WECAN General Membership Meeting Minutes October 6, 2022 Via Zoom @ 6:30 pm
Board Members present: Byron Ballard, Joe Fioccola, Rebecca Lance, Rachel Larson, Sylvia Organ and Pattiy Torno.
Board Members not present: Stephanie El-Hajj, Mike Kenton, Rich Peterson, Carrie Pettler and Brittany Wager. Suzanne Willis.
Also present: Brian Lander, Sandra Villasenor, and Meredith Friedheim.
CALL TO ORDER: Rebecca called the meeting to order at 6:30 pm
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Rebecca moved and Byron seconded a motion to approve the minutes of the WECAN Board meeting on August 4 and General Membership Meeting on Sept 1. The motion passed.
TREASURER’S REPORT: Pattiy reported no activity since the September meeting and one outstanding payment to Brian. Rebecca moved to approve $100 for Halloween each year. Joe requested a modification “up to $100.” Sylvia seconded and the modified motion passed.
BLOCK JESSIES: PATTIY reported the Cuban Food Truck at the Cotton Mill was open and very good. RACHEL reported a house on W Haywood sold for $1.25 m and that the Board of Realtors is planning a clinic for people appealing their Property Tax Valuations coming in January. JOE observed the fence up at the corner of Hilliard and Clingman for the new apartments. PATTIY offered to reach out for an update and timeline. She noted that Transportation Director Ken Putnam will put the NCDOT maintenance agreements for approval by City Council on their consent agenda for October 11 or 25.
ADOPT A STORM DRAIN: Sandra Villasenor introduced herself working with Riverlink as a Watershed Coordinator for AmeriCorps Project Conserve. Their mission is to promote environmental and economic vitality of the French Broad River watershed. Their three efforts include Water RICH -helping homeowners, Stream Restoration and Adopt a Storm Drain. The third is a partnership with the City of Asheville with an initial focus on Central Asheville. The Process is 1) select a convenient location to check every two weeks and after rain. 2) Fill in the online adoption form. 3) Meet with Riverlink to review responsibilities and instructions and sign a liability waiver. Participants supply their own gloves, trash bag, plastic container with lid, smart phone. 4) Complete field report with smartphone. She can answer questions at sandra@riverlink.org.
NEIGHBORHOOD COORDINATOR: Meredith Friedheim introduced herself as the new Neighborhood Services Coordinator. She has been working with Kristina Israel--the Community Engagement Manager for the last 3 weeks. She will be more involved with the Neighborhood Matching Grants program. She lives in the S French Broad Neighborhood and can be reached at mfriedheim@ashevillenc.gov. Pattiy asked if she would be the first point of contact in reporting Homeless problems as her predecessor Jeremy Lett was with the Homelessness Task Force. She may be integrated on that topic in future but her current role there is yet to be defined. Rebecca asked if she would attend the semiannual meetings with WECAN and ART. Joe asked if there was any advance on legal issues from Kristina about the Community Garden. She will get answers and will plan on attending future WECAN Meetings.
HALLOWEEN: The general plan is for a pot-luck in the field behind the community garden on Monday October 31 at 5:30. Brittany will organize the Haunted Trail at the end of Jefferson and Park. Contact her at brittanywager@gmail.com. She has some ideas for themes. Volunteers may be needed to set up on Sunday October 30. Tables needed for Potluck. Crock Pot will be provided by Byron. Rachel offered some directional signs.
COALITION OF ASHEVILLE NEIGHBORHOODS: Joe reported they are having growing pains as his term as treasurer and that of the president will expire next April. They are having a meeting this month to investigate hiring staff. Byron has been frustrated by their vague mission and goals and observed they could benefit from a board retreat –as could WECAN.
NEIGHBORHOOD MATCHING GRANT: Pattiy reported an offer of a core-ten steel plate that didn’t work out but she will reach out for a source of a ‘Skeleton Plate” for the sign garden. She has been following the Stoneyard Development which may be finalized by December. It may call for a sculptural element across from the traffic circle. Rachel suggested using the old Ice House Doors she has been storing.
ANNUAL MEETING PLANNING: Rachel volunteered to organize a location such as MHO, The Patton, All Souls Pizza or Phil Mechanic. The agenda is for a Pot-Luck, Review of the year’s activity and election of new Board members. The regular date is December 1. A final decision is expected by November 3.
WECAN NEWSLETTER: Joe assigned Pattiy: Maintenance agreements, Neighborhood Matching Grant, Duke and Avery development updates. LYNN will report on the Community Garden and Bountiful Cities grant. Rebecca: Halloween and ask Carrie for an HSCD update and ask Ranse to do a neighbor profile on Carrie. Copy deadline is Wednesday October 26, except for Halloween on Nov 3. They need to be printed and delivered before Thanksgiving which is just one week before the meeting.
FALL PLANTING: Joe asked about plans for fall planting at the edible triangle and Owens-Bell Park.
Pattiy is waiting on the agreements first and fall planting can happen as late as February.
EVENT: Rebecca reported an event called How to get people out of cars from 12-2 on October 31. Join the Land of Sky Regional Council's Clean Vehicles Coalition, Land of Sky Rural Planning Organization, French Broad River Metropolitan Planning Organization, and Go Mountain Commuting (TDM) for a lunch and learn speaker session to uncover the mysteries of how to get people out of single occupancy vehicles. Virtual and in-person attendance options are available. www.eventbrite.com/e/how-do-
ADJOURN: Meeting adjourned at 7:35 p.m.
Next WECAN Board meeting November 3, 2022
Minutes submitted by Joe Fioccola
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