Topic

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Call to order at 7:08 by Barber Melton

Approve March minutes as presented.

Treasurer's Report. Continuing balance of $5704.06

T-shirt sales ($7 each; $6 each for 3 or more) still available, contact James Judd

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Introductions: * 2010 member representative

Steve Hudzik* (Kenilworth)

Mike Lewis* (Grace) noted Larchmont project was approved

Barber Melton* (Haw Creek) sidewalk summit in Haw Creek at Bell School, concerned that recent changes in the sidewalk ordinance will result in less money for sidewalks.

Grace Curry* (Grove Park/Sunset Mountain) picnic in May, Grove Park, May 23,

James Judd (Chunns Cove)

Tom Rightmeyer* (Crowfields) met with NC DOT to discuss traffic issues along Hendersonville Road

Ann Campbell* (Crowfields) still awaiting sidewalks on Hendersonville Road

Sandy Tarintino (Redwood Forest) - interested in sidewalk issues

Ned Gutman* (Redwood Forest)

Jake Quinn (Grove Park/Sunset Mountain) concerned about new signs in area; continued work on how to maintain landscaping for traffic calming features in the neighborhood.

Cecil Bothwell* (Five Points)

Carl Nyberg (Kenilworth)

Robert Zieber (Biltmore Park)

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Quorum- A quorum of member organizations was established.

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Sidewalk Maintenance and Repair Initiative Cecil Bothwell presented a short video of sidewalks in the Montford neighborhood and noted that the “greenest” sidewalk is one that already exists and is maintained. He presented his Z-link project, as described below:

Z-Link by Cecil Bothwell-

I delivered a kick-off presentation of Z-Link, a new volunteer sidewalk restoration project on Monday, April 12 at the regular meeting of the Coalition of Asheville Neighborhoods.

Asheville has two sidewalk problems. The big, expensive problem involves too few sidewalks in too many places. Extending our sidewalk system is urgent and will take time and money. The other problem involves existing sidewalks that have been neglected for years, and fixing those sidewalks is a matter we can literally take into our own hands. Sidewalks are an essential piece of a sustainable transit system, the piece which enables everyone to access transit routes.

The Z-Link initiative is a coordinated volunteer effort that will launch in coming weeks. The goal is to reconnect existing sidewalks that have been obstructed by eroded dirt, weeds and encroaching shrubs. A perfectly useful sidewalk that runs for ten blocks can be rendered impassable to those in wheel chairs or with mobility issues simply because dirt has eroded and mounded up in front of one vacant lot. We have the X portion and the Y portion but a real problem with the Z. Volunteers can step up to reclaim the Z-Link.

I've teamed up with People Advocating Real Conservancy with our campaign fund providing trash bags and PARC providing tools. Z-Link will enable citizens, neighborhood by neighborhood to reclaim their sidewalks through weekend work parties. At the same time, volunteers will be encouraged to take note of more serious problems such as broken pavement, missing bricks and other repairs which require attention from the City's Public Works Department.

Summary of Discussion:

Several members noted the lack of enforcement of existing ordinances.

• Per existing ordinance it is the responsibility of the property owner to keep the sidewalk in front of their property free of obstructions. The city is usually responsible for sidewalk repair.
• A Kenilworth resident noted that they had received a letter from the city about cleaning sidewalks in their neighborhood.
• Another concern was people parking on sidewalks and the unwillingness of the police to enforce.
• One member did not think the COA did a very good job of cleaning up sidewalks under its control, such as around parking garages downtown. This included snow removal to improve safety after winter storms.

Some ideas for promoting better sidewalks were as follows:

• Signs on buses to raise awareness of the issue.
• Volunteer opportunity to involve schools and possibly Boy Scouts to work on projects.
• Opportunity to use Facebook to tag the sidewalk problems thus making them .

Other comments included the following:

• Kenilworth has discontinuous sidewalks and would like to have new sidewalk projects connect up these sections.
• There was a pedestrian death this year on Hendersonville Road. COA is working on improvements.

• Concern about new rules for sidewalks regarding fee in lieu for construction of sidewalks on one side of street versus both sides…Cecil felt this resulted in reductions in responsibility for developers. James had researched this ordinance and spoke about it at P&Z…he concluded that the city’s intent was to try to increase money going into the general sidewalk fund while probably decreasing the overall amount of money being put towards sidewalks. The advantage of money in the general sidewalk fund is that it can be directed to specific locations such as missing links in the sidewalk plan as opposed to a sidewalk in the middle of nowhere with no linkage. There was little evidence that this decision was based upon quantitative numbers. James encouraged the city staff to use the GIS system to improve the tracking of their sidewalk expenditures, repairs, new sidewalks, where the money came from etc. so that they can provide a quantitative analysis for the yearly review requested by Council. It also became apparent that the city’s method for determining a fee-in-lieu for sidewalks (under certain conditions a developer can decide not to build a sidewalk and pay a fee-in-lieu to the city) is inflexible and unable to track the multiple conditions influencing the current cost of sidewalks and therefore can often obstruct the policy intent.

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East Sidewalk Summit – Barber Melton announced a meeting to be held April 19th, 7 pm, at Bell Elementary School to focus on creation of new sidewalks in East Asheville. The event will include NCDOT and COA officials, neighborhood contacts are Chris Pelly and Marianna Bailey. Stay tuned for a review of the sidewalk meeting and for future steps toward obtaining more sidewalks in Asheville.

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Planning and Zoning Appointment – Barber Melton presented a draft letter for review, discussing the historical process of previous interviews and how the process occurred when she was on the P&Z commission.

Discussion included the following:

• Member noted that City Council members have responded to criticism by stating that the process was an open, public process.
• Member stated that it still matters what questions are asked to the candidates, that council members should look over the applications, review the information and ask questions to get the best person qualified for the commission.
• Concerns about P&Z taking on final review for the Downtown Master Plan and having the process become quasi-judicial and beyond the control of Council.

For more information see wiki.ashevillecan.org

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Larchmont Project - Mike Lewis presented a letter about the recently approved Larchmont housing project (This was published in the Citizen Times March 7). The letter briefly addressed both the pro and con concerns of the project and then turned the focus towards the need for the neighbors and city to be active now in developing solutions long standing problems in the neighborhood including traffic circulation around the post office, Edgewood and Long street intersection, sidewalks, etc. Mike noted that it may be a year or two before development begins but the traffic problems can be worked on now. In addition to sending the letter to City Council, MtnX and Citizen Times, Mike will work towards setting up a community meeting with neighbors & COA traffic engineering to begin working on traffic issues in the area of the project.

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CAN Elections – Candidates were nominated for Treasurer and Secretary: Carl Nyberg for Treasurer and Robert Zieber for Secretary, elected by unanimous consent.

No candidates were put forth for President, VP of Government Relations, VP of Membership, VP of Public Relations. The intention of the current executive committee is to get new faces in leadership positions. The current committee is committed to remaining active and to fully support the new officers both during and after their transition. The current officers in these positions will continue to serve for another month. Elections will be continued a the May meeting.

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Affordable Housing-

Tom Rightmyer - The Housing and Community Development Task Force has continued to meet. There is a proposal to make this an official advisory committee. Currently Marsha Stickford is the COA liaison for the group and Gordon smith is the City Council Representative. A public meeting on CDBG and HOME grants/funding is expected to be announced shortly.

Mike Lewis – is researching plans for CAN and possibly the Asheville Design Center to host a public program on Affordable Housing.

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Additional Items

New Wayfaring signs: Jake Quinn and others had the following comments about the new black wayfaring signs:

• Not subject to the COA sign ordinance because under the Tourist Development Agency (TDA)
• Concerned that these signs duplicate existing signage and old signs not removed. Example, in the area of the Charlotte Street exit ramp from 240.
• Concerned that some old and new signs are conflicting (i.e. one says go left while the other says go right).

Traffic calming in Grove Park – Jake Quinn issued a warning about Asheville Greenworks with regards to this organization excusing itself from any responsibility to work with the Grove Park Neighborhood on planting and maintaining the Grove Park traffic calming landscape features. Jake indicated that Asheville Greenworks excused themselves after neighborhood members asked about expense levels and other accounting procedures. Asheville Greenworks reportedly refused to provide the accounting information. The neighborhood is currently trying to figure out how to accept contributions that would be tax deductible.

Second Signatory for CAN checking Account - Carl Nyberg, Treasurer requested a second signer be approved for the CAN checking account, to act if he is absent or unable to sign checks. A motion was made to have Mike Lewis be the second signer on the account and it was passed by unanimous consent.

Adjourned at 8:47