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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-02-09 Community/ Campus Advisory Coalition (CCAC)~, ~i~3 ^w / `. Irk ~ ti _ ~: yy t.S o:.i r+t y t t ~~ ; ~,5.~ . Community/Campus Advisory Coalition (CCAC) j ~~l t !~ I =}J_ y~ !7 fC ~o~~x* 1 ~ i ~ 1 p _ _a The meeting of the Community/Campus Advisory Coalition was held at the Robinson Community Learning Center, 921 N. Eddy Street on June 2, 2009 The meeting was called to order at approximately 3:34 p.m. by South Bend Common Council 4th District Representative Ann Puzzello. Council Member Puzzello welcomed everyone in attendance and asked those attending to introduce themselves. Attendees included: Mayor Stephen Luecke, Director of the Robinson Center, Jay Caponigro, Robinson Center Adult Program Coordinator Marguerite Taylor, Assistant City Attorney Ann-Carol Nash, South Bend Police Uniform Division Chief Jeff Walters, South Bend Common Council Attorney Kathleen Cekanski- Farrand, Local Alcoholic Beverage Board Member Mike Carrington, University of Notre Dame Representatives Student Body President Grant Schmidt, M. Brian Coughlin, and William Kirk, IUSB Representative Jeff Jones, Holy Cross Representative Dan Cochran Attorney Richard Nussbaum, Neighborhood Resident Matthew Costello, Landlords of Off Campus Housing Representative Mark Kramer and daughter Stephanie Witcamp, and Greater South Bend/Mishawaka Realtors Representative Mike Rans. POLICE Chief Walters thanked Mr. Caponigro for allowing the police to use the Robinson Center as a police substation during Notre Dame's graduation ceremonies. He commented that the Notre Dame Police Department and the South Bend Police Department continue to have a good working relationship, and suggested that anyone having any concerns contact him. Chief Walters said that crime continues to be under control and partially attributed that to the rainy and cooler weather. Matt Costello said that in past years when students moved in for the school year officers went door to door and talked with students about crime prevention, safety issues and the disorderly house ordinance which was helpful in setting the tone of what was expected. He said there were also drive through patrols on the day of the first home football game. Ms. Nash said that she accompanied Captain Shock and spoke with students. She thought it was helpful. Chief Walters said that he would check with the Crime Prevention Unit to see if this could be done again this fall. Mr. Carrington said that it is important to set the tone for the school year and would be time well spent. Mr. Community/Campus Advisory Coalition (CCAC) June 2, 2009 Meeting Minutes Page 2 Costello said it was a good year in his neighborhood and thought that the door to door personal contact was very helpful. FALL STRATEGIES A discussion was held about making the next school year even more successful than the last in terms of increasing student and neighborhood residents interaction and student safety. Topics included: • Venues for Contacting Students. When students pick up their football tickets there are several vendors outside the stadium. Grant Schmidt suggested this would be a good venue for police to talk with students about safety and behavior in an effort to set the tone for the year. • Block Parties. Mark Kramer hosted three events last year in an effort to bring neighborhood residents and students together. Mr. Kramer provided free food, free rent, etc. The events were not as well attended as he would have liked, particularly by neighborhood residents. He is going to hold the events again this year. Grant Schmidt would like to work with Mr. Kramer using the events as another venue to explain to students what is expected of them. Mr. Kramer said he employs three off duty police officers for security at his rental units who will be talking with students about marking their belongings so they can be more easily retrieved if they are stolen. He said he will ask the officers to talk about expected behavior at the same time. • Back to School Picnic. Marguerite Taylor said that last year the Robinson Center hosted a back to school picnic that was attended by approximately 300 people, mostly neighborhood residents. Police and Fire also attend this picnic. They will be having a picnic again this year and would like to see more students there. Mayor Luecke asked how graduation went. Both Matt Costello and Marguerite Taylor said it went well. Although some people thought that might have been because of the rain, Brian Coughlin thought the lack of problems was due, in part, to the work of the Coalition. Community/Campus Advisory Coalition (CCAC) June 2, 2009 Meeting Minutes Page 3 NOTRE DAME STUDENT GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES Grant Schmidt provided a list of issues to the Coalition from Notre Dame Student Government. Topics included: TAXI REFORM At the last meeting, Chairperson Buddy Kirsits said a goal he set for the coming school year is to amend the current taxi ordinance. Students would like to be able to prepay cab rides. They would like to know how cab companies are licensed. They are also concerned that some cabs have no identifying markings and no driver information visible. Kathy Cekanski-Farrand said that Mr. Kirsits has had meetings with Council Member Tom LaFountain who chairs the committee that oversees Taxi licensing. Mr. Kirsits and Mr. LaFountain will be contacting Mr. Schmidt for input. Assistant City Attorney Ann- Carol Nash will be working with them and the Notre Dame Police Department. It was noted that the City's licensing ordinance does not extend to the County, and a suggestion was made that there be a County wide ordinance covering all cab companies. TWYCKENHAM/VANESS INTERSECTION The Twyckenham/Vaness intersection is still a concern of the students. The intersection does have a marked pedestrian walkway, but the students would like a flashing yellow light as well. It has yet to be determined if the intersection is in the City or the County. If it is in the County, Kathy Cekanski-Farrand will work with the County to see about a flashing light. There would probably have to be a traffic study done to see if a light is necessary. If a traffic study is conducted, it would be more accurate if it was done after the students return to school. SOUTH BEND CRIME REPORTS Grant Schmidt asked about obtaining crime reports and alerts for the off campus website. He noted that crime reports are given to the South Bend Tribune by the Police Department. Mr. Kirk indicated that the Notre Dame Police Department website has a link to the South Bend Police Department that could be checked. Community/Campus Advisory Coalition (CCAC) June 2, 2009 Meeting Minutes Page 4 AD HOC COMMITTEE ON SAFETY. SECURITY AND HOSPITALITY Father Jenkins established an ad hoc committee for safety, security and hospitality for home football weekends and has named a director who will be responsible for a safe environment for all. Student government will be working with the director. PROMOTING SOUTH BEND INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES Student government is interested in promoting internship opportunities throughout the South Bend area. In the Summer of 2008, 55 students were placed in internships through the Career Center, with additional students being placed in internships through other departments and offices. Students are not necessarily looking for paid internships or positions that "look good" on a resume, but rather are interested in obtaining experience. If anyone has internship positions available, please let Grant Schmidt know. SOUTH BEND ELEMENT WITHIN CLASS Student government is interested in expanding knowledge about the South Bend area through classes at Notre Dame. Some classes already exist, but they would like more information about area architecture, history, businesses, etc. Please let Mr. Schmidt know if you have any information that would be helpful. WELCOMING RECEPTION FOR EDDY STREET COMMONS Students plan to host a welcoming reception for Eddy Street Commons businesses once they open. Kite Realty has offered to help with the reception. This is viewed as a way for students and business owners to develop positive relationships. Mr. Caponigro offered the Robinson Center or Irish Green as a site for the reception. Mr. Carrington noted that he would like to see police officers walking a beat in the area so that students and residents of the area will feel safe when they are out after dark. Marguerite Taylor and Ann Puzzello recently took a hard hat tour of the Eddy Street Commons facility and enjoyed the experience. Ms. Puzzello said that as the Common Council representative for the area, she will be watching to see that traffic and parking are not problematic once Eddy Street Commons opens. OFF CAMPUS DISCOUNTS Student government has worked with Value Checks to put together a book of discount coupons to be used at local businesses, restaurants and entertainment venues. The Community/Campus Advisory Coalition (CCAC) June 2, 2009 Meeting Minutes Page 5 books will be sold to students at a cost of $10.00. The coupons are good through the end of December, 2009. The primary purchasers are students who live off campus. Student government will be contacting landlords in the area to see if they would be interested in giving the books as welcoming gifts to new tenants. If anyone knows of any businesses in the area that might like to participate in the discount coupon offer, please let Grant Schmidt know. OFF CAMPUS WEBSITE Grant Schmidt said the off campus website (www.offcampus.nd.edu) is expected to be up and running in late September. This will be a general information website which will include area attractions, restaurants, expected student behavior as well as crime alerts. If anyone has anything they would like to see included on this website, let Mr. Schmidt know. It was suggested that this would be a good resource for neighborhood residents, especially senior citizens living in the area. COMMUNIVERSITY DAY Communiversity Day, held in early April, was a great success, with 750 students volunteering their time and talents to neighborhood residents. Students cleaned and painted at four City parks, assisted elderly residents with home painting and repairs and taught residents how to use various electronic devices. A high point for many senior residents was a tour of the Notre Dame campus. Most of the people who took the tour had never been on the campus before, despite having lived in the neighborhood for many years. Residents toured the campus in a Hummer Limo. Ms. Taylor reported that she received many emails and notes from the participants who enjoyed the tour. Students participated in a food drive which was also successful. Communiversity Day will be held again this school year and it is hoped that 1,000 students will participate. RECYLCING INITIATIVES Grant Schmidt reported that student government is working to improve off campus recycling efforts. Mark Kramer said there should be recycling bins at rental houses. Students living at apartment complexes should find out from management where recycling bins are located. Rachel Roseberry has created a flyer to be handed out to Community/Campus Advisory Coalition (CCAC) June 2, 2009 Meeting Minutes Page 6 students about recycling. It was suggested that an email might be more effective, or possibly posting information on the new website. OTHER COMMENTS OLD TO GOLD Ann Puzzello commented that she attended the "Old to Gold" sale at Notre Dame and thought is was a great idea. Students donated household items to the sale that might otherwise have been thrown out. Brian Coughlin said the sale raised $54,000.00 to fund charitable work. HOLY CROSS Dan Cochran, Holy Cross representative, is interested in learning more about the Notre Dame list serve. IUSB Jeff Jones from IUSB said they have just completed the first year of on campus housing. Around 320 students lived on campus this school year and it was a learning experience for everyone. Mr. Jones said there are some safety concerns, but IU Police are working with South Bend Police to resolve those issues. Because IUSB is located in a neighborhood setting, they are doing everything they can to be good neighbors. OFF CAMPUS WEBSITE Mr. Nussbaum suggested that students interested in offering services to the neighborhood residents, i.e. babysitting, tutoring or handy man work, might post that on the website. This could be a good place to cement relationships with the neighborhood. NEIGHBORHOOD RELATIONSHIPS Mr. Nussbaum also said that Notre Dame has done a great job building relationships with the Northeast neighborhoods, but he has heard comments that nothing is being done in other areas of the City. In fact, Notre Dame students and faculty regularly contribute their time and talents to the City, but even Notre Dame doesn't know how much time or where all of the contributions are made. Mr. Caponigro said that the Robinson Center is working on a report detailing how many hours are donated by students and faculty. He recalled that some 400,000 hours have been donated. Community/Campus Advisory Coalition (CCAC) June 2, 2009 Meeting Minutes Page 7 The next meeting will be will be held on a date and time to be determined. Council Member Ann Puzzello thanked everyone for attending. The meeting was adjourned at 4:40 p.m. Respectfully submitted, ~'~~ ~--L Charles S. Leone, Recording Secretary Community/Campus Advisory Coalition (CCAC) Cou cil er Ann Puz ,Vice-Chairperson Community/Campus Advisory Coalition (CCAC)