CAN Board meeting January 14, 2008

 

The meeting was opened by President Joe Minicozzi at 7:00 p.m.

 

1. Introductions.

Present: Joe Minicozzi, President, Brucemont Barber Melton, Vice-President, Haw Creek

Carl Nyberg, Treasurer, Kenilworth Tom Rightmyer, Secretary, Crowfields

James Judd, Chunns Cove, Webmaster Marsha Strickford, City of Asheville

Brian Peterson, Royal Pines Mike Lewis, Grace Neighborhood

Grace Curry, Grove Park-Sunset Nancy Byer, St. Dunstan’s Circle

Mike Byer, St. Dunstan’s Circle Chris Pelly, Haw Creek

Barb Vani-Lau, LINO Bill Bailey, Viewpoint

Marianna Bailey, Viewpoint Robert Zieber, Biltmore Park

David Patterson, Montford Joe Masters, Montford

Robert Feeney, Courtland Barrett Nichols, Courtland

Reid Thompson, Five Points

 

2. Mike Lewis reported on Merrimon Avenue report. He will speak at City Council on Merrimon Avenue report. Motion to support Merrimon Avcenue Study recommendations – passed unanimously.

 

3. Dues due - $ 50.00 from each member neighborhood, $10.00 from individual members, according to Treasurer. Carl Nyberg. Make check to CAN and send to Carl Nyberg, P.O. Box 1858, Asheville, NC 28802.

 

4. Congress 2008 – to be held in mid-September. Mike Lewis will corrdinate, and Barb Vani-Lau will help organize.

 

5. Community Development Grant – Proposed actions:

a. Appoint Bill and Marianna Bailey, Mike Lewis, and Robert Zieber to serve with the officers of the Board as a Low Income Neighborhood Organizer (LINO) Committee to oversee the project. Regular LINO meetings will be on the first Tuesday of each month at breakfast time. Approved unanimously.

b. Ask President Joe Minicozzi and Barb Vani-Lau to develop job description and agreement for the job for consideration and action by the LINO Committee, the Committee to have power to act using LINO designated funds. Approved unanimously.

c. Authorize Executive Committee to locate appropriate office space for CAN and LINO, and to spend up to $2400 in 2008 from CAN funds for CAN and LINO use. Approved unanimously

 

6. Reports:

a. Deal Motor – Ben Gilliam – Protest petition presented by neighbors. Developer has pulled project from city council agenda until July to re-evaluate the project. Protest majority requires 6-1 vote of city council.

 

b. Courtland Avenue – Group home approved under conditional use, group home has rented additional property adjacent as family care center, but neighbors think use does not comply with the regulations. Issues include parking in the yard, residents who are dangerous to themselves and others. City is seeking delay of Board of Adjustments action in order to include manager of group home. City police slow in responding; group home management also not responsive. Other issues have to do with enforcement of zoning conditions. Marsha Strickland shared information about The Mediation Center, 40 North French Broad Suite B, Asheville, BC 28801 (828) 251-6089 www.mediatebuncombe.org Motion – to mayor, city council, and city manager - CAN supports city hiring an attorney skilled in conflict resolution.

 

c. Greenlife / Staples – Mountain Express article – legal action slow and not satisfactory. Mayor has been working with Staples; Staples seems willing to add plantings, but size of sign still an issue.

 

d. Marsha Strickford

1 – effective ways to share information - look for patterns of miscommunication with city agencies and staff.

2. - brief update on the hiring process for the Planning Director – none of the applicants met city criteria and city has readvertised the position.

3 - presentations at city council meetings –developed by city council members – law provides for time restrictions but what is authority for restricting video or pictures in presentations?

 

e. Watershed Policy Committee – Robert Zieber – committee meets Thursday afternoons twice a month or so for about 4 hours a time to consider stream buffers and erosion issues. 30 ft buffer is required by state and has been adopted by city against recommendations of previous watershed committee for 50 ft buffer. We will need help when this comes to city council for action. One public meeting has been held, another is planned. Committee is seeking to tweak state regulations to better fit our situation in the mountains. Issues are highly technical. Commend city for seeking public input.

 

f. Website – James Judd – added an Activists Tool Kit, adding information for citizens, people can submit content and James will prepare instruction sheet and review process next meeting .

 

g. Barber will report on Affordable Housing Task Force next meeting.

 

Meeting adjourned 9:00 p.m.

 

Thomas Rightmyer, Secrtetary trightmy@juno.com