WECAN General Membership Meeting Minutes Dec 2, 2016
Board Members present: Byron Ballard, Jared Fischer , Caroline Mullis and
Pattiy Torno
Members not present: Danny Aull, Tom Gibson, Len Hall, Mike Kenton,
Rebecca Lance, Rachel Larson, Luke Perry, JoAnn Skinner and Suzanne
Willis.
Also Present: Joe Fioccola and Marsha Stickford.
INTROS: Byron called the meeting to order at 6:42 pm.
CREEK NAMING: Pattiy began discussion of the topic from our last meeting:
creek naming: She suggested that a way to raise the profile of WECAN in
the city and internationally—Lonely Planet recently named Asheville as the
best place to visit and National Geographic Traveler will feature
Asheville in the4 coming months. Her suggestion was to name the stream
just east of Clingman Avenue the WECAN Creek in recognition of her
cultural diversity and neighborhood excellence. Naming is a way to honor
Mountain Housing Opportunities, Terry Whitmire Bellamy and the WECAN
neighbors who put WECAN on the map and it sets the framework for what is
here and an opportunity to focus on the positive things that happened in
this neighborhood. Byron articulated the greatest success was in the
coming together of a historically black and a historically white
neighborhood. Pattiy is also encouraging the Board to lobby for the
renaming of Clingman Forest Greenway to honor someone else than a
slaveholding general. Marsha advised that Parks and Rec has a naming
process. Pattiy will check in with Scott Dedman at MHO for his input.
Other names suggested include Independence Creek, WECAN Waterway, Jessie’s
Creek and Bacoate Brook. Pattiy will follow upon these with
dave@riverlink.org Timeline: Present through January 18.
MINUTES/ TREASURER”S REPORT: Pattiy moved and Caroline seconded a motion
to approve the WECAN Minutes from December as distributed. The motion
passed. No treasurer’s report.
ORIENTATION: Joe handed out a packet of Festival of Neighborhoods
(Tri-fold Spiel) the 2016 Plan on a Page and The WECAN By-Laws (updated in
2011.)
APD/CRO Update: Sean’s wife is expecting a bundle of joy very soon. There
have been reports of car break ins and a house on Park Ave was burgled. It
bears repeating: Lock you cars and homes, don’t leave valuables in cars or
in sight.
NEIGHBORHOOD REGISTRATION: Marsha explained that the city was working on a
map of organized neighborhoods that would be interactive. You can click on
a neighborhood and get an information box oabout the neighborhood with
association information, contact info, Plan on a Page and Neighborhood
Profile. Rachel was supposed to have submitted the info but has not yet.
Byron will check in with Rachel.
EQUITY MANAGER: Marsha explained that like the course of the
sustainability officer, office and manager so follows the equity manager.
Another input meeting to define the manager’s role and responsibilities
will be held at the Grant Center on Monday January 9 from 6-730.
ANNOUNCEMENTS: Marsha announced that a meeting on the Pritchard Park
Improvements would be held at the Housing Authority Office from 3-5 pm on
Thursday January 12.
Also that a meeting about Recreational Services in the Southside area
would be held at the Eddington Center on Tuesday January 31 from 5-6 pm
facilitated by Tyrone Greenlee.
Pattiy announced a meeting at the Grant Center about RAD Signage Design on
Tuesday January 10 from 8:30-9:30. Joe reported that the RAD Form Based
Code announced a public presentation of the draft at the Grant Center on
Wednesday January 11 from 6-7:30.
BLOCK JESSIES: Byron told of an incident that happened recently. In
hooking up a new house Hayes and Lunsford had blocked off the street and
cut power to houses on Girdwood Street for an hour and a half with no
notice whatsoever. Jared noted that in a separate incident Duke had cut
power to his house on Trade Street for several hours. Marsha encouraged
contacting Greg Shuler with the infrastructure Task Force. Or call public
works or the Mayor’s office if it’s during business hours. Pattiy noted
that Tree Removal for a boat ramp had been talked about but as yet no
trees have been marked for removal. She noted that when New Belgium
construction would impact neighborhoods there was weekly notice about
what neighborhood areas would be affected in a Leaders Round Table. That
round table concept is being used for the RADTIP construction but isn’t
there yet with notices.
TWENTIETH YEAR CELEBRATION: Byron suggested some future informal meetings
with snacks to plan events to celebrate WECAN’s 20th year.
DUKE ENERGY SUBSTATION: Luke and Rachel have been in touch with SFB and
Montford about meeting with Duke’s Jason Walls in the coming months.
Pattiy noted that Duke has admitted to cutting down the trees on Clingman
west of All Souls Pizza and promised to replace them.
ASHEVILLE DESIGN CENTER: Joe has drafted a proposal for water catchment
for the community garden and will email the info the Marsha and Chris
Joyell.
NH ADVISORY COMMITTEE FESTIVAL OF NH’S WORKSHOPS REPORT: Byron attended
two workshops on November 13 and thought the one on Social Media was very
good. She thought the Crime Prevention one was less helpful.
NH LEADERS ROUNDTABLE: Pattiy reported on the last meeting in December.
There was a presentation by Lucy Crown about the Greenway opening and many
announcements before the important topic of meeting structure. She would
prefer more group problem solving rather than cheerleading.
SOCIAL/ WILDLIFE EVENTS: Pattiy usually posts to Face Book on the day when
she has events like a solstice bonfire. Bears and bear scat have been seen
in the neighborhood as well as Jacques the rooster of Trade Street but
unfortunately Carl Daven—the Mayor of Girdwood Street, has been missing
for some three weeks.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS: Election of officers was to occur at the January 5
Meeting, However due to such a small attendance it was postponed until Feb
2 Meeting along with nomination of At-Large Board Members..
Meeting adjourned at 8:12 pm
Minutes submitted by Joe Fioccola, Secretary Emeritus
Important dates:
Jan 9 Equity Manager Meeting 6-730
Jan 10 RAD Sign Design8:30-9:30 am
Jan 11 RAD Form Based Code Presentation 6-730
Jan 12 Pritchard Park Improvements 3-5 AHA
Jan 14 HARD to Recycle 1298 Patton Ave 9-3
Jan 18 Last day to Name a Creek
Jan 31 5-6 Recreational Services in Southside
Feb 2 WECAN Board Meeting 6:30 64 Clingman Ave
