WECAN General Membership Meeting Minutes July 7, 2016
Board Members present: Byron Ballard, Jessie Nell Coleman, Joe Fioccola
and Luke Perry
Members not present: Tom Gibson, Mike Kenton, Rebecca Lance, Rachel
Larson, Floree Lowery, JoAnn Skinner, Pattiy Torno and Suzanne Willis.
Also present: Marsha Stickford.
Vice Chair Byron called the meeting to order at 6:35 pm offering
condolences to Rachel on her relative’s passing.
MINUTES: Luke moved and Jessie seconded a motion to approve the minutes of
the July meeting as distributed. The motion passed. There was no
treasurer’s report.
APD/CRO UPDATE: Officer Sean Davis was unable to attend. He has been
temporarily assigned to night shift as well as being pulled to a
conflicting assignment downtown this evening and he apologized for his
absence. He emailed: Not too many issues in the community this month. He
had complaints of vagrants sleeping inside the homes under construction on
Jefferson Dr. He contacted the contractor and night units have been
keeping extra checks. The homes appear to be able to be secured now.
Officers have been keeping extra checks on Hilliard Ave between Clingman
Ave and W. Haywood for concerns of prostitution activities but have not
encountered same. Jessie reported seeing a young girl out there today and
a subject in a white Cadillac or sometimes a black Cadillac (with a 30 day
tag) drops her off in front of a house on Knoxville Place. Jessie will
call Sean and talk to him about the problem. He also found a street light
that is flashing like a strobe light in front of White Duck Taco on
Roberts St and will try to get the pole number and send it to Marsha.
Please send him any concerns or issues that need to be addressed. Marsha
reported meeting about the lighting deficiency on Hilliard. Mark Foster
will try to open up the trees to try to get out more light. Luke reported
the curb bump outs on Clingman Avenue at Clingman Place and Rector are
dangerous for cars coming onto Clingman due to the on street parking and
unable to see oncoming traffic.
BLOCK JESSIES: On July 17 several neighbors who have never been to a WECAN
event came out to a housewarming party at 381 West Haywood Street across
from Park Avenue. Flyers and refreshments were a successful engagement
strategy. Luke reported that Stan and Angie have left their apartment at
20 Rector Street which is now vacant except for 3 groundhogs and is also
for sale.
NATIONAL NIGHT OUT: The planned event was canceled. It was supposed to
mark the anniversary of the murders of Tatianna Diz and Alexandra King
which occurred on October 27. (The bodies were found in the river on
November 5.) It was to begin at the Community Garden and proceed to the
river with candles and possibly floating luminaria. The consensus was that
it was good to plan something closer to the anniversary dates. Luke will
still provide hot dogs and Marsha suggested that Police Chief Hooper may
even attend. It will also give time to get the word out and get more
people to attend and also meet neighbors and reduce crime and increase
safety which is the goal of NNO.
OWENS-BELL PARK TENTH ANNIVERSARY: Discussion of how to mark the September
4 tenth anniversary of the dedication of the Owens-Bell Park. One idea was
to complete the planting around the Owens-Bell Park sign. Rather than the
actual date (Sept 4) during Labor Day Weekend it was scheduled for 4 pm
the following Sunday September 11. Joe will try to locate the original
banner. Garden Club will coordinate the planting. The Mayor and City
Council should be invited. Luke reported that today the stream was dry and
after the recent rains should not be. Marsha will check on that and about
restoring the faded photo panels.
WELCOME WAGON: It didn’t happen as expected. However Rebecca has created a
document than can be printed off by anyone, and updated rather than
storing a supply of baskets and flyers. Info-- such as some newsletters,
and jam in a basket were left at the 381 West Haywood house warming.
WECAN NEWS: The annual WECAN Newsletter will go out again in November.
Please begin thinking of articles you would like to see included.
FESTIVAL OF NEIGHBORHOODS 3.0: NAC’s third festival is for Sunday November
13th. Thinking of some ideas for what workshops would be helpful to
neighborhoods, Luke suggested one on how to spread the love and engage,
empower and expand the capacity of resources and people in the community.
A panel discussion from three crazy different neighborhoods or a
brainstorming session with a facilitator of what works such as colorful
t-shirts, leaflets with animal pictures and faces, hot dogs, new
construction threats, etc..
DUKE POWER POLES: Marsha reported that SFB Neighborhood was meeting with
the Mayor soon about the problem which is the same that was facing Isaac
Dickson Elementary School last year. Joe will contact Helen Hyatt to see
if we can help.
338 HILLIARD AVENUE: Marsha reported that two proposals have been received
and both were good. A staff recommendation should go before City Council
next Tuesday August 9.
WECAN EMAIL UPDATE/MEMBERSHIP DRIVE: The list should be updated before the
Newsletter goes out. Ideas for a membership drive including hot dogs and
flyers judiciously placed (Not illegally in mailboxes) with contact info
email list requests.
GRAIL MOVIE HOUSE: Luke working on getting the WECAN video scheduled there.
CLINGMAN TRIANGLE PLANTING: On July 28, Pattiy and Joe met on site with
new DOT people: Scott Killough
Buncombe County Maintenance Engineer Department of Transportation (828)
298-0390 office skillough@ncdot.gov,
Keith Blazer fkblazer@ncdot.gov, and Clifford ??, and all agreed on the
following plan: 1-The strip along Clingman Extension will be planted with
3-5 kouza dogwoods or white redbuds (rather than serviceberries.) 2-The
triangle with the RAD sign is will be split in half. The part in front of
the sign will remain turf grass and the left half will be mulched and host
three large fig trees. 3-The small triangle closest to the Grey Eagle will
have 5-7 oak leaf hydrangeas. And 4-the strip between the sidewalk and the
parking lot will be planted with blueberry bushes. Also DOT will leave a
large pile of mulch on site. Curve Studios, RADBA, WECAN Garden Club will
assist when the right planting time comes in the fall.
COMMUNITY GARDEN REPORT: Byron reported that it has been an uneven year
for the community garden. We lost the Hardcastles but they left two raised
beds and a pair of blue barrels, and we did get new gardeners Herman (aka
Johnny) and Patricia Crisp participating. The blueberries are not doing
well but the pollinators across the driveway are going to town. Joe sadly
noted the apple tree was mowed down last week.
BUS SHELTER VOTE: Luke reported about the future bus shelter across
Haywood Road from Craven Street. The design is a prototype that can be
used around the City. There’s also a history panel on the back of the
shelter that speaks to the area. The hope is that this shelter will be
installed by late August and is dependent on City greenway completion.
There is a survey on the ADC site to choose covering materials such as
reclaimed wood, metal bottle cap mosaic or combinations thereof. Voting
closes on August 10, 2016 at
design is for a two sided structure with a cantilevered bench. Luke has
been involved with this for four years and he credited Yuri for his vision
and efforts in getting it to this stage. Joe expressed his concerns for
visibility to see through it from the greenway to see if the shelter is
occupied or more like a bird blind.
SMALL-SCALE RESIDENTIAL INFILL WORKSHOP: Marsha reported that one workshop
was held on July 14 and another is set for August 11 5:30-7:30 at the US
Cellular Center. The discussion continues with online engagement, the
topic is available for online public input on Open City Hall to read the
analysis and take the survey there.
The online survey will close on August 30. The goal is rewrite the UDO to
match the zoning to what is actually out there and to allow infill
residential to grow the tax base by reducing minimum lot size. She noted
that the City Planner in charge--Vadilla Satvika, was very community
oriented.
RIVERFRONT REDEVELOPMENT: Work has begun travel patterns are changing.
Marsha advised that a new website was up with a real-time map to show
changes and construction delays. There will also be a business packet with
RADBA to show their customers how to get through and also one for visitors
and a sign package to proclaim that the RAD is still open.
WALTON STREET PARK AND POOLCONVERSATION: Marsha reported that the city
staff and fifteen residents were meeting to design a process for
neighborhood engagement.
1916 FLOOD CENTENARY: Joe reported he attended the symposium for the 100
year annive4rsary of the 1916 flood. It was interesting, entertaining and
informative. And there is a 60 minute video about the flood.
Meeting adjourned at 7:46 pm
Minutes submitted by Joe Fioccola
Mark Your Calendars for upcoming WECAN dates:
August 8 CAN meeting at 7:30 pm at the Oakley Center Asheville
Comprehensive Plan.
August 10 Bus Shelter voting closes.
August 30 Small scale Infill online survey closes
September 1 WECAN Board 6:30
September 11 Owens-Bell Park Tenth Anniversary
