July 2018 - Dec 2018

Neighborhood Meeting Minutes

Thursday, July 26, 2018 5:30 to 6:45 PM

Charlie Joseph Senior Citizen Center

Thanks to all for the pot-luck dinner!

Opening prayer: Roxie McLeod
While eating, we celebrated birthdays!
All present introduced themselves.
Minutes from June meeting were approved.

4th Panama Park Come Together 2019 date is set for May 18, 2019 – mark your calendars now. Please contact Roxie McLeod 515-7944 if you are interested in heading up a committee or volunteering for our 4th annual PPCT.

Daryl Joseph – Director of Parks and Recreation sent us the prices of the recommended improvements for the park. There was discussion on which ones were most desirable. Both the Outdoor Fitness Circuit and scoreboard and football field were suggested. Motion was passed to table the discussion in order to do more research on LISC matching the funds to potentially double the $$ and there was talk was of artificial turf on the field as an option. David Lass offered to bring back information next meeting regarding other LISC/NLF assisted parks in Jacksonville.

Gary brought up solar power for our neighborhood and we talked of possibilities. Tom will do more talking to city council about this as well as JEA. JEA has a solar smart program and the idea was discussed about Panama Park becoming the first 100% solar powered neighborhood. People’s JEA bills would be the same but this neighborhood would get credit for funding the solar panels used by JEA to supply our electricity.

Closing Prayer – Tom McLeod

Announcements and Upcoming Events
- We have a Website - www.panamapark.net
- Next Door - Get the app or sign up online at nextdoor.com
- Facebook Page - Panama Park Neighborhood @PanamaParkNeighbors
- Sherriff’s Watch Meeting (Carolina Oaks 5175 North Main Street) Aug.16 (7:00 PM)
- Next Month’s PPNA Meeting Aug. 23, same local, same time, discussing: LISC matching the city funds for our Park improvements, update on 501c3, and fund raising opportunities.

Neighborhood Meeting Minutes

Thursday, August 23, 2018 5:30 to 6:45 PM

Charlie Joseph Senior Citizen Center
Thanks to all for the pot-luck dinner!

Opening prayer: Dean Hoskins

All present introduced themselves.

Guest Speaker: Cynthia Smith – running for School Board, District 4 – She attended elementary school in our neighborhood Lola Culver Elm. She has served as an administrator 5 years, most recently at Ribault HS. She wants to see increase in teacher longevity and faith based/business partnerships.

Minutes from July meeting were approved.

Panama Park Community Development Corporation – we are now registered with the State as a Corporation and have a federal number. There was excited discussion as to what this might afford us. It gives us the ability to put our events under this name and raise money for projects. Kristy Kennedy mentioned that eventually we would be able to help our neighbors who can’t, to fix up their homes.

Our City Library is currently winning! Go to www.soarwithreading.com/book-with-us-2018 and vote before the end of this month! Also, there are free meeting rooms in our libraries for you to use and the Main Library has so many skill building seminars for free in the “maker space”. Check it out! www.jaxpubliclibrary.org
4th Panama Park Come Together 2019 date is set for May 18, 2019 – Some volunteered to help make it happen! Mark your calendars now and check out where you can help on our web page: www.panamapark.net Or, contact Roxie McLeod 515-7944 if you are interested in volunteering for our 4th annual PPCT.

Tom and Darrius will research LISC matching of $ from the city for our park.

Closing Prayer – Roxie McLeod

Announcements and Upcoming Events
- We have a Website - www.panamapark.net
- Next Door - Get the app or sign up online at nextdoor.com
- Facebook Page - Panama Park Neighborhood @PanamaParkNeighbors
- Sherriff’s Watch Meeting (Carolina Oaks 5175 North Main Street) Sept. 21 (7:00 PM)
- Next Month’s PPNA Meeting Sept. 27, same local, same time!

PP Neighborhood Meeting Minutes

Thursday, Sept. 27, 2018 5:30 - 6:45 PM

Charlie Joseph Senior Citizen Center

Pot Luck: Home-made Chili, mac-n-cheese, and cupcakes disappeared quickly.

Welcome and blessing – Cynthia Scott

Introduction of all present (18 in all) We were again graced with Cinthia Smith, her Mother and her Aunt (who is our neighbor). Ms. Smith is running for District 4 School Board, be sure to check out what she stands for! Also, two neighbors who see each other every day as one walks her dogs by the other’s house, were able to meet in our meeting tonight.

Last month’s meeting minutes approved

Our City Library won the soar-with-reading $. Also a new library is approved for Ocean Way!

LISC matching funds - David Lass found four fields that LISC (and the NFL) has helped and listed what each one had. In contacting LISC Tom McLeod found there are some more steps to the application process that we need to keep working on if we would like the funds of the city to be matched. We also discussed the improvements that the city would make to the playground should we choose to use the money from the city alone. There was a vote and it was unanimous to keep the capital money from the city set aside for the possibility of doubling or more. Tom will do more investigation into meeting the application needs. There was a suggestion that we could also increase the money by involving businesses. Dr. Williams, our Councilman’s Assistant said she and Councilman Gaffney will be talking with the Park’s Department head, Daryl Joseph to make sure that this delay will not jeopardize the money and won't penalize us from getting future money that may also be allocated to our park.

Panama Park Community Development Corporation There is now a federally recognized CDC that can help Panama Park Association when ever someone might want to donate a building, land, or a football field!

Police Presence in Panama Park – One neighbor brought up that police who used to patrol our neighborhood have been allotted to higher crime neighborhoods. While we recognize this means crime may be going down in Panama Park, it leaves us feeling unsafe. It was recommended that we, as a group will attend the Sheriff’s Watch meeting on Oct. the 18th. Also, Next Door is announcing that there is a “Coffee with a Cop Day” on Oct 3rd at 8-10 AM at Social Grounds on Main Street.

Halloween - Some Neighbors discussed the possibility of “Trunk or Treat” event in park parking lot for Halloween. (Contact Shavali Lansford (904) 609-8484)

6:40 - Announcements and Upcoming Events

Our Website: www.panamapark.net
Next Door - Get the app or sign up online at nextdoor.com
Facebook Page - Please like our Facebook page, Panama Park Neighborhood @PanamaParkNeighbors
Coffee with a Cop Day on Wednesday, Oct 3rd. 8-10 AM - At Social Grounds on Main St.
Sheriff's Watch Meeting (Carolina Oaks 5175 North Main St) Oct. 18 (7:00 PM)
Next Month’s PPNA Meeting Oct. 25, same local, same time, Potluck sign up or suggestions for what restaurant can donate…

6:45 - Close Meeting – Tom McLeod

Highlights - Thursday, Sept. 27, 2018

18 neighbors met (two of whom see each other every day, but now know each other’s names!).
Park allocated money can be doubled or used now. After discussion, we agreed to delay voting on the use of these funds to investigate further the steps needed to meet LISC and NFL requirements. Present at the meeting was Dr. Williams, our Councilman’s Administrative Assistant, who said she and Councilman Gaffney will be talking with the Park’s Department head, Daryl Joseph to make sure that these capitol funds will remain available to us.
We discussed police presence in our neighborhood and many agreed to attend together the Sheriff's Watch Meeting on Oct. 18 at Carolina Oaks 7:00PM.
Still need volunteers to help with the Panama Park Come Together (go to www.panamapark.net Or, contact Roxie McLeod 515-7944)
Next Panama Park Neighborhood Association Meeting is October 25.

Thursday, Oct. 25, 2018 5:30 - 6:45 PM

Charlie Joseph Senior Citizen Center

Pot Luck: Cheese Burger casserole, green beans, chocolate cake and donuts.

Welcome and blessing – Kim Lasseter

Introductions We were again graced with Cynthia Smith, running for School Board in District 4 – She is featured in Folio. Be sure to get to the polls November 6th. We also had three new neighbors in attendance.

Last month’s meeting minutes approved

Franklin – One of our new neighbors suggested an addition for our park area – to have a WiFi Access Point, including a Technology Center to strengthen our neighborhood. He will bring us more information about this in our next meeting.

Reports on CPAC meeting: The Northwest District 5 City Planning Advisory Committee meeting was Oct. 11 and these items were passed on to our Panama Park Neighborhood:

Please know that the last item on your voter’s ballot on November 6 will be a straw ballot (to determine if we should have a public vote before any sale of JEA (over 10%) is approved) A yes vote on this means you wish the public to vote and have a say on any future selling of JEA.
If we want trees to be planted on any city property, then we can request them from the city. Call Shavali Lansford (904) 609-8484 to put in a suggested request.
There are matching grants awarded to neighborhood associations from the city if we have a project that we need help with. One suggestion was for our sidewalks if we can’t get the city to put them in. Good idea.

Report on Sheriff’s Watch meeting: Five of our police officers were present at this meeting and reported that our crime rate for this neighborhood is dramatically down from previous months. The JSO emphatically encourages citizens to call in suspicious things we see and want them to address, it makes a difference the more calls that come in. The “squeaky wheel absolutely gets the grease” when it comes to JSO attention and resources.

Report on our sidewalks being repaired The Public Works Division of our city has responded to our requests for better sidewalks and have assigned to them to the “sidewalk repair backlog list”. However, our requests for new sidewalks in some areas where denied. We are forming a committee on getting new sidewalks where there are none. A committee will be investigating what is needed in order to make our neighborhood safer and make public services like schools and transport more accessible to our neighbors. If you wish to serve on this committee, please contact Roxie McLeod (904) 515-7944.

Panama Park Come Together – Our 4th Come Together is May 18th, 2019.

We will need to raise a larger budget than last year in sponsorships and donations of goods. We will also have a job fair featuring our local business, please help us make our local business aware of these opportunity’s. Check out where you can help at www.panamapark.net Or, contact Roxie McLeod 515-7944 if you are interested in volunteering for our 4th annual PPCT. Committees formed already are children’s activities and volunteer coordination. Still need coordinators for food, publicity, crowd control, set up/break down, and sponsorship.

Halloween – Bring your car with a trunk full of treats to the park at 4:30 PM on Oct. 31.st. Our Panama Park “Trunk or Treat” event will offer a safe alternative for our kids on Halloween. (Contact Shavali Lansford (904) 609-8484)

6:40 - Announcements and Upcoming Events

Our Website: www.panamapark.net
Next Door - Get the app or sign up online at nextdoor.com
Facebook Page - Panama Park Neighborhood @ PanamaParkNeighbors
Sheriff’s Watch Meeting (Nov. only at First Baptist) Nov. 15 (5:30 PM)
Next Month’s PPNA Meeting Nov. 15 (moved to third Thursday just for Nov. due to Thanksgiving being on our normal fourth Thursday.)

6:45 - Close Meeting – Tom McLeod

Thursday, Nov. 15, 2018 5:30 - 6:45 PM

Charlie Joseph Senior Citizen Center

PP Neighborhood Meeting Minutes

Thursday, Nov. 15, 2018 5:30 - 6:45 PM

Charlie Joseph Senior Citizen Center

Thank You for all who brought our Pot Luck Dinner!

Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018 5:30 - 6:45 PM

Charlie Joseph Senior Citizen Center

Thank You for all who brought our Pot Luck Dinner!

2018 Meeting Notes