MINUTES FOR THE MEETING OF THE 20th MAY 2015

MINUTES FOR THE MONTHLY PUBLIC MEETING OF THE
NEW KILLARNEY-RIVIERA ASSOCIATION
HELD AT THE MALL MANAGEMENT OFFICES (1ST FLOOR OFFICE TOWER)
ON WEDNESDAY 20th MAY 2015
AT 17H00

PRESENT: Wayne Ford (Chairman); Harry Rutenburg; Ruth Kuper; Captain Moonsamy (SAPS); Raphael Ndlovu; David Kramer; Councillor M Ravid; Deon Pelser; Jonathan Hooijer; Mike Kalk; Kayte Denham; Julie Wilson.

1. WELCOME
The chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

2. APOLOGIES
Celeste Mulholland; Laurence Sachs; Yogan Naidoo; Keith Edmeades; Lyle Peters; Dalien Rutenburg; Jo Marais; Charles Whyte; Paul Denham; Jo Morreira; Audrey & Frank Kobrin.

3. DISCUSSION OF TIME CONSTRAINT
• We will strive to keep the discussions short and relevant, so as to finish by 6pm.

4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING
• The Minutes of the previous meeting were taken as read, and were approved.

5. SECURITY FEEDBACK / SECTOR CRIME FORUM
• Captain Moonsamy presented the detailed crime statistics since the last meeting. The crimes included: 1 armed robbery; 1 car-jacking; 3 shoplifting; 4 theft general; and 7 theft of vehicles. The thefts of vehicles were particularly high due to all the long weekends in this month, where higher-than-usual numbers of visitors were parking in the street late at night. It seems that Toyota SUV’s and bakkies were being targeted in particular.
• Yet again, the police advise that vehicles which are parked in the street must be properly secured and guarded, and that you don’t leave valuables in sight. It was also suggested that motorists consider resorting to the old-school steering-locks, which are very visible and which might deter an opportunistic thief who may be carrying a remote-jammer but no other tools.
• Some robbers are now using police ID to lure and disarm victims. Please use all possible caution if you are pulled over by an unmarked police vehicle. You can try to call 10111 from your car (112 on a cell-phone) to double-check if you are suspicious.
• Don’t carry lots of cash or valuables in your car – the gangs have inside information, and specifically target people who are carrying worthwhile goods.
• Captain Moonsamy conducted a tour of the area with the new JMPD commander for Ward 73, Sgt Mudziwa, and pointed out the current by-law hotspots.
• If you happen to notice a suspicious activity in progress, please contact the SAPS patrol van IMMEDIATELY on 071 675 6001. It doesn’t help to call the police a few days later. If the patrol van does not answer their cell-phone, please take note of the exact time and date of the call, and report this poor service by the patrol van to the patrolling supervisors on 071 675 6014/15. You can also report your concerns to Captain Moonsamy on 071 675 6000. If it’s an emergency, call 10111 (112 on a cell-phone).

6. FEEDBACK FROM COUNCILLORS
• Clr Ravid has conducted an inspection of the motorway embankment together with JRA officials, and is trying to get razor-wire added to the palisade fence. This will better prevent vagrants and criminals from accessing the embankment.

7. TRAFFIC ISSUES
• There were further requests to repaint the lines and markings on the roads, and the street-names on the kerbs.
• It was noted that the damaged storm-drain in 7th Street had been repaired – thank you to Clr Myeki for making that happen.
• It was noted that a new traffic circle and speed-humps have been installed in Anerley Road, which will help the pedestrians a lot. They have not yet been painted, so please proceed with caution. Well done to PPS, who have been pursuing this improvement for many years.
• It was reported that there is subsidence of the road surface in 10th Street, which is a particular concern due to the extreme slope of that embankment.

8. ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
• Edna’s Park Revitalisation Team had a meeting with some City Parks officials, and they have promised us some new park benches in the near term.
• However City Parks confirmed that they cannot supply us with playground equipment, although they support us doing this ourselves. Options are being researched, and quotes obtained.
• We need extra sweeping efforts in the park to combat the level of litter, as the City Parks sweepers visit too seldom, and do not pick up everything. Perhaps some buildings would be prepared to assist with this as a regular project?
• Ruth has committed to sweeping and cleaning the section of the park from 2nd Ave to the second tree. This is about 20% of the park. Ruth was warmly thanked for this effort.
• We are looking to have a sponsored guard/ambassador in the park during the day, to provide a presence and some reassurance for decent people who might otherwise be afraid to spend time in the park. They cannot enforce by-laws, but they can improve the safety of visitors.
• It was agreed to hold the annual community day in October this year, so as to coincide with the blooming of the jacaranda trees. This will again include primarily food stalls, a craft-beer option, any other stalls that want to participate and events for children – hopefully including our new playground equipment, and perhaps a jumping castle again. Kayte has organised two events in a row – would anybody else perhaps like to have a chance?
• The Killarney Gardening Club is already active in the park, with a mission to beautify that space. If anybody else is willing to join in and to make a difference, please could you let us know?
• It was noted that a lot of the rubbish dumped on the pavements comes from households, where the domestic worker drops it on the street on her way home instead of taking it to the complex dustbins. Please can buildings help to manage this by putting complex bins closer to the exits?
• The Vumatel fibre-optic project is steaming ahead – the digging will start soon. The current status of the fibre-optic roll-out in Killarney-Riviera is as follows:
o Planning approved by Body Corporate – 33;
o Planning Approved & Submitted to Body Corporate – 13;
o Planning Completed & Awaiting Technical Approval – 10;
o Technical Approval Complete & Re-plan Required – 5;
o Survey Completed – 2;
o Survey Scheduled – 4.
• The detailed status list is attached. If your building is not on this list, please will you get in touch with us so that we can link up with your trustees as well.
• Having your building connected is free, and this connection adds to the resale values of all units in the building even if they don’t take up the service, so there is really no reason not to have your building linked up. Vumatel can be contacted at Killarney@vumatel.co.za or 086100VUMA, or check their website at www.vumatel.co.za

10. FINANCE AND MEMBERSHIP
• So far this year, 23 buildings have made membership contributions to the NKRA. These contributing buildings are Beverly Heights; Brenthurst Court; Bretton Woods; Castlerosse; Christina Court; Daventry Court; Devon Place; Dukes Court; Hampshire Mews; Killarney Court & Gardens; Killarney Hills; Killarney Park; Killarney Village; Mentone Court; Rapallo; Sloane Square; Riviera Mansions; Riviera Villas; Saint John’s Wood; Santa Margherita; St John’s Wood; The Riviera’s; Whitehall Court.
• We thank all these buildings for their contributions, and we ask community-minded citizens in other buildings please to persuade your trustees to contribute as well.

11. GENERAL
• The Mall has delivered free trolleys to those buildings that requested them. A second batch is being ordered, so if you would like to add your building to the list, please let us know ASAP.

The meeting was closed, with thanks to the Killarney Mall for the use of their boardroom.

Our next meeting will be held on
WEDNESDAY 17 JUNE 2015 AT 5PM

PLEASE PASS ON THESE MINUTES TO OTHER RESIDENTS IN YOUR BUILDINGS