WECAN January 2014 Board Meeting Minutes • Draft

WECAN Board Meeting January 2, 2014 at 64 Clingman Ave.

Board Members Present were:   Byron Ballard, Joe Fioccola, AnnaBeth Hardcastle, Rachel Larson and Luke W. Perry. Board Members not present were Jeff Carnivale, Jessie Nell Coleman, Tom Gibson,  Mike Kenton, Yuri Koslen, JoAnn Skinner, Pattiy Torno and Suzanne Willis.  Also present was: Marsha Stickford.

    Vice chair Rachel called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.  

MINUTES: The Draft December minutes were approved.

TREASURERS REPORT: AnnaBeth reported that  a donation had been received from Gloria Howard Free in Honor of Kat Fioccola graduating from Appalachian State University. The current balance is $287.50 and the check from the Half Marathon has still not been received. Joe requested a full financial report covering the last two years.

APD/CRO UPDATE: Evan emailed a note that he has made contact with the owners of both buildings on Yarrow Place (4 and 6 Rector Pl).  They intend to secure their buildings.

BLOCK JESSIES: Jessie Coleman was seen over the holidays and she is doing well. Yuri has redone his basement. A property on Park Square may be sold soon. Park Square saw a water main break over the holidays. The group doing the grading on Jefferson has been doing some damage at the end of the sidewalk when their equipment turns around. Marsha will ask Development Services to have a look. and AnnaBeth will write a letter on behalf of WECAN. Alicia has moved in to the house on Club Street. Construction is well under way on at least two buildings at 100 Park Avenue. Construction noise has begun at the New Belgium site.

AT LARGE BOARD MEMBERS: Joe nominated Luke W. Perry to serve as an at-large board member. The motion passed. 

ELECTION OF OFFICERS: Joe noted that there are no term limits for officers. Since the 2013 slate of officers were present he suggested without objection that they be re-nominated for 2014. Luke declined to serve as chair. The final slate presented was Rachel as Chair, Byron as Vice Chair, AnnaBeth as Treasurer and Joe as Secretary. The motion passed.

PLANNING FOR 2014: The list of suggestions from the December meeting were reviewed as follows:

    XX Community building activities such as elderly resident assistance-- not sure of the needs of all elderly residents, some are known but the task of identifying needs should fall to the 'Block Jessies."  

    XX Garden Club Tuesdays: Having a regular day or days such as Tuesdays and Saturdays was a good idea. Obviously weather can be an obstacle in the winter but we should begin compiling a list of projects for the Garden Club to take on.  One item for the list is to begin clearing the vegetation across from Asheville Redefined Transit and what was proposed for a community garden. On that subject Marsha reported that a letter has been sent to D.O.T. and no response has been received and also that a 'formal letter' would be sent shortly

    XX Supplemental Census: Joe suggested that a sub-committee should be formed to work with the Block Jessie for the East Side of Clingman Avenue to tease out the census data that is mixed in with South French Broad Avenue. Rachel will compile the census questions and Stephanie Greiner will be asked to help conduct the census.

    XX Master Planning: Marsha will email Stephanie Monson-Dahl to try to make out February 6 meeting and bring plans for the Clingman Forest Greenway, some drawings of 14 Riverside Drive and ideas for affordability from East of the Riverway.

    XX Mailing List: Joe and Byron will update the mailing list with some of the returns and make a template for the Block Jessies to confirm.

    XX Meet with EWANA: There is a community meeting with neighbors within a mile of New Belgium set for Friday January 10 from 5-6:30 at the Dr Wesley Grant Center  285 Livingston Street. It was suggested that we try to meet informally with EWANA perhaps at the Wedge, or Short Street Cakes, or Anam Cara or someplace else.  

OTHER BUSINESS: Rachel noted that positions are still open for City Boards and Commissions: Board of Adjustment, Community Relations, Fireman's Relief Fund, Homeless Initiative Advisory, MSD Board, Riverfront Redevelopment, Sustainability Committee on Energy and Tree Commission. The deadline to apply is January 8 go to the city website (ASHEVILLENC.GOV)

Luke reported that he has developed a design for the historic bus shelter near New Belgium at Haywood Road and Craven Street that may serve as a prototype for bus shelters in other communities.

Rachel asked if there could be a walking tour of the future Clingman Forest greenway.

Luke thanked Marsha for getting the dangerous erosion hole at the base of the Hillcrest steps at least cordoned off.

With imminent retirements and changes of personnel it was suggested that any promises or agreements with the city be put in writing for future regimes. She suggested writing a letter to Cathy Ball confirming the arrangement with the granite curbstones harvested from Jefferson Drive. Regarding the maintenance agreement for Owens-Bell Park: it may need to be renewed or extended indefinitely.

Thanks to Rachel for the refreshments.

The meeting adjourned at 7:30 p.m.

DRAFT Minutes submitted by Joe Fioccola.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

January 4                                  Rainbow Recycling-Holiday Packaging (Styrofoam to light strands!)

January 10                                 New Belgium Neighbor Construction Update Meeting Dr Wesley Grant Southside Center 285 Livingston Street 5-6:30

January 11                                  Studio Stroll  --2014!

January 11                                  Greenworks--Hard 2 Recycle @ Aarons RTO on Patton Avenue

January 16                                 Riverfront Redevelopment Commission 3-5 p.m. 5th Floor City Hall Open Office

January 10,17.24.31                     Friday Night Classic World Cinema --Phil Mechanic Upstairs 8 p.m. Free!

   

February 6                                6:30 WECAN Board Meeting 6:30 at 64 Clingman Avenue

WECAN December 2013 General Membership Meeting Minutes • Draft

WECAN General Membership Meeting December 5, 2013 at 64 Clingman Ave.

Board Members Present were:  Byron Ballard, Joe Fioccola, AnnaBeth Hardcastle, Rachel Larson and Luke W. Perry. Board Members not present were  Jeff Carnivale, Jessie Nell Coleman, Tom Gibson,  Mike Kenton, Yuri Koslen, Marc Schieferstein, JoAnn Skinner, Pattiy Torno and Suzanne Willis.  Also present were: Officer Evan Coward, Officer Sean Davis Lance Hardcastle and Marsha Stickford.

Joe called the meeting to order at 6:40 p.m.  

MINUTES: After introductions and refreshments the Draft November minutes were approved.

TREASURERS REPORT: AnnaBeth reported that the current balance was $302.79 with an outstanding bill for $55.20 for postage for the newsletter. Also the check from the Half Marathon has still not been received.

APD CRO Update Evan reported that regarding the open door at one of the small houses on Yarrow Place that he is attempting to contact the owner who lives out of state. Some graffiti problems happening at Ferguson Enterprises and The Odyssey Center on Clingman Avenue Extension. He has been actively dispersing campers from the lot north of Park and West Haywood and also under the Smith Bridge.(Craven at Riverside) He also alerted WECAN residents to be aware that in north Asheville some people are following UPS trucks around and stealing the packages they deliver. (Good information to put on Nextdoor.com.)

ACTIVITY REPORT Joe read a list of board activities for the year. They included Ice House discussion, Public Housing Authority Team, New Belgium discussion, Election of officers: Luke, Rachel, AnnaBeth and Joe, 100 Park Avenue, Club House demolition, Master Planning, ADC Bridge, Historic Assets Committee, Jefferson Baby Boom, Cotton Mill Ruins fire, Aston Park Cookout, Dave Steel Apartments, Proposal for Master Planning and a Community Garden, Clingman Forest Greenway, Misplaced Ped Heads, Riverside Drive Strategic Planning, East of the Riverway Connections, Neighborhood Advisory Committee, Police to Citizen website, Half Marathon Fundraiser, Festival of Neighborhoods Showcase, Traffic Calming Policy changes, City Neighborhood E-newsletter, NEXTDOOR.com, Garden Club Tuesdays, RAD Lofts, Annual Newsletter, Election of Board members and Planning for 2014. (Whew!)

ELECTION: Joe reported that the current Class of 2013 consisting of Jessie Coleman, Joe Fioccola, AnnaBeth Hardcastle, Jeff Carnivale and Tom Gibson  were all eligible to serve a second term. He nominated them all to serve and AnnaBeth seconded. The motion passed and the Class of 2013 is now the Class of 2016. Welcome back. 

PLANNING 2014: A list was started of what we want to do in 2014: The list included: [_] Community building activities such as yard cleanup assistance for elderly residents;[_] Garden Club Tuesdays (or some other day?); possibly combined with an afterwards gathering for a beer at the Wedge; [_] A supplemental census of the East side of Clingman Avenue (which the National Census lumps in with Aston Park Towers and S French Broad Avenue.) [_] WECAN Master Planning; [_] Updating the WECAN Mailing List [_] Meet with EWANA for a social and brainstorming session to consider what is appropriate compensation for the construction disruptions from New Belgium; [_] A community Garden across from Asheville Transit; Marsha reported that some movement was occurring. An encroachment agreement with DOT was initiated for a temporary community garden focusing on public safety issues. It was also reported that a resource to contact was Diana Schmidt who started a community garden in Black Mountain using native plants, edibles and trees. Also that several of the city community gardens (I.e. Pisgah View, Burton Street, Montford, Oakley) were in a somewhat  perilous situation with their Bountiful Cities sponsors and should come together to form a coalition or have a summit meeting to network. 

BLOCK JESSIES: AnnaBeth reported that something needs to be done to restore the pedestrian path from Jefferson to Park Avenue damaged by M.S.D. Marsha reported that Parks and Rec has committed to funding and installing a chrome vapor light at the new pedestrian bridge. It is considered temporary until a lighting plan for the area is developed. Luke reported that the hole at the south side at the bottom of the Hillcrest steps was getting bigger.  He also noted that Mountain Housing Opportunities had conducted a Neighborworks survey which may have the census data we were looking for. Rachel reported one house for sale and one for rent on Park Square. AnnaBeth reported her son has moved into an apartment on Clingman Place and that Trio Construction in clear cutting trees  had damaged a vehicle. She helped identify all the residents on Jefferson Drive. Rachel asked about steep slope regulations. The city website will have answers. Luke is now a member of the East End/Valley Street Neighborhood who meet on the 3rd Thursdays.(Except in winter)

FIFTEEN YEARS OF WECAN CELEBRATION:  On WECAN's fifteenth anniversary Joe reviewed a list of accomplishments from our Festival of Neighborhoods display: Beautification: Neighborhood Clean-ups (1997-8) Buncombe County Cleanup on Club/Trade Street (1998) Community landscaping Planting (1999) Decorative Street Signs (2000) Green Grants homeowner yard plantings (2001) Public Art sculpture by Julia C. Burr and sculptural bus stop bench by John Payne (2003) Clingman Forest Clean Up (2004)  Sunny Cultural Garden at Owens-Bell Park (2006) Communication: Minutes of every meeting written and distributed and annual newsletter mailed (1997-present) Email Newsletters begin (2005) Email Newsflashes (2011) WECAN Website (2006) Facebook page (2010) Kiosk at the Circle (2012) Kiosk at Owens-Bell Park (2013) Next Door.com (2013) Community Building: United Way Day of Caring (1997), Adopt a Highway cleanups begin on Clingman Avenue (1998-present) Picnic (1999) Warren Wilson College Service Day (2001) Neighborhood Watch organized (2004) Garden Tour (2005)  Aston Park Picnic (2005) Moveable feast picnics (2005) National Night Out Luminaria (2007) Twilight Together Celebration (2009) Jefferson Drive Turnaround clean-up (2011) Clingman Circle Celebration Parade (2012) History: Neighborhood History Exhibit at Pack Place (1998) National Register Historic District Nomination filed for West End Historic District (2001) Riverside Industrial District and Clingman Avenue Historic District placed on National Register of Historic Places. (2005) Oral History Project (2005) and Documentary Video: WECAN: Finding its place through change and challenge (2006) (funded by Handmade in America/Ford Foundation grant) Levie Wilson 100^th birthday Banner (2006) Naming Owens-Bell Park (2007) Identification: Logo Design (2002), Neighborhood sign (2002) Ceramic Tile (2003) Infrastructure: Walk-through with city departments (1998) Sewer lines, granite curbstone replacement, LED Streetlights, sidewalk on Hilliard, adopting Owens-Bell passive park, Clingman Enhancement: (traffic circle, streetscape, bike lanes, bike repair station, landscaping, bulb outs, ped heads) (2004-13) Pedestrian bridge at Jean Webb Park (2013) Planning: WECAN 2010 Plan (1996) Neighborhood Visioning (1999) Citizens Master Plan (2000) Open Space Planning Retreat (2005) Aston Park Playground (2005) Clingman Forest Greenway (2003) East of the Riverway (2013) Riverside Drive Strategic Plan (2013).

RIVERFRONT DEVELOPMENT MEETINGS: Joe and Pattiy attended the November meeting (Third Thursdays from 3-5 p.m. 5th Floor City Hall.) The new owner of the Burco Building next to Phil Mechanic was there as was the developer of the RAD Lofts and a representative of the Norfolk Southern Railway.

EAST OF THE RIVERWAY Report: Joe and Luke attended the final follow-up meeting of stakeholders in the Scenario Planning for EOTR. Luke said they have taken credit for things other groups were already doing. Their deliverables were: 1) A transformational Development Project: The renovation of the Reid Center and the city's acquisition of the Ice House and Progress Energy Building on Riverside Drive. 2) Construction ready drawings for the Clingman Forest Greenway and the Town Branch Greenway. 3) EOTR Connections: transportation plan for the next 5-10 years. Joe noted reports of other activities which included: Youth Build training; Free or low cost broadband; AB Tech looking for community projects; Low Cost Housing: Eagle-Market (62 units by end of 2014) and Glen Rock (22 units); Better communication about eligibility for affordable housing; Personal Development: credit workshops; Family Self Sufficiency program for public housing residents; Community Navigators; Changing Together: call-ins providing options to reduce reoffending gang members, violent and youth offenders; AB Tech College Readiness Center for Asheville High students; Green Streets--training on energy efficiency in the home; African American History--taken up by UNC-CH and Duke;  Looking at trends in the history of grants received by the city; Hillcrest developing a community based alternative to childcare vouchers-- a cooperative.  There was no clear plan to continue meeting and collaborating. The goals of EOTR Initiative were: Provide more transportation choices; Promote equitable, affordable housing; Enhance economic competitiveness; Support existing communities; Coordinate policies & leverage investment; Value communities and neighborhoods.  Marsha noted that an effort is being made to layer the various city plans and that the EOTR website has been re-launched. www.EastoftheRiverway.com They are funded through the end of this year.  

HISTORIC PRESERVATION: Joe attended a Pennsylvania based consultants first meeting to develop a preservation plan. The plan will be complete by the end of August and several meetings are planned before then. 

COMPOSTING: Compost Now offers curbside compost pick-up for a fee to Asheville residents. They provide members with bins to throw their food scraps (including meat, bones, and dairy) and other compostable materials in.  Each week, they come by and swap it out for a clean bin.  From there, it's taken to their facility where they turn it into nutrient rich finished compost comprised of 15% worm castings.  They deliver the soil members earn right back to them or they have the option of giving it to one of the local community gardens they've partnered with like Oakley Community Garden, Pearson Gardens, Falconhurst, etc.  Their mission is to educate the community on the value/benefits of composting, make composting easy, and support our local community food system by keeping local nutrients in it!  Their members are reducing up to 1/3 of their waste.

DOWNTOWN MARKET FUNDRAISER BOOTH: AnnaBeth reported that the Down Town Market has a holiday booth to which several venders have donated items and the funds will go to a needy local family. She encouraged everyone to stop by and make someone's holidays special.  Rachel will put it on the Face book page.

The meeting adjourned at 8:25 p.m.

DRAFT Minutes submitted by Joe Fioccola.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

  Dec 6                         4pm Blue Ridge BioFuels Tour with WNCA,  Phil Mechanic Building, downstairs

  Dec 14                       Studio Stroll: Art for the Holidays

  Jan 2, 2014                6:30 WECAN Board Meeting 6:30 at 64 Clingman Avenue

WECAN November 2013 Board Meeting Minutes • Draft

WECAN Board Meeting November 7, 2013 at 64 Clingman Ave.

Board Members Present were:   Joe Fioccola, AnnaBeth Hardcastle, Yuri Koslen, Rachel Larson and Pattiy Torno . Board Members not present were Byron Ballard, Jeff Carnivale, Jessie Nell Coleman, Tom Gibson,  Mike Kenton,  Luke W. Perry, JoAnn Skinner, and Suzanne Willis.  Also present were: Django Quetzal Shalom Koslin, Officer Evan Coward and Marsha Stickford.

    Vice chair Rachel called the meeting to order at 6:40 p.m.  

MINUTES: The Draft October minutes were discussed. Bret added the following via email: Just as a follow up.  We were the ones that requested the stop sign on Park Ave/West Haywood Street given the speed of people going through that intersection, people cutting the corner going down the hill behind our house, and folks going the wrong way on Club Street.  Having a ‘pause’ at that location will help people understand that intersection better and approach it safely.  A few weeks ago, a person went through that intersection at about 45-50 mph and totaled our car in front of our house.  The meeting with the city resulted in them accepting our suggestion to add the stop sign and some additional striping. Stephanie had a correction also by email : that the roaming in the raw is on Depot St by Pizza Pura. With those changes the minutes were approved.

TREASURERS REPORT: The check from the Half Marathon has not been received. Was Alphie the contact? Also the IRS still doesn't have AnnaBeth's address after several corrections were sent.

BLOCK JESSIES: Rachel printed some pictures of the Festival of Neighborhoods Showcase, the YMCA 5K fun Run, the ADC Bridge being craned into position, trees being taken down on Jefferson and the RAD Lofts conceptual drawing. The trees on Jefferson are part of the 100 Park Avenue site preparations. Those also include a reestablished drainage swale from the Park Avenue level down to Clingman next to All Souls Pizza which took out park of the pedestrian trail at the end of Jefferson to Park Avenue and is dangerous and the seed blankets were not secured and are slipping away.  Joe said that the Showcase display including over 700 photos could be used for an educational event showing the history of WECAN over the last fifteen years. Pattiy reported the 5K run was a bigger success than planned and brought out over 800 runners--mostly girls. She also noted that NEXTDOOR.COM had 30-35 members so far and would be adding River Arts District for those residents.  She liked the opportunity to schedule a Halloween route and thinks it  is a growing idea that could become an annual community builder and social event. The block party on Jefferson may also expand next time and become an annual event. Pattiy reported new folks joining Facebook.

GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING. The General Membership meeting will be on December 5. The main order of business is the election of board members. The Class of 2013 consists of : Jessie Coleman, Joe Fioccola, AnnaBeth Hardcastle, Jeff Carnivale and Tom Gibson. All are eligible for a second term. There is also a vacancy in the Class of 2014 replacing Luke W. Perry. Judy Daniels and Stephanie Monson will also attend to discuss how we can work together with planning in our area. There may also be some drawings of 14 Riverside Drive and ideas for affordability from East of the Riverway.

WECAN PROCLAMATION: Pattiy will be at the City Council meeting on Dec 10 and wants to work on a proclamation recognizing outgoing Mayor Terry Bellamy's contributions to WECAN as a native daughter who was instrumental in the formation of WECAN, Inc. and who is honored with a maple tree in the Owens-Bell Sunny Cultural Garden.

NEWSLETTER: Articles have been assigned as follows: Rachel: Ice House, Club House, Historic assets; Pattiy: ADC Pedestrian Bridge and Half Marathon; Byron: Jefferson Baby Boom;  Evan: NextDoor.com;   Joe: Fifteen years after Terry;. 

COMMUNITY GARDEN: The best time of year for clearing the land is coming up which will also make it easier to patrol and to deter campers.

APD CRO Update: Several campers were cleared from sites along the river. Also the second small brick house on Yarrow Place may have an open door. The brick pointing has been completed and the graffiti on the IceHouse Smoke Stack will be removed soon.  The question of lighting came up and it may require landmark designation. That is an idea for next years goals. Lighting may also be needed on the new pedestrian bridge. as a public safety issue. One goal of the bridge was to expedite the completion of the greenway on the east side of the river which is planned to be complete by the time New Belgium opens. Evan reported that Next Door was doing well and rachel observed that it was doing the job of the Block Jessies and should be looked at to identify block leaders.

WHAT'S IN A NAME?: Discussion of the idea of renaming Swannanoa River Road and Meadow Road and Lyman Street and Riverside Drive as The Wilma Dykeman Riverway. This would be a huge undertaking over 500 businesses would be affected. Marsha reported that name change requests are usually initiated by property owners who will pay to make the changes. There may be some advantages such as branding and trade marking which suggests that the Chamber and other parties may need to be involved. Pattiy observed that is isn't right to name a paved road after Wilma Dykeman and instead naming the greenway would be much more appropriate. Joe suggested that if a new name was called for it would almost be better to officially rename it what it is commonly known as--'River Road'.  

The meeting adjourned at 7:55 p.m.

DRAFT Minutes submitted by Joe Fioccola.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

November 9-10                          River Arts District Studio Stroll  

November 14                             ADC Bridge Ribbon Cutting 3 pm next to Jean Webb Park.

November 14                             Deadline for submission to Newsletter to Pattiy

November 21                             Newsletter mailed

November 23                             Holiday Parade?               

November 28                             Thanksgiving

December 5                                6:30 WECAN General Membership Meeting 6:30 at 64 Clingman Avenue

WECANNEWS 2013

 

WECANNews 2013

WECAN joins NextDoor.com

Thanks to the efforts of our wonderful APD Community Resource Officer, Evan Coward, WECAN is one of several guinea pigs, in Asheville, for a private social media resource called NextDoor.com.  The hope is that NextDoor.com will be an easy way for WECAN neighbors to stay in contact with each other, with our surrounding neighborhoods as well as a way for us to talk with the City of Asheville & the City of Asheville to let us know about events, road closures, planning initiatives, etc that may effect WECAN folks... please sign up if you want to.... not sure if you need to get invited to join... if you do, please send an email and you will get an invite! Thanks

Smokestack Repairs

Harold Whitley, of Western Waterproofing will be up high in the air over WECAN for the next several weeks, re-pointing the brick tile @ the top of the Ice House Smokestack.  Harold says we will be seeing a new copper cap to keep the snow out & a water seal that should help keep the Stack standing a good while longer.  If anyone has a few extra of the brick tile that was used to build this tower, Harold could use a few to fill in several "missing teeth" on the facade of the stack.