Colonial Place/Riverview Civic League
COMMUNITY NEWS

June 2011

             Annual Meeting

NEXT BOARD MEETING will be Monday, June 20, 2011 at 7:00 pm.

DEADLINE for the July issue is Friday, June 17, 2011.

THIS MONTH'S MEETING AGENDA:   Monthly police report - Proposed Colonial Place traffic improvements - Proposed oyster reef in Riverview - Proposed improvement plan for the Colonial Place Greenway - Annual budget approval - Annual CPRV elections - Proposed use for the former Enrico's Restaurant.

• Listen to the proposals to improve traffic in Colonial Place. THESE PROPOSED CHANGES WILL EFFECT YOUR DRIVING THROUGH COLONIAL PLACE!!! You should attend and hear what is proposed and voice your opinion.
• Joe Rieger from the Elizabeth River Project will talk about the proposal to build an oyster reef in the Lafayette River on the Riverview side. Joe will also present an exciting proposal for the Colonial Place Greenway, which will improve the water quality of the Lafayette River and significantly beautify the stretch of land between Delaware and 38th Street.
• A representative interested in buying the closed Enrico’s Restaurant will discuss plans for that property.

The following persons were nominated for Civic League offices at the May 2011 meeting.

President: David McDonald (Incumbent)
Vice President: Angel Endicott
Secretary: James Gregg (Incumbent)
Treasurer: David Spriggs (Incumbent)

There were no nominations from the floor. A motion to close the nominations was carried.

While the above nominees are running unopposed, we must nevertheless conduct a vote or pass a motion to elect them by acclamation. Each of these options requires a quorum of 20 League Members, including at least two officers. So, please make your plans to attend this meeting. In accordance with the By-Laws of the Civic League, those officers elected at the June meeting will begin their one year terms upon conclusion of that meeting.

In accordance with the Civic League By-Laws, Article VI, Section 1, a proposed budget for FY 2011/12 was presented by the Treasurer to the Board of Directors at its monthly meeting on May 16. The proposed budget was discussed, modified, and approved by unanimous vote.

At the June regular meeting, which is also the “Annual Meeting” of the Civic League, the approved budget will be presented to the attendees. Sufficient copies will be made available for retention by each attendee. The Treasurer will address any questions. Proposed modifications to the approved budget may be submitted in the form of a motion, which will require a second, discussion, and a vote.

The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m.

Pace Officer Report:

Officer Paschal reported that crime for the month was minimal, but there needs to be more vigilance paid toward the securing of sheds and garages at this time of year. In the spring there are more cases of lawn care equipment thefts.

Presenters:

Chuck Joyner gave an update on the bulkheads around Colonial Place. He mentioned that progress is being made on the living shore line at Haven Creek along with the board walk there. The big rock berm might need to be raised in the future, due to boat wake action. He also mentioned the constraints to putting a living shore line along Knitting Mill Creek. Since the creek is designated as a waterway by the Army Corp of Engineers, there isn’t enough space to put a living shoreline. Thus an expensive bulkhead like the one further north on Mayflower Road or just some rip rap are the current options. The city won’t pay for a bulkhead and wetland rules now prohibit it. There is at least 1200 feet of shoreline that needs protecting in some fashion. If the channel could be established as a pleasure boat channel then the living shore line would be workable.

Councilmembers Winn and Whibley came to listen to us and to answer questions about issues in the city. The issue of public access to property along the bulkhead was discussed. The councilmembers thought that there should be some agreement reached to where the homeowner could repair the bulkhead at their property and still protect the right of the public to walk along the bulkhead.

• The disposal of Stuart School has not been dealt with yet, due to the work on the budget by the new city manager.
• There are bike clubs in Norfolk that are joining with the city to have sanctioned bike rides in various neighborhoods this year.
• The question of how do we maintain our schools when the property taxes aren’t raised to supply more funds was asked. Mr. Winn answered that before the city raises the real estate tax rate, it needs to show clearly that every dollar that is collected now is spent wisely.

Rick Bentley, Norfolk Superintendent of Schools happened to stop by at our meeting and was happy to answer questions. He also promised to be back at another meeting to have more time to talk with us. He came from El Paso, TX and has hit the ground running. His focus is:

1. On time graduation…Getting parents and teachers to make sure the students are learning and can graduate on time.
2. Have all schools be accredited as soon as possible.
3. Have more community volunteers in the school helping with the kids who need one on one attention, so they don’t fall behind.
4. Last fall he visited all 54 schools in Norfolk and noted what they needed to come up to standard for environment and learning.

He also is very eager to encourage good teachers while helping others become good teachers through mentoring and coaching.

Civic League President Dave McDonald took time to thank all the people who made the RiverFEST such a good event. The mood mirrored the enthusiasm of our neighborhood. There was a lot of preparation to make everything come off so well. Marjorie Mayfield brought a cake to our meeting and shared it with everyone.

The pizza, that was donated for the meeting, was from Mama Jo’s Pizza, on Colley Avenue. near Virginia Avenue.

On June 3 there will be a little celebration at the learning barge to send it off to its next destination, Portsmouth.

Treasurer’s Report:

Dave Spriggs reported a beginning balance of $3,059.33 in the checking account; deposits of $384.90; expenses of $498.46; and an ending balance of $2,945.77. The amount of the CD account is $5,143.60.

Nominating Committee reported that the current president, secretary and treasurer have agreed to serve a second year. Angel Endicott, who lives on the north side of 38th Street in Colonial Place, was nominated for the vice president post. Now we have a full slate nominated and will be voted on at the June meeting. A motion was made to close the nominations, seconded and voted on.

A week can make a huge difference in the comfort and energy efficiency of your home. The DOE is paying 25% of the cost for energy efficiency upgrades which include air sealing all gaps and penetrations that produce those uncomfortable drafts, air sealing your heating and air conditioning system to perform more efficiently, and bringing insulation up to current standards.

Homeowners come to the program to save money on monthly utility bills, which will only get higher, but they are thrilled that they are more comfortable in their homes than they ever imagined possible. In addition to guaranteeing at least a 15% decrease in energy consumption, the program also includes a $ 250 rebate for two energy audits, one at the beginning to assess the problems and one at the end to confirm that those problems were addressed.

EcoBuilders of Virginia is currently recognized as the premier air sealer in southside Hampton Roads. Call 716-7091 for a free Whole House Assessment to see if your home is eligible for these government rebates. And don’t worry about the paperwork; that is EcoBuilders’ responsibility. You get an instant, hassle–free rebate off your costs and a more comfortable, energy efficient home!

The businesses owners, who place the advertisements which appear monthly in the back of the Newsletter, create a revenue stream which sustains the publishing of that Newsletter. As the same advertisements appear each month, it becomes easy to ignore them.

However, I would ask that you take every opportunity to give your business to them. And, when you do, please mention that you did so, because you saw their advertisement in our Newsletter. Times are tough, and our sponsors need to know that their advertisements are generating business or they may consider reducing their costs by withdrawing their support. That would be a lose-lose for everybody.

COMMUNITY NEWS is produced by:
              The Colonial Place/Riverview Civic League
              P.O. Box 6130
              Norfolk, VA 23508

Deadline for articles and advertising is the third Friday of the month

Community News Editor:   Blair Barbieri
              Phone: 908-797-8750
              Email: cprvnews@gmail.com

Newsletter Advertising Chair: James Gregg
              Phone: 757-489-8968
              Email: jamesrgregg@aol.com

Community News Distribution:   Mary Hormell, Phone 627-2392

CPRV Web Page: www.cprv.org