Chair-Elect Jill Van Langeveld opened meeting.
Announcements:

Residents are invited to the Spring Fiesta at the Northwest Multipurpose Center.

The Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on new parking requirements for new construction on June 9 at 5:45 p.m. at the City-County Building. Proposal calls for parking to be behind buildings versus on street.

A big thank you to those who helped with the Memory Grove clean up.

Myrna Burningham said the American Cancer Society's annual fund-raiser, Relay For Life, is holding a yard sale on June 19 at 2nd Avenue and G Street. Residents are asked to donate sale items or money. The Relay For Life will be July 16-17 at the Gallivan Center. Call Myrna at 355-9837 to make contributions.

City representative Gwen Springmeyer handed out event calendar for June. One note: Because so many people are out of town or busy on Saturday, the Farmer's Market is adding a mid-week market - Wednesdays, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Gateway.

Eric Nelson of KUED said the station will be airing debates as part of its Republican primary coverage.

Reports:
Police -- Officer Matt Evans handed out crime report for May. 799-4643. There were 42 car prowls, 12 burglaries, 8 auto incidents, 3 sexual assaults, 2 car strip problems and 1 aggravated assault, robbery and gang-related incidents. The aggravated assault involved a knife flashed between two individuals. The sexual assaults involved a date rape, an ex-boyfriend and consensual sex between minors. In the robbery, two men approached a woman in the parking structure at LDS Hospital and demanded her purse.

Burglaries, all of which occurred when no one was home, reached there highest level since last September. The Avenues is third behind Sugar House (75) and East Central (45) for such crimes. Evans said burglaries always increase when school lets out for the year. He said the city will be rolling out a new program to curb burglaries in the near future.

Q. What is the policy on reporting shots fired?
A. Evans said most reports of shots fired turn out to be firecrackers. He said police will cruise by the area but are waiting for a second report from someone saying someone or property has been hit. "We do respond to every call, though you may not see us," he said.

Q. Why don't police notify residents when they are pursuing someone through neighborhoods, which happened recently when a guy escaped from LDS Hospital?
A. In dynamic situation when police are chasing a felon, going house to house, there isn't time to warn people.

GACC Chairman Peter Corroon took over the meeting at 7:20 p.m.
Legislature - The quiet period continues, according to Rep. Ralph Becker. He asked residents to contact him if they have any proposals for legislation.

He reported that a closure study of Columbus Street will take a few years so in the interim UDOT will put lights at the intersection. If a decision is made to close the street, the lights will be removed. The Capitol Hill Community Council voted unanimously at last meeting to support putting lights in. Also, UDOT will sell two houses it owns at the intersection.

Sen. Paula Julander said many people are busy now either running for office or retiring. The Legislature is currently being moved to the annex to make way for restoration work on the Capitol, which is scheduled to be finished in 2007.

Street fair - Walt Zwierzycki, fair chairman, said that the fair is set for Sept. 18. The committee has tentatively selected the fair's location as 3rd Avenue, from Virginia Street east through Federal Heights. The site offers lots of shade and nearby parking.

Several residents of the area said the location does not seem adequate to support the fair, which last year attracted 15,000 people. They raised concerns about the narrowness of the street, parking and access. Suggestions were made to hold it at Reservoir or Popperton parks. The committee also was criticized for not alerting residents of the area of its plans.

Walt said that fair committee is interested in downsizing the event. Last year there were 240 vendors. This year, the committee wants to limit it to about 100 vendors. He said moving the fair around the Avenues allows different sections of the neighborhood to be showcased. Parking is an issue no matter where the fair is held. He apologized for not getting the neighborhood involved sooner.

He said the location is not firm yet, but the committee felt the 3rd Avenue site would work well. Walt reviewed logistics, which would involve closing off streets, setting up portable toilets, water stations and trash dumpsters. Two stages would be set up and a children's play area. The committee also needs some residents of the area to allow access to electricity and water hook ups. The fair committee will continue to discuss the location at its June 19 at 8 a.m., which will be held at a home in the area (126 Virginia Street). More volunteers are still needed. Contact Walt at 359-8513 or by email at walt9z@comcast.net

Also, design submissions for the Fair T-shirt are being sought. The prize is $150. Contact Mike Basquez at 558-2393 for information or to submit your design.

Memory Grove clean up - Phil Carroll said the annual clean up attracted the largest crowd yet. More 12 full truckloads of debris were carried away. Mid-May seems the best time to hold the clean up.

Olympic Legacy Project--A decision has been made to use the district's $100,000 in Olympic Legacy funds to renovate the steps from A Street and approximately 8th Avenue down into Memory Grove. Plans will be presented to the City Council next month. But the proposal is to create something similar to the steps on the west side of the grove. Also, work will be done to the Anderson Turret. Using volunteers for some of the work will allow the project to qualify for matching funds from the city. Peter Corroon also suggested money might be available from the County Council, based on comments by a council member at the last meeting. Anticipated cost of the project is $140,000, which the committee should be able to meet using the Legacy, match, county, Heritage Foundation, private donations and CIP money. The project would begin this fall.

Night Out Against Crime - Eric Jergensen said the event, scheduled for August 3, is a great way to get to know your neighbors and historically has been shown to help reduce crime. Residents are asked to host block parties. The police department is making available its canine unit and Officer McGruff available and the Avenues emergency preparedness representative also can stop by.

Peter Corroon said three people have already volunteered to hold block parties. Generally, the parties should wrap up between 9 and 10 p.m. He will check with the city to see if alcohol can be served at parties. Tip sheets are also available to help plan a party and boost crime watch activities in your area.

City Council---Eric said the city budget is nearing completion. Most services will be spared, but rising health care costs are forcing some cuts. Library usage is way up since the new facility opened. About four times more cards - 38,000 - were issued compared to the previous year. That is partly why the Library is seeking a $1.7 million tax increase, which would add $13 to the taxes on a $175,000 home. He said most of the constituents he has heard from favor the increase. To comment, call him at 532-4844.

He said there is a move to revamp traffic calming, which has been centered on use of speed humps. Some council members want to do away with speed humps. Jergensen said he favors continuing to use them. The city may install speed readers, which flash a speed reading at motorists, on speed limit poles. Such devices have been found to be very effective.

The library: $1.7 million tax increase proposed. In 2002, 8,000 new cards issued. 38,000 issued after new library opened. The process worked, costs more money. Options: cut personnel, hours of operation or materials acquisition. On $175,000 home, would go up $13.

Map project - Peter said he is trying to put together a committee to develop a map of the Avenues, which would show schools, businesses, churches, points of interest, etc. The map would be particularly useful for newcomers. Cost of producing the map will be covered by donations from real estate firms, local businesses and the GACC fund. Contact Peter at 381-2814 to volunteer.

UTA news - Justin Jones and Steve Swan of UTA reviewed plans for a commuter rail line from Ogden to Salt Lake City and a new light rail spur to West Jordan. UTA also is looking at adding Sunday bus service and using smaller buses for some routes. A complete redesign of the bus system will get underway next summer and will try to balance coverage and frequency.

One resident asked that UTA look to make sure Avenue routes are in sync with light rail schedules. Steve said UTA is looking at moving the 13th Avenue bus to 11th Avenue, which would shave 3 minutes of the route. The route was originally moved to 13th Avenue to accommodate Primary Children's Hospital, and ridership doesn't justify keeping it there.

Many residents spoke against the proposed change, saying it would cut out ridership from the higher Avenues. As one man said, "That is the only bus stop I use. You cut that out, I'm done with UTA." Others pointed out that people above 11th Avenue have no other access to transit and that saving 3 minutes would not be worth the loss in ridership and goodwill.

A straw poll showed only one person in favor of the change and the majority against it.

Water usage - Stephanie Duer said reports the drought is over are greatly exaggerated. Residents need to reduce consumption by 20 percent this year to avoid restrictions. "At this point in time, we are trying to avoid restrictions, ticketing or turning off taps," she said.

Duer said on average, watering twice a week, 20 to 30 minutes, is adequate to maintain your turf. It is more important to watch how much you use than when you water. She also said residents should set mow blades higher, which will allow roots to go deeper.

She said the city is considering ordinances that encourage good landscape development and better use of water resources.

If you see a broken sprinkler or other water inefficiency, call 486-6860.

The meeting adjourned at 9 p.m.