Hood Council Meeting: Patar 2001

Hood Council Meeting

Patar 2001

Attendees: Fiona Kent, Carmela Herendez, Rebecca Wilsonoff, Johan Shazad, Julio Wilsonoff

The hood council meeting comes to a start with Rebecca Wilsonoff noting the collection from the recent tax day.

"§61,000 was collected from registered Apple Valley residents while §150,000 was collected from tourist fees and usage fees. A grand total of §211,000 is available until 2004 when another tax collection will be due."


Fiona opens the floor for proposals from each council member.

"Personally, I would love to see a theater for the children and residents. We need more culture options in the hood. Let's start with Carmela."



Carmela agrees. "My proposal does include a theater. Two in fact. An amphitheater at the Alisa Crawston Park for casual outdoor performances and another formal theater on Apple Valley Metro for more classical performances like ballet and violin concerts."

Fiona nods, "This would go very well with the musuem you proposed the other day, Rebecca. Perhaps you and Carmela can meet and combine your proposals. Let's see if we can save some money by combining them."

Johan nods. "I hope to see both buildings soon. The children need more exposure to culture and life. I can provide them with the basics such as algebra and simlish history, but I would like to start increasing the field trips for the children beyond the school yard."

"Before we can even think about more field trips," Julio interrupts. "We need to give parents the tools they need for raising thier children. I see so many children in the clinic for simple reasons that education of our parents could have avoided...dehydration, lack of exercise and the all too common 'sitting in front of the tv-itis'."

Carmela agrees. "My last report on the aging and health of the hood reflected the same thing. I agree that money should be spent on parent education as well as ensuring that our children are exposed to healthy alternatives besides sugary snacks and TV shows."

"Didn't we just install vending machines in the school?" Fiona asked Rebecca and Johan. "Are we contributing to the problem?"

Rebecca nodded. "We still can't justify hiring a full time cook for the school lunches and encourage students to bring thier lunch. However, if a student forgets thier lunch, we need to provide some form of substance even if it is a sugary drink. The extra simoleans are going towards the school as well. Correct, Johan?"

Johan nodded. "The money does help with minor repairs and school supplies. Speaking of repairs, Lyndon couldn't make it to the meeting and asked me to present his proposal. If that's ok?"

"Continue."

"The church is in desperate need of a renovation. The space is too small for weddings and Lyndon proposes adding a second floor for wedding celebrations and a small banquet hall. Also, the graveyard is in need of more landscaping and better lighting."

Fiona nodded.

"Any one else would like to add anything to the meeting?"

"Yes," Carmela spoke up. "We still need a place where pet owners can take thier animals."

"Any other proposals, please submit them before the next meeting."

Results of the meeting

Church renovation=§15,000

Adapting existing parks with pet facilities=§7,000

Apple Valley Metro Theater=§50,000

Alisa Crawston Amphitheater=§5,000

Pet Registration Festival=§1,000

Apple Valley Children's Park=§50,000

Total Budgeted For=§128,000

Remaining=§83,000

President: Plans for the Term

For my term as Hood Council President, I propose the follow:

Coordinate the Hood Council's work

With the opening of Apple Valley Metro, the hood council must also oversee that small urban island as well as the small island where PAG is located. This means our territory is larger and the work is harder this term.

Coordinate hood council meetings

The same as always: simTuesday and simThursday evenings. Except now we will have more casual closed meetings for the main council only.

Official spokesim for the hood

• Apple Valley Pride
  Create an Apple Valley flag

Manage foreign alliances

• Urban Access
  Continue to invest in a more urban landscape for Apple Valley Metro. This would allow businesses to relocate to this urban center and apartments and multi-family housing to be built. This would allow Apple Valley proper to be the suburban haven for families filled with green space and parks. The island is approximately a 30 minute ferry ride from Apple Valley.
  
• SUN Affliates
  Visit SUN hood affiliates and discuss ways our hoods can become better connected.
  
• SUN Exchange
  Host a SUN Exchange family

Enforce laws and immigration/emigration

• Seperate Immigration Laws
  Establish seperate immigration laws concerning teens for educational purposes and single adults for relationship purposes.
  
• Stricter Enforcement of Fines
  Make sure that Security Director enforces fines
  
• Increase Fees and Establish New Fees
  Doing hood business is expensive and residents will be asked to take on more of thier fair share.
  Newspaper Delivery: All households receiving the Apple Valley News must pay $20 subscription charge per week to the current editor-in-chief.

Serve as SUN Core member

Oversees administrative business lots

President's Note: Apple Valley Metro

Finally the news is offical, Apple Valley Metro can be unveiled. We have purchased the nearby tiny island (a twenty minute ferry ride) and established Apple Valley Metro.

The heart of Apple Valley Metro was going to be the PAG campus, 50% of the tiny island was PAG property. However PAG decided that a seperate island (one hour ferry ride) would do better for the students so that they had no fear of running into family members. PAG allowed us to keep paying for our portion of the island even though they would not be active on AVM. There are also urban properties being built (designed by Apple Valley's own Li Sweeny) to accommadate housing for multiple familes in the form of apartment complexes, townhomes and condos. We have agreed to allow PAG graduates a guarenteed percentage of the dwellings, so that they would have a place to return to after graduation. Also, they can expect subsidized rent.

We are hopeful that the island will be open for the public by the end of this simWinter.

Election Speeches

The candidates did thier speeches this past simday.

Fiona Kent-Presidential Candidate

Carmela Herendez-Community Director Candidate

Jolie Dawson-Community Director Candidate

Sazo Kent-Financial Director Candidate

Rebecca Wilsonoff-Financial Director Candidate

President's Note: The Centre

With salaries increasing, we're trying to find ways to make up the funds without increasing taxes. One way is The Centre. We have fees for renting out the party room for events such as weddings , parties and ceremonies. Also, I will try to increase the number of customers purchasing newspapers, buying items and of course thier filing fees for births, deaths, etc.

President Note: Salaries

The salary for civic employees is direly under market. I propose we raise the salaries to make them more competitive as such:

Council President-no change

Council Members-no change (this position requires that the members gain outside employment)

Medical Centre Director-$600/simdaily ($3000/simweek)

Medical Centre Nurse-$400/simdaily ($2000/simweek)

Medical Centre Surgeon-$500/simdaily ($2500/simweek)

Medical Centre Psychologist-$500/simdaily ($2500/simweek)

Archives/Technology Officer-$400/simdaily ($2000/simweek)

Security Director-$500/simdaily ($2500/simweek)

Pastoral Director-$150/simdaily ($750/simweek)

Education Direction-$300/simdaily ($1500/simweek)


In order to fund these raises, I propose the following:
-Medical Centre to update thier fee schedule (please create a proposal outlining this)
-The Centre must raise it's business rank to gain more funding (please create a proposal outlining this)
-Security Director will provide monitoring services for residents (please create a proposal outlining this)

Hood Council Note: Comprehensive Plan-Volume II - The Plan: Goals, Objectives, Policies & Implementation Recommendations

Volume II - The Plan: Goals, Objectives, Policies & Implementation Recommendations (After the Storm)
Chapter 1 - Population and Demographics

Due to the decreasing population and aging of residents, recommend special iniatives for these demographics. Encourage families to have two children, encourage elders to pass on talents and knowledge to younger generation. It's estimated that in a span of fifteen simdays the population will have leveled off with an even number of births to deaths.

Chapter 2 - Land Use

Recommend publishing the construction criteria online for residents and other hoods to consult, especially with the hood now occupying a smaller landmass.

Chapter 3 - Transportation

Recommend building a dock to allow for better travel options bewteen hoods. The dock can also hold hotel rooms for visiting sims, small diner and shopping options. Ferries and sailboats currently transport sims to the nearby Pringit City for interesting nightlife and there is still a contract for travel to the various vacation locations.

Chapter 4 - Housing

Once residents are moved into thier homes on the island, focus will be on remodeling and permit criteria for renovation projects.

Chapter 5 - Economic Development

Due to isolation and long ferry rides, recomment that all residents work locally. To reach this goal, the hood council will invest in local and administrative businesses by offering incentives to businesses for hiring local employees, affordable business loans and encouraging residents to spend more by asking local stores to offer sales.

Chapter 6 - Natural & Agricultural Resources

Recommend encouraging farm to invest in greenhouses and more farm land to prepare excess produce for the winter season. Especially with landmass being limited, and food delivery is now much longer, local produce is of essence.

Chapter 7 - Parks & Open Space

With the limited landmass, the number of parks has decreased, however there is still plenty of green space and spectacular views of the surrounding ocean. However due to the rocky nature of the island, beach access is banned.

Chapter 8 - Historic & Cultural Resources

Recommend investing in historical and cultural aspects of the hood by hosting a seasonal celebration. Each season a celebration will be held to mark historic events in Apple Valley's history and to celebrate the unique blending of culture.

Chapter 9 - Community Facilities (Police, Fire, Community, School)

There is a need for a police station and fire station as it will take to long for SCPD and SCFD to respond to emergencies. The local Medical Centre is used for medical needs and the school is for all dependants under the age of young adult.

Chapter 10 - Utilities

Currently the community uses wind power and utilities from SC.

Chapter 11 - Intergovernmental Cooperation

Currently the hood is active in the SUN Core and has relationships with other
hoods.

Hood Council Note: Comprehensive Plan-Volume I - Background Information

Volume I - Background Information
This report details the state of the hood before the storm.

Chapter 1 - Population and Demographics

The population was decreasing due to emmigration and low birthrates. The population is aging and there may not be enough of the younger generation to substain the hood in the future.

Chapter 2 - Land Use

Land was under very strict control. There are construction requirements and criteria for each street. McIntosh allows for up to three levels and is mostly commerical. Each residental streets have house value criteria and there are plenty of green spaces and parks.

Chapter 3 - Transportation

With the new BV deal, cars have been discouraged due to the small size of the neighborhood and easy walking distance to most places. Carpools and public taxis make transportation faster. There is an airport nearby, but residents must take a ferry to get there.

Chapter 4 - Housing

All sims have adequate housing. Even the lower valued homes are still great in terms of comfort. Mortgages allow for residents to obtain the home of thier dreams. There is little movement within the hood, most residents focus on improving thier home.

Chapter 5 - Economic Development

Unemployment is at record lows especially since Apple Valley gathers data on residents that manage thier own businesses (though technically unemployed, they gather income). Descretionary spending is low with most sims spending 50% or more of every simolean they make on household expenses and food.

Chapter 6 - Natural & Agricultural Resources

Currently there is one farm to provide food and fresh produce to the hood. Residents can buy food from other hoods, but must pay a delivery surcharge.

Chapter 7 - Parks & Open Space

Currently there are three parks to service residents: Celebration Park,
Children's Park and Botanical Gardens.

Chapter 8 - Historic & Cultural Resources

Currently no way to track or maintain historic or cultural resources in spite of Apple Valley's rich cultural history and long past.

Chapter 9 - Community Facilities (Police, Fire, Community, School)

Currently there is an unmanned police station (awaiting a police chief to occupy
the site) thus we must use SCPD. The hood uses SCFD for fire related emergencies
and the local Medical Centre for medical needs. There is a school for teenagers
as an alternative to SC's public school system. Currently there are a few
community lots for residents (The Pavilion and The Centre).

Chapter 10 - Utilities

Currently the community uses wind power and utilities from SC.

Chapter 11 - Intergovernmental Cooperation

Currently the hood is active in the SUN Core and has relationships with
other hoods.

Hood Council Note: Comp Plan?

Should we create a compehensive plan? The Comprehensive Plan would be the blueprint for growth and development of the community. It would describe the long-term direction and vision for the hood. The Comprehensive Plan would contain the long-term goals for the hood, such as providing a safe and healthy environment for residents, supporting businesses to help create jobs, and preserving the high quality of life the residents of Apple Valley have come to expect.

I will present it to the hood council members.

Hood Council Note: Publishing Hood Council Meetings

The online hood council meetings are not going well-residents are not visiting the online forum and there isn't much incentive to maintain the forum. Instead we're going to publish the notes of the hood council meetings. This will be done on the website-not a blog type posting-but actual minutes of the meetings and concerns raised.

Hood Council Note: Hood President Report

Update on my progress this term-I must say, things are going rather well.

Construct a Bank

• Add bank office at The Centre.

Re-Establish fines/community service for conflicts

• Construction of jail .


• Find Jailor: Interiem jailor will be Jarvis Forrester-Miller.


• Update Fines


• Create a process for punishing residents and townies.


• Renovate The Centre to add a courthouse.

Increase tourism

• Order additional custom objects: maps, cups, postcards, poster prints, trinkets, etc. Also get map created of the hood to hang in the Welcome Center instead of the TV.


• Keep online Office of Tourism updated with flights and events.


• Hold raffle for a free trip to Apple Valley. Including airfare, accomadations, food, and spending money. ($5000)


• Create a Apple Valley Flag

Change timetable

• Follow Baleen Island's way of keeping time: instead of simdays, use Season # Simday #

Further relationship with affliates

• Email/chat with spokessims from affliate hoods more often


• Travel to affliate hoods

Hood Council Note: New Deal

Apple Valley will sign the new deal allowing access to popular vacation locales. As a result, the hood council has voted not to resume rotation until after the new deal is finalized. We're at a great point-simMonday-to resume a new deal. We're expecting a great deal of residents to take advantage of the new deal and plan vacations for thier family. We don't know as much about the vaction homes option, but we're exploring levying a tax on such luxury items.

Hood Council Note: Networking

I've been networking with residents of the hood, basically having espresso, chatting with them in the park or in stores. Anything to see how the pulse of the hood is going. Making sure that all concerns are being voiced and met. We have re-established the online forum for hood council meetings. It was a good place to sort out ideas and residents could submit thier concerns without fear. My goals are going along nicely, we have a nice surplus in the budget which means we can afford to be aggressive with our plans.

Hood Council Note: Population

The population is decreasing. It's nothing to be concerned over especially since Apple Valley totes a philosphy of quality over quanity. SimMonday started with 81 sims, we end this term (simSaturday) with 66 sims. The decrease of growth has come mostly from death: many sims were elders on thier last leg (accounting for 33% of the loss), there was a tragic accident (20%), and a suspicious death; then there were several families/sims that emmigrated to other hoods including Simmington Hills, Harper's Cove and Riverdale. Couple that with the low birth rate. Though I do think Apple Valley will approach another plateau soon.

Hood Council Note: Food Expo

The kickoff ceremony for the Food Expo has begun! I gave a speech and introduced some key players. Thankfully, the Food Expo is pretty standard in Apple Valley, we've been participating for so long that things run like clockwork. I've been trying to encourage other hoods to participate in the Food Expo as well, who knows, maybe we'll have the honor of hosting the Expo again someday...we'll see.

Hood Council Note: Future Plans

With the new term, here are my plans as the President

Construct a Bank
Add bank office at The Centre. Possible on bottom floor of the ballroom and decrease ballroom size to upper floor only. Bank would have ATM capabilities, office space for Financial Director to assist with loans and savings accounts. Financial Director will oversee this renovation and implementation.

Re-Establish fines/community service for conflicts

• Construction on jail due to be complete on simMonday. Will have three cells, recreation room and cafeteria, outdoor exercise space and jailor's apartment with two bedrooms.
• Jailor will be Jarvis Forrester-Miller, due to possession of aging wavier and position on the force. No salary will be given except a small stipend when inmates are housed.
• Fine list needs updating as well as a process for punishing residents and townies.
• Renovation of The Centre to include a courthouse for conflicts and office space to process data. Can reduce size of library so that it resides in the upstairs office space, renovate lower space to have the courtroom for trials and administrative offices.
• Judge will be Hood Council President or the sim that holds that position downtown. If jurors are needed, a random selection of adults from the hood will be chosen to serve for the trial.

Increase tourism

• Order additional custom objects: maps, poster prints, trinkets, etc. Also get map created of the hood to hang in the Welcome Center instead of the TV.
• Keep online Office of Tourism updated with flights and events.
• Hold raffle for a free trip to Apple Valley. Including airfare, accomadations, food, and spending money. ($5000)
• Create a Apple Valley Flag

Change timetable

• Follow Baleen Island's way of keeping time: instead of simdays, use Season # Simday #

Further relationship with affliates

• Email/chat with spokessims from affliate hoods more often
• Travel to affliate hoods

Hood Council Note: Hood Council Report

Things have been flying in my mind regarding the hood council and the administration of the hood. Should we elect the council members for life terms? or remain with the two simweek term? Should we try to have more residents manage hood businesses like the medical center and The Centre which is home to the hood council offices and gift shop. We're looking into creating customized Apple Valley paraphernalia like cups and t-shirts and maybe some photo prints. I need to sit down and focus on the hood a bit more, it's hard to focus on it when I have another job as well. Perhaps we can look into making the hood council members full time employees and increasing thier salaries as such...or at least the hood president should become a full time employee. Hmmm, so much to think about.



With the new term approaching I need to complie a report of the hood council's tasks and achievements.



The status of my goals this term:

• Host a family for the SUN Exchange for one simweek: looking for a family to host, sent one family to Palatial Heights, budgeted for a family to come to Apple Valley and have a family signed up for the SUN Exchange.



• Participate in all SUN Activities: done-Food Expo starts this June, budget for the event is set and business owners have applied for grants, signed up a family for the SUN Exchange



• Re-Establish fines/community service for conflicts: not done, looking at the need to establish a jail or simply impose fines. Might need to start charging fines for damage to trash cans, stealing of newspapers and other minor events. At the moment, no distrubrances noted.



• Increase local military by building military base and offering military scholarships to university students in exchange for service: not done, military career is full, no need for additional sims, however with the two military sims approaching elderhood, this scholarship may need to be offered during the next term. Must need to stay prepared.

Recommendations for next hood council term:

• Finding a Security Officer to train local troup for secret commands, maintain international security including the transport of deadly viruses via object deliveries. Prevent criminality, solve local conflicts, manage domestic security. Also, would oversee the jail if one is ever built.



• The Hood President would focus on the following tasks: Coordinating the Hood Council's work, being the voice and face of Apple Valley, coordinate hood council meetings, official spokesim for the hood. Manage foreign alliances, enforce laws and immi-/emigration, serve as SUN Core member.



• Increasing the salary of the council members



• Making the hood president a full-time position with an increased salary to manage thier livihood



• Taking over The Centre as a OFB lot and hiring local residents to manage the gift shop, and the newspaper office.



• Creating Apple Valley paraphernalia like cups, t-shirts, photo prints, etc.