WECAN Board Meeting January 7, 2016
Board Members present: Byron Ballard, Joe Fioccola, Rebecca Lance, Rachel Larson and Pattiy Torno. Members not present: Jessie Nell Coleman, Tom Gibson, AnnaBeth Hardcastle, Mike Kenton, Yuri Koslen, JoAnn Skinner and Suzanne Willis. Also present: CRO Lucas Lovelace, Charlie District Commander Lt Gary Gudac, and Marsha Stickford.
Rachel called the meeting to order at 6:33 pm
MINUTES: There was one correction to the draft minutes:' WECAN Board/General Membership Meeting'. Otherwise they were approved as submitted.
TREASURER'S REPORT: No report Joe noted one reimbursement due for the printing/mailing of the newsletter.
APD/CRO UPDATE: Lucas reported that he has seen an increase of homeless campsites and tents--some by the river. They are mostly vacant during the day but the PATH Team has been sent and they have been given notice. However , some take advantage of the' seven day notice to move' in order to find a new location and begin the process again. Pattiy reported seeing some tents on the west bank of the river across from 12Bones. Joe noted that when the greenway is completed the traffic may deter camping there in the future. Lucas reported that on December 17 three unlocked vehicles were broken into on Park, Girdwood and Jefferson. He was pleased to note that there were no problems with package deliveries being stolen. Pattiy commended Sgt Evan Coward for his efforts on tv about NEXTDOOR.com. Marsha will forward a brochure from PIO Christina Hollingse. Joe brought up a thread on NEXTDOOR about an intoxicated person on Clingman and Hilliard and what was and could have been done for them. The problem is that people have a right to refuse medical treatment, shelter or housing. Marsha referred to the Homeless Coordinator Christiana Tugman who asks: what would be helpful? One answer is housing. We can explore Face Book Page What the alternatives are. If people refuse housing are they homeless or exercising free choice? Unfortunately they are also leaving trash behind. Pattiy asked for a memorandum of understanding between WECAN and the City to clean up on public rights of way-- which currently is not legal. Marsha will float the idea to Christiana about areas not covered by Parks or Sanitation.
BLOCK JESSIES: Joe found some unusual chalk marks on the sidewalks. They may be placed by night runners or pub runners. Charlie Lance announced the best holiday lighting was on Rector Street. Rachel found out the goopy yellow stuff in the stream at Owens Bell Park was a naturally occurring effluent of fungus or iron bacteria from an underground stream. Hattie Smith's house on Knoxville Place is under contract. Rachel has a new neighbor on Park Square. Luke fell off his roof (but he is ok) and also had his parked van totaled on Hilliard(which is not.) The issue of Parking on West Haywood near Jefferson was discussed. Parked cars make it hard to see westbound traffic in the curve when exiting Jefferson. Byron will talk to neighbors.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS: Joe nominated the current officers to continue their roles: Chair: Rachel, Vice Chair: Byron, Treasurer: AnnaBeth and Secretary: Joe. Pattiy seconded and motion passed.
AT-LARGE MEMBERS: After discussion of potential nominees Joe nominated Luke and Floree to continue as At-Large Board Members. Byron seconded and the motion passed.
NEW BELGIUM BREWERY: Is not for sale. The confusion is that when an offer is made they have to respond and it appeared that they were selling.
ASHEVILLE IN MOTION: Joe attended the last input session on Dec 17 at the Civic Center. They have done a lot of work analyzing road types for the four types of transportation: Bus, Bike, Pedestrian and Vehicle. They were looking for preferences by sticky dots only. Marsha said they will be reporting back in the spring.
I-26 CONNECTOR: The public hearing was on Nov 16 and comments would be received until Dec 16. WECAN submitted a page of comments collected by Luke W. Perry on email.
FBRMPOCAC: Rachel is a member of the French Broad River Municipal Planning Organization Citizens Advisory Council. Joe requested information about the life expectancy of the Smoky Park Bridges (One span begun in 1948 and the other in 1968) since there was no mention of this in the I-26 Environmental Impact Statement when one goal is to extend its use.
FBRMPOCAC: Rachel is a member of the French Broad River Municipal Planning Organization Citizens Advisory Council. Joe requested information about the life expectancy of the Smoky Park Bridges (One span begun in 1948 and the other in 1968) since there was no mention of this in the I-26 Environmental Impact Statement when one goal is to extend its use.
GENTRIFICATION: Rachel and Byron met with a student of Warren Wilson College for a report on the effects of gentrification in the River Arts District and Southside. Marsha asked for the student's info because the city was talking about Equitable Development. Is it a Governmental value? Is there a problem when federal funds are involved regarding community benefits agreements?
RAD FORM BASED CODE: Marsha noted that there would be some feedback soon.
PLACE-MAKING IN RADTIP: Rachel noted that artists were being asked to be involved in creating installations, stops, visuals, etc along the proposed new greenways.
STORMWATER PROBLEMS: Pattiy reported debris and mud washed into the Clingman Roundabout and from Asheville Middle School down Lyman Extension across the railroad tracks and into her yard. She has a meeting scheduled next week to address the problem.
WECAN GARDEN CLUB: working on a new list; Trimming the hedges at the sign garden, leaf mulch debris from Roberts Street.
WECAN COMMUNITY GARDEN: Calling a meeting of interested gardeners on the 19th or 21st at 6:30 p.m. at MHO. Byron will use Face Book to determine preferred date.
PLAN ON A PAGE: This is a list of questions for neighborhoods to fill out to guide the planning department when considering developer requests in a neighborhood. It is not a detailed plan such as the WECAN 2010 Plan or the WECAN Citizens Master Plan, but it is to supplement the Comprehensive Plan which the city will begin soon.
VACANT LOT ANALYSIS: Rachel has been looking at vacant buildable lots in WECAN and has found about 30.
KUDZU HILL ON CLINGMAN: Rachel asked about clearing the kudzu from the trees on the hill west of All Souls Pizza now that the kudzu has died back. Pattiy thinks it is a fool’s errand since it grows back so rapidly. DOT will not remove it and might only object if the trees fall into the roadway.
GOALS/PLAN for 2016: Community Garden and Face to Face contacts with Block Jessies
Meeting adjourned at 8:40 pm
Minutes submitted by Joe Fioccola
