SWAN-Elgin

As approved on February 15

Procedural

§ Charlene called the meeting to order at 7:02. There were 14 attendees.
§ Need to form nominating committee in March, present slate in April, vote in May§ Tom has stepped down as Vice President, effective immediately
§ Treasurer’s Report – Charlene motioned to approve the Treasurer’s Report; Crysta seconded.
§ Mike made a motion to approve the minutes from November, which was seconded by Gene.

Committees
§ Mike Curtin – Applied for grant to get seeds; also applied for and got $1000 grant from Prairie Valley YMCA to start gardens. (Presented check to Gene to deposit.) We will provide 20 grants of $50 each to community members to start gardens. Apply to preservation month in May – 1^st 20 people to sign up for Garden Walk. Kathy will work with Mike, Pat.

§ Mike submitted order to Living Lands & Water to receive 2700 trees (worth approximately $10k). Needs people to help man delivery dates (mid-April). 2 year old oaks (about 4′ tall). 1500 will go to Burnidge Woods. Mike to contact media

§ Joe – Code Enforcement: 655 Oak has judgment against them, but city has no jurisdiction to enforce

§ Overhead sewer lines – city no longer going to charge interest on loans

§ Mike – City says sewer separation should be complete in five years

§ Weds Jan 27^th at 3 PM Committee will meet to discuss National Street Metra area

§ 18 more houses approved for plaques at last Heritage Commission meeting

§ Gene made a motion to tithe 10% of our balance to the church for rental, Judy 2^nd. Motion carries.

§ Brainstorm ideas for 2010, including: Sustainability, continued focus on grants and city relations, garden walk/house tour

§ Dues are due at February meeting, $10 per member

§ Kathy motions that we’ll pay half the fee for plaquing for up to 8 houses per calendar year. $25 each, first come, first serve for an active SWAN member in good standing

§ Adjourn 7:49

Below are the minutes from the October 19, 2009 SWAN meeting, as approved on November 16.

Procedural

• Charlene called the meeting to order at 7:07 PM. 21 people attended
• New format – speakers in even months, business in odd months
• New chair of Safety Committee – Tina Fisher – streetlights
• Steering Committee – of all committee chairs. Will meet monthly to share ideas, brainstorm
• Jody Stepnowski will be PR chair
• Turn in any fundraising orders to Mike
• Tom motioned to approve minutes; Mike seconded. Motion carried.

Guest Speaker – David Kaptain, City Council

• New Urbanism, Sustainable Urbanism
• Charlene – our goal is to become the first sustainable neighborhood in Elgin

Sustainability Master Plan

• Working with several firms, including Neighborhood Technology Consultants, ERA – will work together with 9 workgroups to determine plan for sustainability plan. Will develop new ordinances, determine which existing are obstacles
• Transportation, Urban Design, Green Infrastructure, Green Buildings, Water, Alternative Energy, Outreach, Recycling, two others as workgroups in Elgin – volunteers still needed, talk to Dave Kaptain

Tips from 1917 Plan of Elgin

• Remove overhead utilities
• Playground within sight of every home
• Extend Souster to river, connect to Bluff City Blvd via bridge
• Walnut Ave – subway with long ramps to connect National Street Metra with State St via Standish
• Limit Elgin to one train station

Adjourn

The meeting adjourned at 8:50 PM. Next meeting will be November 16.

Meeting Minutes
May 18, 2009

· Charlene called the meeting to order at 7:02 PM. 15 people were in attendance.

· Judy moved to approve the April minutes; Gene seconded

· Gene presented the Treasurer’s Report. The current balance is $682.86. Tom moved to approve it; Kathy seconded.

· Elgin Police – Officer Ziegler – It’s been pretty quiet lately with most incidents caused by juveniles. Recent incidents include a stolen lawn mower on Wilcox and slashed tires on Moseley Street.

· Code Enforcement – Joe Wozny:

Code is spending a lot of time and effort keeping an eye on vacant houses, thwarting break-ins and squatters. They have recently had problems 420 S. State, 612 Walnut and 453 Hendee. There are about 60-70 foreclosures in the neighborhood.

· Attend the City Council meeting on Weds 5/27 to discuss mandatory deconversion programs for foreclosure

· BBQ – 3rd Saturday in June (the 20th); see Charlene or Jaime to volunteer. ECN and the City will co-sponsor. This year the BBQ will move to Oak Street in front of Lowrie School

· Environmental:

Stacey is nearly done with the rain barrel

Tom is working with Deborah Allen to set a free drop-off day for electronics recycling

Mike is speaking Wednesday 5/20 at 7 PM at In the Neighborhood deli

· Preservation – The trolley is reserved for May 23, tickets are available for $5 each at both Ziegler’s Ace locations and Books at Sunset. Rebecca Hunter will be narrating. See Dawn or Kathy to volunteer or make cookies

· Mayor’s Awards were May 15. 12 plaques were awarded – of 14 total city wide – to SWAN residents

· President’s Report:

No news on zoning changes or the San Filipo property

Dangerous Dogs ordinance – Charlene will speak in front of the City Council on June 10. NWNA has filed a FOIA request for dog attacks and will discuss it at their June 4 meeting.

The brochures are finished and being distributed

Mike is the new Fundraising Committee chair

Erin is the new Garage Sale chair, with Krista on the committee. Target dates are July 24-26

Parking Ban – The trial will be expanded through the end of the year, but the hours will be changed to 2 AM – 3 PM.

· Pat Hill presented about rain gardens.

· The next meeting is June 15

· Meeting adjourned at 8:54