Date: 14 April 2026

Location: Epworth United Methodist Church

Meeting called to order @ 7:06 PM by Ashley Howard, Quentin Monden

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

Attendance was taken via roll call.

OFFICER REPORTS

President Quentin Monden – quentinmonden@fpcivic.org, Ashley Howard – ashleyhoward@fpcivic.org

We would like to recognize the FPCA Members/Volunteers who were honored at the NCC banquet last Tuesday. 

• Volunteer of the Year Recipients
  • Katie Van Mercetta
  • Michael Cote
• Ed Vanasdale was recognized as a Dedicated Civic Volunteer Service Recipient
• Dave Paul, who is the chair of the NCC Development Committee, was recognized for his 15 years of work dedication on the NCC Development Committee and as chairman of the committee. 

Special Thank You! To everyone who helped with our Membership Envelope stuffing on Saturday. Please be on the lookout for the membership applications in your mail. Remember that this year you can pay by check or via PayPal. Following up from our December community survey, it was identified that there were a couple areas where we wanted more specificity from the community than we had in our original survey, so we have included a bright pink slip of paper with 2 questions in the membership envelopes. These can be returned with your membership application. If you are not mailing in an application, you are welcome to email me a copy or picture of your completed survey.

Guest Speaker: None

Vice President  Mark Bell – markbell@fpcivic.org

Thank you again not only to the volunteers who stuffed envelopes, but also — and especially — to the organizers, whose planning made the event run flawlessly.

Secretary Lou Bernard – secretary@fpcivic.org

1. Attendance:

• Officers/Committee Chairs Present: AH, QM, MB, LB, MSg, RW, DVM, KVM, EV, SL, LV, MSt, KG, DP, SB
• Officers/Committee Chairs Absent: CL
• Area Reps in Attendance: 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 12, 13
• Area Reps Absent: 1, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 14 (Areas 6, 8, 14 are VACANT)
• Total meeting attendance: 24

2. Reviewed minutes from March, no changes or corrections needed, minutes have been approved and were entered into the official records.
3. Attendance Sheet thru April: online

Treasurer Cheryl Lutman – cheryllutman@fpcivic.org  Absent

1. The fiscal year-end report was sent to all Board members. We ended the year in the red. If we could have collected on our arrears advertisers, plus had a couple more memberships, we would have made it. One of our arrears advertisers did send the remainder of their balance due, but it was a small amount relatively speaking.
2. A couple of items:  The $25 is for the Statement of Continued Existence filing with the Ohio Secretary of State’s office. This needs to be filed about every 5 years.
3. The remaining invoices from Paul for the annual mailing printing have been paid, but those checks have not yet cleared, so they will be on the next budget year. In addition, we still have the actual cost of postage and our bulk mailing fee that needs to be paid.
4. The Treasurer’s Report was voted on and accepted.

Community Concerns/Announcements/Ideas 

1. 161 Neighborhood Clean-up has started. They are held the 2nd Saturday of the month through October. Meet behind the Jiffy Lube (1800 Dublin-Granville Rd.) from 9:00-9:30 AM to receive supplies. Clean-up is from 9 AM until Noon. For more information visit Naba161TaskForce.org
2. Columbus Dog Policy requires leashes (maximum 6 feet) in public, with strict poop-scoop rules and voice control in designated areas. See the city’s website for more information.

Public Relations Officer Mary Sguerra – marysguerra@fpcivic.org

1. Community Garage Sale – May 16th – the sign up form will be in this month’s Forester.
2. The 4th of July Float – Mary is looking for people to work with her. If you are interested, please contact Mary.

ForesterEditor Rita Woeste – forester@fpcivic.org

1. June Forester articles must be sent to Rita by May 21st, Thursday.
2. The new bags for Forester delivery are liked by many of the stuffers and delivery people.
3. Canva will be the new platform for creating the newsletter. Rita has a new summer project – learn Canva!
4. We are still looking for Forester delivery people in FP East , if you are interested contact Lou or Rita.

Supplemental Security Officer Daryl Van Mercetta – darylvanmercetta@fpcivic.org, Katie Van Mercetta – kvanmercetta@fpcivic.org

1. Officer Hicks gave an update of the 18th precinct for the last 90 days.
   1. He pointed out that there still is a significant amount of vehicles that are getting stolen, especially in the AM when people start their cars up and leave them unattended. 
   2. Many cars are getting broken into with the vandals looking for guns.
   3. The Baymont Hotel on Morse is being shut down and boarded up for being a nuisance and many code violations.
2. See report in the Forester.

Past President Ed Vanasdale – edvanasdale@fpcivic.org – No Report

Civic Action/311 Officer  Ed Vanasdale – edvanasdale@fpcivic.org

1. 2 main issues for our area:
   1. People want to put in a mini-mart and gas station at the corner of Sandalwood and the access road (the old Chase Bank site).
   2. Columbia Gas wants to put a refilling station by Northland Plaza on Cleveland Ave.
   3. We are trying to get both groups to attend the May FPCA meeting to field your concerns/questions. We will keep you posted as more info comes in.
2. The hotel next to the old Chase Bank site is being leased by the homeless shelter board as transitional housing before residents move out into the community on their own. There have been NO incidents coming from that property.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Business Representative Sheridan Landon – sheridanlandon@fpcivic.org – No Report

Welcome Committee Chair Latia VanDyke – latiavandyke@fpcivic.org

Welcome Folders for new residents were brought to the meeting and were given to the area representatives for distribution.

Volunteer Coordinator VACANT

Membership Coordinator  Mike Stone – mikestone@fpcivic.org

1. Membership mailing is done. The USPS has enacted more fees causing our mailing to increase, making the new mailing fee to just below $3000. 
2. Thank you to resident Andy Hunt for providing the use of your truck to help get all of the membership envelopes to the post office.
3. Signs for Board, Chairs, and Area Reps will be delivered in the next week or so.

Social Activities VACANT

NCC Representatives Mark Bell – markbell@fpcivic.org,  Latia VanDyke – latiavandyke@fpcivic.org, Ken Gilbert – kengilbert@fpcivic.org 

There was no regular meeting of the Northland Community council in April. Instead, the 2025 Awards Banquet was held at Villa Milano. Katie Van Mercetta and Michael Cote were honored as “Forest Park’s Volunteers of the Year”. The NCC also recognized “Dedicated Civic Volunteer Service”. Our own Ed Vanasdale was honored for his work with various aspects of community service in the Northland area. The leaders of the Northland Development Committee were also honored for their service: Bill Logan and our own Dave Paul. We were nominated for Civic of the Year, but did not win. The next meeting is Tuesday May 5, at 7 pm at Westerwood.

NCC Development Representative Ed Vanasdale – edvanasdale@fpcivic.org

1. Full report is on the website @ https://www.fpcivic.org/development-reports/
2. Parade meetings are taking place at the YMCA at 7 pm on the 3rd Wednesday of every month.

Grant Writing Committee Chair  Quentin Monden – quentinmonden@fpcivic.org, Laura Hayes – laurahayes@fpcivic.org  – No Report

Outreach Committee Chair  Michael Cote – michaelcote@fpcivic.org 

See report online and in the Forester.

Website Administrators Scott Biggs – scottbiggs@fpcivic.org (Website/Facebook)   Dave Paul – dwpaul@fpcivic.org (Website)  Ashley Howard – ashleyhoward@fpcivic.org  (Instagram/Facebook)  

Our website/Facebook page is always – always being updated with new and upcoming info! Please check it out!! Please subscribe/follow us.

OLD BUSINESS

1. National Night Out (NNO): Proposed shifting from a YMCA-hosted event to neighborhood-focused front yard parties. The board will explore grants to provide small stipends for local hosts. The Board will be meeting to create guidelines for residents who are interested in participating. 
2. Community Events:
   • Family Picnic: The board aims to reinstitute this event and will begin recruiting a coordinator.
   • Beautification Committee: While prizes are budgeted, the program is currently on hold. The Association is actively seeking a volunteer Chair to manage the program and oversee the award process.
   • WE ARE LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS TO HEAD UP THESE 2 PROJECTS

NEW BUSINESS/ANNOUNCEMENTS/IDEAS

1. The Mulch Sale has been cancelled this year due to a lack of volunteers to help distribute the mulch to homes. We will work on building a volunteer base and hopefully bring it back next year. Sorry for the inconvenience.  ~Scott Biggs, The Mulchmaster, Area 5 Representative
2. Leah Lewis from Columbia Gas was at the meeting to let us know that they will be back at the May meeting to explain the new project on Cleveland Ave.

Meeting adjourned @ 8:12 PM

Meeting minutes submitted by Lou Bernard, Secretary, FPCA