CANA August 2019 Meeting Minutes

CANA August 2019 Meeting Minutes - Call To Order: 7:02PM
Attendance: George Heeren, Nicole Schroeder, Greg Smith, Gaylon Heetland, Annette Lorenz, Denise Klemp, Rose Heetland, Ashley Vanorny, Lt. Tobey Harrison, Jackie MacLaren

• CRPD - Lt. Tobey Harrison: Review of CRPD Calls for Service. Reminder to lock your vehicles! Most thieves that have been apprehended in our area work in teams and primarily benefit from unlocked vehicles. Neighboring areas that have been hit with robberies have had weapons confiscated. School is starting and CRPD has been hosting trainings in the community for schools and businesses for active threat response protocols. 
• CRFD - Chief Greg Smith: Home Safety Visits by CRFD officials will be able to provide 100 smoke alarms for free to qualifying residents because of a grant that was received by CRFD. Review of Neighborhood News. Citizens Fire Academy is now full for September 2019, but CRFD will host another in September 2020, if anyone is interested.
• SAFE CR - Annette Lorenz: No major reports in our neighborhood recently. Reminder to call non-emergency police at (319) 286-5491 with any reports to be investigated. Annette commented that CANA is a great neighborhood with limited nuisance properties and reports in general. 
  • George Heeren commented on the 17th St SW home it as has been mentioned at meetings before - confirmed that it is being fixed up and rented. 
  • Jackie MacLaren asked about on-street parking concerns. Lt. Harrison and Annette commented that CRPD will come and tag a vehicle for removal, if reported to non-emergency police / SAFE CR. 
  • Ashley Vanorny commented that the City of CR has an app with the capability to geotag photos and report concerns to the city. 
  • Rose Heetland commented that the construction crew that is working along 8th Ave SW on the Paving for Progress project has been great to work with. Construction is still scheduled to be completed by October 2019. 
• National Night Out Wrap-Up: We hosted about 80 people on Tuesday 8/6 at Cleveland Park. Feedback was great. Plenty of food! Games and crafts, courtesy of Central Church of Christ. We only raised $7 in donations to the Playground Project, but did speak about it with neighbors. Expenses are being reported to the City this week for reimbursement in the amount of $558.69, which includes a few non-National Night Out items. 
• Coffee with a Councilmember Wrap-Up: We hosted about 15 people at Johnson Ave HyVee last Friday 8/16 in the morning with Councilwoman Ashley Vanorny and Councilwoman Ann Poe. Those who attended specifically came to speak with them. Councilwoman Ann Poe had concerns about the sidewall installation at the home on 17th St SW / 8th Ave SW corner. She is personally looking into this. Councilwoman Ashley Vanorny enjoyed herself and agreed to again host the event in 2020. 
• Treasurer’s Report - Nicole Schroeder: Current bank balance is $1,260.52. We have $558.69 is checks for recent reimbursement from National Night Out as well as fundraising letters and envelopes and new CANA business cards. George Heeren is submitting the receipts for full reimbursement from the City tomorrow. Remaining bank balance should be $1,260.52 once City reimbursement is received. Playground Project savings account has a balance of $594.93, plus $7 incoming this week from National Night Out donations. This balance includes $500 check from UICCU/Green State Credit Union’s donation. 
  • Nicole commented that she will be working on documenting prior years expenses to review actuals vs. budgets for 2020 and 2021 projections to enhance neighborhood beautification projects. 
  • Gaylon and Rose Heetland commented they would like to see funding be used at the top of the Chandler St SW hill near the Jefferson entrance as there will be some business changes along the CANA border that may affect the look of our neighborhood. 
  • Ashley Vanorny commented that she is personally looking into “Smoke-Free” signs for the park. 
• Playground Improvement Project & Fundraising: Review of budget and equipment. Currently at roughly 19% funded. 
  • We have 14 outstanding grant/sponsorship applications. We have been deemed ineligible or declined for many as well, but Nicole Schroeder is continuing to submit applications almost daily. Jackie MacLaren offered to assist with this. 
  • George Heeren has been in contact with Boy Scout Troop #33. We will be paying them $200 to hand-deliver our fundraising letters vs. spending almost $600 on stamps in the coming weeks. Letters have been printed and folded. 
  • Nicole Schroeder will be sharing the budget projections to determine what CANA can contribute as a donation to the playground project from our current FY20 budget as well as what may be leftover from FY19. Findings will be shared at the next meeting. We are also looking at scheduling a separate meeting to work on fundraising ideas in the next two weeks. 
• Neighborhood Picnic This Sunday: Central Church of Christ is hosting their annual Neighborhood Picnic on Sunday 8/25 from 4 to 7pm. They will be serving pulled pork and goat sandwiches along with side dishes to all who come. Neighbors are encouraged to bring desserts and games to share. Set up is at 2pm. If you would like to bring a dessert to share that would be great. If you have any questions, the best person to contact is Susan Johnston at Central Church of Christ. 
• Neighborhood Finance Corporation Celebration: NFC is celebrating one year in Cedar Rapids with an event on 9/12/19 from 4 to 6pm at 1110 Old Marion Road, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402. RSVP to Taran at twhite@neighborhoodfinance.org by 9/6/19. 

Meeting adjourned at 8:15pm.

Calls for Service & Neighborhood News

NFC Party Invitation

2019 Fall Leaf Collection Information