April 14, 2003 MLPA Board Meeting Minutes (draft) and Tree Care

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Board members present: Dianne Olansky, Norman McKay, Mike Carew, Joelle Spain, Alan Perry, John Neel (new database manager), Mae Reich, Martha Porter Hall, Charlotte Gillis, Karen Schaefer, Ruth Alexander, John Schwartz, Trav Carter, Steven Rowell, Tad Christian, Joe Giardina, Lee Kintzel.

Pres. Olansky called the meeting to order at @ 7:32 pm .  First order of business was the approval of minutes for the March 10, 2003 minutes.  Motion to approve, seconded and passed.

Committee Reports

Security Patrol: Mike Carew reported.  No access to crime stats because of change to City computer systems.  Have received calls about property theft in neighborhood.  Monroe resident had potted plants removed and then actual plants dug up.  3 grand theft auto crimes in neighborhood recently.  A Zimmer Road incident involved property taken from one car including spare keys to another car which was then stolen shortly thereafter.  Anne Fauver’s office assisted with the replacement of a fire hydrant recently; thanks to them.  Personal observation from a resident about importance being not leaving anything valuable in your car.  Another question re followup on Judge Wright’s shooting and response times.

Membership: Joelle Spain reported.  Pres. Olansky thanked Joelle for her efforts in hand delivery of membership directories.  All done by her personally.  Next project is welcoming new neighbors with a map, photographs, etc.  YE 2002: 164+ additional members.   Total of 906 at year end.  865 members presently.

Newsletter: Martha Hall reported.  Issue at printer.  Should be at homes within next few weeks.  Summer issue will focus on 30th anniversary of stopping 485 roadway.

Parks: Charlotte Gillis and Karen Schaefer reported.  A hose bib was successfully installed at Barclay Place median to water the plant materials installed and maintained by residents in the median.  Parks worked with City Parks Dept.  Parks Committee working with residents along Lanier Blvd. who want to prevent vehicles from damaging the edges of the median.  Traffic Committee will also be involved.  Motion made to approve tree protection policy statement.  Passed 11-1-1.  (See attached).

If you know of violations of cutting trees without permits, let someone on the Parks Committee know.  Need to collect examples of violations before going to the City.  Frustration expressed by a resident with about a year ago advice from a city arborist that someone had to get a landscape architect before cutting down a “weed” like tree.  Member advised that arborists have changed and they should try again.

Janet Kisbaugh recognized from Anne Fauver’s office.  Member complained about yard waste collection.  Very serious problem for neighborhood.  IF you get missed during your week, call Anne Fauver’s office.  Regular schedule is, if you get your waste picked up on Monday or Tuesday, then your yard waste should be picked up during the 1st and 3rd weeks of each month.  Any “fifth week” of the month is catchup time.  Problem not just limited to this neighborhood, other districts are having similar problems.

Beautification: Pat Gardner reported.  Cleanup of Woodrow Wilson Park recognized.  Habersham has a plan for the roundabout.  Contract with an enterprising young man to do mowing of 4 triangles.  Also efforts to get people more organized about beautification.  Question re size of signs at parks.  Any suggestions, call Pat.

Schools: Joe Giardina reported.  Dr. Betsy Bockman was appointed Principal at Inman.  She used to be principal at Morningside so good things are expected at Inman.  7:30 CINS meeting with Superintendent Kathy Cox and state legislators on April 23rd at Inman concerning neighborhood schools.  CINS made their annual request for funding.  Monies go for teaching awards.  Motion made to contribute $1000; (already in budget) -- seconded and passed, one abstention.

Special Events: Daniel Cherrix sick but reported through the President that things on track for Celebration of Summer.  Motion made to reimburse Pres. for $300 for special permit.  Seconded and passed.

Traffic: Bill Ellis traveling.  Report given by President:  Zone 2 now has a unit dedicated to traffic enforcement.  Thanks to Major Spillane for establishing it and sending it into Morningside for its first 2 weeks.  The MLPA Traffic Calming Plan is in the CDP plan that NPU-F requested.  We will know soon what got accepted.  BTTS - No responses, still, on any of our requests except incomplete statistics on why the three requested intersections failed the stop sign test.  Those are flawed.  Striping at the Rock Springs/Morningside intersections is not a part of neighborhood plan, but appears to better define the current traffic pattern.

Wed. :  Meeting with MARTA officials and Bill Ellis, Dianne Olansky, and Carol Ogg.  Hope to establish a coordinated effort to improve bus service in neighborhoods.  Traffic Meeting tomorrow night at 7:30.

North MLPA/Sidewalks: Lee Kintzel reported.  4 or 5 sidewalk repairs in the works.  Thanks Board for continued support.

New NPU-F rep. John Schwartz recognized.

Treasurer: Ruth Alexander reported.  Today is April 14th (meaning she’s been busy with her tax accounting work).  Motion made to approve payment of $250 for Girl Scout efforts during Celebration of Summer.  Passed with one abstention.  Efforts ongoing to get insurance in force.  Insurance of 6300; Security Patrol pays for half.  Budget adjusted to reflect differences from this adjusted amount.  5400 coming from MSP (including half of dues/renewal mailings).  Passed.  Motion made but withdrawn about adding a line item for Georgia Power expenses.  Amount spent will be shown with a zero in the budget, showing that it was not part of the budget.

Zoning: Steven Rowell reported.

V-03-19: 800 Lambert Drive.  Special exception to reduce on-site parking from required 166 spaces to 65 spaces on-site.  Business is catering business; use of renovated facility would be as “convention hall” for special catered events such as weddings, bar mitzvahs, etc.  Zoning Committee had recommended approval upon 2 conditions: That applicant obtain a binding lease from the adjacent property (812 Lambert) for the additional required parking and that this lease be signed no later than the NPU-F meeting on 4/21 and That special exception would be revoked should either/or: (a) applicant fail to maintain lease with adjacent property (b) applicant change intended use of the property.  Motion made for approval with those conditions plus that the applicant’s property be brought in compliance with the Tree Ordinance (if is not already) and the adjacent property parking lease be available to the MLPA President upon reasonable request.  Motion passed 9-1 with 3 abstentions.

Trav Carter and Tad Christian recognized as new Cochairs of Zoning.

Motion made by Joelle Spain for payment of $3053.80 for directories.  Passed.  Motion also made by Karen Schaefer for payment of $2710 (planting of 75 trees) on tree planting day. Passed.

Old business: update on Georgia Power substation plans.  Questions remaining on floodplains issue and Corps of Engineer permitting process; City zoning process applicability; involvement of CDC and applicability of federal law; if station does in fact go forward, landscape architects ready to be involved.

Meeting adjourned after Pres. Olansky thanked for her years of effort at @ 9:17 pm.  

Attachment:

Morningside Lenox Park Association Board of Directors and Parks Committee Asks You to Protect our Trees

We who make Atlanta our home are fortunate to live in a city that was built in a forest.  And none more so than those of us who reside in the Morningside Lenox Park community.  The benefits of the trees that grace our neighborhood go far beyond the beauty they lend to our surroundings.

• Trees mitigate the heat of the summer sun.  Who doesn't look for the shade of a tree to park under on a hot July day?   Similarly, trees cool our homes.  The trees that shade your yard can cut your-and your neighbors'-summer air conditioning bills in half.
• Trees buffer street noise and produce a soothing rustle all their own that further dampens urban cacophony.
• Trees provide a sense of privacy in an urban setting.
• Trees improve a home's "curb appeal" and increase its property value.
• Trees cleanse dirty air.  Their leaves trap gaseous pollutants by absorbing them through pores on the leaf surface.  In a year's time an acre of trees absorbs enough carbon dioxide from the air to equal the amount produced from driving a car 26,000 miles.
• Tree roots prevent erosion and help maintain cleaner water.  Intertwining roots keep the soil permeable and permit rainwater to soak into the soil instead of flowing off as storm water runoff.  As the water trickles slowly through the ground, the soil filters many pollutants from the rainwater.
• Trees provide a habitat for songbirds.
• Tree-lined sidewalks enhance an afternoon walk or jog.
• Tree limbs offer children a place to climb or a branch to hang a swing.

Considering the manifold benefits that trees provide, both practical and aesthetic, the Morningside Lenox Park Association is committed to preserving this natural heritage of our community.  Before you decide to remove a tree from your property, talk to a professional arborist.  Determine if the tree truly needs to be taken out.  Tree services may be able to prune dead limbs that pose a risk to your home without taking out the entire tree.

If you find you must remove a tree, let your neighbors know.  Remember, removal of a large tree can have significant impact on their landscaping as well as yours.  Before you cut, be sure to apply for a tree removal permit by calling the Atlanta Arborists' office at 404-330-6080.  Then call the Morningside Lenox Park Association Park's Committee at 404-876-3456 to sign up to receive a replacement tree planted free of charge.

Morningside Lenox Park is one of the most appealing neighborhoods in our city.   Help us maintain our community's unique charm by treasuring and protecting the huge, beautiful old growth trees that shade our streets and dapple our sidewalks.

For more information on tree care and protection go to www.mlpa.org and click on Parks Committee or see www.treesatlanta.org.

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