EACA Meeting Minutes

EACA Meeting Minutes – April 12, 2016
President Lewis Cartee called the meeting to order at 7:06pm. New and returning attendees were welcomed and the floor was opened for announcements.
Cookies are available for purchase at most EACA meetings. Proceeds benefit the Parks and Greenspace efforts to remind neighbors to clean up after their pets. T-shirts with the new Ronnie Land design are also available for sale. Special thanks to Brandy and Armando for spear-heading the t-shirt design and print processes. Members receive a discount on T-shirt purchases.
Tony Crump, Membership Chairman announced that the 2016 early membership drive concluded today and all new and renewed EACA members would be entered in a raffle for a $100 Argosy gift card to be held at the end of the meeting. Other prizes that were donated by area businesses and residents were also raffled for $2 per ticket, 6 tickets for $10.
Joe Peery, Transportation Chairman announced that on Sunday, April 16, 2016 there will be an artist’s event across from Old Atlanta Prison Farm so that artists can paint portions of the trail. Joe was contact by a concerned neighbor prior to the meeting regarding the closure of some area MARTA stops. MARTA routes and stops are being shifted and some are actually being eliminated. The full list of schedule changes can be found on MARTA’s website: www.itsmarta.com/april-16th-markup-changes.aspx. There are no updates on the progress of the Glenwood at Moreland Realignment project. One attendee expressed concern about three street lights out on Glenwood. Neighbors have contacted Georgia Power concerning restoring bulbs. The Transportation Committee meets on the 4th Wednesday of each month at 6:30pm at Beulah Heights University.
Education Committee – Charles Turner has started an Education committee within NPU-W. If you would like to get involved please email education@eaca.net.
LUZ – There was one “Special Exception” zoning variance application filed since the March 2016 meeting that was up for discussion with the attendees. The owners of 777 Brownwood Avenue (the corner of Brownwood and Gracewood) are seeking approval for a 6’ fence on the side yard which fronts on Gracewood. The fence has already been built because the owners did not realize that a zoning variance application needed to be filed. They have provided letters of approval/support from three adjacent neighbors and erected the fence as a noise/privacy buffer. Residents in the area have expressed concern over visibility for drivers coming out of the alleyway onto Gracewood and the owners plan to put up a mirror to address vision obstruction issues. There was a motion for members in good standing to approve the application and the results of the vote were 22 in favor, 3 opposed, with 6 members abstaining. NPU-W and LUZ meet on the 1st Tuesday of each month at Beulah Heights University at 7:00pm. The full NPU meeting is the 4th Wednesday of each month at 7:30pm at Beulah Heights University. All are welcome.
Kevin Spigener gave a brief history and update on Branan Towers, which is sponsored by United Methodist Church and a non-profit community for low income senior residents. The advisory board is currently seeking volunteers. The Board discusses the budget for capital improvements at The Towers. Applications were available at the meeting. There are two clothing drives called “Soup and Shop” each year for residents; one in the fall for women’s clothing and one in the spring on May 5 for men’s clothing. Super Jenny’s donated soup for all residents during the fall event. Donations of gently used men’s clothing are needed. A small storage space in Branan Towers is available for anyone who can drop off donations or for larger amounts of clothing, please get in touch with Kevin and he will pick up. The management of Branan Towers asks that neighbors who attend EACA meetings please not park in the lot to the west of the Tower. That lot is reserved for visitors and staff.
Andrea Blanton with Community Farmer’s Market introduced herself and is the 2016 Coordinator for Grant Park Farmer’s Market and East Atlanta Farmer’s Market. The East Atlanta market is held on Thursdays from 4:00pm to 8:00pm and is in need of volunteers. Andrea reminded the members that the lot is available to use for other community or organization events when the Market is not in session. The Director of Programming also does educational outreach programs (classes on food and nutrition and garden education.) If you can get involved, please email Andrea at andrea@cfm.org. EACA is a major sponsor of the market.
Nickie Thompson from Coan Splash announced that there will be a fund raising event called “Picnic in the Park” on April 24 in Coan Park from 3:00pm to 6:00pm. The organization will be selling food items and boxed lunches, which are being donated by Atlanta area businesses. Coan Splash is the organizing and fund raising committee which seeks to have a splash pad built in Coan Park, which borders the neighborhoods of Kirkwood and Edgewood. There are other events planned throughout the year and the committee is always looking for volunteers to get involved.
Public Safety, Lt Floyd with Zone 6 APD representing Major Peek, gave an update on crime in the East Atlanta neighborhood over the last 28 days. Overall crime has decreased in area 612. The only violent crime was an armed robbery of a pedestrian on Eastside on April 1, involving a light colored Chevy sedan, possibly an Impala with two black males, one had tattooed tears on face, other had tattoos on arm. There were some residential burglaries with one arrest that is associated with the burglary of 612 Clifton Road. There was also an arrest in association with a vehicle break in on Glenwood Road. Continue to call 911 when you see anything suspicious, keep property well-lit, be vigilant while walking anywhere in the neighborhood after dark, do not leave valuables in vehicles, park in your driveway, not on the street. An attendee brought up concern on speeding near Burgess Peterson. Lt. Floyd said he would speak to traffic officers to increase patrols in the area. APD stopped 2 males and a female in Edgewood in a green sedan that had been reported by neighbors in East Atlanta who claimed to be contracted by security companies and were knocking on doors to do “safety inspections”. They were in compliance with all laws but officers did a field contact form on all 3 individuals and stored it in their data base.
Ed Gilgor announced that Beerfest will be on May 21 from 12:00pm (for VIP ticket holders and 1:00 for General ticket holders) to 5:00pm, Portland will be shut down from 7:00am.
Connie Stokes, running for Dekalb CEO spoke to the group. Ms. Stokes served 10 years as a Georgia State Senator and 6 years as a Dekalb County Commissioner. Other accomplishments include representing Governor Roy Barnes as one of his senate floor leaders, serving as Chair of the Health and Human Services Committee, serving on the World Congress Center Authority and the MARTA Oversight Board. Ms. Stokes answered questions from attendees. Questions included citizens’ concerns on Education, recent Annexations, the Old Prison Farm’s efforts to become a regional park, public transportation and regaining trust in the Dekalb County government after all the scandals.
Election Day is May 24. Early voting begins on May 2. All candidates have been invited to come speak to EACA.
Minutes and Treasurer’s report were approved without opposition.
Tony announced that membership is up 34 households, with 186 total households representing 360 residents.
Raffle prizes were awarded.
Meeting adjourned at 8:37pm.