January 9, 2004 MLPA Board Meeting Minutes (draft)

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Board and committee members present: Mike Carew, Norman McKay, Ruth Alexander, Susan Drake, Dianne Olansky, Charlotte Gillis, Mae Reich, Joelle Spain, Alan Perry, Karen Schaefer, Bill Ellis, Joe Giardina, Tad Christian, Trav Carter.

Meeting called to order at approximately 7:35 pm.  New faces welcomed by President McKay.

Announcements: big Thank you to Daniel Cherrix for Atlanta Symphony quartet presentation and to Karen Schaefer and Charlotte Gillis for overseeing the planting of 75 trees in the neighborhood on a raw Saturday morning recently.

Car hit pole near Smith Park so lights are down and flag is temporarily dark.

Motion to approve the January minutes.  Seconded and passed.

Committee reports:

Security/Public Safety: Mike Carew reported.  January crime stats:  6 burglaries, 2 grand theft autos, and 19 car breakins. Probably worse than that since has received reports of folks who failed to call 911 to report car breakin so it does not become part of official crime stats.  Undercover agents are in the neighborhood.  Increased activity and not focused on any one location.

Drug activity on Windemere the subject of a "knock and talk" -- suspect warned.  Activity may have discontinued.  Suspicious car license tag given to Security Patrol who found belonged to bad guy so arrest warrant issued.  Barclay Place drug deal observed; license tag spotted and 3 arrests made that night.  3 arrests were of neighborhood kids.  Warrant still out for another neighborhood kid.  On lighter side, 2/28 free pancake breakfast in Fellowship Hall for officers and neighborhood.  More volunteers needed.  8-10 am on that Saturday;
volunteers needed from 7:30 - 10:30.  Postage sought to be reimbursed of $185.  Motion made, seconded and passed.  Report about other 911 call Friday evening of another drug deal, with license tags, and no apparent response from police department.  Neighbors advised to tell 911 that you want to see an officer.

Membership: Joelle Spain reported.  Volunteers being followed up from membership and renewal forms.  A couple of weeks ago, membership total was about 620 with over 400 MSP members.  Directory questions: need to move on graphic designer.  Issue about ads in Directory.  Question raised about why not publishing every ad that wants to be in there.  If directory turns out to be profitable, so much the better.  Debate about whether to include them all together or disperse ad pages.  Present plan to publish Directory every 2 years but if ad revenue allows it, then no reason not to publish every year.

Newsletter: update through President: issue in production and may be out in 10-14 days.

Parks: Charlotte Gillis reported.  Thank you from Aaron Gross's widow for donation to Trees Atlanta.  76 trees actually planted in recent planting.  MLPA neighborhood and Trees Atlanta volunteers showed up. Many thanks to all.  Improvements to Sunken Garden Park finished.  Retaining wall finished and creation of new set of steps on West Sussex Road side.

Tree Ordinance activity: Lake Claire neighbors trying to save trees.  Julien and Charlotte very impressed with what that neighborhood is doing to save trees.  Mediation process underway with architect for developer.  Contacts being made with other neighborhoods for purpose of networking and sharing of information: example being how to go through appeal process.       Pres. McKay reported on Piedmont Park North Woods Restoration planning process and the Conservancy's request for appointment of a representative to a representative Advisory Committee which will meet once a month for the next 8 to 12 months.  Volunteer popped up.

Schools: Joe Giardina reported.  Next CINS meeting on 2/25 at 7 pm at Grady High School.  Legislative issues to be discussed. Thank-you note from Grady for MLPA donation.  CINS memberships only cost $20 for individuals.  Grady just received a $25,000 federal grant for 3 years of test score improvement.

Special Events: Daniel reported through President. Has standing group of 10 people working with him on Celebration of Summer and other ideas, including neighborhood yard sale and showing of movie in Sunken Garden Park.

Tour of Homes: no report.

Traffic: Bill Ellis reported.  Application of 4 neighborhoods to ARC for grant for first phase of traffic calming plan.  Package completed last Friday. Still trying to set up meeting with MARTA which should have happened last month.  Requests made to City for the 6 items previously reported to Board.  PEDS forum on 2/11, this next Wednesday, on pedestrian-friendly zoning.  Central Library, 3rd floor, 7:30 pm.  MLPA now owns a radar unit
which will be loaned to the APD Zone 2 (MLPA's zone).

North MLPA/Sidewalks: no report.

South MLPA: no report.

NPU Representative: no report from a rep.  But Dianne Olansky reported that City Hall East being sought after by many developers.   She has meeting with other NPUs to get on the same page about what might be a friendly development to surrounding neighborhoods.

Treasurer's Report: Ruth Alexander reported.  Written report for January passed out.

Zoning: Tad Christian reported.

Application number V-03-406: 1282 Avalon Place.  Applicant seeks a variance to reduce the north side yard setback from 7 feet (required) to 2 feet to allow for the construction of a detached garage addition. Committee approved motion 6-0 to approve north side yard setback with the following conditions: 16 ft. Maximum height to the top of the ridge, 60 amp electrical service, hose bib plumbing and per the site plans dated 10-8-03.  Letters from two neighbors received.  Motion made to approve.  Seconded and passed unanimously.   

New Business:
Discussion about circumvention of spirit of Tree Ordinance with designation of "hazard" tree which means that the Arborist does not have to visit tree. Problem with that is when building permit then goes up a few days later.

Dayna Holbel from pool group that comes out of VHMPA appeared and led discussion regarding neighborhood pool.  4 meetings have taken place already.  Some possibilities out there.  Email group created for discussion purposes on yahoo.com.  Vhmppool@yahoogroups.com.  Idea is to acquire something like a couple of acres and to create a privately-owned privately-maintained pool. Creation of survey of needs and desires in neighborhood. Next meeting is at 964 Adair on Monday evening the 16th.  Possibility of a link to group on MLPA website.

Oldtown Pizza appeared at MLPA for change of ownership of alcohol license.  Should be back with serving beer and wine in the spring.  Question re parking spaces and discussion on that topic.

Change of ownership for Top Spice.  1529 Piedmont Avenue.  Now not serving any alcohol.  Malaysian and Thai food.  Licensee is also the chef.

Developers meeting with Zoning chairs for educational and informational purposes prior to moving ahead with projects. 

Tad Christian commented on graffitti still present in neighborhood.  Number to call to report is 404 330-6190.  Code enforcement number.  City has same requirement and can fine itself.

Old Business: Revised email/database policy statement presented for approval.  Moved to approve, seconded and passed.  Set out below.

Meeting adjourned at approximately 9:00 pm.

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