The Phelps Neighborhood Association Dollison Treescape project was the recipient of a Special Recognition Landscape Award from the City of Springfield through the Planning & Zoning Commission. You may have seen the signs at the Grand & Catalpa entrances to Dollison! As you may know, our President Terry Rowland, designed a plan and secured a "Missouri Branch Out Grant" for the planting of $15,000 worth of trees. They were planted along both sides of Dollison from Normal street to Catalpa. A triangle of flowering shrubs were planted in the island at Dollison and Catalpa also. We would like to thank the neighbors along Dollison who have helped water and care for the young trees. They will provide a beautiful canopy along the street, as well as providing shade.

The Planning & Zoning Commission is now accepting nominations for the 2001 Landscape Awards. The deadline is June 21^st. Forms are available at the Busch Building, various nurseries, libraries, etc. They can be mailed, faxed, or e-mailed. The following is a listing of the categories included in this year’s awards:

• Improvement or Rehabilitation of an Existing Site

• Retail Establishment or General

• Manufacturing or Office Establishment

• Residential Subdivision/Neighborhood or Mixed Use

• Residential - Single Family

• Public Properties

• Other

Don’t hesitate to nominate a neighbor! Several neighbor’s yards were nominated last year and narrowly missed getting the award!

The PNA and the City of Springfield were asked by Southwest Missouri State University if we would support installing a traffic diverter at the intersection of Normal St. and Kings and the removal of the traffic barrier in the 1000 block of Normal Street. The University contends that the existing closure on Normal St. is awkward, causing traffic accidents within the SMSU parking lot. As usual, the City was quick to jump on the SMSU band wagon in support of the University’s request, with no consideration of the impact to our neighborhood . However, when the PNA requested supporting documentation from both parties in order to fairly consider the request, it never arrived. We have since learned that the idea has been abandoned. We will stay alert for its reappearance.

The Fire Station construction at Grand & Holland is progressing nicely. It is scheduled to be finished this summer. Our thanks to the Fire Department for incorporating our design suggestions. The Fire Station should be a positive addition to our neighborhood. When the City approached the PNA about the project, our board carefully weighed the pros and cons. The probability that apartments would be constructed there (if the Fire Station was not) with the addition of 88+ residents (probably young, noisy, and messy) weighed heavier in the con department than the noise from the fire truck sirens. The Fire Station will reduce response time to our neighborhood in case of fires or other emergencies. The Fire Station should serve as a deterrent to future SMSU expansion and show the City’s commitment to preserving our neighborhood.

The City is finally admitting that it has a problem when it comes to enforcing ordinances. Neighborhood groups (such as ourselves), as well as many citizens of Springfield, have been complaining for years that there is no enforcement. As a result of the complaints, Neighborhood Teams were set up to help. Meetings were held to address chronic problems with neighborhood associations and City Department heads such as Health, Building Development Services, Police, and Legal. The PNA participated in these meetings for years but without a positive result. Recently the Planning & Zoning Commission sent a strong letter to Tom Finnie (City Manager) stressing the importance of enforcement. City Council also has established a committee on enforcement issues. Tom Finnie has now voiced a stronger commitment to enforcement and will instruct City staff to follow through. We hope it really happens!

Our membership level could use a boost. Please help us get new members! If you have a neighbor who isn’t a member, please encourage them to join. Information is available on the PNA’s web site (www.orion.org/~pna) or call PNA Treasurer Nancy Danielsen.(869-3685).

Planning & Zoning Commission
Vacant Seats

The Planning & Zoning Commission has one vacant seat at the present time. At the end of the year the seat held by PNA’s Renee Tyson will be vacant. Having a neighbor on the commission is extremely helpful to stay informed on a variety of issues involving the City as a whole as well as our immediate neighborhood. If you, or other neighbors you know are interested, get an application at the City Clerks office, Busch Building 4^th floor, or from the City’s Web site ( click (www.ci.springfield.mo.us),  e-gov, then volunteer boards, then applications

If you need to contact the City regarding a problem in the neighborhood the following list may help. As always, the PNA officers and board are also willing to help you.

• Zoning Violations: 864-1068

• Tall Weeds (over 12 inches) 864-1666

• Trash, Appliances, etc 864-1666

• Inoperable Vehicles 864-1666

• Parking in Front yard 864-1810

• Gang/Graffiti hotline 864-1300

• Not sure? Public Info 864-1011

• Noise Violations 911 or

• North of Loren, east of Kimbrough

• Call SMSU Security 836-5327

The addition of John Wylie (zone 4) and Mary Collette (general) to City Council should be positive for our neighborhood and City. Councilman Wylie had a good record on the Planning & Zoning Commission as a neighborhood advocate. Councilwoman Collette has been a strong voice for Commercial Club.

The Current Springfield City Council is:

• Mayor Thomas J. Carlson

• Zone Council Members:

• Denny Whayne, Zone 1

• Sheila O. Wright, Zone 2

• Ralph K. Manley, Zone 3 **

• John D. Wylie, Zone 4 **

• General Council Members:

• Mary Collette (A)

• Gary W. Gibson (B)

• Teri Hacker (C)

• Bob Chancellor (D)

• ** Zones 3 & 4 are in our neighborhood