Valentine Neighborhood Association General Meeting
Held Feb. 22, 2023, 7 p.m. at Penn Valley Community College Education Center room EC004
Attendees: Matt Stevens, Rachel Whitsitt, Mary Jo Draper, Chris Jordan, Corie Vogel, Scott Simpson, Adam Carey, Cecilia King, Linda McCurry, Jim Martin, Kelley Martin, Kim Kimbrough, Katheryn Golden, Christy Gaddis.
Welcome
Vice-president Christy Gaddis called the meeting to order and welcomed everyone.
Guest Speakers
Kim Kimbrough, Executive Director, Westport Regional Business League. Kimbrough gave an update of four projects his group is involved with that could impact Valentine.
- Stormwater Management Project: The WRBL is working with city officials on a plan to mitigate flash flooding that impacts Westport and some parts of the neighborhood. Businesses can get up to 8 feet of water in these floods. Councilmembers Shields and Bunch have been helping and the project is moving forward. It involves building a temporary water storage vault under the Dr. Jeremiah Cameron Park on Broadway at 43rd Street.
- Wayfinding Project: Kimbrough said his group is hoping to add signage in Westport that lets people know parking is available in the Westport Garage north of Manor Square. This will benefit Valentine neighbors who live south of 39th Street if visitors to Westport understand they can park in the garage instead of on the street.
- Westport Wednesdays: This event is held the last Wednesday of every month, featuring specials at various businesses. More info
- St. Patrick’s Day: WRBL is once again helping to sponsor St. Patrick’s Day events.
- Meet the Candidates Night: Westport, along with Valentine , the Heart of Westport and Plaza Westport Neighborhoods, is hosting a Meet the Candidates’ night on March 23. Details are on the Valentine website and will be shared in newsletters.
- Westport Overlay: The business league is asking the city to enact an overlay district for Westport. The district would include the south section of Valentine from 39th to 40th Streets. It would make the recommendations in the Westport Plan city policy. Chris Jordan represented Valentine on the steering committee for the West[port Plan. Kimbrough said it sets standards for land use and scale in the district.
- Speed humps at 40th and Pennsylvania: Kimbrough also told us his group is talking to the city about installing speed humps at 40th and Pennsylvania in an effort to reduce crime in that area.
- March 11: Mark your calendars for the Westport 5K run.
Kathryn Golden, PorchFestKC Organizer.
Golden said she would like to hold PorchFestKC in Valentine and Roanoke again this year, after a hiatus during the Covid years. PorchFestKC was last held in Valentine in 2017 and this year would be a similar event. She said registration for porches will begin in June and band registration will open in July. Food trucks will be available in both neighborhoods. Golden said she does not plan to place bands on porches in Valentine south of 39th Street, since those porches did not attract as many visitors during the last PorchFestKC. More information
Existing Business/Updates
Revised 2023 Budget: Jim Martin, Treasurer
Martin presented the revised 2023 budget. He explained that the budget contains a $760 deficit, but the neighborhood does have money in the bank to make up for the deficit. He said the board did not include funding for the holiday luminaria this year because of low participation in the creation of the luminaria last year. There are leftover supplies from 2022 if any neighbors would like to organize the luminaria effort this coming December. He also said he allocated $500 for water but we may not need to spend that much. The board has also recommended that all money raised through community garden fees should be kept by the garden committee for its activities. One member asked why the budget included no money for membership, which in the past has included funds to pay for a paper newsletter to be delivered to all Valentine addresses. Another asked if there had been discussion of raising dues and Martin said that had not been something to board considered in developing this budget. Adam Carey made a motion to approve, seconded by Chris Jordan. Motion passed unanimously.
Martin also reported that we have 51 paid memberships. Last year at this time we had 69.
He also said he would like to request neighborhood dumpsters for June 24 and Sept. 23. Linda McCurry made a motion, seconded by Cecilia King, to approve these dates. Motion passed unanimously.
New Business
Candidate Forum Updates, Mary Jo Draper, secretary and communications chair
Draper offered details on three candidate forums Valentine is helping to sponsor in order to educate members about the candidates for city council. Candidate forums
Committee Updates
David Snodgrass, chair of the safety committee, said that Officer Saunders has returned from pregnancy leave.
Word on the Street
Those present thanked Corie Vogel and her events committee helpers for a fantastic Valentine’s Day party.
In response to a question about why the ADA sidewalk repairs at Jefferson and 38th have been held up, Jim Martin said he spoke to the contracts and they said they were waiting for the blue tiles that will spell out the street names to be delivered.
Next Meeting: Match 22, 2023, 7 p.m. Penn Valley Community College, Education Center, room EC004.
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