The Phelps Neighborhood Association’s board is in the process of analyzing the pros and cons of a proposal which locates a new fire station in our neighborhood. The proposal was brought to the PNA board by representatives of the Springfield Planning and Development Department and the Fire Department. If built, the fire station would be located on the empty lots on Grand St. near Holland. The lots are currently owned by the city (via a land swap with SMSU) and are zoned for medium density housing (ie. apartments).

First, let us look at what would happen if developed as currently zoned. Private developers would likely develop an apartment complex containing twenty-two, two bedroom apartments. This could result in as many as 88 legal residents, probably a dominant student population given its proximity to the campus. The complex would require 44 parking spaces. Access could be from the alley, or Holland St., or Grand St., or all three. The neighborhood will have few controls when it comes to the issue of the quality of design. On the positive side the project would be residential.

This year I hope to have begun the process of transitioning into a more proactive association. In the past, we have been forced to react to existing problems to stabilize the neighborhood. Finally, (we hope) most of the tools are in place allowing the process of stabilization to begin. With PNA's constant vigilance, our major problems are steadily coming under control. Now is the time to begin preparing for the future. With help, my goal is to continue to bring the Phelps Grove Neighborhood Plan into reality. It is our responsibility to make sure this plan becomes reality. There are several projects outlined, that we can undertake, that are aimed at bettering our neighborhood. Building on Nancy Danielsen’s (our outgoing president) incredible leadership, we can continue this organization's success in building an even better neighborhood. Membership of all our neighbors is important, so please renew your membership if you haven’t already. Feel free to give me a call if you have any ideas. I am always open to ideas from our membership.

Terry Rowland

It has been a long time since we have gone over the basics of surviving in the Phelps Grove Neighborhood. The most common questions the Phelps Neighborhood Association receives solve noise/party problems and illegal parking. With the help of the Sgt. Jay Huff (formerly of the SMSU police substation), we have prepared some notes on how to solve these problems.

Between 11 p.m. and 7 am the City Noise Ordinance is in effect. This means an officer can issue a ticket without a complainant’s signature. They will often give them a warning instead of a ticket, so if you want to be sure they are ticketed, you need to tell the dispatcher that you are willing to sign a complaint. Between 7 am and 11 p.m. you will need to sign a complaint for a ticket to be issued.

Between Grand, National, Loren, and Kimbrough (Substation boundaries) call SMSU Security at 836-5509 and ask for the Substation. If there is no one at the Substation, security will be able to get a message to them. Outside the above area - call 911 (non-emergency).

The officers would prefer you be willing to sign a complaint in all cases because it helps them to have support if the ticket is challenged in court. You may be concerned about retaliation if you sign a complaint. Serious retaliation is rare, but mild harassment is not. It is up to you to decide if the problem warrants the risk. It is also helpful to have the other neighbors willing to co-sign as witnesses to disturbances.

If you have chronic problems with a particular house - call Cpl. Scott Bunn at the substation 836-5327, 8:00 to 5:00 Monday through Friday and explain the problem. If you are within substation boundaries (Grand, National, Loren & Kimbrough) he most likely will help you directly, otherwise he may have a Police Area Representative (PAR) officer contact you. Both substation officers and PAR officers take a proactive approach to these situations. They will visit the occupants of problem houses to educate them on how to be good neighbors. This proactive approach has had remarkable success.

Common examples:

Parking in resident restricted areas without a valid permit or visitor’s pass.

Parking in permanent no parking areas.

On street within 5 feet of a driveway

Blocking sidewalks - this includes sidewalks where they cross driveways

In front yards (though obviously fewer steps from the front door!)

If the problem is within substation boundaries - call SMSU Security at 836-5509 and ask for the substation. If no one is in the substation at the time, security will be able to get a message to them, or call 911 ( non-emergency). Remember that this is a low priority call and the response times can very greatly.

If you continue to have a chronic problems with noise or parking and the above actions fail to solve the problem - call the Phelps Neighborhood Association president - Terry Rowland at 864-5756. The association will try to help you.

The Phelps Neighborhood Association has been in a welcomed partnership with the substation on solving our neighborhood issues. An SMSU substation representative always attends our monthly board meetings in order to better communications between our neighborhood and the substation. This process has worked well in solving neighborhood problems.

CHANGING OF THE GUARD
Familiar Face Appointed Acting Sergeant

Phelps Neighborhood Association was notified at our May board meeting of a change in staffing at the SMSU police station. Outgoing Sgt. Jay Huff has been assigned as supervisor to a squad serving the south side of Springfield. Sgt. Huff will bring the techniques of community oriented policing to the squad level. Corporal Scott Bunn has been named as the new acting Sergeant. Corporal Bunn is no stranger to most of us living in the neighborhood. Bunn served as the Phelps neighborhood liaison to the substation several years ago. (Bunn is the only officer known to actually arrest someone for not mowing their yard!!!) We will miss Sgt. Huff in the neighborhood. He has been a true advocate of and for the Phelps Neighborhood Association. Undoubtedly, we must credit part of our success to him. We look forward to continuing that success with Corporal

Membership dues seem a little sluggish coming in this year. Please join us. The Phelps Neighborhood Association is here to make our neighborhood a safe, peaceful, and enjoyable place to live. We strive to be a neighborhood of friends working together for the benefit of all residents.

If you'd like to know more about the neighborhood you live in consider becoming a member of PNA. Your membership dues of $10 per year help provide Neighborhood Clean Up Day and Garage Sale Day. We'll also mail you our newsletter which will keep you informed on issues and PNA activities involving the City and SMSU.

NEIGHBORHOOD CONTINUES DIALOGUE WITH SMSU
SMSU Improves with age (and a lot of persistence)

Phelps Neighborhood Association representatives met with SMSU on February 24th. Since the boundary dispute settlement ( our victory), the tone of these meetings has changed dramatically. We are now able to work together on issues of mutual interest.

PNA president Terry Rowland gave a progress report on the Dollison Tree planting. He offered to work with SMSU on applying for a Branch Out Missouri grant for the planting in the green space between Grand and Normal.

Mary Lily Smith ( Springfield Planning and Development) gave an update on the SMSU and City cooperative agreement. Implementation of the agreement is on schedule except for the land swap between the City and SMSU, due to a technicality. The swap will be completed this fall. Temporary parking lots T-6 and T-7 (parking lots on the south side of the 900 and 1000 block of Normal) will be removed and planted this fall. The City has purchased and razed a number of properties on Normal St. for the green space and detention basin. They have actually purchased more lots than scheduled! Prior to this meeting, Terry Rowland had an opportunity (after repeated requests) to review the City’s plan for the green space and water detention. The plan was less than good. It called for a basically square (ugly!) detention basin, and a green "Berlin Wall" evergreen hedge on the southern border with no pedestrian access between the neighborhood and campus. Terry contacted the City and SMSU with suggestions to fix these flaws. Although the City was hesitant (what a shock?) about resolving the problems, SMSU not only listened, but incorporated his ideas into the plan that was presented at the meeting. The detention basin will serpentine around some existing trees and the planting will be less rigid. Pedestrian traffic at Florence is now included in the plan. The plans to move the traffic light at Kings will

be reviewed after the City completes more traffic studies. At our request, we will have another chance to review the plan before it is finalized.

Fred Marty (SMSU) asked for our input on their plans to put in a parking garage north of Grand close to Clay. The garage will create noise and some traffic, but it is a "known," which is better than some alternatives (like athletic fields, etc.) And it should relieve some of the illegal university parking that is occurring in our neighborhood. If it is built, the traffic light on Hammons Parkway will be removed and one will be installed at Clay.

We also discussed football parking. It was determined that last year, having used some of our ideas, the parking situation in the neighborhood was remarkably improved. The previous year, three games resulted in over 100 tickets being issued in the 3 blocks of our neighborhood closest to the campus (one game resulted in 200 tickets alone)!! Last year was quite a bit better. They will follow the same plan as last year. This includes notification to ticket holders that parking in the neighborhood is illegal, extra signage in the neighborhood, large signs on Grand and National to encourage parking north of Grand, and continuing to issue tickets to those who do park in the neighborhood.

These meetings will continue on a semiannual basis. Now that we are not focused on stopping SMSU expansion into the neighborhood, we are able to work with the university in a productive manner. We hope to continue the cooperative spirit we’ve finally attained.