WECAN Board Meeting Minutes December 2, 2021 meeting on Zoom @ 6:30 pm
Board Members present: Byron Ballard, Sherrod Barnes-Ginifer, Joe Fioccola, Rebecca Lance, Rachel Larson, and Pattiy Torno.
Board Members not present: Stephanie El-Hajj, Mike Kenton, and Rich Peterson.
Also Present: Gerald Harbison, Walter Hartheimer, Leslie Meyers, Sylvia Organ, Carrie Pettler, Bruce Sales, Sandi Sox and Suzanne Willis,
CALL TO ORDER: Rebecca called the meeting to order at 6:31 pm.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Byron moved, and Pattiy seconded a motion to approve the minutes of the November 4, 2021 meeting as distributed and corrected. The motion passed.
TREASURER’S REPORT: Pattiy reported the balance is $1752.45. She is still waiting for receipts for Halloween decorations.
A recording of the meeting began at 6:31 pm
APD/NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES: Not present. Joe listened to the NAC meeting of November 29, 2021 and expressed his personal opinion that the minutes were very disappointing. Instead of detailed minutes which should have documented deliberations of the October meeting, for example they summarized one agenda item as ‘heard report.’ These were called ‘Action minutes” and could not be used to reconstruct or understand what happened at the meeting (other than by playing back the recording of the Zoom meeting.) While this type of summary may be legally acceptable when submitted with a recording, in his personal opinion (and without in any way representing the opinion of any other WECAN Board member or WECAN as an organization) those minutes are useless and utterly unacceptable. It was a waste of their communications potential and he will personally ask the NAC representative for 28801 to oppose those kinds of insufficient minutes in the future.
He also reported that the Neighborhood Matching Grants received over 20 applications and the approved grants are supposed to be announced by the end of this week.
BLOCK JESSIES: Suzanne hasn’t seen neighbor Deedee in a while with a medical issue. She will reach out to Regina and see if a meal train might be needed also JoAnne’s car is gone and she has also had medical issues. Joe noted the impressive decorations at the Haddens at 39 Rector Street for Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Rebecca announced that she and her team delivered all the newsletters. Pattiy observed that a P&Z notice was up at Pete’s house on Jefferson to change the set back from 15 feet to 13 inches. Byron noted that the front end of a Honda was left at Green and Girdwood Streets while the rest of the car was found on Roberts Street. Ricky Brown’s parked truck which was hit hadn’t moved an inch and wasn’t damaged by the 3 am crash. Carrie noted there was also a fire yesterday at Sly Grog on Haywood Street but the extent of the damage wasn’t clear. Rebecca announced that there will be no Caroling again this year due to COVID —even though many will miss it.
WECAN ACTIVITY: Joe read the activity of WECAN in 2021:
In January, Mr. Crisp died. The Board discussed the WECAN Budget and Owens-Bell Park Signage changes. In February Byron reported on Homeward Bound, we heard about brewery plans for Clingman Avenue and JP moved into WECAN. In March we were introduced to Jeremy Lett, the new Neighborhood Services Coordinator and heard about the City Budget process. Trucks were getting stuck on Girdwood Street. The Neighborhood Sign garden was being damaged. We reviewed the purpose of WECAN and heard about 144-159 Riverside Drive. In April, Mr. Bacoate was inducted into the Order of the Long Leaf Pine-the highest civilian honor in North Carolina. RADBA purchased 16 trees for the new greenway. WECAN sponsored Chalk Art for the RADTIP grand opening. The damage to the sign garden was stopped but all our maintenance agreements needed to be updated. In May there were brief updates on homeless, sidewalk opening and CAN. In June Owens-Bell Park signage was completed and Mr. Bacoate shared his ideas about reparations. The July General membership meeting was rained out but a social gathering happened in place of the August meeting and the new compost tumbler was revealed. In September we discussed Homelessness as a safety concern and Brian Combs introduced the Haywood Street proposal for affordable housing in WECAN. In October, Scott Dedman from Mountain Housing Opportunities answered questions about affordable housing. Newsletter assignments were made and a Matching Grant proposal was submitted. A haunted Halloween trail was enjoyed and there were discussions and meetings about the Haywood Street proposal. In November City staff answered questions about affordable housing.
BOARD ELECTION: Joe reviewed and corrected the current Board terms. Class of 2021: Mike and Sherrod; Class of 2022: Byron, Pattiy, Rachel and Rich; Class of 2023: Rebecca, Joe, Stephanie; The Board size can be from 9 to15 resident members. There are 4 open seats for 2024, and 1 for 2023. After discussion Rebecca nominated and Byron seconded five neighbors: for 2023-Brittainy Wager; for 2024 Sylvia Organ, Carrie Pettler, Davina Weirich and Suzanne Willis. The motion passed and all were welcomed aboard.
INFRASTRUCTURE CONVERSATION: There is an issue concerning traffic at the intersection of Hilliard and Clingman and the future potential widening of Clingman between Hilliard and Patton. Pattiy and Rebecca attended the Technical Review Committee meeting for the Patton II—now called The Avery and found that a traffic impact assessment was required. Rebecca asked how WECAN can keep up with the results of traffic studies. Pattiy noted that the Haywood Street Community Development proposal goes before TRC on Monday December 6 at 2 pm. Joe heard that a new Traffic Engineer has been hired but he didn’t hear a name. Rebecca wants to know what the city does with traffic study information. Pattiy heard that a traffic employee wanted to reroute the bike lane on Hilliard. Rich Peterson and Lynn Player have been interested in being involved.
HAYWOOD STREET COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT UPDATES: A house on West Haywood Street being used as a business has been offered to HSCD for construction, administrative staff and storage. HSCD was requested to show survey lines of building placement on site. Their November 15 meeting reported there would be deep seismic borings during Thanksgiving week. There would be a cost associated with marking the site but since the borings are planned for the corners of the building flagging them would be sufficient to show the placement of the building on the site. Carrie will follow up with that. She raised the issue of leftover green space: they are in discussion with the neighborhood and considering something for kids or a designated smoking area. Rebecca wondered whether we can get the city to commit to keeping the community garden space and the field beyond as green space for the neighborhood. Carrie is still considering ways to reach out to neighbors to poll support for various issues. The TRC meeting is Monday December 6 at 1 pm and the documents are available at https://haywoodstreet.org/transparency-ticker/
A discussion ensued whether to devote time during WECAN meetings to discuss these issues. Rebecca wanted the benefit of a facilitated discussion but it should be open to all neighbors. Carrie asserted that WECAN Board meetings are the optimal space because they are open, accessible, are documented with minutes and recorded and also have a civil diplomatic process and where decisions are ultimately made. Sandi questioned how to meet for difficult discussions and even how to get people to come to any meetings. Bruce expressed his opposition to the project. Leslie opposes it because there is no consensus and strong opposition and many people don’t Facebook or Insta-gram and are left out of discussions on those platforms. Pattiy noted that there is place to subscribe on the WECAN Blogspot: www.wecannews.blogspot.com/ to add oneself to the WECAN email list. Leslie repeated her concerns about the location, the developer and the project as proposed. She feels left out because opposing letters were not published to the ticker. Pattiy advised to notify City Clerk Maggie Burleson about posting letters. Rebecca observed that WECAN’s strength is in our knowledge of city processes and personnel. She wants us to focus on areas where we can find common ground. She offered to provide time at WECAN 90 minute meetings of 30 minutes to air concerns and get input to the HSCD board. If that is not enough time then a subcommittee can be formed. Sylvia agreed that communication about meetings may be imperfect but the information on how to get connected with WECAN went to every home in the neighborhood in the recent newsletter. Carrie agreed that 30 mediated minutes were good and that we may not have consensus but we can have representation. Pattiy asked Carrie to report back to Brian to stop representing that ‘all WECAN’ is behind this project. Leslie claimed that she is aware that at least 30 people oppose the project. She claimed that affordability in perpetuity was only a marketing claim and expires in 30 years anyway and the process feels closed to people in the community. Rachel looks for consensus on any area of concern from supporters and opponents that can be addressed in the discussion. How we use our power to improve this project can make the neighborhood stronger to address core concerns we all share. Rebecca welcomed the continued conversation with Brian and the Mayor. They continue at 1 pm on site on Sundays December 5 and January 9.
HSCD requested a representative from WECAN for their board as a liaison. Carrie Pettler volunteered to serve. Rebecca nominated and Sandi seconded the appointment. Pattiy noted support from other neighbors in emails. The motion passed.
Sandi asked for some common concerns to kick off our meeting discussions but they should keep focused. Rachel did not feel confident of her facilitation skill but will talk to Rob Thomas and about writing down stated concerns and keeping focused on what issues are timely for HSCD to hear.
Pattiy noted that if there are any consensus points they should be made before the P+Z meeting on January 5, 2022. One such issue is the setback position of the building and preservation of the 3 large trees there and setting the sidewalk behind them. These ‘asks’ need to go to city staff soon. Leslie doubts that that request could happen because the density is needed for potential HUD grants and ADA compliance and therefore a cost issue. If it passes P&Z it goes to the City Council then they have to raise more money to comply with federal regulations. Leslie cannot agree to any kind of consensus because it’s not about just trees. Rachel suggested that no on-street parking might be something that could find general agreement and asked if the entire concept was non-negotiable. Leslie answered that traffic is a consideration but not sure if P&Z would have any impact on it and can we ask HSCD to do a traffic study? She doesn’t know if there is any support for consensus. Rebecca asked if anyone would volunteer to organize a meeting in the next week (Dec 13-17) she would get the word out. Rachel will conduct a doodle poll for the best meeting time and Leslie will reach out to people with the date and meeting link.
ADJOURN: Meeting adjourned at 8:07 p.m.
Next WECAN Board meeting January 6, 2021 @ 6:30 pm
Minutes submitted by Joe Fioccola
Email pattiytorno@gmail.com for a link to the recording of the zoom meeting.
Upcoming HSCD meetings:
Sun Dec 5 1 pm HSCD on site
Mon Dec 6 1 pm TRC
Tue Dec 14 Housing and Community Development Meeting
Wed Jan 5 Planning & Zoning Meeting
Sun Jan 9 1 pm HSCD on site
Tue Jan 11 City Council Vote on Housing Trust Fund Request
Tue Jan 18 HCD review of Housing Trust Fund Loan
Tue Jan 25 City Council Vote on Housing Trust Fund Loan & Conditional Zoning (pending no P&Z delays)
