WECAN Meeting Minutes September 5, 2019

WECAN Meeting Minutes September 5, 2019

64 Clingman Avenue Meeting room Special time 5:30-6 pm

Board Members present:Joe Fioccola, Lynn Hall, Members not presentDanny Aull,Sherrod Barnes-Ginifer, Rebecca LanceLesa Peterson,Rich Peterson, Sandy Sox, and Shelly Schenker.Also present: Mathew Bacoate,Gerald Harbinson, Chris Joyell, Lynn Player, Rafael and Linda Rettig,  APD Lt. Chuck Sams, Pattiy Torno, Steve and Brittany Wager and APD CRO Justin Wilson. 

Call to Order: Lynn called the meeting to order at 5:32 pm with a round of introductions. 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES: In the absence of a quorum this item was tabled until the next meeting.

APD CRO UPDATE: Justin reported an unlocked vehicle break in, an attempted break in of a shed on Clingman Ave, a possibly homeless subject reported being shot in the leg possibly self inflicted, a series of break ins in the RAD may have been stopped with an arrest, a moped was robbed from a person at the Clingman Circle, and city-wide bikes are being stolen using bolt cutters. The safest places are indoors or with heavy duty locks. No info on the body found near 139 Meadow Road. Joe reported a lean to shelter on the Melk Property. Lynn noted campers by the DOT gate and at Roberts south of West Haywood. Pattiy reported taking a picture of a graffiti vandal on her roof. The fence is complete on the Duke property on Knoxville Place. Jason advised the demolition team would begin in the next 2-3 weeks. National Night Out was a success. Some got to meet the new Chief. Joe announced an Affordable Housing Workshop at the Banquet Hall of the Civic Center at 8:45 am on Friday September 6. 

NEIGHBOR/BLOCK JESSIE UPDATES:

Joe reported vegetation clearing at the Melk site, weeding at the sign garden, and at the end of Clingman Place. He announced an Adopt a Highway litter pickup on Tuesday September 10 at 9 am. He reported a Neighborhood Noise Forum on August 3 which will have a follow up on Monday September 23 at 3:30 at AB Tech. There was a concert at New Belgium on September 1 that went on until 10 pm and got a lot of face book comments. The city is looking at naming a tennis court in honor of the late Lewis Isaac. Comments on Open City Hall will be received until noon on Friday September 6. Pattiy requested a WECAN endorsement since he lived on Prospect Terrace, served the city for 3 decades and was an avid tennis player. Pattiy reported removing a 30 year old willow from Jefferson Drive and making a good tree service contact that may become a source of wood chips for future WECAN uses, such as the trail off Jefferson. 150 feet of granite curbstones were delivered and will be used in the next 2-3 weeks at Curve for planters and then some on Jefferson right of way. Lynn noted more house building at the end of Jefferson and on Park Avenue.

TREASURER’S REPORT: None

Meeting adjourned at 5:59 pm.

It was followed by a community input meeting about the impact of the I-26 connector on WECAN by Chris Joyell from the Asheville Design Center until 7:30 pm.

Minutes submitted by Joe Fioccola, Secretary. 

Mark your Calendars for upcoming events, volunteer opportunities and meetings:

September 6    8:45 am     Affordable Housing Workshop at Civic Center   

September 6      Noon        Last input on Naming Lewis Isaac Tennis Court

September 10    9 am        Adopt a Highway Cleanup

September 8      5 pm        Melk Encroachment workday

September 15    5 pm         Kudzu Hill

September 14  10-5          Second Saturday at the RAD: LEAF Easel Rider

September 22    5 pm       Melk Encroachment workday

September 23   3:30-5      Noise Ordinance update at AB Tech

September 29    5 pm        Kudzu Hill

October 3         6:30pm     WECAN Board Meeting

WECAN Meeting Minutes August 1, 2019

WECAN Meeting Minutes August 1, 2019

Board Members present:Sherrod Barnes-Ginifer,Joe Fioccola, Lynn Hall, Lesa Peterson,Rich Peterson, Sandy Sox, Members not presentDanny Aull,Rebecca Lanceand Shelly Schenker.Also present: Byron Ballard, Jessie Coleman,Gerald Harbinson, Sylvia Organ, APD Lt. Chuck Sams and Pattiy Torno. 

Call to Order: Lynn called the meeting to order at 6:29 pm. 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Lesa moved and Rich seconded a motion to approve the draft June 6 minutes as emailed with the addition of the address of the Patton Apartments at 248 Patton Avenue. The motion passed. 

DUKE ENERGY SUBSTATION UPDATE: Tree removal has been completed. This month should begin fencing and demolition of 3 houses on Knoxville Place and the old car dealer building. Lynn asked about mulch from the trees removed but has not heard back. Chuck will ask Duke for updated demo schedules.

APD CRO UPDATE:  Lt Sams asked about the results of the traffic study. Rich, Lynn, Lesa and Ben had a good meeting with the Traffic Engineer Andrew Cibor and Transportation Director Ken Putnam. Joe noted a few items from Next Door: Package stolen from the porch of 11 Park Avenue North, Sandi’s car was rifled through and she reported a suspicious person she encountered twice. A black male named Gary was on a bike and asked to wash her car and was looking in cars. Also noted was Shane and Mel’s car around 435 W Haywood St was broken into and tools taken.  Pattiy added that when she sees someone and asks for their name they usually leave immediately. Sherrod talked to a very slender female panhandler at Riverside Drive at the Smith Bridge. Lynn asked about ordinances against Loitering and Pandering.

NEIGHBOR/BLOCK JESSIE UPDATES: Joe thanked whoever (Lynn) trimmed the sign garden hedge.  Long time neighbor Howard Hanger is retiring. And Prospect Terrace neighbor Lewis Isaac passed away on June 2. Pattiy announced that she purchased 34 Jefferson Drive and now owns a big tree. Rebecca, Charlie and Joe helped clear the vines from it and she has mulched the front and is meeting an arborist on Tuesday at 10:30. Also curb, asphalt and gutters are complete on River Arts Place. Planting beds should be done by the end of the month. She also announced a 30^thanniversary party to celebrate ownership of the Curve Studios. On October 12 the celebration will be from 2-6. She also heard that Duke Energy’s Robert Sipes was retiring and since his leadership was so critical to our progress so far with the substation she is concerned about his replacement.

NATIONAL NIGHT OUT:Sandi passed out flyers. National Night Out is on Tuesday August 6 at the Aston Park Tennis Center from 6-9 pm with a hot dog cookout with tea and water, Eco-Depot Kids Zone Tent, games and prizes and visits with S French Broad Neighbors and Asheville’s Police and Fire Departments. All ages are welcome. Neighbors are asked to bring their own chair and pot luck side or dessert to share.

STREET SAFETY:Rich reported back on the results of the traffic study: Hilliard between Clingman and Park showed an increase since 2009 from 1100 to 1500 cars per day and average speeds increased from 26 to 37 mph in that same period. Roberts Street from the traffic circle to West Haywood Street showed an increase from 900 to 2000 cars per day but showed a decrease in average speed from 37 to 30 mph. West Haywood had no earlier study to compare but showed 500 vehicles per day averaging 19 mph. One suggestion was to codify the speed limit on Hilliard which currently shows 20 mph but should be 25 mph and should not necessarily increase speeds there. In the next 30 days they will check three intersections for possible stop signs: Roberts at W Haywood, Green at W Haywood and Hilliard at W Haywood. Barb Mee will be asked about completing the sidewalk at W Haywood across from the Boy Scouts and maybe putting in a crosswalk with a 3 way stop.

NAC NEIGHBORHOOD TRAFFIC FORUM: Rich and Lynn attended on June 22. A major takeaway was why traffic laws aren’t enforced. Chuck responded that it is being done. Each district submits reports on traffic enforcement efforts. It isn’t clear how to access those reports. Sylvia asked why traffic citations are only issued for speeding and DWI’s, when there are many other violations on interest to pedestrians. There is a need to change the culture and respect all users of transportation in Asheville. Pattiy remembered a time when random license checks were a regular patrol effort but she no longer feels their presence. Chuck will locate traffic enforcement data. Others are frustrated by traffic congestion and want to tell people: you are in Asheville now, so slow down and enjoy the view.   

144 RIVERSIDE DRIVE: Lynn reported that Jettie Rae’s was taken off the Planning and Zoning’s agenda for a few months. There was some discussion about what is proposed. Apparently public meetings were held months ago for this and also for 163 and 144 Artful Way (aka Park Avenue N) but very few people attended.  NAC and CAN are working to get the city to extend the 200 foot rule for notifying neighbors about development variance requests to include organized and registered neighborhood groups.

NEIGHBORHOOD ADVOSORY COMMITTEE PRESENTATION: Lynn made a presentation of WECAN’s history and accomplishments. He found it beneficial to learn some of our history and review our many accomplishments and thinks sharing some with our neighbors might bring some enthusiasm for what WECAN can still do.

NAC NEIGHBORHOOD NOISE FORUM: Joe announced that NAC was conducting a second Neighborhood Forum on Neighborhood Noise. It will also be at AB Tech on Saturday August 3 from 9:30-noon.The format is similar to the Neighborhood Traffic Forum. There will be area groups and several types of noise will be considered and how to write an enforceable noise ordinance.

GRANITE CURBSTONES: Pattiy found a public use for some of the granite curbstones harvested from Jefferson Drive and W Haywood that the city has stored. She explained the history and the city’s agreement. Lesa moved to allow Pattiy to request about 100 linear feet of the granite curbstones to be used on River Arts Place next to the curb and the sidewalk to mark plantings. Sandi seconded and the motion passed.

TRANSIT ISSUES: Lee and Lynn met with Barry about cutting grass, who was misinformed that the community garden was moving which would accommodate needed additional transit parking. The electric buses are not able to hold a charge for a full shift.

WATER VALVE REPLACEMENT: Pattiy announced that the entire intersection of Riverside Drive and W Haywood St at the Craven Street Bridge will be closed late on August 10^ththrough Monday August 12 to replace old broken valves 14 feet below street level. Water will be cut off on Sunday which may affect pressure in WECAN and will affect West Asheville.  

Meeting adjourned at 8:03 pm.

Minutes submitted by Joe Fioccola, Secretary 

Mark your Calendars for upcoming events and meetings

August 3         10-12 am    Neighborhood Advisory Committee Neighborhood Noise Forum 

August 4         5 pm         Kudzu Hill

August 6         6-9            National Night Out cook out/pot luck at Aston Park 

August 10       10-5         Second Saturday at the RAD: LEAF Easel Rider 

August 10-12    ****      Riverside/W Haywood Intersection closed for water valve replacement

August 11        5 pm        Melk Encroachment workday

August 18       5 pm         Kudzu Hill

August 25        5 pm        Melk Encroachment workday

September 5    6:30pm    WECAN Board Meeting

No July 2019 Meeting