---OPEN FORUM---

●Common Ground grant staff has put together a listserv that will allow coalition members to communicate with each other via e-mail.  Staff explained the purpose of a listserv, and encouraged those coalition members who had not already done so to provide updated contact information. 

●Announcements were made regarding the Narragansett-URI Cleanup, which will take place on Saturday, April 24^th from 9am -12pm (with a rain date of Sunday, April 25^th).  Old Eastward Look will meet at the island on Charleston Blvd., Bonnet Shores will meet at the Community Center, and Point Judith will meet at the corner of South West Rd and Ocean Look.

---SUGGESTED ORDINANCES---

●A coalition member proposed that an ordinance be drafted that requires ample parking space per rental, especially on streets with multiple rental properties. 

●A suggestion was also made that an ordinance be drafted requiring that rental properties have fences for containing trash.  According to Carol Stuart, there is an ordinance requiring lids on all trash containers, but this ordinance is only enforced when residents report to the building inspector.  A concern was raised that the building inspector has limited staff, and that the property owner should be responsible for enforcement.  Another coalition member suggested hiring an additional building inspector and implementing an increase in taxes for rental properties.  This suggestion was debated but was not resolved.

●Another suggestion was made that an ordinance be drafted to keep students from congregating in houses with a large number of bedrooms, as it seemed to coalition members that most problems occurred in homes where more than 6 students lived.  Legislation related to the number of unrelated adults per dwelling is under review by the State. 

●Coalition members requested that the University take a bigger role in supporting proposed ordinances during town hall meetings.

---OTHER PROPOSED SUGGESTIONS---

●A coalition member suggested that URI cultivate respect in its students through mandatory ethics courses.  A student member recommended that neighbors get to know one another, in order to foster respect.  A suggestion was made that information on “living down the line” could also be presented during orientation.

---OLD BUSINESS---

1.  Party Reports/Lists

The Narragansett Police Department reported that 8 arrests were made during the past month.  They reported a particular problem with 36 Earls Court, as this is the third time that arrests were made at that residence.  Tom Dougan reported that URI has sanctioned the tenants at this property on two occasions, and will evaluate the most recent police report to determine appropriate sanctions for the third violation. 

Questions were raised about how town ordinances are being enforced, and about who monitors the enforcement of the model lease. This is a question that can be addressed by the town.    A suggestion was made to revise the model lease, and to include ordinances on the lease, as students are required to read the lease. 

A coalition member discussed concern over several rental properties on Summit Road, which have been visited by police several times.  A representative from Ann O’Brien Realty reported that actions are taken on all reports that are received from the police.  The police stated that reports are only generated when a law is violated.  Coalition members were encouraged to call the Coalition Hotline in addition to calling the police, because even if a police report is not generated, URI and the realtors will have record of the call. 

The police reported that although they notify realtors of students who have been cited, if the students are not cited until the end of the school year, they may have already secured a housing lease for the next year.  Coalition members engaged in discussion over whether or not a notice could be drafted forcing those cited on multiple occasions to forfeit next year’s lease, and/or if the town could initiate eviction proceedings for those students cited on multiple occasions.  Questions were also raised about creating stricter penalties for those students who have been cited. 

The Narragansett Youth Task Force recently submitted a grant that allocates overtime money to the police to address party problems. 

2.  SONAR Report

Fran Cohen reported on SONARS (Student Officers for Narragansett Area Relations).  This pilot program began in January of 2003, and uses peer relationships to address nuisance complaints in Narragansett neighborhoods.  The program is under review because SONARS were not trained in facilitation skills.  Coalition members suggested that assigning one student to each neighborhood would be useful.   A suggestion was also made that SONARS be used to inform their peers about related ordinances and accompanying fines for violators.

3.  Steering Committee, Coalition Committee

Tom Dougan stated that he was recently approached by a committee member who was concerned about having an even number of voters on the steering committee.  The Narragansett Community Association is a newly formed group representing rental property owners who do not necessarily use a realtor.  It was proposed that this group receive a voting position on the steering committee.  Coalition members expressed concern that rental property owners do not live in town, and felt that representation from this group would result in an unbalanced committee.  Because the coalition could not reach consensus on this issue, the steering committee remains unchanged.  Coalition members did agree that a representative from the Narragansett Community Association could serve on the steering committee as a non-voting member.  Membership on the steering committee is as follows:

Co-Chair - Narragansett Police Representative (non-voting)

Co-Chair - URI Vice President for Student Affairs/Representative (non-voting)

Representative - Town Council

3 Representatives - Neighborhood Associations

Representative - Realtor

Representative - Narragansett Homeowner (non-neighborhood association member)

Representative - Environmental Management Grant (Common Ground)

Representative - Tavern/Package Store owner

Representative - Student Senate

Representative - SONARS

Representative - Town Manager (non-voting)

Representative - Judicial - The Honorable Patricia Moore (non-voting)

Representative – Narragansett Community Association (non-voting)

This structure results in a steering committee with 15 members (10 voting members).  Tom Dougan stated that at the next meeting, he would like to know who the representatives on the steering committee from each sector will be.  He also encouraged coalition members to think about which subgroups they would like to join.  The next coalition meeting will take place on May 18^th.