1. OPEN FORUM Meeting Minutes – 9 Dec 2025
2. FPCA General Meeting Minutes – 17 Dec 2025

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1. OPEN FORUM Meeting Minutes

Date: 9 Dec 2025

Location: YMCA North, Karl Rd.

Meeting called to order @ 7:00 PM by Ashley Howard and Quentin Monden 

Attendance: 51 people

The Forest Park Civic Association held this special meeting to address urgent concerns about the future of the organization and its ability to serve the neighborhood. Residents were invited to participate in an open forum to share their expectations, discuss what is working, and identify what needs to change as FPCA faces a critical shortage of volunteers. The discussion focused on the importance of community involvement in maintaining neighborhood representation, communication, and services.

1. The meeting began with Neil Johnson from the Northland Alumni Association explaining their role in the community and their interest in expanding future events to include the FPCA.
2. Lou Bernard, Secretary of the FPCA, provided a brief history of the association.
3. Ashley Howard and Quentin Monden introduced themselves as the meeting moderators and future co-presidents of the FPCA. Ashley also gave an overview of the meeting and shared data from the recent survey sent to area residents.
4. By an overwhelming majority, those present voted to continue the FPCA.
5. Many ideas and concerns were brought forward by attendees and are listed below in no particular order:
   • Identifying funding to establish a food drive or use the FPCA as a collection point. INPREM Food Pantry has proxy forms available for neighbors.
   • Live-streaming the monthly meetings.
   • Recognizing and welcoming new attendees at meetings.
   • Determining the percentage of neighbors who are immigrants and identifying countries of origin.
   • Addressing questions about code enforcement. Some attendees were unaware of the 311/Block Watch meetings that have been held for the past two years. Ed Vanasdale explained that he will serve as the 311/Civic Action Officer in 2026 and can be contacted directly.
   • Determining the percentage of owner-occupied versus rental properties and their addresses
   •  Increasing marketing and advertising for the FPCA beyond The Forester. It was noted that the FPCA has both a Facebook page and an Instagram account; no additional marketing ideas were presented.
   • Establishing FPCA suggestion boxes at key locations such as the library and YMCA.
   • Encouraging apartment complexes to donate or become business members.
   • Rotating monthly meeting locations among venues such as the YMCA, area churches, mosques, and other community spaces.
   • Encouraging food trucks and more local businesses to become FPCA members.
   • Identifying local community groups, including youth groups, to assist with The Forester delivery and other volunteer opportunities.
   • Printing The Forester or other FPCA informational materials in multiple languages.
6. After the meeting, many attendees approached Board members to share their contact information and express interest in future volunteer opportunities.
7. The Board will review and process the information gathered, with future actions to be discussed at upcoming meetings.

Meeting adjourned at 8:45 PM

Meeting minutes submitted by Lou Bernard, Secretary, FPCA

II. Forest Park Civic Association Meeting

Date: 17 Dec 2025

Location: Fiesta Jalisco

Meeting called to order @ 6:45 PM by Ed Vanasdale 

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

Attendance was taken via roll call. 23 people were present

OFFICER REPORTS

President Ed Vanasdale – edvanasdale@fpcivic.org

1. Thanked everyone present for their support and service throughout the 2025 year.
2. January Meeting is the swearing in ceremony for all officers, committee chairs, and area reps. We are still trying to secure a city official for the swearing in ceremony.
3. Guest Speaker: A lawyer representing the organization that purchased the former Red Lobster building on Route 161 will attend the meeting to discuss their proposed plans and the variances required to move forward.
4. The attendance record for 2025 will be available online.

Meeting adjourned at 7:00 PM                         

Meeting minutes recorded by Catherine Gilbert and submitted by Lou Bernard, Secretary, FPCA