January 2005 minutes

4 in attendance – Elizabeth, Chris, Jeph, and John

Chris wants to expand neighborhood knowledge of not only how to get involved with our meetings, but how to get involved in community improvements and planning in general. We have become a bit dependent on email and some residents are not aware of when we meet, and some of the decisions we are making. Chris is going to make a flyer for the February meeting and send an electronic copy and print copies to anyone who wants to distribute them either door to door, or help post them on a church or business bulletin board. Businesses that are members should be approached to help display info. Chris will work to put the meeting onto citywide websites and newspaper and magazine advertisements if possible (like city council meetings are). “Permanent” signs stating our meeting time and PO Box may be useful at key locations, and yard signs could possibly be placed out at key corners and the school on meeting days. Phone trees are another possibility. Chris afterthought – refrigerator magnets with info. Any ideas or volunteers, please contact Chris

Treasurer report:

We have $1022. We did not do a fall newsletter, which saved some money. Elizabeth is willing to continue keeping the bank account records and membership info for now. She will only be an “active” participant in meetings when time allows her.

If you have interest in fundraising, let us know. Some ideas include community yard sales and making and selling “Belmont bat boxes” at some profit to go into the fund. (Does anyone know where to get guano – bat dung – to attract the bats?)

One idea is to target projects, such as possibly acquiring properties for parks and open space, and having campaigns around them, which may help people focus donations.

Membership update time!

Its time to renew annual dues, $6 per person or household. This pro-rates to 50 cents a month! Please mail to PO Box 34, Charlottesville, 22902, or bring dues to the next meeting. Make checks payable to the Belmont Neighborhood Association. Dues pay for us to keep a permanent PO Box and publish newsletters, help with picnics, etc. You can also give payments to Elizabeth.

Planting in spaces near sidewalks

Some property owners would like to improve the appearance of the neighborhood by planting something other than grass in spaces between the sidewalk and the street, and on steep slopes. Putting in a ground cover that is taller than grass and more attractive can help hide litter and add to our neighborhoods beauty. Since the City has passed a new law requiring property owners to maintain the space adjacent to their yard, this can also save that person from having to mow. Elizabeth has some extra daylilies that can be used for this, and Pauli and the Linden school plant rescue squad might also have some plants. If you have extra materials or want to help adopt a spot in this casual manner, please let us know.

ACTION – Chris will contact Susan about the property at Belmont and Rialto, and his at Bolling and Monticello Ave.

Discussion about infill development. John is concerned about the effect of townhouses at Avon and Palatine. Two Planned Unit Developments (PUDs) have been approved. Overall infill is a good idea, there is concern about low quality construction and appearance, traffic, and loss of all open space to development. We may want to identify parcels of particular public value and try to purchase them to protect some open space, which will be more needed if we “urbanize”

The Clark PTO is reaching out as asking to get together on some projects. One immediate item is a possible memorial garden at Clark school, which the Linden plant rescue squad may also wish to donate to? Chris afterthought – could it be put in the proposed Mont Ave. curb extension?

ACTION: Try to align available plants (and labor?) with memorial garden project.

ACTION: Check into trench at Belmont Park – when to be closed up?

ACTION: Contact churches, especially new Sojourners, to see how we can interface.