September 12, 2005 MLPA Board of Directors Monthly Meeting Minutes

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I. Call to Order and Welcome
Board members present: Alan Perry, Lee Nunn, Christine Hung, Mae Reich, Kevin Lyman, Shira Kash, Barbara Feinberg, Barry Berlin, Dana Hoybel, Charlotte Gillis, Tad Christian, Trav Carter, James Strack and (after ratification below) Leslie Bryan and Keith Walker

Welcome by Pres. Alan Perry.

II. Approval of minutes
Bill Ellis prepared minutes from August 2005.  Not present.  Approval moved and seconded.  All Board Members present voted to approve.

III. Recognition of Elected Officials and Candidates in Attendance
None present at the beginning of the meeting. 

Two Zone 6 officers present: Gourley and Hewitt.  After reporting that the neighborhood had been fairly quiet, Officer Gourley urged residents to make certain that the “key holder” for their houses and alarm systems can be generally available in the event of an emergency.  Also reported that traffic enforcement (speeding, stop signs, red lights, and school bus violations) has been stepped up since school is back in session.

Problems reported with Smith’s Old Bar – and performers parking in the street or on the sidewalk to unload.  Officer Hewitt says they have given warnings but they move the cars before they can be ticketed.  They are giving out “winnepegs.”  If they are going to tow and owner arrives before the tow truck leaves the scene, they have to give the car back.  They can still ticket them.

Report from Anne Fauver - Sidewalk program going into effect.  CDRH hearing on Beltline.  Tomorrow night at First Pres in midtown (next to the High Museum) – Dave Sjoquist and others from Ga. State – will be discussing TADs.

IV. Introduction of New Board Members

a. Leslie J. Bryan – Secretary
And thanks to Sarah Nunn, long-suffering Secretary and Acting Secretary for a job well done.

b. Keith Walker – Special Events (Tour of Homes)
Keith’s obligations – even though Special Events person – extends only to Tour of Homes and not Celebration of Summer.  Still looking for Celebration of Summer chair.

Keith distributed materials outlined preliminary plans for 2006 Tour of Homes – Exhibit 1.

Both elected on voice vote.

V. 2005 Membership Structure/Dues Revision
Board agreed to table all but the most important committee reports in favor of extended discussion of dues structure and membership policies.  Written reports are appended.

A. Survey Report
Dayna reported on the results of surveys.  There were 205 responses as of last Sunday afternoon.  Most members reported knowing about security patrol but those who used services used eblast, newsletter, and directory.  People were least aware of zoning assistance, donations to MSE, and Movies in Morningside.  On the open-ended questions, people wanted parties/events.  They also urged a better website.  Many people talked about a more active zoning committee to get involved in regulating construction – in fill housing, construction noise, traffic dumpsters.  Also urged more open, friendly meetings.  People seemed to be saying they wanted a close-knit community The Survey Results are attached as Exhibit 2.

B. Dues
Attached as Exhibit 3 is the memo with the dues structure options that was the topic of discussion.

Options under discussion:

• Option 1: Keep the same structure and same dues.
• Option 2: Keep the same structure but raise dues to MLPA 50, MSP 225 (50 of which is MLPA’s) and Seniors 20/130.
• Option 3: Eliminate seniors category and raise dues to: MLPA only 50, MSP 190 (20 of which is MLPA’s)
• Option 4: Eliminate MLPA only dues (universal membership), MSP $200 (only members receive security services but blended budget), 25% senior discount.
• Option 5: multiple membership levels – first level $25 or $30; second level “MSP Lite” – pay per diem for what you use; third level Full MSP $170; fourth tier – total package including Tour of Homes tickets, etc.

After extensive discussion, the following votes were taken:

Motion was made and properly seconded to retain the current dues structure but, in the next year, to look at “value added” services to reduce fund-raising pressure on the Tour of Homes.

Motion failed: 4 in favor – 6 against – 4 abstain.

Motion was made and properly seconded to adopt a two-tiered approach with $25 basic membership dues and $175 “enhanced benefit tier” that would include MSP.

Motion failed: 5 in favor - 4 against – 5 abstain

Motion was made and properly seconded to adopt option two (retained the current structure but with increased amounts – dues $50 and MSP $225) but without the senior citizen discount.

Motion failed: 6 in favor – 6 against – 2 abstain.

Motion was made and properly seconded to adopt option two with the senior citizen discount.

Motion failed: 6 in favor – 6 against – 2 abstain.

Motion was made and properly seconded to adopt option two but to reduce the dues to $25 (dues $25, MSP $225, retain senior citizen discount $20/130). 

Motion failed: 6 in favor – 5 against – 3 abstain.

Motion was made and properly seconded to adopt the following structure: basic dues - $25, basic dues plus MSP $200; for senior citizens, basic dues $25, basic dues plus MSP $125.

Motion carried Unanimous

VI. Priority Committee Announcements

a. Zoning

1. Application Number V-05-233
1240 Reeder Circle
Applicant:  Kelly Carter
Property Owner: Kelly Carter

Applicant seeks a variance to reduce the west side yard setback from 7 feet (required) to 2.5 feet to allow for a second story addition to an existing single family house.

Note: Per last month’s meeting notes:
Motion to approve variance per the site plan dated 6-20-2005 and the drawings dated 8-2-2005, pending letter of consent from all contiguous neighbors.
Motion Failed Zoning Committee: 4- In Favor, 4- Against, 0 - Abstaining.
Motion to Defer variance.
Motion Passed MLPA Board:  6- In Favor, 1- Against, 3 - Abstaining.  (August meeting)

The applicant was not in attendance at the zoning committee meeting, so no action was taken.

Applicant has indicated he may go to BZA this coming Friday with the deferrals – we will report to the NPU and only the NPU vote goes to the BZA. 

Motion to oppose the variance: 9 in favor – 2 against – 1 abstain

2. Application Number V-05-250
1121 McLynn
Applicant:  Laura Rouse
Property Owner: Laura Rouse

Applicant seeks a variance to reduce the west side yard setback from 7 feet (required) to 2.2 feet for an addition to a single family house.

Motion to approve variance per the site plan dated 8-5-2005 and pending letter of consent from all contiguous neighbors.

Motion Passed in Committee: 12- In Favor, 0- Against, 0 - Abstaining.

Motion to approve by Board passed: 12 in favor, 0 – against, 1 abstained.

3. Application Number V-05-267
646 Sherwood Road
Applicant:  Kevin Kastner
Property Owner: Kevin Kastner

Applicant seeks a variance to reduce the west side yard setback from 7 feet (required) to 6.8 feet for an addition to a single family house.

Motion to Defer for one month.

Motion Passed: 12- In Favor, 0- Against, 0 - Abstaining.

Motion to Defer for one month.

Motion passed: 12 in favor, 0 against, 0 abstaining

4. Application Number V-05-271
1160 Reeder Circle
Applicant:  Veronica Logsdon
Property Owner:  Veronica Logsdon

Applicant seeks a variance to reduce the west side yard setback from 7 feet
(required) to 3 feet to allow for a second story addition to an existing single family house.

Motion to Defer for one month.

Motion Passed in Committee: 12- In Favor, 0- Against, 0 - Abstaining.

Motion to Defer by Board.
Motion passed: 12 in favor, 0 against, 0 abstaining

5. Application Number V-05-276
910 Cumberland Road
Applicant:  Eamonn O'Dowd
Property Owner: Eamonn O'Dowd

Applicant seeks a variance to reduce the setback to allow for a second story addition to an existing single family house.

Motion to Defer for one month.

Motion Passed in Committee: 12- In Favor, 0- Against, 0 - Abstaining.

Motion to Defer by Board.
Motion Passed: 12 in favor, 0 against, 0 abstaining

b. Food 101 at Highlands

Anticipate opening Nov. 7.  Do not need additional parking. 

Motion to approve properly made and seconded.
Motion approved 12 – 0 – 0

c. Budget approvals – Charlotte Gillis requested and received approval for two checks for (1) mowing and (2) clean up around monuments

d. The secretary also received a report from the Education Committee, attached as Exhibit 4 and from the NPU Representative, attached as Exhibit 5.

VII. New Business

a. VHMPA Presentation
Dayna: Some parents very concerned about increase in school population at MSE.  There are now 830 children.  And the increase is likely to continue.  VH opposes splitting any part of VH out of MSE school district.  A copy of the VH Voice is appended as Exhibit 6.  They urge continued respect for neighborhood boundaries.  A parent group has also been studying the issue. 

Shira: you may think that it doesn’t affect Morningside but it does because one of the proposals would be pairing MSE and Hill and have split campuses (e.g. K – 2 and 3 – 5)

Sense of the board is that if the board is going to be asked to take action, then the board needs considerably more information about the issue.

b. October 14 NPU Tour
Department of Public Works – we need to send a representative. 

Adjournment at @ 10:15 pm

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