Bonnie Brae Neighborhood

"Dear Neighbors"

Nov 27, 2004

By Kirk Anderson

This is my last newsletter, as I am stepping down as BBNA President at the end of 2004. It has been quite an experience. I had several goals: to re-energize the board and rally more neighbors to participate; to find some solution to the traffic problems through our neighborhood; to establish a zoning committee and attempt to be involved as much as possible in the numerous pop-tops in Bonnie Brae. For the most part, I feel we made strides in all these areas. But, admittedly, it is tougher than I thought to get people engaged. Many neighbors, for some reason, choose not to join the association (the dues are $10/year) and it is really tough to find people for the association board. Frankly, I am a little perplexed. We live in a small and unique community. When we moved here in 1987, I couldn?’t wait to get involved to help preserve it, if nothing else!

Traffic?—The city is slow to respond. They want to do ?“more studies?” of traffic flow in the area. My teams presented strong data that showed the number of people who speed, especially on Bonnie Brae and Mississippi Blvds. We proposed various possible solutions, such as additional stop signs, better/more police enforcement. I now understand better why people want to live in the suburbs on a quiet cul-de-sac where their kids can play without fear of speeding cars!

Bonnie Brae Park?—One of the major projects for the board has been improvements at the park. Things improved in 2004, after the long drought, but we are not out of the woods yet. We still have issues with unleashed dogs (OK, I give up on this one!) Britta Herwig from the city provided this update, ?“In the next month or so, Forestry will be planting 14 new trees at Bonnie Brae Park.?  We will remove the damaged evergreens and replace them.?  In addition, we?’ll be planting flowering Crab apples at the two main entrances (west, east) and we?’ll complete the perimeter planting around the park?”. I hope you enjoyed the perennial flowerbed, which was nice.

Poptops ?— I have fought hard to get the city to enforce the current ordinances. Go look at a few of the scrape-offs being built and tell me that they have 62.5% or more open space on their lots! There are two problems: enforcement, and a need to totally revamp the ordinances, in my opinion. QuickWIns2 was a step in the right direction.

You?’ve probably seen the alley improvements in the neighborhood. They are pretty much completed, finally. We always like to hear from you?— what is important, what do you like. It?’s the people that make a place special, not the houses.

I sincerely wish all of you and your families a great Holiday Season and a prosperous 2005! ?‘Tis a privilege to live in Bonnie Brae.