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 30thanniversary 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 10ththrough 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
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