Co-chairs: Dianne Lescinskas and Jennifer Deabler
Minutes: Doreen Miller
In attendance: 13 people total
Updates
Traffic Issues
- The chairs have reached out to Patrick Fandel and Frank Baker’s office. Concerns were relayed to the BTD for prioritization.
- Dianne and Jennifer are in the process of filling out applications for the Slow Streets initiative.
- People are encouraged to continue to log complaints and concerns with 311.
Quick Fixes for Street Issues
- Buttonwood Street – a solar-lit stop sign was requested for the dangerous intersection there. A second but less desirable option is to have STOP painted directly on the street itself.
- Tennis Court accessibility – they are working to get a crosswalk painted there, especially before Tenacity begins its summer program.
- Email Dianne or Jennifer with other ideas for quick fixes.
Boat Ramps
- Morrissey boat ramp is now open.
- The Rainbow Park boat ramp is on hold and may be open by next year.
Fireworks
- There have been not too many so far this year.
- If the fireworks ramp up, the chairs will reach out to Aisha Miller, head of the fireworks task force, with concerns.
- Continue to use 311 for issues.
McConnell Park Project
- The Safety Committee has been working together with the Engagement Committee on this.
- Cathy Baker-Eclipse is willing to give us updates every 10 days.
- Doreen Miller will email Jennifer and Dianne the pdf update she recently received so it can be shared with the greater community.
- More bait boxes are being placed around the site area and will be monitored.
- Fences have been adjusted in key areas, i.e. at the end of Southview street, to allow safer pedestrian access to the beach.
- The fences have been readjusted to allow beach goers access to the drinking fountains.
- Three more damaged and compromised trees are slated for removal:
- Two along the slope off Southview Street, and
- One along the Harborwalk by the yacht club.
- The amphitheater has been removed and the area will be a gently sloping lawn instead.
- Trees will be added to the plaza area.
- For concerns with neighborhood parking and street safety issues, Patrick Fandel recommends we use 311 so that these concerns are logged for future reference.
Other Concerns
- Doreen relayed a neighbor’s concern about the homeless encampments at JFK and in our public parks, like Savin Hill park. JFK station is under state jurisdiction, and the chairs will alert Trooper Richardson to this problem.
- The importance of using 311 was emphasized to log concerns and complaints as this information can be used as a reference going forward.
- Yomari Chavez suggested we collect photos of problematic things to collect as photo evidence.
- These can be sent to either Dianne or Jennifer.
- You can also attach photos when using the 311 app to report concerns. Very easy to do.
- Dianne emailed Ryan Woods and Dan Hunt pictures of the potholes at the beach on the access road to DYC.
- A question was raised as to how the neighbors are alerted to construction on the street and detours.
- Generally, this is done with signs on poles or flyers.
- There is no public location for such notices.
- Notices should go on the Savin Hill Facebook website.
- The chairs will look into making that request that neighbors have adequate notice of future street blockages for construction or other work.
- It was requested in the chat that car counters be placed at Grampian Way, Denny and Playstead Roads to get a realistic count of the cars that use these streets. This was brought up to Patrick Fandel and is part of the Slow Streets Initiative.
- Congested streets and speeding drivers are a problem. We need to request solutions.
- With new development happening all around us and an additional 10,000 more units planned, traffic will only grow worse.
- We need comprehensive planning for adequate infrastructure to support the influx of many more people and cars.
- The good news is that the state and city are working together on this.
- The bad news is that although the city now acknowledges the need for comprehensive planning, they officials have no approximate number of additional people/cars on which to base their work.
- Members are invited to come to the Community Benefits Committee meeting, Wednesday, June 16 at 6 PM via Zoom, to
- Brainstorm how we can push the city and state to come up with a workable infrastructure plan.
- Dianne will post the meeting info and zoom link to the Savin Hill Facebook page.
- Do continue to use 311 to log complaints and concerns.
- Next meeting: Tuesday, July 13, 2021 at 7 PM.