 abstention)

6. Committee Reports

(a) Downtown Links – Nothing to report

(b) Neighborhood Garden – Removed all irrigation to plots. All new irrigation system built for orchard. Re-visioning for garden still needed.

(c) Dunbar Coalition – No report.

9. Approval of Minutes from July and September – Unanimously approved

10. Adjourn –Adjourned at 8:53pm.