The Official Unofficial Seminole Heights Blog

We believe that, as an OSHNA member, you will agree that the success of any organization lies in the dedicated functions of its committees. Certainly, our association’s lengthy respected community impact has proven this to be true. Unfortunately, today we find ourselves facing double indemnity. Two of our committee chairs are vacant, which is an unusual simultaneous occurrence. The Old Seminole Heights Neighborhood Association needs committee chairs for Code Enforcement and Historic Preservation.We offer below job descriptions for each of the vacant chair positions for your information.

Code Enforcement Committee:
The basic purpose of this committee is to encourage the proper care and maintenance of commercial and residential properties in the Seminole Heights area through the enforcement of applicable building, zoning and minimum housing codes.
 
Pridefully promoting Seminole Heights because of its beauty, would be an important qualification for serving as chairperson of this committee. A willingness to speak in person with code violators, encouraging them through your positive suggestions to achieve compliance. Taking time to assess the true reason for their failure to maintain their property to an acceptable standard. This could be due to illness, finances or feeling overwhelmed by too much responsibility. Become familiar with neighborhood organizations or City government resources that you could suggest as possible help for them. When necessary, offer to contact these resources on the resident’s behalf. Always encourage rather than threaten. However, if “friendly persuasion” is not successful, your committee will have no choice but to report the resident/owner as being unwilling to comply with City Codes, and report them as violators.
 
A positive approach can make chairing this committee both challenging and deeply rewarding. You will need several dedicated OSHNA members to serve on your committee.
 
Historic Preservation Committee:
The primary purpose of this committee is to protect Seminole Heights as an area of historic significance. 
It will be helpful to have knowledge, or to gain knowledge, of the history of Seminole Heights. Your primary focus will be to appreciate the architecture and greenspaces preserved for us by our early residents. You will need to have the dedicated commitment to publicly protest the willingness of our State and local governments to allow the destruction of our historic areas in order to replace or modernize them for financial gain. This is an extremely important committee which requires its members to fearlessly fight to preserve the history of our long-revered neighborhood.
 
If, after reading the preceding job descriptions, you feel that you would like to be considered for one of these chairmanships, please email OSHNA’s President, Jeff Harmon at jharmon@tampabay.rr.com or call (813) 231-9102, to express your interest. Also, if you know of someone who you feel would be interested in any of the described positions, please approach them and ask that they contact Jeff Harmon.

There are always many important activities in January as we try to get back on our schedules after the holidays. We hope that you remember OSHNA’s General Membership meeting is on January 27th.
 
Our guest speakers for the quarterly meeting are:

• David Bryant, Tampa Museum of Art: Presentation on the new Art Museum.
• Dianne Patterson, John Calvin Presbyterian Church, The Learning Center, to introduce us to their new pre-school program.
• Robin Milcowitz, Community Garden: Interested in gardening? Growing your own produce? Come and hear about plans for one in Seminole Heights.
• Please join us to hear about these exciting resources within our community!

When: Tuesday, January 27th,  7:00PM
 
Where:
Seminole Heights
United Methodist Church, Basement,
6111 N Central Avenue

Yesterday’s topic of secession attracted MANY comments. Several that was for and against dividing the neighborhood. However, there was zero that offered a reason for either supporting any kind of split.  Instead, those that support a split only say “it’s time.” I would encourage anyone that would like to pull away from the association to outline why they would support a split and what this move would accomplish. If we as an association could find out what they issues are, maybe they could be addressed and resolved before such drastic measures are taken.

My opinion: I am somewhat on the fence as I am not living in the affected area. However, I support the strength in numbers. At this point, I would be leaning towards the try to rebuild/repair the problem areas. Yesterday, there was a commenter (NUMBER 6) that has posted the best solution so far. If you are encouraging the secession movement, please convince the other with your sales pitch. I would be interested in the how’s and why’s.

When: December 1st, 6:30 PM Where: Old City Hall, 315 East Kennedy Blvd, City Council Chambers What: Sangria’s will be presenting drawings of the restaurant they are proposing on Hillsborough Avenue, next to Starbucks. All residents are encouraged to attend and speak.

We hope to have pdfs of the finished drawings for your review on our website, www.oldseminoleheights.com, once we receive them.

Sangria’s Tapas Bar and Restaurant, 512 E. Hillsborough Avenue, next door to Starbucks, is scheduled to appear before City Council on on Thursday, November 13th, at 6:00PM. City Council Chambers are located at 315 East Kennedy Blvd, 3rd Floor. Sangria’s is asking the City to abandon the alley to the West of Sangria’s, so the alley can be converted to a pedestrian friendly walkway. Sangria’s is also requesting the City vacate Mohawk Avenue to the North of Sangria’s property, from the alley to the interstate ramp, allowing their property and the house to the north of Sangria’s, which they also own, to be rezoned for this use. OSHNA has supported this project. Anyone wishing to speak on this project can attend the City Council meeting.

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SEMINOLE HEIGHTS - After weeks of tension and disputes, the Old SEMINOLE HEIGHTS Neighborhood Association held a civil and polite election of its officers for 2009.

The new officers are: Jeff Harmon, president; Evan St. Ives, vice president; Christie Freeman, secretary; Susan Long, treasurer; and Doreen DiBona, Eric Krause, Tommy McNeeley, Bill Hunter and Shawn Hicks, trustees.

Proposed bylaws that would have given some officers two-year terms and set term limits were voted down.

“I will do all I can to keep the association moving in a positive direction,” Harmon said during a question-and-answer exchange before the Oct. 28 vote.

Nearly 200 of the association’s more than 500 members voted.

The run up to the election had become contentious, with accusations of unfair tactics and bias lodged by divided camps. Some said a postcard endorsing a slate of candidates was timed to arrive in members’ mailboxes on the same day as absentee ballots, and gave the appearance of being an association endorsement.

The association’s executive board voted to send a second mailing stating that the group’s policy is to make no endorsements. An announcement restating that position was made before last week’s vote. With the exception of Long, the elected officers were among those listed on the first mailing.

Candidates had two minutes for opening statements and generally focused on moving the association forward. Some stressed the need for better communication.

Fliers, postcards and town hall meetings were among the ideas suggested by candidates.

One questioner asked for a show of hands on how many candidates support creation of a local historical district in Hampton Terrace, a proposal that has split neighbors. He got no takers as candidates mostly said the decision is up to Hampton Terrace residents not the general membership.

Here are the newly elected board for OSHNA.

Pres -Jeff Harmon
VP -Evan St. Ives
Treas- Susan Long
Sec- Christie Freeman
Trustee: Doreen, Bill, Eric, Tommy, Shawn

Did they get it right?