GACC Community Council Meeting
3 October 2007

GACC Board members in attendance: Michael Hughes, Phil Carroll, John Sittner, Jill Van Langeveld, Thella Mae Christensen, Kat Kivett, Charla Allen, Jim Jenkin, Jaynie Brown, Dave Jonsson, Wayne Green, Shane Carlson, Judith Locke, Ann Tillson, Weston Clark, Steve Mecham, Lon R. Richardson III, Anita Catrou

Meeting started approximately 7:05 pm

Reports

• Police (Roger Williams)

  • Reiterated to everyone that he is very committed to his job and to helping better the community. He really does care about what’s going on and taking steps to improve things.

  • Went through different crime reports (rape, robbery, assault, fire, car crimes)

  • Arrested 2 graffiti artists, not related to Ensign Elementary graffiti.

  • Appreciates the partnership with and attitude of the GACC towards Police Dept.

• City Council (Eric Jergensen)

  • Making progress with planning and zoning departments—can’t give specific details but is making progress – Planning Dept will make announcements soon.

  • District 3 Outreach Meeting on Thursday, October 11, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. at the Shriner’s Hospital

  • 9th Ave stairs are done and broken concrete has been fixed

  • 4th Ave stairs design will be available next spring, should be completed 2008-2009, part of the Memory Grove Loop project. Avenues tennis courts on 09-10 budget.

• Mayor’s Office (Gwen Springmeyer)

  • Reminder that Thursday, October 4, 2007 is National Conversation on Climate Change Day, Public Meeting at Main Library

  • Items not on calendar:

    • Open House on the Thursday, October 18, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. for Trax line to airport. Open House at Bonneville Bldg. at State Fair Park

    • Celebration for opening of Broadway Street on Friday, October 19, 2007. Party starts at 5:00 p.m.—area in front of Squatters (300 South). Madeline Choir will be singing Broadway tunes

    • Main Library book sale Saturday, October 20 through Tuesday, October 23 (starts on Thursday, October 18, 2007 for Friends of the Library)

  • Daylight Savings (Fall Back) on Sunday, November 4, 2007

  • Saturday before Halloween (October 27)—Monster Block Party at the Gallivan Center

  • “Lights On” will happen the day after Thanksgiving. New City lights will be along 300 South

  • Reviewed City calendar, which was also handed out to meeting attendees

• Housing (Shane Carlson)

  • Housing meeting on Monday, October 15, 2007 at the Sweet Library at 7:00 p.m.

  • Contact Shane (801-596-3939 with any concerns or questions)

• Transportation (Jim Jenkin)

  • Attended a meeting on the airport light rail—City will have a “position” by next month, so be watching newspapers for information

  • Reminder to stop BEFORE crosswalks, not in them, and drive the posted speed limit

Michael Hughes issued a special thanks to Gwen Springmeyer for her help on efforts to get speeding, parking and pedestrian safety issues on South Temple at the elementary school.

• Community Emergency Response (Carlton De Tar)

  • Quarterly meeting on Wednesday, October 17, 2007 at 7:00 p.m., held at Fire Station #1. Will have First Aid training, and 3 available trainers to help get everyone trained.

• Sweet Branch Library (Assistant Manager Adrienne Juarez)

  • Alveeda (Manager) says thank you and that she’s doing much better; will return to part-time schedule starting Monday, October 15, 2007

  • 10 tickets still available for upcoming Dewey Event (Saturday, October 6, 2007)

  • Reminder for current art display—one painting was done as a tribute to those lost in the Crandall Mine disaster and proceeds from the sale will go to help the victims’ families

  • This is the last meeting for Adrienne—she has accepted a promotion to be manager of the Sugarhouse library branch

• Legislative (Kris Johnson filling in for Scott McCoy)

• Sen. McCoy out of town

• New Capitol building will open on January 4, 2008

• Session will begin on January 17 or 19, a little later than usual due to construction

• Will be working on state-wide school district equalization issue as part of the next session

• Kris represents the east side of University Avenue down through the Federal Heights and Emigration Canyon areas

• Go to www.le.utah.gov to get contact information for your representatives

Agenda Items

• Stephanie Duer—Xeriscape Demonstration Garden

  • Garden design was completed on Monday, October 1, 2007 and will be available on the website on Wednesday, October 4, 2007

  • Presented types of plants being used in each area of the garden; all plants are native to the area they are in

  • Want to do planting this fall for most plants, except those that will do better if planted in mid-spring

  • Irrigation—no word from company in California, but found a landscape architect who would be willing to do an irrigation design for approximately $1500 (Lon Richardson would like to be on committee for irrigation)

  • Site has water but no power, looking into solar power options

  • Center circle still being worked on, same for rocks/boulders

  • Need to make a decision for planning tonight—go forward with fall planting or wait

  • Judith Locke made a motion to accept Stephanie’s plan (to plant in the fall what she can and then plant the oaks and anything else that does better in the spring time) and move forward. Dave Van Langeveld seconded the motion. Some discussion about irrigation and mulching. Voting was unanimous in the affirmative. Motion carried.

• Steve Mecham—GACC Nominations

  • Wayne Green (current Chair-Elect)—2008 Chairman

  • Judith Locke—2008 Chair-Elect

  • John Sittner—2008 Treasurer

  • Charla Allen—2008 Secretary

  • No additional nominations from the floor

  • Reviewed all names for Board members for each area

  • Election will be during next GACC Community meeting on Wednesday, November 7, 2007

• Lincoln Filmore and Dave Van Langeveld—School Vouchers

  • Lincoln presented the “For” side for school vouchers, representing Parents for Choice in Education

  • Dave Van Langeveld presented the “Against” side for school vouchers

  • Each side took approximately 10 minutes to make their arguments and then time was opened up for questions

  • Some questions included the following:

    • To Lincoln from Kris Johnson:

      • Is there anything the voucher bill that prevents the legislature from reducing voucher amounts and keeping private schools from raising their tuitions?

      • Who funds your campaign?

    • To Lincoln from Bill Mackay:

      • What’s the affect on tax credits down the line? Do voucher users get an income tax credit?

    • To Dave from Jaynie Brown:

      • Why haven’t the anti-voucher people addressed the issue of bad public schools and made it a part of their platform?

    • To Lincoln from Rebecca Chavez-Houck:

      • What private schools—especially in rural areas—will children attend?

    • To Lincoln from John Jarvis:

      • A significant number of kids that will take advantage of vouchers are already in private schools, so that would actually be a loss of funds for public schools? Why don’t you address this?

    • To Dave from John Jarvis:

      • What can we do to make public schools better?

    • To Lincoln from Carlton De Tar:

      • What’s to prevent the legislature from changing the program and increasing costs?

    • To Lincoln:

      • Why raise taxes to pay for this?

    • To Dave:

      • Lincoln has presented arguments backed up by facts. You seem to be giving just your opinion. What in your presentation is actual fact?

    • To Lincoln:

      • Many families who would benefit from vouchers don’t have the income to make up the difference in cost. How is this plan going to benefit the people who need it the most?

Meeting adjourned at approximately 9:00 p.m.