Mitman NA Meeting Minutes
January 7, 2026
Present: Ali Bickford, President; Robin Steinberg, Vice President; Harold Hallikainen, Chief Financial Officer; Susan Patania, Chief Information Officer; Jennifer Beard, Advisor; Lisa Floran, Council Aide Ward 6
- Agenda approved
- Quorum Present
- Minutes: Minutes from December Board Meeting reviewed and approved.
- Deadline Review
- Minutes of Annual Meeting have been sent to Neighborhood Services
- 3/12/26 – AZ Corp Commission Annual Filing
- 3/15/26 – IRS 990-N due
- 6/2026 – Meeting room reservation for second half 2026 – Ali Bickman
- Treasurer’s Report: The Association has $2,308.90 in the bank. Dues in the amount of $190.00 were collected at the Annual Meeting. Wells Fargo is increasing its monthly service charge to $15.00 if our balance is less than $2,000.
- Old and Ongoing Business
- Watershed Park: All plants are alive and well. Ali Bickford spread wildflower seeds over the area. Dog waste has become a problem. Board members volunteered for periodic clean-up. Installing boulders is the next step toward completing the park.
- Safe Streets Mini-Grant: Ali Bickman submitted an application for speed bumps on Van Buren St.
- Area Plan: Ali Bickford will attempt to connect with Highland Vista and Sewell Associations and will check to see if the Duffy Association is active. Harold Hallikainen will post the current Area Plan to the website.
- New Business
- The board discussed some ideas for an area plan including supporting small businesses and assuring that traversing the neighborhoods is safe for walkers, bicyclists, wheelchair users, etc.
- Mitman is currently a “playground desert,” with no park or open space for children’s play. Sewell Neighborhood Association is working with Tucson Unified School District (TUSD) to unlock the Sewell playground during daylight hours on weekends and after school. The Board voted to authorize a letter of support from Ali Bickman.
- Robin Steinberg suggested that it would be more convenient to meet on the third Wednesday of each month. The Board voted to approve. The next Board meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 18, 2026.
- Harold Hallikainen completed the online application to opt out of the neighborhood Covenant due to its racist and anti-Semitic content. There was a $33.00 fee. Harold posted the opt-out instructions on our website.
- Open discussion/ items for next meeting
- We discussed the possibility of installing a dog waste disposal station. Some dog walkers around the Watershed Park are not cleaning up after their pets. The approximate cost is $100.00.
- The extensive construction on 5th street has reduced traffic in the neighborhood. There is very little information available on the road diet. A traffic survey is difficult when so much construction is in progress.
- Adjournment – 8:40 pm