www.mybaycity.com March 28, 2017
Rotary Article 10795

Bay City Housing Study Presented At Rotary Meeting

March 28, 2017
By: Stephen Kent



Doug Rise
Rotarian Doug Rise, Director of the Bay City Housing Commission, spoke to Rotary about the recent Report on Housing and Neighborhoods - City of Bay City, which was commissioned by his organization and City management.

The study by Carlisle/Wortman Associates featured prominently in the recent city 5-year plan. That plan and the study results have been presented in a number of city meetings with departments, commissions, and public groups.

Doug talked about the three major components of the study: historical forces that shape neighborhood and housing quality, the current context for housing policy and neighborhood planning, and solutions for neighborhood health and stability.

The talk was illustrated by charts, graphs, and maps that came from the comprehensive study. The community was put in a historical context. The maps were particularly valuable for pointing out the areas that need attention. A color code was assigned to scores from one to five with the highest score needing the most work.

The detailed map seemed to show a relatively even distribution of the scores. A broader interpretation shows obvious hot spots that require the most attention.

Among the recommendations was that immediate attention should be paid to the "recoverable middle". "Focus on growing assets; avoid genuflecting to the false god of fixing problems."

The study suggested concentration on the central east-west corridor around the major highway artery that flows through town. It includes some of the city's best assets but also includes mid-level areas that would benefit from attention. Targeting that area would provide the best results.

During the question and answer period, City Manager Rick Finn joined Doug to answer questions and offer experiences. A number of examples were cited where using city resources and enforcement to address potential blight resulted in property owners fixing up their neighboring properties.

Rick Finn has laid out a vision for what the city can do, but his tenure will end in the middle of the summer. The parting advice was that the citizens must express their concern and desire that the city follows through. The plan has been presented and the resources marshaled. Follow through is now required.





CLUB NEWS and ANNOUNCEMENTS

President Elect Bob Chadwick stood in for President Andrea who was out of town.

Remember that at the April 4 meeting the club will be treated to baked goods from Dorothy Dean, the Morning Rotary president because our club collected more books than her club in the recent book drive.

Raffle tickets are still being sold for the George Lewis paintings to be given at the District Conference in May. Purchase tickets for your choice of painting for $20 each. The paintings are 16 x 20 inches and beautifully framed. Each club is asked to sell 10 tickets.

District 6450 has designated a Flood Relief Task Force. They are accepting donations to assist flood victims in the New Orleans and Baton Rouge areas of south Louisiana. See President Andrea for more details.

Current and past DISTRICT DISPATCH newsletters are available on the District site shown in the LINKS section below.


DATES TO REMEMBER



OFF SITE Meeting - May 16 At the Delta College Planetarium.
(Also June 6)

District Conference May 19, 2017 - May 20, 2017: D'Mar Banquet and Conference Center, Owosso.

Golf Outing - Monday, June 19, 2017

June 10-14, 2017 Rotary International Convention - Atlanta, Georgia, USA
www.RotaryConvention2017.org OR www.RIConvention.org
Dee Dee Wacksman, District Chair

July 25, 2017 - July 26, 2017 District 6310 to Tour One Rotary Center. Group to take Amtrak train to Chicago.

November 7, 2017 - Vocational Day


Upcoming Programs

(See the official schedule at RotaryBayCity.org )

April 4, 2017 - What's happening with the Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestra? Maestro Fouad Fakhouri, who was appointed music director of the SBSO last June, will discuss his vision for the orchestra and their role in our region.

April 18, 2017 - Tall Ship Celebration Recap presented by Shirley Roberts and Scott Ellis.

April 25, 2017 - "A Jewel In Our Midst, Where an Artist's Legacy Is Preserved". Marilyn Wheaton, Director of the Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum at Saginaw Valley State University, will share her expertise on how a renowned 20th-century American sculptor's life and work are making an impact on the Great Lakes Bay Region.

May 2, 2017 - Humane Society of Bay County. The first week of May is "Be Kind to Animals" week. Jeannie Nichols will update the club on the Humane Society's activities and their new building for operations.


Rotary is an intimate affiliation of carefully selected business and professional people,
having as its objective the promotion of high ethical standards in private, commercial
and civic life, and dedicated to the ideal that the basis of all worthy endeavor is unselfish service.




Current and past DISTRICT DISPATCH newsletters are available on the District site shown in the LINKS section below.

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LINKS

RotaryBayCity.org BayCityMorningRotary.com
District 6310 Web Site District Dispatch Archive
Rotary International Make-up On-Line at RotaryEclubOne.org
The Rotary Global History Fellowship rotaryfirst100.org
Rotary Global History.


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