President, Lewis Cartee called the meeting called to order at 7:05pm.
Announcements:
Metropolitan Studios: An Arts and Movement Community, Rebecca Beasley introduced herself and invited the community to visit the studio.
Flour Union, a bakery co-op focused on gluten free treats using a variety of “flours” brought brownies and cookie bars to share with meeting attendees. They are one of the vendors at the EAFM and Decatur Market every other week and they do special orders. They can be reached at (404) 919-9630 or through their Facebook page.
Cody Elder of EnduraHub presented information about the upcoming EAV RunFest on September 4 from 5:00pm to 8:00pm, which benefits Burgess Peterson Academy. The first race will start at 6:00pm. Cody provided a map of affected streets that will be closed from 5:30 to 8:00pm on the evening of the event. For more information please see their website: at racedirector@runeav.com.
Thanks to EACA members, the first 3 “Clean up after your pet” signs are being installed in Brownwood Park on Saturday, August 13, 2016. The signs and supplies to install them cost approximately $35 each. If you would like to sponsor a sign or help with installation, please email secretary@eaca.net.
Public Safety – Sgt. Smith, Atlanta Police Department Zone 6 Supervisor presented the crime statistics for Beat 612 for the twenty eight day period beginning on July 1: East Atlanta Food Mart – robbery, suspect apprehended, Chevron on Flat Shoals Road (outside EAV but still in Beat 612) – car left running and it became a robbery when the victim confronted the perpetrator; suspects have not been apprehended. Residential – several burglaries. Vehicle – several larcenies. Officer Howard, the regular Beat Officer has been assigned to the Grant Park Beat. Officer Bruno will be our regular beat officer going forward. Officer Lavigeour, LBGT Liaison, indicated that Black Gay Pride and Atlanta Pride celebrations are coming up. APD is expecting large crowds for both events and, in light of the Orlando shooting, will be vigilant with security concerns. The goal of both LBGT Liaisons is to improve communication with the community and provide vital training to both the community and other officers, locally and internationally. They will be offering an Active Shooter Training event at City Hall on Wednesday, August 10. Officer Lavigeour can be reached at (404) 546-2542 if you have questions, concerns or would like information on upcoming events and seminars.
Project Pabst Update – Whitney Faigle of Striking Marketing gave an update on Project Pabst. This one day, gated, ticketed concert event for attendees 21 years of age and older is proposed for October 1, 2016 in East Atlanta Village. Successfully held in Portland and Denver, the promoters hope to attract approximately 10,000 visitors to the area for the event. Liaisons have met with EACA during two previous community meetings and are in the process of meeting with individual businesses within the event footprint to work out logistics and address concerns. One significant update July’s presentation is that the promotion team has recommended to Pabst that Flat Shoals remain open as long as possible. To accommodate this, the stage that was originally planned for an area of Flat Shoals will be moved to another location. A map of affected areas and streets with the event footprint was provided. There will be two stages outside and bands will perform from 1:00pm to 10:00pm. Some bands are booked to play inside the bars and there will be no “carry out” from establishments into the street. Beer but not food will be sold on the street. The goal is to push attendees into the businesses and restaurants. Organizers will be working with retailers that want to put up tents outside their businesses and arrangements will be made for area employees to be allowed access to their jobs. Questions about traffic, in and out access to the event, parking and parking violators and a detour plan to get around street closures were discussed. The event will be presented to the NPU on August 24 at 7:30pm at Beulah Heights University. There was a motion for EACA membership to approve the festival permit: 24 in favor, 2 abstain.
Neighbor in Need will host a fundraising gala, “Under the Harvest Moon” on October 15 at the Zuber-Jarrell House. Early VIP tickets will be $100 and grant gala-goers early admission and a special cocktail hour on the home’s grand front porch at 6:00pm. General Admission tickets will be $50 and include 2 drink tickets, tastings from area chefs’ most creative culinary cuisines in addition to a tour of the home. The planning committee needs assistance in the areas of marketing, logistics, food and beverage sourcing, sponsorships, silent auction donations, ticketing, music coordination and coordination of a photo booth. This would be a great opportunity to support Neighbor in Need, which helps senior East Atlanta residents with emergency home repairs. If you have talent and resources to make this Gala an event to remember, contact Nancy Carpenter or Marc Takacs at Neighborinneed@eaca.net.
East Atlanta Kids Club – The 12 Annual Brownwood Bike Rally will be held on September 17, from 9:00am to 2:00pm. This is the Kids Club’s largest fundraiser and helps approximately 100 area children with after school programs, tutoring, projects and skill development. The Bike Rally will feature bike races for adults and children, bike safety workshops, food and fun. East Atlanta Kids Club needs 150 volunteers to plan and execute the Bike Rally. If you can help or would like to sign up for any of the races, please contact Jill Sieder through the website at www.brownwoodbikerally.com.
Dave Bishop, owner of Flatiron at the corner of Glenwood and Flat Shoals presented his plans to expand the bar portion of the restaurant upstairs into the old 13 Roses space. A rendering of the expansion plans was provided. The future may include a 3rd floor or roof-top/deck expansion. EACA membership expressed their support of the expansion.
As local area children return to school in August, Lewis invited several key players in the Atlanta school system to present information on the current focus within Atlanta Board of Education and East Atlanta area schools. Matt Westmoreland, of District 3 (which includes East Atlanta) and Courtney English, Atlanta Board of Education Chair/At-Large, Seat 7 thanked the East Atlanta community for supporting the local schools, both financially and being personally involved. They presented information on the Charter System in place, specifically the Jackson Cluster which East Atlanta is a part of. Parental and community involvement in school programs and curriculum are a high priority in the school system. One of the goals is to nurture and create life-long learners that are capable of giving back to the community. Designs and programs of Charter Schools are unique to the students of each individual school and the State of Georgia monitors the progress of every school in the Charter System. Yusef King, International Baccalaureat Diploma Program Coordinator and Advanced Placement Coordinator at Maynard Holbrook Jackson High School presented information on the International Baccalaureate Diploma and Advance Placement Programs. Cynthia Briscoe-Brown, At-Large, Seat 8, presented the prospective of a parent and volunteer within the APS International Baccalaureate program. The focus is on life skills and values of students as well as social and emotional learning. APS has instituted a new Safety and Security Plan where 68 newly trained and sworn in officers will work solely with APS. Jason Esteves, At-Large Seat 9, is a former public school teacher, now an attorney. He presented information on the APS Turnaround Plan to lift low performing schools. The plan has 4 key components:
Focus attention on 3 clusters (Douglas Cluster, Washington Cluster and Carver Custer) to direct services toward students to give them extra support that they need in order to get the opportunities they deserve, In those clusters, pay special attention to recruiting and retaining strong leaders and teachers. Streamline education operations in order to ensure the education experience for students is most effective, and, partner with educational organizations to help give students the education they deserve. Day 1 of school last Wednesday was really successful. Attendance was up which historically indicates that high attendance will continue. The resource fair, “Back to School Bash,” was held at the Georgia World Congress Center. Three thousand people attended, over 4000 back-packs were given out and another 2000 were given out during the first week of school. APS has increased the salary of Pre-K teachers to the same level as other teachers. SPLOST has funded several projects in East Atlanta schools.
East Atlanta Strut, scheduled for Saturday, September 25 is looking for volunteers. Please see the website for more information about becoming involved: www.eastatlantastrut.com.
Lewis conveyed a special “Thank You” to Tony Crump, Co-Chair of the Membership Committee, who will be moving out of the area at the end of August. Rose Bigalow will assume the Chairman’s position.
The July minutes and treasurer’s report were approved.
Meeting adjourned at 8:45pm.
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