(Once link above clicked, go to "I Want To..." at top of page, then "Report..."
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* Two Important "Complete Streets" Meetings
YOUR Feedback is Needed! Through our Neighborhood Plan process, the ODWNA Board has initiated two important neighborhood projects that were just finalized after our regular May eNews was sent. YOUR participation in either (or both!) of these meetings is critical for gaining the neighborhood feedback needed to make both of these projects the best they can be! 1) Safe Routes To School (SRTS) Tuesday May 28 While working on our Neighborhood Plan with the city, we became aware of a State of Michigan grant program that can designate up to $200,000 for neighborhood infrastructure projects (and up to an additional $8,000 for programming and education) that directly relate and affect the safety of our kids getting to their schools. We have worked with the city to include both Winchell Elementary and Maple Street Middle School in this grant application! Part of the grant process includes neighborhood feedback! So, to start, the city is holding a "kick off" meeting: - Tuesday May 28 - 6:30pm - Maple Street Middle School - Gym ** ALSO NOTE: a team from MSU will conduct a "walking audit" of BOTH schools that same day. Parents and students are highly encouraged to volunteer so that we can get both perspectives during the audits. Audit start times: Maple Middle School - start 2:30 pm Winchell Elementary - start 4:00 pm (meet in front of the school - look for city/MSU staff) The audits will include a short introduction and the audit itself is anticipated to last 40 minutes. There will be a debrief after the audits for each school. The audits should conclude by 5:30pm. Anyone is interested in participating in the walking audits please RSVP to Katie Reilly at reillyk@kalamazoocity.orgso she knows how many volunteers to expect. (Be sure to tell her which audit(s) you would like to attend) 2) Oakland Dr. 2020 Design Wednesday May 29 Oakland Drive (between Howard St. and Parkview Ave.) will be undergoing a major reconstruction in 2020, and part of the design process includes neighborhood input. This is YOUR opportunity to provide YOUR thoughts on how to make our section of Oakland Dr. a better, safer, more user-friendly-for-all street! There will be a short presentation on the work that is planned and then everyone will be able to provide comments and point out things that they would like to be evaluated for inclusion in the project design: -Wednesday May 29 -7:00pm -Winchell Elementary Cafeteria 
*Neighborhood Crime
Here's a great new (FREE to you) initiative that partners KDPS and "Ring!" * You can also put the FREE app on your PC or Mac if you don't have a smartphone! Just go HERE ================== What should you do to report something that is of a non-emergency nature? Well, our friends at KDPS tell us you should:
KDPS is here to help us...but they need our help as well! By reporting non-emergency issues, KDPS can track and identify trends in our neighborhood, and not only respond, but understand how to best be pro-active to prevent crimes as well!  Loring-McMartin Farmhouse
*Vermeulen Property Development
Additional Information The Loring-McMartin Farmhouse has sat at the southeast corner of Stadium Drive and South Drake Road, just north of Asylum Lake, possibly since 1847 after the railway came into the area. Miller Johnson, the developer, is preparing to clear the property, but the company and local historians hope someone will step up to move the 700-square foot home to keep its history intact. Miller Johnson is offering $10,000, which is what it would cost to demolish the home, to anyone willing to move it. Anyone interested in the 1848 panted brick, Greek Revival 1.5 story farmhouse, can contact Matthew B. Van Dyk at vandykm@millerjohnson.com with proposals. Click HERE for 11/13/18 WWMT story... *ODWNA Neighborhood Plan
May Progress Report Our committees have now "finalized" all five committee's goal/actions and have presented them to city staff for discussion and review. - You can click HERE to see our five committee's 3/19/19 final drafts of identified neighborhood Goals and suggested actions. Once that process has finished up, the ODWNA will make a final presentation of the Plan to the neighborhood (Via our website, eNews and Winchell FB page) before it goes on to the Planning & City Commissions for approval and incorporation into the Master Plan. We anticipate a final draft to be ready in the next month or so; we are continuing to work with the city on finalizing roles and responsibilities so we, as a neighborhood, can efficiently and confidently move forward with all of our goals and actions...not just with our partners, but with the city as well. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Each month, we will keep everyone informed via our eNews, website, Winchell Neighborhood FB page, etc. of our progress as well as reach back out to everyone for additional clarification and review of our progress. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Each month, we will keep everyone informed via our eNews, website, Winchell Neighborhood FB page, etc. of our progress as well as reach back out to everyone for additional clarification and review of our progress.
======================= The Master Plan states that Neighborhood Plans will: • Align with the Strategic Vision and Master Plan at the neighborhood scale. • Develop individual strategies needed to achieve neighborhood completeness. • Establish a unique neighborhood vision, goals, and actions for implementation. • Establish relationships within the neighborhood to support implementation. • Use IK 2025 input from residents as a place to start. *City Contacts
"Quality of Life" Issues/Who to Contact
Ordinance Enforcement As a follow-up to recent neighbor concerns regarding nuisance/quality of life ordinance adherence, we have listed on our Resource Links page the areas of concern as well as the City contact phone number you may call to report any perceived violations. Our City Rental Inspector has assured us that any complaints registered with the city will be followed up on, and the person reporting the violation will remain anonymous. You can also report violations via the City's website with their Report It! link Go HERE to read the full meeting minutes of this (or any) of our ODWNA Association meetings
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September 18, 2019
Winchell Elementary - Library 7:00PM (meet your board & neighbors @ 6:30pm) Have a great summer; we'll see you in September! ======================== ** Our Board can always be reached via EMAIL HERE *Natural Features Protection (NFP) Ordinance/Vermeulen Property Development
May 20 UPDATE At their 5/20 meeting , the City Commission voted to APPROVE the NFP Overlay Ordinance as well as the overlay map as presented to us throughout the process. Many environmental groups, concerned citizens, as well as the ODWNA spoke in favor of passing this zoning ordinance. This is a great step forward for natural preservation in our neighborhood as well as the city at-large. “Phase 2” is the next step; reviewing other areas of our neighborhood & city for possible inclusion of additional land that should be afforded NFP Overlay protection. We will keep you up to date, and you can always go to: http://www.imaginekalamazoo.com/projects/nfp/ for more NFP information. The Board of the ODWNA supported the NFP Ordinance and revised Map. You can read the letter of support we submitted to the Planning and City Commissions, and city staff HERE * May - October Brush Collection
See map below for your pickup day 
*Recycle Coach
Free App For Personalized Trash, Recycling Info. And More! The City of Kalamazoo has launched of a mobile app (iPhone & Android) and website plug-in containing all of the information residents need to know about residential trash and recycling services, tailored specifically to your neighborhood. Other features include:
The app is available for Android and iPhone users and can be downloaded from the App Store and Google Play for free by searching for “Recycle Coach” *City Public Services Information
The Spring/Summer 2019 View From The Curb is available and full of very helpful information! Download it HERE *Upcoming City Projects
2019 ODWNA Streets to be Repaved: - Broadway - Ridgeview - Indiana - Hillshire Curious about a project that is happening in the City? Want to find out what street construction projects are planned this year? Wondering about upcoming parks projects? All City-planned projects for 2019 can be found at: www.kalamazoocity.org/projects Projects are identified on an interactive map that includes the project scope and estimate start and completion dates (actual dates are dependent on weather and other factors and may differ). You can also sign up for email updates on road construction at that website that will be provided approximately every two weeks. *Kalamazoo County Smart911 Available
Now Available! Public Safety Officials Encourage Residents to Sign Up For the Free Service That Provides Emergency Responders with More Information in the Event of an Emergency Public safety officials in Kalamazoo County announced today that Smart911 is now available to all individuals in Kalamazoo County. Smart911 is a free service that allows individuals and families to sign up online to provide key information to 9-1-1 call takers during an emergency. Smart911 allows citizens to create a Safety Profile at www.smart911.com for their household that includes any information they want 9-1-1 and response teams to have in the event of an emergency. When a citizen makes an emergency call, their Safety Profile is automatically displayed to the 9-1-1 call taker, allowing them to send the right response teams to the right location with the right information. *Are Your Service Water Pipes Made of Lead?
Check the map and database link below Kalamazoo's municipal water system has about 4,300 known lead service lines at about 2,800 addresses out of a total of more than 46,000 service lines in the system. At about 1,600 addresses, both the yard service lines and street service lines are lead. Of those addresses with one or the other, most of the lead pipes are yard service lines, according to city records. You can go to an MLive article HERE to access the map and/or search the database to see if your address is listed. Lead and Copper Program The City offers free lead and copper testing kits to City of Kalamazoo water customers. In an effort to streamline the City’s Lead and Copper program and respond timely to customers, the City requests that all calls and inquiries be directed to (269) 337-8550. ================== Here is a guide from the EPA, supplied to us by the City, that explains: • How lead gets into the body • About health effects of lead • What you can do to protect your family • Where to go for more information Protect Your Family From Lead in Your Home * Connect With City Government!
Connect with the city to receive news, updates, and alerts 1) Foundation For Excellence website 2) www.ImagineKalamazoo.com where the public can connect and collaborate with local decision makers and other residents on the future of our community. 3) www.kalamazoocity.org/connect provides information on how residents can connect with the city to receive important information and updates. 4) The city has created an online newsletter. This bi-monthly publication will contain information about what is happening around the City and include news, alerts, meeting schedules & agendas, and events. Go HERE to sign up. |
ODWNA Statement of Purpose
-Preserve and enhance the neighborhood living concept in the area.
-Protect the natural beauty of the area.
-Encourage the beautification, physical well-being and neighborhood spirit of the residential area.
-Constructively assist the Kalamazoo City and County Planning Commissions.
-Provide a forum for open and frank discussion of different points of view on neighborhood development.
-Provide for communication on matters of neighborhood interest to residents.
The Oakland Drive/Winchell Neighborhood Association was founded in 1973 in response to the City of Kalamazoo's proposal to widen Oakland Drive, which would have required the removal of many trees.
-Protect the natural beauty of the area.
-Encourage the beautification, physical well-being and neighborhood spirit of the residential area.
-Constructively assist the Kalamazoo City and County Planning Commissions.
-Provide a forum for open and frank discussion of different points of view on neighborhood development.
-Provide for communication on matters of neighborhood interest to residents.
The Oakland Drive/Winchell Neighborhood Association was founded in 1973 in response to the City of Kalamazoo's proposal to widen Oakland Drive, which would have required the removal of many trees.
2018-19 ODWNA Board Members
President - Peter Kushner
Vice President - Chris Shook
Treasurer - Kathy Shook
Secretary - Chris Bovid
Board Members at-large:
Diana Morton-Thompson
Paul Scott
President - Peter Kushner
Vice President - Chris Shook
Treasurer - Kathy Shook
Secretary - Chris Bovid
Board Members at-large:
Diana Morton-Thompson
Paul Scott
Oakland Drive - Winchell Neighborhood Map
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ODWNA ~ P.O. BOX 20061 ~ Kalamazoo, Michigan 49019
ODWNA ~ P.O. BOX 20061 ~ Kalamazoo, Michigan 49019
