March GANA meeting and potluck

Time: Potluck begins at 6:30pm with meeting to follow
Location: Kindly hosted by Al & Kathy Ruesink, 2605 E Fifth Street

Topics discussed: 3rd street sidewalk,update on Dekist garden project, special guests for April meeting

Neighbors Present: Rob Archangel, John & Jessica Gaus, Ann Kreilkamp, Kathy & Al Ruesink, Georgia Schaich, Erik Schedler, Jane Spearman, Katie Zukof
Guests: Joe Fish, City of Bloomington Transportation Planner

The majority of the meeting was spent with Joe Fish discussing his project, the College Mall Pedestrian Accessibility Study. The study looked at the College Mall area from 3rd & High to Jackson Creek area. Joe shared maps for the study. One of the majors areas of concern for the neighborhood is the extension of the 3rd street sidewalks from High to College Mall on the north side of 3rd street. This extension is one of the major recommendations from this study. The study should be completed in the first part of 2009. Implementation of study recommendations will follow, however there is no timeline at this point. Joe encouraged neighbors to voice their support for the projects by contacting their city council representatives and city hall in general. For more imformation about the study, contact Joe at fishj@bloomington.in.gov. Neighbors wanted to know more about how the bypass extension would effect the intersection at 3rd and College Mall. Neighbors expressed many concerns regarding the bypass project. Unfortunately, the bypass project is handled by INDOT and as far as INDOT is concerned, the discussion period has passed and plans will go forward as is. Joe encouraged neigbhors to address concerns regarding the bypass to INDOT.

* Dekist garden project - the project has a name, Green Acres Neighborhood Garden (GANG) - Dekist. The workshop has been publicized in several outlets and an article will be in this weekend's Herald Times. There are 20 spots available for the workshop, so sign up soon if you are intersted as spots are filling quickly. Info
* Pick it up bags were made available to neighbors. See the February 2009 meeting notes for more information. If you were not at the meeting and would like some of these bags, let us know.
* April meeting special guests - Vickie Provine (HAND) and Nate Nickels (Planning) will be attending the April meeting to discuss our neighborhood plan. Note: due to a schedule conflict, Vickie and Nate will attend the May meeting instead of the April meeting.
* April meeting date and location - Tuesday, April 14th at Jane and John's, 2611 E 5th Street; potluck begins at 6:30pm with meeting to follow

Respectfully submitted by Jane