There will be a public hearing before the Plan Commission on Monday evening at 6 p.m. concerning the funding for the mural. Joe Starkweather and Zack Bartel are looking for support and backers. The funding will be a matching funds situation. We voted $20.00 to the effort in our March meeting.
The City Committee working on the Rail Corridor and East Washington has developed a report. We have also received a document of changes EINPC would like to see to the report. It has been suggested to create a TIF district along East Washington from Blair Street to the Yahara River. See city web site to read their report and contact Lee Christensen for a copy of the EINPC list of suggested changes.
The above discussion start talk of our representation in the area and how we could get better influence as a neighborhood association. Our elected representative to EINPC has not been to a meeting since the spring election. A request for interested individuals to volunteer was unanswered. Bob Sommerfeldt was asked if he would cover the position. He agreed to do it. A motion was made and seconded and passed for Bob Sommerfeldt to be OMPNA representative to EINPC.
Neighborhood Plan Applications. This year the city has about 2/3 the budget it had last year for matching funds to do plans. This would be about $20,000. If we apply for funds we have to come up with the funds to match. With the cuts to the Historic Society we doubt they will have any money to give to the effort. We held a discussion on ways to obtain funds. The most promising idea was to approach businesses in the area for donations to the cause. Suggestions were MG&E and Reynolds and long with the developers in our neighborhood.
Lee Christensen was contacted by the city about using or releasing the funds for graffiti removal. We decided to let the money go because we do not currently have the problem that led to the application for funds.
The discussion of how to increase the influence of our association was brought up again. It was suggested we move the night of our meeting so we could have our alder present. Lee said he would speak with Brenda and see if there was a better night.
Meeting adjourned.