Call to Order–7:30pm.
President’s Introduction.
2023 GPNA Goals: Website refresh – GPNA will finalize and implement the rebranded GPNA website. Sign toppers – GPNA will finalize neighborhood sign toppers project and implementation. Legacy neighbors outreach & support – GPNA will continue building on success from 2022. Community engagement – GPNA will explore new ways to ensure neighbors are engaged with and informed by GPNA.
Appointment of co-chair for Technology & Communication: Laura Gonzalez (vote in February) .
Proposed bylaws amendments (vote in February):
- Current: 3.01 Regular membership meetings of the Association shall be held on the third Tuesday of each month, at a time and location selected by the membership of the Association. Amended: 3.01 Regular membership meetings of the Association shall be held quarterly on the third Tuesday of the month (January, April, July, October), at a time and location selected by the membership of the Association.
- Current: 3.02 The annual election meeting of the Association shall be held with the regular membership meeting in November and shall be for the purpose of electing Association officers and committee chairpersons, receiving reports of officers and committees, and conducting any other business that may arise. Amended: 3.02 The annual election meeting of the Association shall be held with the regular membership meeting in October and shall be for the purpose of electing Association officers and committee chairpersons, receiving reports of officers and committees, and conducting any other business that may arise.
Proposed 2023 meeting schedule – This would look like online meetings in January and February, in-person in April, online in July, and in-person in October. In-person meetings are proposed to be hybrid, so people could still attend via Zoom. One community member raised the concern that this might negatively impact votes on Homes & History items. Another community member raised concerns that there’s no representation at NPU-W, so during the off-month, East Atlanta and SAND will make a lot of decisions for Grant Park if we shift to quarterly GPNA meetings. Any other pieces of feedback, ideas, or concerns can be shared with Catherine at president@gpna.org.
Vice President’s Welcome. Treasurer’s Update: 2022 Year-End Income Statement – https://drive.google.com/file/d/1skbY6oPF9w6NnckXPSSIkYYcCQnNinyo/view. 2023 Itemized Budget (vote in February) – https://drive.google.com/file/d/1RTMgeDqgcVGLkmIGpgelW2I6mz_m5F1C/view.
Public Official Update: Chuck Meadows with Atlanta Neighborhood Charter School is transitioning out of his role effective this June. Additionally, anyone interested in starting or continuing their education career can attend the ANCS Teacher Recruitment Fair this Saturday.
Special Orders
Item One – Public Safety: Zone 6 & Fire Department Update – SOS is aware of speeding issues. For residents with KIA and Hyundai vehicles, just take extra care and be sure not to keep anything in clear view, and also don’t leave your vehicle running while unattended. Residents should be on the lookout for a silver pickup that was stealing mail in East Lake. There’s a potential for Parks police patrols to start this summer. GPNA will work with the Major as that gets instituted. Fulton County Juvenile Court Annual Report for 2021 – We’ll have a link and report to share soon. No PAD Report for December. Emmy Squared Change of Agent – This will be a hearing next week at the NPU-W. Upcoming Events – Hot Chocolate 15K benefit – 1/29; Race course: Georgie Avenue to Cherokee, Cherokee across the I-20 bridge to Bryan Street, Bryan to Loomis Street to Memorial Drive, Memorial to Grant Street, Grant north to Decatur Street. The next committee meeting will be February 13 at 6:30pm via Zoom and the link can be found at cityofatlantanpu-w.org.
Item Two – Homes & History: Committee Updates & 2023 Goals – The Design Regulation Rewrite reading group process will continue and next steps are to be determined. The next committee meeting is 1/23 at 7pm at the Atlanta Preservation Center. 2023 goals include updating content on the GPNA.org website to help residents looking to undertake renovations. We want to ensure they have the most updated information and requirements that can be quickly referenced. We also want to encourage participation in this committee, because the more neighborhood voices and participation, the better.
Item Three – Transportation: Committee Updates & 2023 Goals – Finalize the Sign Topper project – We have sign toppers ready for volunteer installation. You can fill out a volunteer interest form at gpna.org/transportation. More details to come. Sidewalk Improvement – GPNA is looking to tackle bus stop seating and sidewalk repairs in 2023. Our goal is to find out which sidewalks the city doesn’t have budget for and go from there, working alongside neighbors to work through necessary repairs and updates. Community Street Designs – We want to ensure we’re collecting community input as the city moves forward with larger street design projects. Woodward will have a shared street design, so we’re looking to collect more details. Anyone interested in getting involved in these projects can attend the next meeting on February 20 at 7:00pm or contact Phill Kelly at transportation@gpna.org.
Item Four – Technology: Committee Updates & 2023 Goals – The major overarching goal is to engage more regularly with a higher percentage of the Grant Park residents. First and foremost, GPNA will be undertaking a website redesign to prioritize easily accessible information. Secondly, we will build out the monthly newsletters, so residents receive the information they need regardless of whether they attend a meeting. Lastly, we will be posting more actively on our social channels, reporting on the impacts, prioritizing educational content, and providing clear calls to action and opportunities for volunteering.
Item Five – Fundraising: Committee Updates & 2023 Goals – GPNA is looking for year-round sponsors that would run June 2023-June 2024. Any local business interested in getting involved can contact Laura Keen at fundraising@gpna.org.
Item Six – Economic Development: Committee Updates & 2023 Goals – GPNA will continue to engage and build upon connections from 2022, helping local businesses thrive within the community. Call for committee volunteers – Those looking to get involved should reach out to economic@gpna.org.
Item Seven – Legacy Neighbor Ad Hoc Committee: 2023 Goals – Build on success from 2022 initiatives, helping our neighbors stay in their homes and equip them with the resources they need.
Item Eight – Community Items: Lynnette Reid with the Beltline joined to discuss Subarea 4 Master Plan updates and the full draft can be found online here. There will be an NPU review and vote in February. There’s a meeting on January 31 at 6:30pm regarding the Southside Trail Construction Update for Segment 4 and 5. The Zoom registration link is https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Gi6l7_k-QhuaroGA-KIYCg. Lynnette can be contacted at lreid@atlbeltline.org.
Approval of the December minutes.
Adjournment – 8:30pm.
GPNA Officers and Steering Committee: Visit www.gpna.org/calendar for committee meetings and Zoom links. Catherine Manci – President; Mboh E. Elango – Vice President; Lauren Watt – Secretary; Evelyn Pannell – Treasurer; Laura Keen – Fundraising Chair; Skyler Hassan – Land Use & Zoning Chair; Chris Newman – Public Safety Chair; John Sitton – Homes & History Chair; Maureen Nemanich HYPERLINK “mailto:technology@gpna.org” HYPERLINK “mailto:technology@gpna.org” HYPERLINK “mailto:technology@gpna.org”& HYPERLINK “mailto:technology@gpna.org” HYPERLINK “mailto:technology@gpna.org” HYPERLINK “mailto:technology@gpna.org” Laura Gonzalez – Technology & Communications Chairs; Phillip Kelly – Transportation Chair; Carl Rowland – Legacy Neighbors Chair; Amber Scott – Philanthropic Chair; Nate Cook– Economic Development Chair – Vice President; Lauren Watt – Secretary; Evelyn Pannell – Treasurer; Laura Keen – Fundraising Chair; Skyler Hassan – Land Use & Zoning Chair; Chris Newman – Public Safety Chair; John Sitton – Homes & History Chair; Maureen Nemanich & Laura Gonzalez – Technology & Communications Chairs; Phillip Kelly – Transportation Chair; Carl Rowland – Legacy Neighbors Chair; Amber Scott – Philanthropic Chair; Nate Cook- Economic Development Chair.
