WECAN Board Meeting September 5, 2013 at 64 Clingman Ave.
Board Members Present were: Joe Fioccola, Rachel Larson and AnnaBeth Hardcastle. Board Members not present were Byron Ballard, Jeff Carnivale, Jessie Nell Coleman, Tom Gibson, Mike Kenton, Yuri Koslen, Luke W. Perry, JoAnn Skinner, Pattiy Torno and Suzanne Willis. Also present were: Officer Evan Coward, Rafael Rettig and Sealey Chipley.
Vice chair Rachel called the meeting to order at 6:35 p.m. and introduced her room mate Sealey. The Draft August minutes were approved as distributed.
APD CRO Update: Evan demonstrated the new Police-to-Citizen reporting on the city website. Ashevillenc.gov then Living tab then Police then Police-to-Citizen website. Public narratives on approved police reports can be accessed on line. They can be searched by case number, address radius, neighborhood, date range, and have information about case status, and investigator assignment. The tabs are for Event Search, Missing Persons, Daily Bulletin, Arrests, Crash Reports, Officer Commendation, Closed Calls, Contact Us, and Quick Links. Rafael asked about crime trends. There have been an increase in property crimes in the area such as residential and vehicle break ins, and a growth in the younger homeless population. Residents should take care with personal items and valuables left in plain sight in their vehicles. (Don't feed the bears!) A School Resource Officer has been assigned to the William Randolph Elementary School's temporary quarters on Livingston Street. Several lights are still out on Clingman Avenue
HALF-MARATHON; 15 volunteers needed on Saturday September 28 from 6:30 am-9:45 So far confirmed are Joe, Byron, Pattiy, Alphie, Jeff, Lance and AnnaBeth. Eight more and a representative to attend one more meeting (on Sept 18 or 19 )are needed and may be recruited on Saturday at the Block Party.
NEIGHBOR/BLOCK JESSIE UPDATES: Luke has moved out of Club Street and is still looking for a new place. He has assigned some of his Chair-duties to Rachel and Joe. AnnaBeth reported some sad news that Alphie's sister passed away. She also invited friends to a Jefferson Drive Block Party This Saturday September 7, 2013 starting at 6:30 at 26 Jefferson Drive. Bring a pot luck dish for grilling and babies. She also announced to look for press releases for a fundraiser at The Downtown Market on September 12 for NC State Senator Ellie Kinnaird's voter registration drive fund raiser. Looking to sponsor id cards for those who may not have access to a DMV ID card that cost $10. Rafael announced that he passes his real estate License test and that the foxes in the greenway are alive and well. Rachel advised that more feedback was requested for the Clingman Forest Greenway entrance treatments. She will send out a request for more information
AT-LARGE BOARD MEMBER Rachel nominated Luke W. Perry for At Large Board Membership since he is not a WECAN resident. Nomination was seconded and passed.
NEIGHBORHOOD ADVISORY COMMITTEE:
FESTIVAL OF NEIGHBORHOODS: Joe was appointed to the City's NAC representing 28801 zip code. they are planning an event on October 27 from 3-5 p.m. at the Sherrill Center at UNCA. The event is a "Festival of Neighborhoods" showcasing and sharing the activities, successes and challenges of Asheville's organized neighborhoods. Six representatives are invited to attend and share pictures for a slide show and a tri-fold display (like the ones used for science fairs.) There will be light refreshments, speakers and fun. Joe has confirmed WECAN's participation. The representatives should be confirmed by the next WECAN Board meeting October 3.
TRAFFIC CALMING POLICY: The city has a Traffic Calming Policy which has not been funded for several years but some funding is expected beginning in 2015. In preparation for that some revisions were proposed. The six changes are: 1-The only traffic calming devices that will be considered in future include speed humps and/or speed cushions(asphalt and/or "bolt-down") 2-Change the minimum threshold to include a speed condition and a traffic volume condition. 3- Eliminate the 40% petition and substitute a structured neighborhood awareness campaign and education process that would last for a minimum of six months. 4-Allow projects to be constructed with partial private funding that would be matched with public funding. 5- Traffic calming devices will not be installed on city-maintained streets that are in areas of the city that the Asheville Fire Department Standard Cover Performance is less than 90%. 6-Allocate a maximum of 2% of the annual construction funds on neighborhood awareness campaigns and education processes. These were reviewed and discussed, concluding that they are reasonable. The current policy can be located on line at the City Website. Go to Ashevillenc.gov then Departments then Transportation then Traffic Engineering then Traffic Calming then follow the link to the Traffic Calming Policy. AnnaBeth wanted to find out where Roberts Street was on the list.
NEIGHBORHOOD E-NEWSLETTER: Marsha is launching a new e-newsletter in September to keep the community up to date on what’s happening in the city, where to find useful information, and to encourage community engagement. Each month, they will ask six questions of a different neighborhood. Those answers will be published in the e-newsletter and will help people get a better idea of the role each neighborhood plays in making Asheville the wonderful city it is. She asked WECAN to be the first featured neighborhood and Joe drafted answers to the six questions as follows and they were approved: Name of group: West End/ Clingman Avenue Neighborhood, Inc. Formed when: November 1998 Questions:
- What qualities make your neighborhood unique? : WECAN is one of Asheville's oldest neighborhoods. Located at the West end of downtown it overlooks the French Broad River. It is accessed by Interstate, state and city roads and is intersected by the railroad. It is a short walk from Aston Park, Jean Webb Park and Owens-Bell Park, Isaac Dickson Elementary School, Asheville Middle School and the YWCA; It contains a significant portion of vacant and unused DOT right of way land. There are National Register Historic buildings and no less than three historic districts were nominated. One of these was vigorously opposed by city leaders. WECAN has a logo, a neighborhood sign, and is incorporated as a tax-exempt non-profit organization. We maintain two gardens and have done Adopt-A-Highway cleanups for 15 years.
- Who are the people that make up your neighborhood? WECAN is a collection of races, ages, and incomes. We are retirees, singles, families and children. We are artists, bicyclists, urban farmers, bee keepers, pet lovers, new-comers and long time residents. We are people who care about our neighbors and where we live.
- What is some of your neighborhood’s history? WECAN began to be settled in the 1890's with the coming of the railroad and cotton mills. The first half of the twentieth century saw a boom in housing as the city grew. The 1916 flood, the end of rail and trolley service, the closing of the mills and major highway projects all took their toll on the neighborhood. The second half was a period of benign neglect until the dramatic 1995 Cotton Mill fire shone a spotlight on the area. Soon the city produced the West End/ Clingman Avenue Asheville 2010 plan. One thing it called for was the formation of a neighborhood organization which has met monthly since 1998. Since then residents have been involved in in many planning projects including a Citizens Master Plan. We have seen new infill development, a new park, neighborhood cleanups, some new sidewalks, new LED lighting. We produced a history exhibit, a video, an annual newsletter, public art and in the last year WECAN welcomed four babies.
- What role does your neighborhood play as part of Asheville’s community? We are like a hologram or microcosm of the greater city. We share issues with other neighborhoods such as gentrification, traffic, taxes, crime, encroaching commercial development, affordability, communication, preservation, prostitution, density, development, homelessness, drug abuse, and infrastructure issues.
- What are some of the things you look forward to in the future of your neighborhood? The neighborhood will feel the impact of several projects in the coming years such as the New Belgium Brewery, traffic realignment on Riverside Drive, new residential development at 100 Park Avenue, mixed use development at the old Dave Steel site, a new greenway in the forest behind the east side of Clingman Avenue, the I-26 Connector and new development in the River Arts District.
- Name some things that you would like to see to make your neighborhood better. A respect for the history of the neighborhood; More affordable housing; A community garden on unused DOT land; A grocery store; Sidewalks on Roberts street between the traffic circle and the White Duck; and more neighborhood participation.
MASTER PLANNING The timeline should begin in mid September. To be ready for Phase one Rachel will draft the survey questions by this weekend and block out a time table. The Block Jessies will also need to be activated and feedback events planned.
TUESDAY GARDEN CLUB: September will be Gardening Month in WECAN. Tuesday September 10 will be 'weed pulling time' at the WECAN Sign Garden (5-7 p.m.) Tuesday September 17 will be 'sidewalk trim back time' on Hilliard and Clingman also 5-7. Tuesday September 24 will be 'sidewalk reclamation' on Clingman below All Souls Pizza. If you have time and energy bring your own tools and have a good time.
ADOPT-A-HIGHWAY Joe wants to have a celebration and photo of as many or our litter picker uppers as can be assembled for a photo at one of our signs when the 15-year sticker is installed. Maybe next month.
Also a date was set for the fall litter pickup on Saturday October 5 at 10 a.m.
UPDATES:
Jean Webb Park Pedestrian Bridge: Luke announced that the DOT Encroachment Agreement has been finalized and that a ribbon cutting and ground breaking for the footings would take place inn the next few weeks.
100 Park Avenue: about half of the lots are reported to be sold.
TREASURER'S REPORT: no activity since last report. She noted that she has submitted a change of address form to the IRS (twice) who still keep sending correspondence to Luella's address. Perhaps the third time will be the charm.
The meeting adjourned at 802 p.m.
DRAFT Minutes submitted by Joe Fioccola.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Sept 7 630-? 26 Jefferson Drive Block Party/Pot luck
Sept 10 5-7 Garden Club Weeding Party Clingman and Hilliard
Sept 14 River Arts District Second Saturdays Ceramics and Sculpture Demonstrations
Sept 17 5-7 Garden Club Weeding Party Clingman and Hilliard
Sept 18 or 19 Marathon Meeting YWCA
Sept 24 5-7 Garden Club Weeding Party Clingman and Hilliard
Sept 28 6:30-9:45 Half Marathon Broadway/Magnolia
Sep 30 7 p.m. MHO Benefit Concert at Crown Plaza
Oct 3 Thu WECAN Board Meeting 6:30 at 64 Clingman Avenue
Oct 5 Sat 1000 Adopt A Highway Cleanup
