July Meeting Minutes

GAP MEETING JULY 10, 2007

Call to order: 7:19 PM

Community Introductions

Secretary’s Report
1.) Minutes Read/Accepted (Jim O’Neal/Patrick Johnson)
2.) Unreadiness: amend area reps to include Mr. Singleton representing Indiana and Marvin, Gwen, and Kenneth representing Michigan. Also, Dan Drake will assist Rochelle McGee on Calumet.

Treasure’s Report
1) Report Deferred

Area Rep Reports
1) Report Deferred

President’s Report
1) Introduction of 3rd Ward Alderman Pat Dowell.
Dowell’s office: 5046 S. State Street, 773-373-9273.
Website: www.dowellfor3rdward.com
Thursday nights: open meetings.
Every 3rd Saturday: meetings 10am-1pm
Dowell reported on a new development on the southeast corner of Indiana. Obelisks are planned for the corner of 35th and State. Former Alderman Tilman left $1.8 Million in menu money. Dowell is in the process of finding projects to spend the money on before it returns to the city coffers.
Dowell has not authorized the demolition of the building Pilgrim Baptist owns. She wants to underscore GAP request that it remains clean and green. There will be a bikeway on 33rd Street.
2) Introduction of 2nd Ward Alderman Bob Fioretti.
Office: 429 S. Dearborn, 312-263-9273
Planning an office for the West side too.
Fioretti reports the cleaning up of 101 lots through out the ward with the help of volunteers. Fioretti talked with Mayor Daley about cleaning up 35th street during the Memorial Day parade. Fioretti worked out a deal to get a section of 35th street power washed. On the issue of Dunbar Park, Fioretti reports he and Dowell were recently in Washington, DC lobbying for funding for parks. Fioretti is also pushing for Illinois legislators to reinstate the 7% cap on property taxes. 2nd ward does not have much money left in menu funds. Some of the remaining funds will be used for speed bumps and stop signs around schools. GAP member question: thoughts on installing a high school in Pershing. Fioretti is not ready to give an opinion because he does not have a complete analysis.
3) President is inviting new IIT president to a future meeting.
4) CAPS alert: Shots were fied in the 3400 block of Prairie at 3 AM. Police arrested a 16 year old with a semiautomatic gun.
5) Great America support, thank you for those who helped. Contributed $150 in behalf of the GAP, but money did not come out of the treasury.
6) We have a new relationship with MPEA. We are reaching out to Michael Scott for an update on the promise of sprinklers along King Drive and the bridge project. McCormick place dedication is set for August 1st. We are trying to organize a meeting in the new wing for a GAP meting.

Community Announcements
1) CAPS holds a picnic July 18th across from the police station.
2) Movie in Dunbar Park: August 2nd, “Dreamgirls”
3) Summer Sizzle: August 4th, 11 AM- 5 PM. Peter McCauley is looking for more volunteers. Email Peter at carpetles@aol.com. Total budget is $955 without tents, chairs and tables. Peter reported the event needed $1500 allocated from GAP funds. Unreadiness: Joan is concerned it is a lot of money. Vote taken, passed unanimously.
4) Yard Sale: Saturday, July 14th. Still time to sign up and Michelle will come by and put up a sign on your gate. $5 donation covers incidentals.
5) No GAP meeting for August. It is National Night out. We will email where he will meet.
6) Jazz in the Park is set for August 16th.

Community Project Updates
1) 7% Property Tax Cap. We need to contact state reps. If it does not go through, most homeowners will see a 40% jump in property taxes
2) Leonas: The restaurant owns the property. Alderman Fioretti asked the business to put a sign on the property detailing the ownership. Still waiting the city to vacate the alley. Once that happens, construction will start. Leonas did get the tax break and liquor license it was seeking.
3) 31st & Indiana development: We will try to get an update on what is being built there and will push to have developer sign neighborhood construction agreement.
4) 33rd street next to Pilgrim Baptist is open. The alley will be closed for sometime.
5) Landmark Square Development: There is a hold up on vacating the alley. Developer will not be constructing any more housing until alley issue is taken care of.
6) Storage Box on 3200 blk of Calumet: owner says the box is storing belongings from the house because of water in the basement. Will be removed ASAP.
7) Summer Dinner & Dance: on hold until future notice.

Community Speak Out:
1) Mr. O’Neal suggested the GAP invite the Battalion Chief of the Chicago Fire Department to attend a meeting. The Battalion Chief needs to know about the echo the department creates in the neighborhood.
2) Corner of 33rd & Calumet: owner needs to be asked to cut the grass
3) Work Stop orders in the neighborhood. 2 have been issued on Giles.
4) There is a request for someone to address the GAP about the proposal for a new high school to be added to the community where there are 3 high schools in the area already. The concern is the element that the high school will draw and the nuisance of adding more children.
5) 3351 Indiana: there is a tree that looks like it might fall down. Streets and Sanitation says it can not do anything about it. Residents are asked to call 311 to report a tree that is hanging over the street. Be sure to ask for a request number so the request can be traced.

Motion to pay bills approved.

Adjourn: 9:35pm

Respectfully submitted,
Stephen Lewis
Secretary, GAP Community Organization