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released 04/2001 -- for more information: |
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TO ONLINE NEWS Brownsville/Challenge Community Planning Meeting Minutes for March 12, 2001 Regarding: Creation of Community Action Plan for
Brownsville/Challenge Last Meeting: Tuesday, January 23, 2001, 6:00 p.m. Next Meeting: Monday, April 9, 2001, 6:30 p.m. Location: Ponderosa
Community Center, Brownsville
BACK TO BROWNSVILLE/CHALLENGE HOME | BACK TO COMMUNITY PLANNING HOME Minutes: On
Monday, March 12, 2001, the Yuba-Sutter Economic Development Corporation (YSEDC)
and Yuba County held a meeting for the community of Brownsville/Challenge.
The meeting was called to order by James Connell of YSEDC at 6:05
PM. Progress ReportMr.
Connell began the meeting by reviewing the committee’s progress to date.
So far, the committee had created a vision statement, listed its
strengths, weaknesses, and goals, and requested that three subcommittees
look into additional ways to fund the Ponderosa Center, increase
communication within the community, and increase recreational
opportunities for all its citizens. Subcommittee Reports and DiscussionMr.
Connell then asked the subcommittee members to report on their activities
since the last meeting. Hal
Stocker from the Ponderosa Center Subcommittee reported first. Mr.
Stocker stated that he had made some calls to find out whether or not it
would be possible to support the Ponderosa Center through a special
services district. He found
that, in order to create a special services district for the center, the
group that runs the center would have to apply to the Local Agency
Formation Commission (LAFCO) for permission to put the idea on a ballot.
The group would have to draw the boundary lines of the proposed
district, decide how much each parcel would be levied, and also pay a fee
of $2000-$3000. Once the
LAFCO approved the application, the group would then have to convince a
majority of the affected citizens to vote for the district. One
member stated that it would be very difficult to convince a majority of
residents to vote to tax themselves, especially in light of the fact that
the Ponderosa Center and its grounds are currently underutilized.
Another responded by suggesting that the group take the
community’s pulse by sitting outside the local store to solicit
signatures on a petition to put the question on a ballot. No
other subcommittees reported because the communications subcommittee had
not met, and the members of the recreation subcommittee did not attend. This
led to a discussion on the state of apathy that seems to exist in the
Brownsville/Challenge area. One
attendee stated that it is easy to come up with ideas, but the same group
of people are involved with all the various civic groups, and after a
while they become overwhelmed. More
people need to become active in the community.
For instance, even the PTA is having trouble finding parents who
are willing to become involved because many families with children have
moved, and in those that have remained, the parents are too busy to get
involved. Another attendee
mentioned that when the community services group was started many years
ago, it was very active. However,
most of the original members are growing old, and there hasn’t been an
influx of younger people to take over.
Most of the attendees agreed with this, and a number of them
mentioned that fact that although the Ponderosa Center’s grounds offers
numerous recreational opportunities, few people take advantage of them. One
attendee then suggested that the group develop a survey to find out why
more parents are not involved in the community, and asked for suggestions
on how to distribute the survey. Another
member suggested that the group ask the local schools to send the surveys
home with their students. The
attendees then turned their attention to the issue of recreation in the
Brownsville/Challenge area. They
noted that, although they rarely see children in the area, they are amazed
at how many show up to free events like the Easter Egg Hunt. They discussed ways to provide recreational opportunities for
the local youth, but noted that, in the past, any organized activity
eventually became a babysitting service.
In addition, a few attendees noted that the high-level of vandalism
in the area prevents them from providing additional recreation facilities.
For instance, as soon as the community services group places an
outside light on the Ponderosa Center, it gets shot out.
Further, vandals have recently destroyed three heavy-duty picnic
benches along nearby walking trails.
Lastly, the cost of insurance would probably prevent anyone from
building a skate-park or moto-cross trails, which the group was sure would
be very popular among local youth. The group then decided to find out if the recreation
subcommittee had made any plans, so Dee Malone stated that she would call
the subcommittee members to find out what they had done. The attendees then turned to the issue of spreading the word about the community action planning committee and the community services group. The group decided to post fliers around town about the future meetings, and include information on the community services group with the survey that will be sent home with local schoolchildren. Lastly, each person attending the meeting promised to call five other people to invite them to the next meeting.
New Business When
the committee turned its attention to new business, one member requested
that YSEDC search for companies or organizations that donate computers.
The community services group wishes to acquire a number of
computers for the Ponderosa Center so that it can teach
Brownsville/Challenge residents how to use computers, email, and the
Internet.
Adjourn Hearing
no more new business, Mr. Connell adjourned the meeting at 8:00 PM.
If
you have any questions regarding the Community Action Planning process,
please contact James Connell at the YSEDC, (530) 751-8555, or John Fleming
at Yuba County, (530) 749-7558. |
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