Baltimore County, MD Planning Board, 12 Nov 2020

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From YouTube: Quality of Life Focus Group Arbutus Area, November 12, 2020

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Good evening, everyone.: this is josephine selvakumar, western sector planner with department of planning.

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I welcome you all to the quality of life focus group meeting for the arbutus sustainable community area.

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Today is november 12, 2020 and the time now is 6:05 pm.

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I welcome all the community members, the advisory committee, members, planning, staff,.

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County representatives, council aid from the council office.

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And I welcome everyone who have joined me here. Virtually.

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I don't know: what's up with the chrome, extension,.

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It worked perfectly fine., anyway,, you're, all here.

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I'll just give you a brief overview of the focus group meeting.

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And then talk about the project, kickoff feedback,.

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What we received and then the survey results which was posted online.

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And you all took the survey so I'll. Give you an overview of.

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The results and then open the floor for questions and answer.

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Again,, this is the quality of life focus group meeting.

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For the arbutus sustainable community.

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These are the november meetings that are schedule.

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And that was held from last week..

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We had the transportation and economy focus group meeting last thursday.

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Now,, we are doing the quality of life focus group meeting at 6:00 pm now.

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Then we have the environment focus group meeting at 07:30, pm.

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Then we have the housing and local government focus group meetings next week on the 18th.

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What is quality of life and what are the projects we would be talking about? Today?.

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This mainly focuses on public health and the community resident's life.

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The projects mainly focus on public safety,.

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Crime and safety issues, which was addressed a lot in the survey result.

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The wellness programs and the facilities for the community and the civic amenities,.

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And how to collaborate with faith-based organization, arts and entertainment,.

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Education, and also homelessness, prevention,.

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Which was addressed a lot with the surveys.

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We had a project kickoff last month.

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The main thing that was discussed here at the project, kickoff.

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Related to quality of life was the parking issues mainly.

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In the selma avenue- and there were a lot of talk.

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From the project kickoff to the feedback.

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Then the previous survey, community meetings and survey results on the collaboration with the umbc,.

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And there was active participation also from umbc.

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There were also comments to install trash can.

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From the feedback we got from the survey results,.

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This is the graph showing for strength and weaknesses..

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This was also discussed in the previous focus group. Meetings.

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This trend, mainly the proximity,, the location of arbutus having access to the catonsville, elkridge, ellicott city,,.

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Highway, and umbc being closely and adjacent to all these area,.

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Also walkable to all these areas,, which are the main trends mentioned., also the quaint neighborhood,.

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Small town neighborhood was mentioned throughout the survey.

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The other talks about people being in the arbutus for quite sometime and how they like.

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The place and how the businesses run and they live in the community.

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These are the trends that talked about.

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Weaknesses comes to the business types,, especially the existing businesses,.

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How to bring in more new businesses,.

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Copying catonsville downtown,, ellicott city main street,.

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And to have high-end stores, like traders, joe's,.

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Panera, bread and aldi and 818 market- and there were a lot of mentions.

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From umbc students also to have cafe type restaurants.

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And to have more closely related to oca, mocha and sorrentos.

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The main thing discussed was vacant stores and how to.

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Fix the vacant stores and what more businesses to bring in.

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Prime bus address,, flooding, issues, and leads revenue was address, and also the lack of green space.

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Looking at the survey,.

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There were close to 36 responses, out of which 32.

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Was focused on the quality of life.

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There were comments to have dog park,.

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Health and wellness facility, mainly to offer classes to help people,, especially suffering from mental illness.,.

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Homelessness was addressed a lot.

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Talking about crime,, petty theft,.

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Local high school being unsafe on crime, issues, drug dealing,.

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Need more police patrolling were some of the comments,.

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And also to have more arts and entertainment, programs, outdoor events.

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They were some examples like farmers, market,.

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Open houses and green technology fair,.

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Umbc neighbor, open houses meet and greet,.

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To bring in barbecue and craft fair.

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These are few outdoor events, which were noted,.

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And also to have higher-end groceries, stores.

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specific mentions, where from catonsville downtown and to have more amenities.

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Talking about homelessness,, specifically east drive was.

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Mentioned but panhandling and issues of crime are there.

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Then the need of green space and open space was also mentioned in the survey results.

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With the results and points which we just discussed,.

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This is the graph showing that crime was mentioned in east drive, especially.

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Also, there were no specific areas were given, but generally it was addressed.

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Then need for more facilities and programs and events was something.

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Which was common from all the comments we received.

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Collaboration with umbc was unanimous for all the focus group survey. Results.

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They were comments on more green spaces and to have a clean area, and things like that.

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From the comments which we received,.

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We would like to know what are the specific outdoor events you're talking, about.

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They were some mentions, but if you would like to elaborate more on that, today's, the time.

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Crime and homelessness was equally addressed.

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Some of the areas mentioned was the east drive and the local school.

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But if there are specific areas we have captain latchaw here,.

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So now's the time to talk about that.

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There were a lot of mentions of more entertainment, programs, wellness, programs,.

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Events and amenities to copy those over in catonsville and ellicott city.

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We've heard a lot from the transportation and economy focused group too,.

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From umbc students and I'm sure, umbc students are there now too,.

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So if you want to elaborate on that, you're welcome to do so..

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If there are questions which you haven't brought about in.

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The project kickoff or during the survey or previous focus group meeting,.

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You can still talk about anything related to quality of life, for our viewers, sustainable community area,, focusing on their strengths, weakness, or challenges and opportunities..

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These are the main things which we are focusing on to get your feedback,.

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So anything you feel I've not addressed in these areas,.

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You are welcome to talk now.

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with this,. I will conclude that what I have to, let you know.

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And I'm sure you're pretty much comfortable now to type.

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Your name on the chat box and then go ahead with your question.

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I'll. Have my gis and google maps open to pull in areas if needed.

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With that, I will turn on to you all, to answer the question.

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Thank you., [noise].

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When you type in the chat, box,.

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If you could make sure to choose everyone,.

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That is easier for all of us to navigate the chat, box,.

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If not, that's fine too., you can go ahead and type your questions,, then joe will help us to unmute, and we can take it from there.

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[Noise] unmuting ekta.

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For some comments. hi ekta. hey,, can you hear me?.

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Yes, we can hear you.

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Hello,, my name is ekta daryani and I am part of.

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The student government association at umbc.

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I have a few suggestions for community involvement,.

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Especially a way to collaborate with umbc in terms of the quality of life in our views.

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I don't know if arbutus has a community center,, but if possible,.

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Either, if it all ready, has one to make it more widely known or.

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To establish an arbutus community center,.

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I think that would be a very good way to centralize a lot of arbutus community events.

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And have members of the community from wherever they come from,.

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To be able to collaborate on certain things in one area.

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This community center could offer things such as art, classes,,.

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Such as creative writing, classes, such as dance classes., it can have activities such like drives and events for certain students.

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Periodically,, what this community center would do.

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Is offer classes and events for different age groups,.

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People of all ages., this would combat the issue of not having a way.

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To improve the community for older people and younger kids as well.

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A way to involve umbc within that would be a lot of umbc students.

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Might be interested in volunteering at this community center to teach classes and host events,, etc.

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Or even to participate within them., it's just a nice place to centralize everything that happens.

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That being said, for the outdoor events, that was also listed on the powerpoint,.

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There's also events could happen, such as a community outdoor picnic or.

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Any outdoor night time event or something that can bring community members together,.

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To just get to know each other, etc.

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The last thing is that for homelessness and crime,.

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I think it would be a good idea to work with local organizations to provide things like food,.

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Necessities and health, and well-being for everyone who needs it.

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I remember your name from previous meetings and, yes, the suggestions and comments.

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To what you're describing., maybe thinking of another community center,.

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Similar to oca mocha, to collaborate with the community students.

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I mean, like a centralized town community center.

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In my town, where I live,, we have a specific community center, that's in downtown and it's public,.

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It's run by the town.. They offer classes for little kids to teenagers,.

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To adults, and older people as well., it's specifically an office with rooms.

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And areas designated for events to occur.

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And for other people and folks that volunteer and to host things as well. okay.

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Yeah. thank you.. I think sheryl [inaudible] community center comments.

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I'm not sure if she wants to talk about it. I've, unmuted her.,.

B

I'm so happy she brought that up about a community center.

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I feel that arbutus, and looking back over the past 40 years, has been on the cutting edge of starting a lot of programs like the arts, festival,.

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Having the arbutus community association,.

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The christmas santa house., so many programs that other communities have followed and have incorporated and done the same thing.

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I feel that right, now, as a community,.

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We need to step out and go for something pretty large,.

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Like a community center, instead of just painting a mural on.

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The wall or putting a few flags out or landscaping.

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Those things are currently being done,, but I feel that we need to have a heart and soul of a community.

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I can think of a couple of buildings that are there in arbutus,.

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That some of this could take place. In.

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Especially since I see housing developments happening in the area that are.

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Doing a lot more of this inclusion, zoning, we're getting all types of ages and family types.

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I think it's important to have a place for the kids to be.

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Able to walk to to be included in the community.

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We've lost a lot of the catholic schools in the area that would have engaged a lot of those kids.

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I hate to keep bringing this up,, but my building got burnt by some kids that were in junior high.

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I was shocked to find out that this was junior high kids versus high school kids.

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I have since come to find out that a lot of these junior high kids are at.

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Risk because their parents are in prison,.

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They've overdosed on drugs, grandmothers are raising them.. If there was a community center that they could walk to on their own,.

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To be involved in activities in the community and the umbc students.

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Could do things like have classes or engage them,.

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Like put the chess club., I can think of a million things that could be done.

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I just think that would be the next big step that.

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This community really needs to look at.

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The last thing when I look at the budget,.

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It used to be the avpa,, but now they've changed the name to gaba..

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When you look at the operating budget back in the day,.

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That was run mostly by volunteers and it didn't have an office.

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But now it has an office that requires rent.

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It has to have a little bit of salary for some help and that's great,.

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Because it's hard to find volunteers, anymore.

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however,, that does take a larger portion of the budget from when they do fundraising.

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So not a lot of that money gets returned as it used to.

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They return as much as they can.. I know they do., but it seems like,.

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If they have a place that was a community center,, then maybe they wouldn't have quite so much of that overhead,.

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And they would have a place that was the heart and soul..

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I can think of a couple of locations.

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right across some sorrentos,.

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There is a place.. It used to be a high store..

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It's a convenience store, that's right there on east drive.

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Also, behind the rite aid,.

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On that street, there's a couple of older houses that I had noticed had been for sale., even if one of them was purchased or something was done, that might even add to the parking.

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or oberon and linden avenue,.

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There is a gas station and across somewhere I used to have my store,.

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There's two properties: there, between the fire department and the bank of america,.

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And they have extremely low lots..

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I know that one of the gentlemen had a law office there and he is retired.

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I don't know if any of those people would be interested in selling their property and or.

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Somebody had even mentioned that shopping center that everyone complains.

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About that has the shop and save.

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If something could be done to purchase that and use part of it for a community center.

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I tend to think about going more up towards where the center of arbutus is,.

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Where the clock is and all that,, because I think a lot of people think of that area as the center of town.

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But I think we are right to have some type of a community center.

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I feel that that would give us a huge place to.

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Interact with umbc and people in the community.

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If we were to have outdoor events or whatever,, we can have a magic show for kids, or we can have a small cooking class.

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Then they'd have a place to come in and register and find out about events.

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I go along with the young lady with the umbc,.

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That I really feel like we need a community center and we are at.

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The point that we could go ahead and get that in our next step.

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In the chat, box, bettina tebo asks,.

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How can we work towards acquiring their properties.

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And redevelopment for open space, and/or community center?.

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I will unmute bettina.

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Well,, that was pretty much. My question is about.

E

I don't know that much about the program and everything, so with this,.

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How is the process to try to get rid of some of the daryl buildings that are down there.

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Is that in the future??

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Is that something doable and foreseeable with this type of program?.

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With the designation through,, I guess it would be through grant funding..

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There is some state funding for projects like that, redevelopment, projects.

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These projects usually are not [inaudible] endeavor.

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Getting a property owner who wants to sell or is willing.

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To work to assemble some properties that [inaudible].

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But definitely there's state money in there for that type of thing.

G

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I think that's been a reoccurring theme of our meetings,.

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Is how to get these landlords engaged and on board with the big picture and trying.

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To effect change and something for the community also that they could.

F

Sometimes it comes as a matter of time, as things start to change in arbutus in one direction or another,.

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Or again, often times some families and if they have properties and they want to sell.

F

At some point, it's knowing specific things to talk, about.

F

I'm currently being very general,, but there's money, there,, there's tax credit, money,, there's demolition, money,, there's a variety [overlapping], . right.

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Yeah,, that's right., as we discussed earlier in the project. Kickoff,.

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And bettina should be familiar with the revitalization toolbox,.

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The designation and also other county programs being in crd.

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It's just that: finding the property owners and working with those properties,.

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After that,, you can take advantage.

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After getting the designation and also being in the crd.

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Right., I think all of these conversations are very important,.

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But I've learnt from my experience of the past couple of years that nothing happens. Fast.

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It's a slow process and it's nice to have goals and obligations.

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When you have a strong presence with the business association,.

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Helping leading the charge, and then you have a foundation, that's set up to support the work. Also,.

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I believe we have to crawl before we can walk,.

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But it's nice to set future plans.

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Thanks, bettina.

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I see captain latchaw raising his hand.

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Joe,, if you could please unmute.

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H

That was accidental., I'm sorry. josephine.

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Yeah. we have some comments in the q&a box from merhshad devin,.

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Asking, "we need more lights in arbutus., it's very dark at night.", then the second comment from him, "could: we remove the tornado sirens?.

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They are quite loud and serve practically no use.".

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Would you like to unmute them,.

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Joe? please. thanks,, denay. sure.

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Who am I unmuting?, devin, merhshad.

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Devin,, you are unmuted.

I

Thank you., my name is merhshad devin., I'm a third-year student at umbc.. I also attended, [noise], pardon me,.

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The last two focus groups..

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There is a lack of lighting on leeds avenue,.

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And a little bit further down in linden avenue,.

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It's a little bit dark,, it's a little bit scary at night,, especially if you're traversing by foot.

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also,. If you go deeper down on east avenue,,.

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Right into the intersection, with tom day, boulevard,.

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That area is so dark. practically the only thing, that's lighting, that area up is the car lights that are traversing through that road.

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I don't know if you could add more lights to that area,.

I

Perhaps on both sides,, because it's a boulevard and there's two roads., I think that would be really beneficial.

I

also,. Another thing that I've been noticing is the tornado sirens.

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I'm not entirely sure if they are tornado sirens or some sort of sirens that existed from world war. Ii.

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Not entirely sure what purpose they serve,, but whenever there is a little bit of drizzle,, it goes on for minutes and minutes and minutes.

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Today, especially,, it was raining a little bit and it went off four times.

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It's very loud,. It disturbs our sleep,.

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And it's quite an ear sore,.

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As someone might say.

I

A

No lights in leeds, near linden, avenue. noted., tornado sirens,. I don't know,, who should address that.

A

I believe those tornado sirens.

H

That he's referring to would be the volunteer fire company.

H

When they receive an emergency call,, they will alert the siren to alert their members to respond to.

H

The firehouse, in order to jump on the medic or the fire truck and respond to the scene of an incident.

H

Those are the sirens that he's likely hearing.

A

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bettina says, "read, my comments.".

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What is she saying?? [Background] is bettina, saying something?.

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I just see, "read, my comments.". Are you talking to me?.

D

He was talking about the darkness down around tom day, boulevard.

D

I don't know,, there are some signs that go up through there.

D

That are like [inaudible], community or halethorpe community.

D

You've got the problem with houses along there and you've got street lights.

D

I don't know if there's a certain amount of lighting that can be there.

D

That is really a problem shining in residents, homes,.

D

But it seems if those signs were lit, if they're not lit now, or they had flood lights. That would come from the ground up,.

D

That would offer some additional lighting.

D

Some of the community associations may be very.

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Happy to take the halethorpe improvement to be able to take that on.

D

I think that would also add some beautification to the area at night.

D

Just a suggestion.

D

thanks, bettina.

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Is mike here from halethorpe?.

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He usually attends all the meetings.. I don't see him.

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Any other questions in the chat box?, I don't see it in everyone,, but, joe,. You might be getting it.

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No,, I don't have any other messages right, now.

B

Bettina said, "read my comments,", but I'm not sure where those comments are.

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She just spoke about it.

B

I thought that was sheryl..

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Then sheryl has some questions. [overlapping] yeah.. I just spoke about the lighting on the sign.

D

I think she thought I was bettina okay. bettina,. I will unmute you and see if you have anything to say.

B

I had typed in two comments before I typed in, "read, my comments.".

E

Captain latchaw had explained it was the firehouse siren.

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That's a call for help.. That's a volunteer fire department.

E

that siren has been blowing in our arbutus for over 80 years.

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It doesn't happen at night.

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They don't blow the rounds like they used to,, but during the day the siren is in operation.

E

And it's been like that for 80 years., [background].

J

A

Any other comments?

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there was one more from lori hardesty.

G

Joe,, could you unmute her, please.

G

Yes. lori,, you are unmuted.

B

Thank you,, joe., hi,, everyone.

J

My name is lori hardesty and I work at the shriver center at umbc.

J

I coordinate community engagement, work.

J

And have some partnerships with swes arbutus middle school,.

J

And then a little beyond with relay elementary,.

J

And further into lansdowne., but just to say, through a community service and learning practicum,.

J

I coordinate that with some of the initiatives currently or in future.

J

We're happy to support these initiatives and connect students.

J

That are interested in areas of homelessness,, education,, beautification.

J

Just to put that on the table, that we'd love to work more in the future, with that,.

J

So just to say, that.

J

Just a statement versus a question.[laughter] thanks, lori. thank you.

A

F

I think you're on mute, josephine.

F

Yeah, okay., I'm sorry., I don't know.

A

I was trying to share my screen. thank you., [laughter] thanks, lori..

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I was just saying I am trying to share my screen to see.

A

If you can give me more info on the questions.

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That you're are trying to get answered,.

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There are now other questions in the chat box.

A

Here we are., I just want to know,. I did hear comments on the community center.

A

They have a lot of comments on crime and homelessness.

A

If there is anything you want to, address, now is the time.. We are here to take comments.

A

Because that was one of the first thing, issues from the survey results.

A

You all did talk about [noise], the communities and events and what you need,.

A

But if there's anything to specify on the programs or anything.

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You have in mind, as we have the umbc students participating here,.

A

Just to jog your memory to let you know that these are.

A

The areas we are focusing on from your survey, results.

A

Sheryl mentioned, the security cameras and tree planting,.

B

So I will unmute her now. [noise] okay. [noise].

D

With these moneys that they would put security cameras up at places in a town,.

D

Is that something that the police thinks that we need.

D

Or the community thinks that we need that because we keep.

D

Talking about the crime and people's reluctance.

D

Sometimes, to call the police just because maybe,.

D

They don't want to get involved,. Is that a need in arbutus to have those security cameras up, at least at a couple of the intersections?.

D

[Noise], you have captain latchaw here.

A

I will let captain latchaw take the question.

A

H

Captain latchaw is here.. Here's my take on our view that somewhat I will tell you about that. Little area.

H

Contrary to maybe some people's opinions,, that area is extremely safe.

H

obviously,. I will never advocate.

H

Against cameras because they have a use and they have a value,.

H

But do you get the most bang for your buck by investing in.

H

Such an expensive resource in that area?.

H

That's a decision, obviously, that powers to be beyond me would have to make..

H

I do get several e-mails and I am in routine contact with.

H

Some members of the community down there on arbutus.

H

In fact,, one of them e-mailed me today about something as simple as a [noise] parking [noise] complain,, a car blocking the alley,, which I promptly had a car, go out and try and locate the owner and they couldn't,, and we ticketed that car..

H

The key to all of it is communication.

H

I tell you the same thing,: we are all in this together.. If you see something or there's a problem in your neighborhood and you need us,, then we're a phone call away..

H

But if you don't call us,, then I'll, never know. people unfortunately get in the habit of utilizing their little next door app or their little neighborhood group chat or whatever the case might be. When you got to remember,.

H

You need to plug us in and call us so that we can address things.

H

With regards to overall crime,.

H

Again, along ish drive,, the hub of arbutus, umbc,, I think, all in all, it's a great little area, and I think all in all, things are very good. just to touch on the homeless aspect of it,.

H

We did have some homeless issues about a year to two years, ago.

H

I dedicated a lot of resources into that area.

H

To work on cleaning that up and combating those problems., it's not perfect., is it eradicated of homeless, people?.

H

No,, it sure isn't., because, like one of the umbc students mentioned earlier,,.

H

If we could give them free, food, and clothing,.

H

And health, and resources, well, that exists already,, it's called matt's house, and it's right there in the heart of arbutus on ish drive.

H

He operates under the guise of a church outreach effort,.

H

And he does do a lot to try and help the homeless and get them on.

H

Their feet and then provide them. Some meaningful little tasks and jobs,.

H

And pays them when he can.

H

it's a resource there. That wallet has a propensity to attract homeless, people,.

H

It also has the propensity to try and help them get on their feet.

H

With that said, though,, we also do not tolerate the homeless camps that occasionally.

H

Pop up in the woods and in places where they're illegal or they don't belong.

H

We typically react and respond to those very quickly to eliminate.

H

Those because we certainly don't want.

H

An entire tent city popping up somewhere, where it's not supposed to be.

H

I hope that answers your question.. My next thing was about,.

D

Just as an fyi to the lady that was commenting from engaging umbc, students,.

D

The healthcare improvement association, took part in a tree planting situation that the state funds.

D

It was really wonderful and they identified properties.

D

Over across the bridge that could use trees,.

D

And they planted eight-foot trees and planted them.

D

It was really a nice community effort..

D

I understand that they want to move to our arbutus proper next year to do this.

D

This might be something that the umbc students could get involved. In.

D

The other thing I've noticed at matt's house is that yes,.

D

They do have people that are helping out the community with the streets and all that.

D

But a lot of some of the requests that seems to go into matt's house or for older people that live in the community,.

D

They just can't get out and do their yard work or can't do some minor, repairs,, etc.

D

I don't know if that's something that umbc students,.

D

There could be some type of coordination with that. thank you.

D

[Noise] ekta from umbc had a couple of comments,.

B

So I will unmute her and maybe she can address that point as well.

C

[Noise] sorry,, I just got muted for some reason. hello.

C

Hello. eliot latchaw just mentioned a thing about.

C

The local area that helps give resources to the homeless people in arbutus,.

C

Although,, I was just saying that there's a lot of local organizations in the area,.

C

In the baltimore county area,, as well as regular baltimore area., I'm totally willing to make a list of these organizations.

C

And their pros and cons and what kinds of resources they offer,.

C

And sending them to you., but I think it would be beneficial,.

C

Alongside what we already have in arbutus, to work with other local organizations, that their primary focus is to help provide.

C

Multiple different types of resources to homeless, people.

C

I think that might be beneficial to the community of arbutus to have.

C

Multiple organizations providing things to them and helping with that.

C

Also to add on baltimore county agencies,.

A

Also with the department of social services,,.

A

And their primary responsibility is to provide services to the homeless.

A

I can share the link with you-all..

A

I think the contact with them is jones.

A

I can share you the e-mail information or I can e-mail you for more information.

A

Awesome. thank you.

C

I was also talking along the lines of some non-profit organizations as well.

C

I do know of some and I'm a 100 percent willing to come up with the document,.

C

Listing out these non-profit organizations that can help, and sending them over to you.

C

A

I also speak to add on mary ann richmond from umbc has added.

A

That oca mocha has partnerships with 211.

A

Do you want to talk about it,, mary?.

A

Joe,, if you could unmute her please.

A

K

I think I'm unmuted,. Can you hear me? yes,? We can hear you.

B

K

This is mary ann richmond from umbc.

K

I work in institutional advancement..

K

Oca mocha has developed a partnership with now 211.

K

Which is the non-emergency number,.

K

Provides resources,, and also on the local website,.

K

There is a less similar to what I'm just thinking. About.

K

Maybe that can be a starting point.

K

Also, they've been collaborating with retriever essentials,.

K

Which is the on-campus resource for umbc community members with food-in security.

K

And with some of the other organizations.

K

In arbutus that are working on these types of things, already.

K

I think we can talk about that as well and try to build on all of that.

K

Yeah,, I'd love, to. that sounds wonderful.

C

I also,, as someone mentioned earlier, about the health and wellness program,.

C

Maybe even a health and wellness center for the community,, especially if there's some way to make that department with non-profit organization on that,.

C

I think having a health and wellness center especially, would be.

C

Great for all arbutus community members,, especially homeless.

A

Thank you., I just add up the county contact.

A

If you want to hear more information,.

A

I just put it in the chat: box. [noise] thank you.

A

Any other questions?.

A

If you want to see the map or if you want to see the slide,.

A

Let me know,, I can share that.

F

Josephine,, can we see the slides one more time just to see if.

F

We've covered everything that we need to get information on?.

F

Sure. [noise] there was another slide that had some questions.

F

I think we've covered most of these.

A

This is just to get anything which they didn't cover in the past. Too,.

A

If they have any new comments for this quality of life, based on these categories;.

A

Strength, weakness, and challenges and opportunities, they can just let us know, now.

A

If no more questions,, I think bettina is saying something.

A

E

I was just thinking, and I don't know if it's been addressed,.

E

But I don't think I have addressed it..

E

It goes back to the working with the landlords and everything,.

E

But arbutus, right along east drive,.

E

There's a lot of storefront on each side way down,, but on the,.

E

I guess it would be the south side of the street,.

E

The odd side of the street, behind there,.

E

Those properties go back pretty deep and the only thing.

E

That stopped the property is the waterway,.

E

That they've been trying to do, still there.

E

I would like to look for opportunity to where maybe we could create.

E

Some open space area adjacent to the waterway.

E

I know it's not like a river,, but the property goes back so deep that you could take.

E

Care of the property and still have a building and.

E

Parking for that building and still have open space.

E

As you get towards linden avenue,.

E

Heading east on the east drive on the right-hand side,.

E

Those properties, right about at stevens, those properties start getting deep back to the train.

E

If we're building a town, center,.

E

There's no open public space.

E

In arbutus and within the commercial area.

E

We had a few benches, and that was about it.

E

Thanks for bringing this up, bettina.

A

I was going to talk about the [inaudible] in the next meeting.

A

Because that was brought up at the survey results,.

A

I was going to bring that up for our environment focus group meetings.

A

But from the community, I've heard maintaining the watershed.

A

And also to have coming the open space near. That was also in one of.

A

The comments for the environment, following the lines on what you're saying.

A

okay. yeah., I was just trying to pull that in..

A

My screen is not moving.

A

E

With the map that you have,.

E

You'd see rite aid on the corner right, there.

E

Go down from the ball field.

E

yeah, you'd see rite aid right. There.

E

then look as you follow east drive up and look at wide that starts,.

E

Because the properties go,, you can come down, bring the map down a little bit, and you will see linden avenue.

E

Yeah, see where east goes up in the linden avenue.

E

And you see that crooked, look, how deep that is back there.

E

There's a couple of residential houses and homes,.

E

I believe, but look how deep some of that area is back. There. [noise].

F

If I have the google map,.

A

I can't move anything anymore.

A

Okay. anything else?.

D

D

You're unmuted, sheryl.

B

Okay. bettina,: are you talking about the area behind sorrentos.

D

Where I have those two houses there, in that area there by the social club?

D

I'm talking about from there all the way up to linden avenue,.

E

About how deep the properties go back,, but I know there's a couple of houses.

E

But especially behind the social club and oak creek,,.

E

And then the old pool hall building,.

E

How far back that goes.?

E

That goes all the way back behind where your flower shop was and everything,, but look how much space is just choked up,.

E

There might be an opportunity to do something with it.

E

D

I tried to donate actually that land where the flower shop, was,.

D

But I couldn't get the social club to step forward.

D

So that's water over the dam now, because I always felt that parking could go behind that whole area. There.

D

And then that would give more to go up onto east drive.

D

But now the flower shop property can expect a purchase.

D

But behind oak creek, I understand that there's some type of right of way issue in that alley. There,.

D

Beside the social club. [background].

D

There is a little patch of land there., but if you look up by where the movie theater is,.

D

Where exit realty is, there's a couple of properties on there,, they seem to change hands. Quite a bit.

D

That land goes way, back, there,.

D

Which would really give a lot of space to have concert.

D

For an open area in the community.

D

I would think those properties would give you more space,.

D

But give you more area to have the open space.

D

For activities to take place, is what I'm trying to say.

A

A

I just tried to do a street view to show everyone.

A

Which area you're talking about,, but that's a bad idea.. It's just spacing everything out,, but I just have the google images here.

A

That's going to be a couple more minutes,.

A

If you don't have anything else to add,.

A

I can wrap up the meeting.

A

I think it sounds like you've got what you wanted to get tonight.

A

Yeah., the questions are answered from what we want to know,.

A

From what the answer from survey., I think I can go ahead and wrap up the meeting,.

A

And give you some time to grab dinner before the next meeting.

A

Some of you are going to attend the meeting for the environment.

A

With that,, let's wrap up.

A

The quality of life focus group meeting for arbutus sustainable community area.

A

I thank everyone who came here and gave your valuable input.

A

The transportation survey is still available.

A

That was posted by the transportation planning team.

A

So you, if you haven't, got the chance to take that,. Please do that.

A

It's available in the hub, and if any of your friends have missed this meeting,.

A

The video will be posted in the hub, and for the upcoming meeting next week,.

A

The registration links will be out tomorrow and that will also be posted in the hub..

A

I thank you-all for coming.. Thank you.

A

have a good night. bye.

A

G

Goodnight. thank you. thank you., [noise].