Thursday, June 1, 2017

WECAN June 2107 Board Meeting Minutes • Draft


WECAN Board Meeting Minutes June 1, 2017  

Board Members present: Byron Ballard, Rachel Larson, and Pattiy Torno.  Members not present: Danny Aull, Jared Fischer, Tom Gibson, Lyn Hall, Mike Kenton, Rebecca Lance, Luke Perry, JoAnn Skinner and Suzanne Willis. At Large Members not present: Rafael Rettig and Floree Lowery.
Also Present: Jessie Coleman, Joe Fioccola, Caroline Mullis and APD Officer Justin Wilson,.

INTROS: Byron called the meeting to order at 6:37 pm.
MINUTES/ TREASURER”S REPORT: Byron moved and Pattiy seconded a motion to approve the draft WECAN minutes from May 4 as distributed. The motion passed.
APD/CRO Update: Justin reported that there was not a lot of activity in May. An unlocked vehicle was broken into on Birddog Lane. A bullet hole was found in a house on Park Avenue North, increasing graffiti and homeless camps cleared from the Boy Scout’s Hill. He explained his frustration with the process in place for homeless campers along the interstates. There are other places in the neighborhood that are not along the interstate, such as two of the west corners of the Clingman and Hilliard intersection. Pattiy encouraged the city to post their newly acquired properties in the RAD. The neighbors assured Officer Wilson they will support any of his attempts to solve the problem.
NATIONAL NIGHT OUT: The annual event sponsored by Target will be on Tuesday August1. Justin reported that the fee will be waived if you register through the Neighborhood Coordinator. In the past there was competition for attention between individual neighborhood anti-crime efforts and collective gatherings such as at City County Plaza, Carrier Park or the Buncombe County Soccer Complex. Again this year the city is encouraging individual efforts rather than big centralized outings. Pattiy expressed confusion about what it is for and why.
BACOATE BRANCH GREENWAY NAMING: Pattiy noted that the naming of Bacoate Branch, and Forest and Greenway was now officially approved by City Council..
RAD FORM BASED CODE: The Asheville Planning and Zoning Commission will hold a public hearing to review the proposed River Arts Form-Based Code for the greater River Arts District on Wednesday June 7 at 5 p.m. Requested changes have been made to building heights and there doesn’t seem to be a lot that needs neighborhood support. Pattiy noted that commercial interests on the commission do oppose it but they are outnumbered.
RADTIP: City Council will vote on funding at their June 13 meeting.
SOCIAL: SPRING FLING: At 2 pm on Sunday May 28 of Memorial Day weekend was the a cook out and pot luck at Owens Bell Park to celebrate Jessie Coleman’s 79th Birthday. The weather was very pleasant, about 30 people showed up and feasted on chicken, hot dogs, sausages, salad from the community garden, potato salad banana pudding and cake. There was discussion of how to better communicate the next one.
BLOCK JESSIES: Pat Crisp is back in the hospital. De De posted on Next Door that her neighbor’s wall had collapsed.  Pattiy recommended organizing helpers from the neighborhood to put in our neighborhood support toolbox. Perhaps helpers could assist debris removal and Luke and Joe can start by help Jessie dealing with a leak or runoff.
COMMUNITY GARDEN: Joe reported that strawberries are running, corn is rising, tomatoes are planted and the wood fenced half has been weeded. He has only seen one town snake and a birds nest in the vertical ‘diaper’ garden. Pattiy has seen frogs. Lynn had asked for a submersible pump Joe explained that it was to drain their wading pool up to the community garden barrels instead of using buckets. Pattiy also noted that Roots has food grade barrels for the asking.
DUKE SUBSTATION: Pattiy and Rachel met with Laura and Steven at the Haywood Street Congregation to arrange the next meeting with Duke. Steven will welcome attendees and make a pitch for development that supports their need for additional parking. At this point WECAN does not support a traditional substation at that location. Pattiy will propose a win-win-win solution with mixed use, GIS in a building or under a parking deck. She will try to control the conversation to listen to what Duke is proposing and what options they have to offer and keeping our neighborhood response in our back pocket. Before the meeting she has offered to meet with business owners who have not been at prior meetings to bring them up to speed. There is a concern that it may be too late to use the media.  Joe noted that Duke has a lot of pushback on their gas fired generators and don’t need another black eye and this may be an opportunity for Duke to do the right thing—even though they don’t legally have to.
KUDZU HILL: No work day was set for June. It is too late to spray the kudzu and the ineffectiveness of spraying was discussed.
OTHER ISSUES: Moving the Bacoate Branch stream culvert at the stone works, Zoning issue at Roberts Street and Trade Street. Caroline reported that her house won a Griffin Award from the Preservation Society and she would be renting it  for about a year. Dogs running loose jumped on JoAnne with her grandson and dog on Short Hilliard until she was rescued by a passing motorist. Jessie reported that dogs continue to defecate on the sidewalk on Hilliard. Dog owners need to pick up the poop. 
ADOPT A HIGHWAY: Rachel will bring the contract renewal around later this month. Our current contract expires on July 1.
Meeting adjourned at 8:02 pm
Minutes submitted by Joe Fioccola, Secretary Emeritus


Important Upcoming Dates:
June 7                                Duke Substation meet up2:30 Haywood Street
June 6,13,20,27       Community Garden Workday/meeting 6 pm
June 7,14,21,28      RAD Market at All Souls Pizza
June 11                    Father’s Day
June 12                    C.A.N. Meeting 7 p.m. Oakley Community Center           
June 16                    NH leaders Roundtable 8:30 @ Riverlink           
June 28                    Comp Plan Draft Public Meeting TBA           
July 6                                  Next WECAN Board Meeting Thursday 6:30 pm

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WECAN Board Meeting Minutes 4January 2024