Inter-Neighborhood Cooperation

Board of Directors Meeting Notes

March 9, 2020

Attendance

Executive Board Members: George Mayl (P), Loretta Koehler (VP), Steve Nissen (Treasurer), Blair Taylor (Secretary)

Hank Bootz (At-Large), Jane Potts (At-Large), Maggie Price (At-Large)

Committee Chairs: Chris O’Connor (Zoning & Planning), Greg Sorenson (Budget) , Amy Duclos (Education), Maggie Price (Parks & Recreation), Jane Potts (Membership)

Meeting called to order 6:40 PM – Quorum Present

Minutes approval – Blair Taylor moved and Hank Bootz seconded approval of minutes from February 10 pending correction of spelling of Loretta’s last name and that Jane Potts had suggested the parliamentarian.

Annual Awards Dinner Report – Jane Potts

Richard Scharf of Visit Denver was very pleased with the turnout and neighborhood support. The hotel served 315 meals at a cost of $16,900. Sponsorships resulted in $25,750. Silent auction raised $3700. Highest ticket item was the croquet which was purchased jointly. Jane announced this was the final year that she will serve as dinner committee chairperson.

INC Annual Awards Dinner

February 12, 2020 at the Double Tree by Stapleton

Celebrating the 45th year

Hotel served 315 meals

Hotel Cost was just under $16,000

Had sponsorships for $25,750

Silent Auction about $3700 with 56 items

Total cost about $19,000

Education Committee – Amy Duclos

Amy and George Mayl met with the financial analyst to go over his findings of DPS expenses. They also met with Russell Haythorn to discuss the lack of hand soap in schools given we are in an epidemic and hand washing is paramount. The analyst, Amy and George also met with Jeanne Kaplan to review the discrepancies between what the DPS administrators say and what is actually shown in the in-depth analysis. For example, administration stated $17 million was saved in lay-offs, which in fact amounted to only $5 million because employees job descriptions merely were changed. Bonuses of administrators were excessive vis a vis actual teacher bonuses.

Discussion followed that this and additional analytical information should be protected and credited to I.N.C. Maggie Price stated she knows how to protect it. It was decided that the I.N.C. forum September 12th was the time and place to share this information with the public. (Current total for expended for Financial Analyst is $4500.) Jane Potts moved and Blair Taylor seconded up to an additional $2,000 be set aside for the financial analyst. Passed unanimously. In the meantime, please see https://kaplanforkids.wordpress.com/2020/03/11/whats-the-matter-with-the-denver-board-of education/?fbclid=IwAR3ezmIDqGs1FJfL3srxkc7pwZoLncnAMkkmYxuiZPw-LydqxA60Ja0JaqY.

Zoning Committee – Chris O’Connor

The committee met to discuss (1) 5G towers, and (2) the Group Living modifications to the City of Denver’s zoning ordinance. Both topics left participants highly frustrated. Chris came away with four pages of notes reflecting the group’s frustration with the latter not the least of which centers on the failure to properly hold community forums and the push by the Denver Planning Department to approve the changes as currently outlined. She and Ean will prepare a letter to CPD with concerns with proposal as it stands.

PARC Committee – Maggie Price

Maggie stated her committee would be meeting every other month. She stated there is a move afoot to likely put the matter of protection of the Park Hill Golf Course as green space on the November ballot.

It was decided not to cancel the March delegate meeting due to the epidemic.

Meeting adjourned 8:30pm

Meeting notes submitted to Blair Taylor, INC EC member, for correction and distribution.

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INC Transportation update sent via email from Joel Noble.

1. INC Transportation Committee’s next meeting is this Thursday, March 12th.  Four timely topics:
   1. Denver’s Community Network Process — David Pulsipher, DoTI City Planner Supervisor
   2. Denver Streets Partnership’s Policy Agenda for 2020 — Jill Locantore, DSP Executive Director
   3. State Legislative Update – Piep van Heuven, Policy Director, Bicycle Colorado
   4. Automated Traffic Enforcement: Status, Challenges and Expansion — Ted Porras, Denver Police Department Photo Enforcement Unit Operational Supervisor
2. Considering proposing a letter to ask Denver how sufficient disabled access to the City and County Building will be ensured with the closure of this block of Bannock Street.  Will draft and send to George for consideration.  (Does not adopt a new position for INC, but seeks information.)
3. City Council is considering referring a charter change to the voters to add an advisory board to the Department of Transporation and Infrastructure, in a way that would be very similar to PRAB for the Department of Parks and Recreation.
   1. This was called for in our INC Transportation Platform in 2015 (item 1.4), and is something I’ve been pushing the department to do over the past few years.
   2. Will need to watch closely to ensure the way it’s constructed doesn’t cause confusion (or frustration) with the already very-functional bike & ped committees (MBAC/MPAC), which would probably best be served by becoming mode-specific sub-committees of the new advisory board, rather than remaining disconnected “Mayor’s Advisory” entities of their own. But however it’s done, we need there to be good communication/coordination with the new higher-level advisory board, if the voters approve it.