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Thursday, December 29, 2011

Minutes of the Nov-Dec meetings of the Belmont-DeVilliers Neighborhood Association

BELMONT-DEVILLIERS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION
MINUTES OF THE DECEMBER 7, 2011 MEETING


The meeting was opened at 5:30 p.m. by President Dolores Curry. Attending were: Dolores Curry, Vivian Lamont, Rev. Carl Reeves, Ann Hill, Rose George, Eddie Todd, Danny Lewis, Neil Richards, Diane Mack, Allen Gibson, Larry King, Jim Myatt, Geraldine Vaurigaud, Dicky Hartley, Eleanor Johnson, Sonja Evans, Rev. John Powell and Alexa Canady-Davis. Guests included Councilman Brian Spencer, Dr. Gloria Horning, Burnett Williamson, Robin Reshard, Anthony Crawford, Sheikh Tariq Abdul Aziz, Pattie Krakowski, Forrest Ray, Takia Berry, Beverly Perry. Minutes of the last meeting were read and approved.

President Dolores Curry thanked Rose George and Vivian Lamont for their help is setting up and decorating the food table for the association’s annual Christmas gathering.  Dove Chocolatier Burnett Williamson also brought some of her truffles and other treats to share with the group. Ms. Williamson holds free chocolate tasting parties. For more info, she can be reached at 850-432-5493 or 773-627-3137.

Rev. Carl Reeves urged members to take safety precautions during the holidays. The thieves are out, so put your valuables in your trunk.

Vivian Lamont noted that the Belmont Youth Band will be at Paradise Gardens on West Gregory St. from 11:30 to 1:30 on this Saturday. They will be creating Christmas cards for prisoners. On Dec. 15, band members will be part of the jazz program at Oseola Golf Course. On Dec. 22, they will be part of the Seville Square Christmas program. The band was featured in a recent front-page Pensacola Voice article you can read here: http://belmont-devilliers.blogspot.com/2011/12/belmont-youth-band-on-move.html . She noted that two of the youths in the program have received full scholarships at Pensacola State College. She also thanked Councilman Brian Spencer, who serves on the BYB board, for his help in obtaining $1,000 for the band.

Eddie Todd wished everyone a happy holiday and noted that a letter concerning the new logo for the association was forthcoming.

Councilman Spencer noted that January marks the first anniversary of his serving as District 6 councilman. He said his journey has been more spiritual than political and that he now feels more in touch with a greater variety of people than he would have been had he not taken this path. What he wanted to share with the group that he has learned this first year is that we have the opportunity to focus not only on the needs of District 6 but of the entire city and that there should be no fences between districts.

Mr. Spencer discussed the great financial obligation that is facing the Community Redevelopment Agency, which is about to face a $4.3 million annual obligation. He addressed the issue of the CRA staffing, noting that Sherry Morris is heading the agency at present, assisted by chief of neighborhoods Helen Gibson. Both women are certified planners, he said. And now that the city’s interlocal agreement is in place, the mayor has assured Mr. Spencer that a design person will be named after the first of the year.

Mr. Spencer noted beginning in 2013, the CRA will be committed to a $4.3 million annual obligation, which includes the 30-year, $3 million annual obligation for Community Maritime park and a 17-year, $1.3 million annual obligation for the acquisition and demolition of the ECUA plant. In addition, operating expenses for the CRA amount to about $1 million a year, bringing the total to $5.3 million. At present, he said, the CRA receives about $4 million in TIF money. (Background on TIF this is at: http://www.pensapedia.com/mediawiki/index.php?title=Community_Maritime_Park&oldid=20158 .)

Obviously, the CRA will be strapped for cash for other projects in the next couple of decades. Councilman Spencer encouraged members to focus on what we can do to identify projects that will enhance the neighborhood and produce more tax revenue. He gave as an example the Hixardt project, in which the city forfeited the value of the land but not the property tax. Mr. Spencer, who is an architect with a great interest in urban planning, said the DeVilliers corridor from Maritime Park to Cervantes is the best for development.  He said the big blocks of emptiness along this corridor are his No. 1 candidate for attention. He urged us to invite Helen Gibson to the January meeting.

Eleanor Johnson noted that she and Tony McCray were among the 2,200 delegates to a recent community development summit in Detroit, Michigan. (Article here: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=315427521814350&set=a.275055752518194.75658.196504367040000&type=1&theater ) . She also noted that the appointment with Helen Gibson that she and Dottie Dubuisson had regarding the PCIP grant for the welcome sign was canceled and hasn’t been rescheduled as yet.

Diane Mack was pleased to announce that the Belmont-DeVilliers Neighborhood Association is joining the Council of Neighborhood Association Presidents of Pensacola. Because of Ms. Curry’s schedule, secretary Ann Hill will be attending meetings and representing the association for Ms. Curry. The next meeting will be on Tuesday, Jan. 17, so if anyone has any issues they would like to bring to CNAPP, please let Ann know (sfnewsgal at yahoo.com).

Ms. Mack said that any new association needs a “win” and that CNAPP’s first win was in defeating a rezoning issue opposed by the East Side Neighborhood Association.

Rev. John Powell gave an update on the 2012 Cox black history festival on Feb. 10-12, which will be called the Black History Expo 2012: Images in Black. Ms. Lamont and Ms. Curry are serving on the project committee. Deadline is Dec. 16 for submissions to the middle and high school student art exhibit, which will be displayed during the festival. After next week’s meeting the full schedule will be emailed to the neighborhood association membership.  Rose George encouraged the committee members to think outside the box in getting the word out on the festival.

Members voted to give Larry King a $100 check to show their appreciation for his setting up the monthly meeting.

Ms. Curry mentioned the tightening of voter registration requirements in Florida and urged members to get their photo IDs in place before it is time to vote.

Robin Reshard with Robert Robino Productions, 321 N. DeVilliers, Ste. 306,  handed out business cards with the web address of the Belmont-DeVilliers documentary that is in the works. A trailer for the film is also online at www.themakingofaneighborhood.com. Ms. Reshard is also acquiring 3,000 - 5,000 children’s books and 10,000 bookmarks on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to distribute at the MLK Parade on Jan. 16. Volunteer youths will be gathering from 2 to 6 pm on Jan. 12 at Bethel A.M.E. Church to get ready for the book giveaway.

Geraldine Vaurigaud said she’d been working with seniors on artistic fundraising ideas. One of them is an adorable goblet made from a fused candlestick and mason jar. A hole in the lid leaves room for a colorful straw.

The meeting was closed at 6:40 and everyone had a great time enjoying the Christmas feast and catching up on the latest neighborhood news.


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BELMONT-DEVILLIERS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION
MINUTES OF THE NOVEMBER 2, 2011 MEETING

The meeting was opened at 5:32 p.m. by President Dolores Curry. Attending were: Dolores Curry, Dottie Dubuisson, Vivian Lamont, Rev. Carl Reeves, Ann Hill, Rose George, Eddie Todd, Danny Lewis, Neil Richards, Jim Myatt, Geraldine Vaurigaud, Eleanor Johnson, Sonja Evans, Rev. Eugene Franklin, Alexa Canady-Davis, Sandra Wilson, and Burnett Williamson. Guests included Dr. Gloria Horning, Mack Smith, Elrico Tunstall and Robin Reshard. Minutes of the last meeting were read and approved.

Rev. Carl Reeves reported that several arrests have been made regarding the copper thieves that were targeting commercial AC units. He also mentioned that the sheriff’s dept. had broken up a crime ring that had set up a shop to fence the stolen goods. He said auto burglary is the No. 1 crime and urged citizens to double-check their cars to make sure they are locked. He noted that anyone hearing gunshots (as one member did) should call 911 even if the exact location isn’t known.

Elrico Tunstall introduced himself and his company, Jump Off Productions. He is a native Pensacolan, veteran of two U.S. Army tours of Iraq, and student at the Los Angeles Film School. Among his credits are: Straight Out of Sweden, a new TV show for the Swedish market; a short documentary Out of the Shadows, highlighting the lives of young adults with developmental disabilities, and casting for two productions in L.A. Mr. Tunstall’s goal is to bring Hollywood-style entertainment and filmmaking to the Gulf Coast. He can be reached at (719) 287-1600, elrico.tunstall@gmail.com or on the web at www.jumpoffproductions.com .

Robin Reshard of Robert Robino Productions, 321 N. DeVilliers, Ste. 306, presented a short and highly professional video on the history of Belmont-DeVilliers after the Civil War. She is doing research for a full documentary on this topic. She is talking with local historians and people who have knowledge of this neighborhood’s past. She welcomes audio and video, as well as non-copyrighted music. Call her at 479-430-AFRO or 850-356-6921 or email her at robin@robertrobino.com .

Treasurer Alexa Canady-Davis reported $2135.06 in our account. Dolores Curry urged those who haven’t paid their dues to do so.

Vivian Lamont announced that the Belmont Youth Band played at the recent Pumpkin Patch at the Belmont Arts and Cultural Center. They will play at the Navy base Fire Dept. this Saturday and at Paradise Gardens at 1:30 pm next Saturday during a children’s workshop to make Thanksgiving cards for prisoners. Danny Lewis said a BYB fundraiser is in the planning stage and that the youth band is getting lots of support from the community.

Eleanor Johnson is working on the upcoming production of “Colors of Love” based on children’s books by Ora Wills and Georgia Blackmon. They are looking for young actors ages 10 to 16 to help with the production, which will presented 3-5 pm on Nov. 12-13 at Dorothy’s Dance Plus Studio, 28½ South Palafox. They are also planning another production on April 21 for children’s month.

Ms. Johnson also has spots for artist booths at the next Gallery Night on Nov. 18. Cost of a space is $10. Burnett Williamson sells her special chocolate at this event.

Neil Richards reminded everyone about glassblowers’ annual Glass Jam set for 6 to 10 pm Saturday Nov. 5 during the Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival.

Dottie Dubuisson reported on an upcoming zoning development meeting by the Downtown Improvement Board regarding possible expansion of the district; extension of the Palafox Farmers Market to possibly be a year-round event; Councilwoman Sherri Myers request for information on sidewalk issues; and a call for RFPs by the CMPA for maintenance management outside the stadium. She mentioned the need to get our U.S. legislators to support the Restore Act. Unless Congress quickly works to enact this act into law, fines paid by BP and others responsible for the oil disaster will be used for unrelated federal spending, instead of going to repair the area that was devastated by the spill.

There are plans for a special Christmas shopping market at Palafox and Gregory.

Ms. Dubuisson also noted that Councilman John Jerralds has replaced Councilman Larry Johnston on the TDC and that Commissioner Grover Robinson resigned from that tourism council.

Ms. Dubuisson and Ms. Johnson were asked to follow up on getting our sign funded through the PCIP grant.

Plans for the Black History Festival Feb. 10-12 include a chili cook-off and Gospel music event.

Forms for making a pledge to buy a brick for the Pensacola Public Library were passed around. Bricks will cost $100. Talk to Gene Fischer, library director; Ben Townes, architect; or Bette Hooton if you have questions. Pledges must be paid by March 1. The new library addition will open by September 2012.

Dr. Gloria Horning reported that Habitat for Humanity received a $26 million grant to build houses. Right now, the agency is looking for people for 117 homes. The most recent project is the Camshire Meadows development on Gulf Beach Highway off Wheeler Road toward Dogtrack. They are planning to build 240 more houses throughout the community. She said that Habitat would be handing over a big check for taxes on their houses at the Escambia County Commissioners meeting on Thursday.

Members voted to have a holiday party after the Dec. 7 meeting, allocating up to $125 for this. Ms. Williamson promised to bring some of her chocolates.

Ms. Curry adjourned the meeting at 6:30 pm.


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