Greensboro Neighborhood Congress (GNC)
Meeting Notes -– Thursday, October 9, 2008 

The November meeting of the GNC convened provided updates for several ongoing and potential Congress issues. 

Membership - Chairperson Laura Jackson reports the Warnersville Community applied for GNC membership and will be voted on at the next meeting.  Laura distributed a GNC Voting Authorization form, to update each neighborhood's contact information, authorized voters, and alternates, and requests each GNC neighborhood complete and return the form to Donna Newton. 

SPARC - Guest Ashley Neal, a Community Organizer with SPARC of UNCG (Students Preventing Alcohol Related Consequences), requests that GNC members contact her with any specific alcohol-related concerns in their neighborhoods.  (336) 334-3139,  a_neal@uncg.edu.  Visit http://sparc.uncg.edu/ for details.  Donna Newton announced Guilford County is accepting applications for a Substance Abuse Coordinator. 

GNC Issues Updates: 

RUCO (Rental Unit Certificate of Occupancy) – Greensboro's RUCO ordinance reinspection requirements have changed based on compromise among stakeholders.  Reinspections of residential rental property will be not only complaint-driven but also include an annual reinspection of 2% of the total body of residential rental properties, which is 10% over the next 5 years as requested by the Congress. Also, all units will receive a comprehensive external inspection. The RUCO ordinance now also includes a requirement for a Tenant Education Program in each City Council district each year.  All residential renters are reminded to ask landlords for a copy of their rental unit's RUCO certificate.  City Council has been asked to make a conscious effort to better balance RUCO Board participants so the Board is not biased or dominated by vested interests. 

City Boards and Commissions - Amy Williams, GNC Administrative Assistant and 3^rd year law student at Elon School of Law, reviewed several City of Greensboro Boards and Commissions that have direct bearing on neighborhoods, discussing their constituency and requirements.  Those mentioned included: Minimum Housing Standards Commission, RUCO Board, Advisory Commission on Trees, Planning Board, Zoning Commission, Commission on Human Relations, and Commission on the Status of Women. GNC members are urged to apply for and participate on City Boards and Commissions.  Historically, residents of City Council District 1 and 5 have not had representation on these Boards and Commissions.  To apply, submit the City of Greensboro Interest Form for Service on Boards and Commissions, and express your interest to your City Councilperson and the GNC, requesting their support.

http://www.greensboro-nc.gov/citygovernment/boardsandcommissions/ 

Westridge Neighborhood's success implementing a Neighborhood Conservation District and Kirkwood Neighborhood's recent rezoning requests are sited as examples of proactive neighborhood actions brought by neighbors to City Planning and Zoning Boards. 

Front Yard Parking Ordinance – Effective July 2009 the City of Greensboro will enforce a new  parking ordinance for single-family homes and duplexes.  Parking spaces and drives must be constructed, delineated, and adequately maintained with hard all-weather surface such as asphalt, concrete, brick, gravel.  Grass and bare earth areas are no longer acceptable for parking areas.  No more than 40% of the front yard area may be delineated for front yard driveways.  (Note: Historic Districts already have specific parking area requirements.) 

Sign Ordinance – A Committee is working on signage standards, language restrictions, etc.  For information contact Marsh Prause, Chairperson of the GNC Issues/Bylaws Committee.

Marsh.Prause@smithmoorelaw.com  

GNC Committee Needs – Our Membership, Issues & Bylaws, Program, Communications, and Executive committees request GNC members volunteer to participate in committee tasks. 

Neighborhood Specific Issues -  

Concerned Citizens of Northeast Greensboro invite GNC members to the 10^th anniversary celebration of their organization, December 4, 6:00 pm, Peeler Center, including the ground breaking for the new McGurt-Horton Public Library.  For over 10 years, this consortium of 10 Greensboro neighborhoods has improved traffic access, signage, added crosswalks, and are now seeing results of many plans.  They paved the way for much neighborhood activism! 

Eastside Park Neighborhood announced the opening of “My Sister's House”, a residential facility for single teen mothers and their children. 

Guilford Hills Neighborhood sells Luminaria kits for $6.50, most of which is a donation to th Winston-Salem Ronald McDonald House, allowing families of children treated at Baptist Hospital to stay in a residential facility for $5/night.  To purchase, contact Michele Marine at 202-8653. 

Greensboro Sustainability Council meeting is Thursday, November 13, 4-7 pm, at Holy Trinity Church on Greene Street in the Fisher Park Neighborhood.  Bring your own mug. 

November 18 City Council will discuss City purchase of the Canada Dry building and Coliseum Inn as part of the High Point Road Corridor improvement plan.  Laura Jackson of Ardmore Park Neighborhood encourages GNC members to speak. 

The next meeting of the Greensboro Neighborhood Congress is our annual pot luck supper

Thursday, December 11, 2008,  6:00 pm at a location to be determined.  

Notes submitted by Ann Stringfield of the Fisher Park Neighborhood, November 12, 2008

Greensboro Neighborhood Congress (GNC)
Meeting Notes -– Saturday, September 14, 2008

The September meeting of the GNC was hosted by the American Red Cross, Greensboro Chapter at their 1501 Yanceyville Street facility. GNC CoChair Art Davis called the meeting to order followed by participant introductions.

Red Cross representatives and their volunteers presented an overview of the capabilities of the Red Cross locally and internationally, as well as sharing their individual stories of incidents that initiated their passionate association with the Red Cross. Facts about the local Red Cross Chapter and there tremendous contributions are at http://gso.redcross.org. 

Local Red Cross facilities include a blood donor center, a first aid training center including pet first aid, and a Supply Center which maintains a 3-day emergency supplies. The Red Cross receives no regular federal funds and encourages your support and volunteerism in any of their service areas. Emergency services of the Red Cross include services to our armed forces, international tracing and messaging, and disaster services, which are prepared and operate 24/7/365.

Business Meeting of the GNC:

Denise Turner, representing the Greensboro Partnership, encouraged voting for a proposed November 4 local 1/4-cent sales tax increase and various local bond proposals categorized as Transportation, War Memorial Auditorium, Parks & Recreation, and Housing.

Beth McKee-Huger, representing the Greensboro Housing Coalition, encouraged voting for a proposed Greensboro City Housing Bond intended to reduce a number of foreclosures through homeowner counseling, home purchase assistance, and housing rehabilitation, to make up for anticipated federal housing fund shortfalls.

Todd Rotruck, GNC representative to the City of Greensboro Rental Unit Certificate of Occupancy (RUCO) Board, encouraged support of a RUCO Board recommendation for a system of automatic RUCO renewals except in cases where there is a RUCO violation triggered by a citizen's rental housing complaint, and continuation of fees for violations.
Discussion included concern that a citizen-generated RUCO complaint system might not be as effective as necessary. An alternate motion was made and passed to support annual RUCO reinspection of any residential rental properties that had previous RUCO violations, plus development and implementation of a random sample system to reinspect 10% of previous RUCO inspections, plus a system to identify and inspect new rental properties.

The next meeting of the Greensboro Neighborhood Congress is
Thursday, October 9, 2008, 7-9 pm
Presbyterian Life Center of First Presbyterian Church
in the 700 block of North Greene Street
Topic is a public Forum with Greensboro Police Chief Tim Bellamy.
Included will be remarks by “Mo” Greene, our new Superintendent of Guilford County Schools.

Notes submitted by Ann Stringfield of the Fisher Park Neighborhood, September, 13, 2008

Greensboro Neighborhood Congress (GNC)
Meeting Notes -– Thursday, August 14, 2008

After introductions, participants heard details of local grants available to neighborhood organizations, as detailed below.

Project Access of Guilford County - presented by Shaunesi Griffin.

Project Access provides free or modest cost health care services to uninsured adults aged 19 and older in Guilford County whose individual income is under $23,400/year or whose family of four income is under $47,700/year. Project Access provides health services at over a dozen sites throughout Guilford County thanks to a network of generous doctors and health care volunteers. Copays are on a sliding scale based on ability to pay. Project Access currently serves over 14,500 patients. Visit www.p4hm.org  or call 336-256-0930.

Community Gardens and Carolina Yards – presented by Karen Neill

Community Gardens are garden spaces developed on shared and/or public land and they grow local foods, promote healthy eating and exercise, instill a shared sense of community, and provide therapeutic experiences through gardening. Volunteers work together to cultivate gardens, share the work, and share the produce. Guidelines for successful community gardens are available through our NC Cooperative Extension Service including advice on group commitment, water sources, locations, training, grants available, etc. Visit a highly successful Community Garden at the NC Cooperative Extension Service, 3309 Burlington Road, Greensboro.

Carolina Yards is a cooperative program teaching a simple way to design, install and maintain your own lawn and landscape, to create an attractive drought-tolerant yard while saving you time, energy and money. As you incorporate these principles into your landscape, your yard will help conserve water resources and reduce pollution. http://guilford.ces.ncsu.edu/content/carolinayards . For either program, contact karen_neill@ncsu.edu  or 336-375-5876.

Greensboro Beautiful Neighborhood Initiative Grants – presented by Tennie Skladanowski

Greensboro Beautiful annual grants assist neighborhoods initiating beautification and ecological projects on public property, such as public neighborhood parks, grass medians, and the grassy strip between sidewalks and streets. Grants are up to $1,000 and your application should include diagrams, photographs, and specific information describing how the project will be maintained and sustained (watered, weeded, etc.)
Contact Tennie at 378-9163 or www.greensborobeautiful.org  for details. Grant application will be available online by early September at the latest.
October 31, 2008 grant application deadline.
Memorial/Honor Tree Program and Neighborhoods Program – presented by Mike Cousimano, City of Greensboro Urban Forester

The Memorial / Honor Tree Program is a partnership between the City of Greensboro and Greensboro Beautiful through which you donate $75 and they plant a tree of your choice upon public property at a location of your choice. You and the person you honor receive a letter of recognition. Learn more at http://www.greensboro-nc.gov/departments/Planning/forestry/programs/memorial.htm

NeighborWoods is another partnership between the City of Greensboro and Greensboro Beautiful to help reforest Greensboro by planting trees in neighborhoods with active participation of neighborhood residents. Like many cities, Greensboro is experiencing a significant loss of tree canopy. NeighborWoods is a competitive annual grant program and one neighborhood per year is selected to receive up to 150 trees. Application deadline is May 30 and lanting is the first week of November.

The City of Greensboro also celebrates Arbor Day each year by providing 6,000 dogwood seedlings to 3rd graders in our public schools. Contact Mike Cousimano 336-373-2150
http://www.greensboro-nc.gov/departments/Planning/forestry/programs/neighborwoods.htm

Fund for Democratic Communities – presented by Ed Whitfield

The Fund for Democratic Communities fosters authentic democratic processes, such as inclusive decision-making, so our communities are better places to live. Grants of between $500 to $10,000 are available twice per year to organizations that are, or are affiliated with, 501(c)3 non-profit organizations. Diverse grant examples include those dealing with minimum wage issues, community land issues, reading promotion projects, etc.
Grant application is available online at http://www.f4dc.org/grants.php
Contact the Fund 4 Democratic Communities, 1214 Grove Street, Greensboro, NC 27403 336-617-5329 grants@f4dc.org  www.f4dc.org
August 23 grant workshop and letters of intent deadline.
September 10 grant application deadline.

City of Greensboro Neighborhood Small Projects Grants – presented by Russ Clegg

Each year the City of Greensboro Housing & Community Development department offers competitive grants for neighborhoods to have capital projects on public City property. Example include neighborhood signage on city property, park improvements, etc.
he total amount available, distributed among several successful projects, approaches $100,000/year. City Council eventually provides final approval for projects.
Early September grant workshop.
Grant application is available at http://www.greensboro-nc.gov/NR/rdonlyres/D6E0AE56-F46B-4BFD-B2F7-B57110AB8F1D/0/NSPP0809.pdf
Questions? Contact Russ Clegg, 336-373-2211, russ.clegg@greensboro-nc.gov .
October 31 grant application deadline.


Building Stronger Neighborhoods Grants – presented by Donna Newton

Neighborhood grants ranging from $300 to $3,000 are awarded annually with support from multiple local foundations to strengthen community relationships, develop leadership programs, health programs, safety programs, spanning age groups, beautification, etc.
Any neighborhood, or any group of 5 or more households forming a group, may apply. Applications are simple to complete and are available via Donna Newton.
Contact Donna Newton 336-851-2748 bdnewt@yahoo.com 
September 17, 6:030-7:30 pm grant seeker workshop.
September 30 application deadline.


Greensboro Neighborhood Congress (GNC) business meeting

Membership – Laura Jackson anticipates several new membership applications and encourages all GNC members to spread the word about GNC participation. Tiko Wallace of the Lamrockton Community is willing to become the GNC representative for a recently redistricted area of Greensboro. Amy Williams, a resident of the Lindley Park neighborhood and a 3rd year student at Elon Law School, has been hired to assist the GNC
10 hours/week performing administrative work and researching issues.

Issues and Bylaws – Marsh Prause discussed current issues including Greensboro's sign ordinance, especially non-conforming billboards and electronic changeable signs, real estate signs, etc. Upcoming issues for consideration include difficulties with Public Records requests from the City.

Todd Rotruck discussed Rental Unit Certificate of Occupancy (RUCO) implementation approaching 2009 and difficulties of ongoing enforcement and reinspections. It is possible that future RUCO enforcement may become complaint-driven, focusing on educating renters of their rights. Any rental property owner should call the City of Greensboro Inspections Department at 336-373-2155 and request a RUCO inspection.

Finance – No report

Saturday, September 13, 2008, 9-11 a.m. Is our next GNC meeting at a different location, the Red Cross building at 1501 Yanceyville Street.

Notes submitted by Ann Stringfield of the Fisher Park Neighborhood, August 21, 2008