West Bench Neighborhood Association
Annual Meeting 2/9/17
Ronnie Marler started the meeting by introducing himself and the other officers who where present. 34 people were in attendance.
Ronnie spoke about the different projects we are working on –
Spaulding Ranch – We hope that we will be able to have permanent meeting space when the park is done.
Fairmont Park – walking paths, picnic area and more parking. Some new people were surprised that Fairmont is owned by Boise Public Schools (BPS). We have drawn up conceptual improvements but it has to be approved by BPS and Boise City Parks and Rec.
Milwaukee Park – the home plates will be turned around – hitting the ball away from the center of the park.
Writing grants for more signal boxes to be covered.
Neighborhood Night Out for area. Jeannette Marler has volunteered to be in charge.
Called for election of board members – Questions?
What are the duties of the treasurer? Taking care of the checkbook. Needs to serve on grant writing committee.
How many post cards announcing our annual meeting were sent? Ronnie explained that Boise City Print shop did the printing and mailing to our area. The cost will be deducted from our grant.
Volunteers to serve on the board are: Tamera Donovan, Jennifer and Kolby Wood, Jim and Sheila Dahlman, Robert and Peggy Rangel, Tory Jones and Jeannette Marler.
Election of officers – President – Ronnie Marler
Vice President – Jim Hall
Secretary – Mary Margaret Draper
Treasurer – Katie Parks
Ronnie explained that you don’t have to be on the board to serve on a committee. The committees are:
Public Agency Committee – This consists of watching the following public meetings/agendas for ACHD, planning and zoning and parks. If you are on their list of interested parties you will get a hard copy. Discussion followed on the storage units on Cole and Swift. Most people on Swift were not aware or what was going on and unprepared to testify about the impact of the additional traffic.
Reinvestment Committee – this is a two grant system.
Mini-grants for $2,000.00 or less for website development, flyers, refreshments for meetings, fund raisers. The larger grants were not discussed but involve large projects.
A questions of non-profits (501C3) were discussed. We will put in for a grant to cover the cost in 2018.
Grievance Committee – If a member of the association disagrees with the board there is a process at the City that can be addressed.
Community Building Committee – Fund raisers. We were successful with a yard sale several years ago.
Questions – The charter school has not renovated the drains that were promised to the neighborhood. Discussion followed.
Iron Drive – N. Glenwood vacant lot? It is a part of Spaulding Ranch property.
Fairview road plan? It is under it’s first phase of road changes.
What has been the process so far with the Spaulding Ranch?
GGLL of Salt Lake got the consulting contract and met with WBNA and local agriculture groups and irrigation districts for suggestions on what we would like to see in the park. The meeting at Capital High School was well attended and over 140 people who went over maps of the area and made suggestions on what they would like to park to be. Since it is on the historical register all the buildings will be restored. The meeting at Valley View Elementary revealed that it was on the Federal register and is eligible for federal grant money. General discussion followed.
Questions on the strip of land across the road from Capital High School which belongs to the Settlers Canal. They don’t want to put in a path in that area as they don’t want people near the open canal.
Next regular meeting is March 9 at 7 p.m. at the Cole/Ustick Library.