Friday, March 07, 2008

2nd Annual OHNO Retreat

Plans for the future in many areas of interest were discussed.  Committees were formed to put some of the plans into action.

Old Historic Northside Organization
2nd Annual Retreat
Saturday Feb. 2, 2008, 9am – 2pm
1001 N. Santa Fe, County Conference Rooms
David Cockrell, Facilitator, Senior Socio-Economic Planner, City of Pueblo and
fourteen attendees.

I. Our agenda began with introductions around the room and an icebreaker activity. We reviewed what happened last year and our old issues, previous goals, accomplishments, and priorities.

II. Committee chairs gave brief reports on last year’s accomplishments.
A. Social: Angela Giron reported for Carolyn Lowrey who was out of town.
1. Block party in September at Rosemount. Considered a success with about 100 attendees and some new faces.
2. Clean up day in April. We filled 4 roll-offs with yard waste.
3. Fall social at Ascension church was well attended and lots of good conversation and wonderful desserts were shared. We were treated to a look at the beautiful church interior.
4. Christmas movable feast was wonderful. About 52 people gathered at the 3 different host homes.

B. Mineral Palace Park: Yolanda Butler reported.
1. The group held several planning meetings to determine goals
2. Yolanda, Mary Woodman, and Janet Dash met with Parks Director Rich Zajac to determine what the city will allow us to do and get acquainted.
3. Several volunteers began assessment of the historic structures in the park
4. Determined areas to focus attention for clean up and flower maintenance
5. Tree planting was successful in May although one tree appears in distress.
6. Money is definitely needed to get anything done
C. Historic Preservation: Susan Pelto reported.
1. Nomination for the Northside Historic District was placed in front of City Council.
2. Council threw in some snags but they will be handled.
3. Rosemount Historic District nomination will be held off until the Historic District Ordinance is refined
4. The additional survey is underway on 19th Street by Historictecture.
5. An Eastside Historic District is also being proposed.
D. Code Enforcement: Heather Norton reported.
1. The process started slowly.
2. The city was called 3-4 times with a code infraction and it took about 3 months to get results. A total of 4 violations were dealt with.
3. The code enforcement officer was unable to make a scheduled presentation at one of our OHNO meetings but we hope to reschedule for this year.
E. Traffic: Steve Nawrocki reported
1. Steve and Capt. Tim Nawrocki met with Pepper Whitliff (City of Pueblo Traffic Dept) to discuss OHNO concerns
2. Most issues were nixed by the city.
3. A traffic study is underway throughout the city and the results might be available to OHNO soon.
4. The Safe Routes to School program was discussed as one way to get traffic calming at major cross-streets by schools. There is grant money of up to 250K available and David will help write a grant for it this year.
5. Parking is still an issue with Parkview. OHNO needs to review and monitor the PUD parking options as they develop.
F. Communications: Chuck Pelto reported
1. Block captain numbers increased.
2. Use of Pueblog has increased significantly.
G. Membership: Angela Giron reported
1. OHNO has 80 historic members and 24 paid up memberships.
2. A membership form was developed and annual dues were collected.
H. Finance: Susan Pelto reported for Kerri Farmer
1. The committee developed some great fund raising ideas.
2. Due to lack of time these ideas didn’t get implemented in 2007.
3. Kerri did a lot of research on non-profit status categories with the IRS and OHNO was able to become a non-profit in 2007
4. We need to decide whether to become a 501 (c)3 or 501 (c)4 organization

III. Other goals to address:
A. OHNO needs to improve their Parkview Hospital liaison. A small group of OHNO members did have the opportunity to tour the Beaumont House with Mike Baxter (from Parkview). It was a rare chance to view the interior of the home and see how the hospital is taking care of the historic home. Hopefully we can build on this experience in the coming year.

IV. Dave’s summary of our past year after listening to the reports.
A. Park: Historic restoration plan needed, work crews necessary, pool issues, and greenhouse rehab desired
B. Historic Preservation: Northside Historic District success, Rosemount District start, change the Historic Preservation Ordinance
C. Code Enforcement: Time consuming, land use vs code violations, get officer to a meeting, and propose ordinance changes
D. Traffic: One-way pair elimination, use on Elizabeth has decreased., long range transport plan in the works because 24th St. is not going to be extended, Safe Routes to School grants, stop signs and traffic calming, PUD monitoring, sidewalks
E. Communications: Advocacy of Pueblog, emails for communications/newsletter, Block captains very important
F. Membership: form and dues, attract new and younger people, tangible results need to be presented to members
G. Finance: nonprofit status, possible government involvement, contact businesses for ads/donations

V. Goals for 2008 (Goals are broad concepts)
A. Increase participation in OHNO and sense of connection to the neighborhood.
B. Sidewalk repair and replacement
C. Possible political action committee (cooperative liaison to city council)
D. Complete one project in Mineral Palace Park
E. Secure at least one source of revenue for neighborhood projects
F. Improve traffic safety through traffic slowing, crosswalks, parking
G. Partner with other neighborhoods or associations (such as PNP) on at least one project
H. Improve code enforcement tracking and complaint management process
I. Continue to support and pursue historic preservation programs

VI. Solutions and Plans for attaining the goals
A. Sidewalks
1. Organize teams through OHNO and PNP
2. Encourage self help through education
3. Develop a special district for funding
4. Work with code enforcement
B. Traffic
1. Safe Routes to School grant
2. Improve crosswalks in other areas – to the park from Parkview
3. Plan for addressing increased traffic on 17th when Joe Martinez is developed to Pueblo Blvd. (Hyde Park to OHNO neighborhoods)
4. Parking issues with Parkview
C. Mineral Palace Park
1. Recruit volunteers for at least one project this summer
2. April clean up day - painting the bike rack and cleaning up the flower bed
3. Adopt a flower bed for the entire season
4. Address weed whacking problem around trees
5. Plant at least one tree
6. Work on Historic conservation of WPA construction – partner with HPI
D. Historic Preservation
1. Collect feedback on North Side District process for future use
2. Conduct Information/Publicity Activities on North Side for Phase II (partner with HPC and HPI)
3. Prepare Rosemount Historic District nomination
E. Membership/Communications
1. Canvas the area for needs of neighbors (profile)
2. Develop a Welcome Wagon to provide OHNO info, profile of historic homes in area, area businesses and services to new residents
3. Block captains organize small get together
4. Determine which houses are tenant-occupied and determine the owners

F. Code Enforcement
1. Work toward a special district for sidewalk improvement
2. Create a data base for code violations reporting and tracking
3. Contact Karen Wilson (Land Use) to explore alley codes and enforcement

VII. Dave’s final take on the day.
A. What motivates people to join a neighborhood organization in the first place?
1. A need for affiliation,
2. to share similar ideals and values,
3. to gain an identity or recognition, or
4. to develop friendships.
B. He suggested we immediately assign new members to a committee.
1. They work for a year in the committee and then gradually move up in the organization to positions of more power and recognition.
2. Each year jobs should change to allow individuals to continue to feel needed and valuable to the organization.
C. Dave commended us on our excellent social agenda and felt we should greatly expand that aspect of our organization.
1. He thought we should have costume parties where we dress in period clothing for our home.
2. We should hold seminars/workshops where we ask members with special skills to provide training to others,
3. put on a cultural event such as a concert or art show in our homes (or the park),
4. do a travel tour – such as the original Thatcher Ranch.

As time quickly ran out we adjourned the retreat but I think we all left with a sense of anticipation and excitement for the coming year.

Respectfully submitted,
Janet Dash, OHNO Secretary

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