Bel Mar Shores Civic Association Meeting Tuesday, October 16, 2008 Jan Platt Library
Association officers in attendance: Steve Elting – acting President Sharon Toro – Treasurer Pat Figley - Secretary
Also in attendance: 18 neighbors/Civic Association Members
1. Steve Elting began the meeting by thanking everyone for coming. He informed the group that Sheri Schobert has stepped aside as President of the Bel Mar Shores Civic Association. As acting President, Mr. Elting presided over the meeting.
2. Steve Elting and Toni Thompson-Amis talked about the Hillsborough County Civic Assn. conference they both attended.
3. Toni Thompson-Amis shared information about the grant writing workshop she attended. The City of Tampa funds a neighborhood grant program. The goals of the program include strengthening and bringing communities together.
To secure a grant the Association would need to:
Mrs. Amis presented an idea for a project: enhancing the medians along El Prado using a “green” approach – adding native Florida plants and xeriscaping concepts.
Additional project ideas suggested included:
Mrs. Amis volunteered to write the grant and suggested the following timeline for the process:
4. Lt. Johnson, Division I Sector, City of Tampa Police Department attended the meeting to educate the Association on how the police operate in the Districts.
Lt. Johnson reported that the crime rate is down 48% over a five year period because of a new approach the Police have been taking when crimes are reported. Previously with the “call taker” approach the details of the crime were taken and a report was filed. Now, with more research into the details of the crime it is more of a “crime fighters” approach. Police are focusing more on the six percent of career criminals that commit 70% of the crimes.
To prevent becoming a victim of crime, Lt. Johnson offered the following tips to make yourself a “hard target”:
5. Steve Elting talked about the Bel Mar Shores Civic Association website. He has used a free on-line template to create a website for the neighborhood. You can visit it at http://sites.google.com/site/belmarshores. Mr. Elting noted that the domain name is rather long and that the Association could consider a shorter name – something easier to use, one that would come up on a Google search however this would likely mean paying a monthly fee.
The group also discussed printing information out that is posted on the website for those that do not have internet access.
Much discussion followed about what could or should be posted on the website. Suggestions included things such as:
6. Several suggestions to increase membership and attendance at neighborhood meetings and events were discussed. Ideas included:
Block captain meeting dates for 2009 will be: January 22 Joan Coleman’s home (3626 Beach Drive) March 19 location TBD May 21 location TBD July 16 location TBD September 17 location TBD November 19 location TBD
7. When the floor was then opened for discussion of any other items a neighbor expressed concern over the size of the gas station “beer and wine” sign at the corner of El Prado and Westshore.
8. Thank you to Randy and Missy Planthaber for donating the gift certificates that were raffled off that evening. The lucky winners were:
The meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m.
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