GENERAL MEETING Minutes

THURSDAY JANUARY 22, 2004, 7:00PM
OAK CLIFF CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

I.                    Call to Order / Approval of Minutes                                            Joseph Hernandez

• 7:00 Chamber of Commerce

 General Meeting: Key Topic: Dallas (Arson) Fire Department presentation  

• Guest Speakers
• Fire Department: Battalion Chief Sipes, Arson: Captain Linda Osborne, Captain Tim Clark, Police: Lieutenant Kenneth Dortch
• Battalion Chief Sikes talked about the Fire Stations, and rescue units that where available in the Mt. Creek Lake district. He also covered other statistics for the city of Dallas:
• 6 Fire Stations in the Mt. Creek Lake District
• 378 Miles are covered for the city of Dallas
• 55. Fire Stations
• 40 Rescue units
• Arson Division – Captain Linda Osborne
• WNNA has had multiple fires since October – December 2003. The Arson Division has been working these fires.
• The Arson division is called in on any suspicious fires. All Arson officers are certified in the State of Texas not only as Arson investigators but peace officers as well.
• If there is a loss of dollars related to the fire damage the Arson division will be called out to investigate.
• The Arson division (Captain Linda Osborne and Captain Tim Clark have both been investigating the multiple fires in the Bizerte alleys and the house that was hit 3 times on Bizerte.
• The number of garbage fires on Bizerte are 13 since October 2003
• There are currently no leads on the person who is setting these fires.
• Neighbors on Bizerte in particular are concerned and have requested additional Police coverage on their streets early in the am and late at night.
• Captain Osborne said that the best way for them to catch the person who is setting the fires is for the residents of WNNA to keep their eyes and ears open and report any suspicious activity to 1^{st -}  911 and then call the Arson Division and ask for Captain Linda Osborne – 214-670-4312. Tell Arson investigations that you live in WNNA and give as much information as you can. Do not try and stop or apprehend any suspects.
• Arson division have canvassed the neighborhood, and verified there are no ½ way houses located near WNNA. The only ½ way house that was in WNNA was located on Pratt and has been closed.
• Owner of the of the house that has been hit, and totally destroyed Mr. Edward Milkie spoke to the general meeting and told of the sequence of events that led up to the 3 fires. He is unaware of anyone who would of targeted his house, but is very concerned and is willing to set up surveillance equipment to help police catch the arsonist.
• One neighbor on Bizerte requested that the Arson investigative team contact the other vacant house owner  ( 659 Bizerte) to advise them of good practices in keeping vandals away from their house.
• Neighbors on Bizerte also requested any assistance to get the Sanitation department to start picking up their trash from the street and not the alley. Board will contact Ed Oakley to see if we can get this request escalated.
• Police Lieutenant Kenneth Dortch
• Promised that he would have extra police patrol coverage on Bizerte starting today. Also would get the evening division to make extra drive through during the early morning hours.

 II.                Crime Watch report – Terry Thomas

            ·        Crime report for October, November and December:

o       Last year WNNA reported 45 crimes to the Dallas Police. By comparison, 40 offenses were reported in2002. Our most serious crimes in 203 where an aggravated assault in the 600 block of Mayrant where shots where fired into a bedroom window during the evening hours and an arson of a vacant dwelling in the 700 block Bizerte which resulted in a large monetary loss. Fortunately no one was injured in earlier incidents. The following are the crimes reported in 2003:

o       Arson –1, Aggravated Assault –3, Assault – 4, Burglary – 6, Auto Theft (or attempt – 4, Thefts 17, Vandalism – 8, Telephone Harassment 2

·        Items of interest: Of the six burglaries last year, two were of back yard sheds and one was of a garage where the overhead door was left open.

·        Suspects who entered via a back door or rear window during the day committed the 3 residence burglaries.

·        Eleven of the seventeen reported thefts involved our vehicles. Residents must remember to remove all valuables from their cars or trucks while parked.

·         Terry plans to attend the Dallas Citizens Police Academy and invites others to join him.

III.               Board Elections - Dean Rose

·        2004 WNNA Board Members

o       Joseph Hernandez – President

o       Dean Rose – Vice President

o       Treasurer – Tom Reeves

o       Secretary – Cindy Kirk

o       Activities Director – Sue May

o       Publication Directory – Open

o       Communications Directory – Lisa Tully

o       Beautification Directory – Dwayne Privott

o       Advertising Directory – Paula Graves

o       Crime Watch Director – Terry Thomas

o        OOCCL Representative – Robert Curlin

IV.              Beautification - Jeremy Ratliff

·        Yard of the Month: October – 618 Woolsey – Billy Jurek and Tawana Couch-Jurek, November – 427 Woolsey – Gary Tyler and Dean McKinnon, December – December was judged on Christmas decorations – 525 Woolsey Don Wales and Fred Dueren  (See Newsletter for pictures)

V.                 Treasury report - Tom Reeves

·        As of 12/31/2003:  Beginning balance was  $5,907.99.  Income for the month was $525.  Total expenses for the month were -$357.76.  Ending balance is $6,790.75.  The bank balance is $5,943.79. 

VI.              General Discussion

·        Please remember to volunteer there are many task that have to been done to keep our neighborhood pretty and clean.

·        Bring a neighbor to the next General Meeting…..

·        Dean requested that each resident pledge to get involved with at least 2 events in 2004.

VII.           New WNNA residents - No

VIII.        Next meeting April ,22 2004 @ 7:00pm.

Meeting adjourned: 8:30pm