2025 Meeting Minutes

Table of Contents

July 2025 Meeting - Members Meeting #5

June 2025 Meeting - Members Meeting #4

May 2025 Meeting - Members Meeting #3

March 2025 Meeting - Members Meeting #2

February 2025 Meeting - Members Meeting #1

July 2025 Meeting - Members Meeting #5

Meeting Date: Saturday, July 26, 2025, 12:15 - 1:45pm

Meeting Location: North Ave Library - 2901 North Ave, Richmond, VA 23222

NEW - Youtube meeting recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Snng1etgqUA

June 2025 Meeting - Members Meeting #4

Meeting Date: Saturday, June 21, 2025, 12:15 - 1:45pm

Meeting Location: North Ave Library - 2901 North Ave, Richmond, VA 23222

Welcome & Introductions

Announcements (shared by Shannon Macika, Secretary)

Presentation: Councilwoman Kenya Gibson (District 3)

Adjournment

Councilperson Kenya Gibson of the Richmond City 3rd District presents at the North Barton Heights Civic Association meeting in June 2025.

May 2025 Meeting - Members Meeting #3

Meeting Date: Saturday, May 3, 2025, 12:15 - 1:45pm

Meeting Location: North Ave Library - 2901 North Ave, Richmond, VA 23222

March 2025 Meeting - Members Meeting #2

Meeting Date: Saturday, March 22, 2025, 12:30 pm

Meeting Location: North Ave Library - 2901 North Ave, Richmond, VA 23222

Minutes:

  1. Administrative Updates
  1. Boundary Extension & Dues Simplification
  1. The NBHCA boundaries have been extended to better align with city precincts, council districts, and other neighborhood divisions.
  2. Civic association boundaries can be adjusted at any time and may overlap with other associations.
  3. Annual dues have been updated to $12 per voting individual per calendar year. A household membership discount may be explored in the future.
  1. Meeting Schedule Proposal
  1. Proposed schedule: meetings every 45 days (approximately 8 meetings per year), held on Saturdays from 12:15 to 1:45 PM.
  2. The goal is to plan the full year of meetings in advance to support communication and participation.
  1. Bylaws & Quorum Discussion
  1. A vote on amending the bylaws to set quorum as “50% of those present + 1” (including absentee participants) was postponed.
  2. Members requested more time for review and discussion.
  3. Concerns were raised about the importance of adequate notice for bylaw changes and ensuring all members, including those not on Facebook, are informed and able to vote.
  1. Communications & Outreach
  1. Plans to distribute flyers to all homes within the association boundaries, sharing upcoming meeting dates and contact information.
  2. A block captain model was proposed to help with distributing flyers and neighborhood updates.
  3. Zoom or phone-accessible meetings were suggested to increase accessibility.
  4. Communications strategy moving forward - suggested:
  1. A general newsletter every six weeks, in between meeting
  2. Separate announcements for upcoming meetings and distribution of planned meeting agenda one week in advance
  3. Flyers and signs posted in visible public spaces
  1. Treasurer's Report
  1. The Treasurer provided a brief update on the association’s bank account status.
  1. Richmond ToolBank Presentation
  1. Website: https://www.richmondtoolbank.org 
  2. NBHCA is now a registered community group member of the Richmond ToolBank. Available resources include:
  1. Lending of tools and event items (such as cornhole sets, chairs, and tables)
  2. Hosting community build events to create compost bins, Adirondack chairs, etc.
  3. Access to a classroom space for hands-on learning
  4. Support for the “Honey Do Crew” volunteer initiative, focused on helping seniors and other residents with home projects
  1. Volunteer Recruitment
  1. Flyers will be distributed to all residents, specifically our senior residents.
  2. The first round of flyers will include information about the civic association, the meeting schedule, and how to get involved.
  1. Other Business and    Community Ideas
  1. Community Engagement and Improvement Initiatives
  2. Extend an invitation to the local Police Precinct Lieutenant to attend a future meeting
  3. Explore the creation of a subcommittee for a dog waste station near the library
  4. Plan neighborhood social events and consider developing a plaque recognition program
  5. Advocate for pedestrian safety improvements:
  1. Request pedestrian safety signage at intersections
  2. Support the installation of traffic calming measures
  3. Invite a representative from the City of Richmond Public Works Department to hear residents' concerns
  1. Organize volunteer efforts for:
  2. Cleaning bumpouts throughout the neighborhood
  3. Removing ivy from trees to improve tree health
  4. Next NBHCA Members Meeting: Saturday, May 3, 12:15-1:45pm at the North Avenue Library

February 2025 Meeting - Members Meeting #1

Meeting Date: Wednesday, February 12, 2025, 6:30 pm

Meeting Location: North Ave Library - 2901 North Ave, Richmond, VA 23222

Minutes:

  1. Confirmation and Initiation of interim officers (“re-launch committee”)
  1. Karen Link - President
  2. Jamal Tylor - Vice President
  3. Neethi Jois - Treasurer
  4. Shannon Macika - Secretary / Webmaster
  5. Also discussed background and history of the civic association to date
  1. Interim officers have been working since April 2024-December 2024 to get the civic association back in legal working order and officially registered with the State of Virginia
  2. Hosted two Meet & Greets in January to re-engage with the community and promote membership
  3. Also engaging with the 3rd District Civic Associations in Northside to promote work toward shared issues
  1. Budget report from Treasurer presented by President
  1. The interim board has funded, from personal monies, startup expenses including but not limited to: $316.44 (for registration with the State of Virginia, Go Daddy website and domain, printing materials for flyers, initial $100 to fund the bank account)
  2. Membership dues levels have been established for 2025 and available on the NBHCA website
  1. Secretary report
  1. New members: 13 paid members, 4 senior members (no dues) for 2025
  2. Overview of tools: Gmail & Google suite, Wordpress / GoDaddy for website, Facebook, Instagram, Mailchimp (free version)
  1. Review of Bylaws and Articles of Incorporation Presented by President
  1. Quorom explained for new officer voting
  2. Bylaws can be changed going forward.
  3. Both documents, Bylaws and Articles of Incorporation, will be made available on our website.
  4. Changes being implemented - need to vote based on quorum:
  1. Quorom for voting: currently 15 members
  2. Dues will be adjusted to individual paying members: $12 per year ($1 per calendar month).  Updated Bylaws will be distributed and discussed at the next meeting
  1. Discussion of the proposed project on North Ave
  1. 2700 North Ave Special Use Permit proposal for an “Adult day care and office professional use”
  2. Our role as a civic association: provide any comment, if we choose
  3. Members present discussed open questions on the project & recommendations
  1. Other Business:
  1. Children are welcome at meetings! Please come next time and we welcome them :) There are toys we could borrow to let kids play in the room, if needed
  2. Upcoming NBHCA events:  
  1. NBHCA sponsoring the monthly Brookland Park Cleanup February 15,2025.  Partners with Clean City Commission and Keep Virginia Beautiful.
  1. Upcoming Community events
  1. 3rd District Councilperson’s monthly meeting - Barack Obama Elementary, next Wednesday, February 19
  2. Rep McClellan virtual town hall, Feb 13, 6pm