Roots & Roofs Planning Committee

Summary of Meeting of March 2, 2015

Present: Michael Wilkos, Terry Althouse, Steve Sterrett, and Stephen Bolliger.

Michael Wilkos called the meeting to order at 6:05 p.m.

Schedule. The Roots & Roofs event for 2015 is planned for Saturday, May 16, with the central gathering place again being Godman Guild Association. The tentative schedule for the day is similar to last years event:

9:30 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. Teams of volunteers plant flowers, prepare community gardens, and pick-up litter.

9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sale of plants and mulch for residents.

12:30 to 1 p.m. Lunch for volunteers.

1 p.m. Brief program to thank volunteers and celebrate neighborhood improvements.

Budget. Mr. Wilkos said $5,000 is already committed to Roots & Roofs for 2015. He listed the expenses from the event in 2014:

$1,400 mulch

3,436 plants and bulbs

280 supplies (trash bags, litter pickers, etc.)

165 food for volunteers during event set-up

884 lunch from Local Matters

$1,200-1,500 t-shirts

Food. Terry Althouse will check to see if Godman Guilds new Blue Bowtie catering could provide lunch for an estimated 150 volunteers.

Volunteers. Veritas Church has already committed to bringing 30 volunteers.

Housing. Steve Bollinger said Wagenbrenner Development may be interested in public showings of several of its new housing options in the neighborhood during Roots & Roofs.Planting areas. Those in attendance discussed a number of areas throughout the neighborhood where plantings could be done:

Mr. Wilkos asked if Wagenbrenner Development would permit some perennial plantings on the traffic island on North Grant Avenue just north of Fifth Avenue and the planting of street trees along North Fifth Street beside the old 3M site. Mr. Bollinger suggested one area for plantings might be the now-vacant lot owned by Wagenbrenner Development at the southeast corner of North Fourth Street and East 11th Avenue.

Mr. Wilkos suggested that Roots & Roofs this year should focus more attention on Indianola Park and on the traffic islands and other related public spaces.

Fourth Street Farms and bird sanctuary will be sites to place volunteers.

Neighborhood churches could be approached about plantings around their buildings.

Perennials could be planted around the Weinland Park neighborhood signs.

In other matters:

Mr. Wilkos said Co-Go bicycle sharing company may be ready to announce a bicycle station in Weinland Park in time for Roots & Roofs. Ms. Althouse said she has about 50 volunteers coming on April 8 to make improvements to the Godman Guild community garden.

Mr. Wilkos will check into the cost of t-shirts. Matt Adair and Rory Krupp are revamping the design of the Weinland Park walking tour map and brochure, which can be distributed at Roots & Roofs. Mr. Wilkos said Columbus Neighborhood Design Center and Weinland Park Community Civic Association will send out a letter to property owners in Weinland Park informing them that street trees are available from the city without charge.

The date of the next meeting was not set.

Mr. Wilkos adjourned the meeting at 6:50 p.m.

Meeting summary prepared by Steve Sterrett.