MINUTES FOR THE MEETING OF THE 18th OCTOBER 2017

MINUTES FOR THE MONTHLY PUBLIC MEETING OF THE
NEW KILLARNEY-RIVIERA ASSOCIATION
HELD AT THE MALL MANAGEMENT OFFICES (1ST FLOOR OFFICE TOWER)
ON WEDNESDAY 18 OCTOBER 2017 AT 17H00

PRESENT: Wayne Ford (Killarney Village); Julie Wilson (Killarney Hills); Paulo Joaquim (Sevenoaks); Elena Joaquim (St Johns Wood); Vivienne Cobbett (Biarritz); Margaret Urban (Hanover Gate); Ruth Kuper (Gleneagles); Dean Dada (RCS Security); Fay Sher (Whitehall Court); Harry Rutenberg (Sevenoaks); George Kymdell (NAMA); Dalien Rutenberg (Glenhof); Hussein Dudhia (Hampshire Mews).

1. WELCOME
The chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

2. APOLOGIES
Eleanor Huggett (Ward Councillor); Tony Mantle (Gleneagles); Captain Moonsamy (SAPS); Yogan Naidoo (Dukes Court); Charles Whyte (Beverley Heights).

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 was not present, as it is Diwali this week, but he sent us the crime statistics. The crime statistics are as follows: 4 theft of motor vehicle; 1 shoplifting; 1 fraud; 3 theft; 2 common robbery; 2 common assault; 1 possession of unlicensed firearm.
• The SAPS have been doing stop-and-search visits at the illegal taxi rank in 1st Street, and its attendant hawkers and gatherings. These visits will continue. However the by-law issues and the criminal issues are linked, and only by removing the hawkers can the liquor and drugs be permanently removed. Captain Moonsamy is still struggling to get appropriate support from JMPD to address the by-law issues. This has been referred to the ward councillor for assistance.
• The cell-phone for the SAPS patrol van sometimes gives problems, and cannot be answered. In these cases residents should immediately call 10111. The response number for the Hillbrow police station is 011 488 6517.
• We need a new person to volunteer to represent us at the Community Policing Forum at Hillbrow Police Station one evening per month. This is where the community can interact with senior police officials, and really get things done. If you have the time and the will, please do volunteer.
• We need to ensure that our private security guards are doing a good job. It was noted that guards on the street are supposed to interact with the community, to learn who belongs and to “gather intelligence”. However excessive socialising is obviously unproductive. Please raise any concerns through your building’s internal processes, as the security companies are being paid to do this work and we depend on them to do it properly.

6. FEEDBACK FROM COUNCILLORS
• There is no further feedback yet on the municipal process to compel Martindale Mews to rectify the illegal structures they built in their yard. Clr Huggett is liaising with the appropriate departments on our behalf.
• JRA is busy with a project to replace all missing manhole covers with non-recyclable lids. Killarney-Riviera is supposed to be included in this project, but per Clr Huggett we are not yet on the project schedule. Replacing these covers ourselves will be difficult and expensive, as every manhole in Killarney-Riviera seems to be a different size and shape. The meeting therefore agreed to wait a bit longer to see how the Council project evolves. However if there is no progress reasonably soon, we may need to act ourselves.
• We are still suffering from the big excavation made by Joburg Water weeks ago at the intersection of Riviera Road and 4th Ave. This project has caused water cuts and fluctuations in water pressure over the past few weeks, and the excavation continues to cause traffic congestion and massive safety issues in rush hour traffic. The hole has now been partially refilled, so presumably they are finally finished with the infrastructure repair, but the excavation still blocks half of the road. Clr Huggett will be requested to pursue this urgently, before there is a major accident here.

7. ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
• The 2017 October Community Day Picnic in the Park will be held on Saturday 28 October. The idea is to bring a picnic basket, but we are also trying to arrange with some of the Mall restaurants to deliver hot food to the park on the day. All vendors of crafts etc are welcome to attend, at no charge, provided they bring along their own furniture. No alcohol or loud music is permitted in the park.
• The park has benefitted hugely from the recent rains, and the grass is starting to grow again. The trees are blossoming, and the hedge of donated plants around the ablution building is looking really good. We have expanded the flower-beds along the fences, at the Centenary Plaque and at the drinking fountain. However we are still asking for donations of plants to put around the bases of all the trees – particularly shade-tolerant and water-wise plants. If you have some plants that you are willing to donate, please would you drop them off at the ablution building at the 2nd Ave entrance to the park on any day of the week.
• The JRA recently repainted all the road markings in 4th Ave, 3rd Street and Killarney Ave. The entire suburb looks so much better – particularly at night, when the old markings were almost invisible. Many thanks to Clr Huggett for obtaining this refurbishment for us.
• We have previously approved a quote to repaint the street names on all the kerb stones, at an amount of R24,359. This has not yet been actioned, as we are still trying to get a second quote. I have been promised a quote from a reliable painting company this week, but due to the recent rains the company has a backlog and has not yet done the quote. If we get the quote and it is better than R24,359 then we will accept it and implement it. However if the second quote is worse than R24,359 then we will accept the quote of R24,359 and implement it without further delay. The quote includes cleaning off the old paint with a wire brush, painting the area with proper undercoat, painting the back-ground and then painting the street name with a stencil.
• We have not yet received feedback on our requests to JRA for improving the existing speed-humps in 4th Ave outside the park, and for a small new traffic circle in the intersection of 7th Street and Anerley Road. JRA have performed updated traffic surveys, but we are still waiting to hear the outcome thereof.
• It has been proposed that the NKRA should attempt some pavement repairs. However this will be a big expense, and we do not have unlimited funds, so the meeting agreed to wait to hear the feedback on the manhole cover replacements and the speed-humps etc before making a decision on these projects.
• It was noted that some of the chevron warning signs for existing speed-humps have been stolen. Clr Huggett will be requested to obtain replacements.
• Election posters can be taken down, but please keep them handy in case the owner appears and demands them back.
• Clr Huggett will be requested to obtain clarity on the plans for the abandoned electrical substation at the corner of Main Road and North Road in Riviera please. This site is a problem for litter and weeds.
• The suburb looks great in certain streets, where the buildings have cleaned up the pavements and planted flowers at their own expense. However other streets look less good, some because they are tarred and have no flower beds, and some because they are simply being neglected. Cleaning up and maintaining a pavement adds a disproportionate amount of value to the whole area. We thank those buildings which are already looking after their streets and pavements, we thank those individual residents and businesses who are paying for cleaners to help keep our streets and pavements clean, and we encourage all other buildings to join in to keep the entire area looking clean, inviting and loved.
• Dr Martin’s units in the Hyde Court building have apparently been sold, but we do not have details yet of who is the new owner, as there is apparently still some uncertainty about the finality of the deal.
• Please report problems of potholes and pavements to the JRA at http://www.jra.org.za/find-and-fix-mobile-app, or call 011 375 5555.
• Please use the number 0860 562 874 to report all road and pavement-related problems to the municipality. This includes all cases of rubble being dumped on pavements, potholes in roads or pavements, road signs in need of repair, streetlights not working, blocked storm-drains, or traffic lights out of order. You can also report all of these issues to the call centre hotline number – 080 872 3342. Please keep the reference numbers for follow-up.

8. FINANCE AND MEMBERSHIP
• No additional members have joined since last month. We currently have 29 member buildings, which is about half of the total.
• Please keep sending in your ideas and suggestions for projects.

9. GENERAL
• Benson the park janitor is in need of new work boots, but his employer is not helping him with this. Dean Dada of RCS Security undertook to obtain new boots for him. Many thanks to Dean.

The meeting was closed, with thanks to the Killarney Mall for hosting us.

Our next meeting will be held on
WEDNESDAY 15 NOVEMBER 2017 at 5pm

PLEASE PASS ON THESE MINUTES TO OTHER RESIDENTS IN YOUR BUILDINGS

JMPD call centre hotline number – 080 872 3342.
SAPS patrol van – 071 675 6001
If you get no response, please call the Hillbrow Joint Operations Command Centre
on 011 488 6712, or call 10111.