Meeting Minutes – August 12, 2020

1. OPENING REMARKS/INTRODUCTIONS - Call to Order at 7:06PM

2. MOMENT OF SILENCE

   1. Recognition of CT Vivian & Congressman John Lewis and NPU members who have had deaths. Wisdom for our leaders to make wise decisions as to how they are legislating during this time

3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA

   1. Motion by Terry Second by Tacuma

      Favor 23 Oppose 0 Abstention 2

4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

   1. Motion by Tacuma Second by Jason

      Favor 18 Oppose 0 Abstention 6

5. CHAIR REPORT

   1. Virtual Meeting/Roberts Rule of Order

   2. NPUT Rocks completely for helping to pass out 150 PPE Kits to our Seniors and other members of the community

   3. CARES Act money as a City $7.1million for increased testing

   4. Fulton has the highest number of COVID testing

   5. Please continue to adhere to adhere to safety guidelines and protocols

   6. Met with Commissioner Keane regarding all the code enforcement violations occurring within NPU-T. Will continue to work with the city.

   7. Young boys selling water safety and City concerns police are not arresting but taking them home and contacting parents

   8. Elections – New DA/Sheriff next year. Will invite them to meetings for introduction

   9. Main Street Program Updates – Program will allow for façade improvements in our commercial corridors. Murna Anderson Fuller has put together an advisory council Kiyomi Rollins is the Westview ambassador.

   10. New education initiative – virtual learning center (in former United Way space) 3,000 sq ft w/internet, kitchen and offices. Keith Morton working with APS. They will need donations – cleaning supplies, paper towel, disinfectant and volunteers

6. REPORTS – CITY OFFICIALS/DEPARTMENTS

   1. Council President – Felicia Moore

      • Residents may still contact councilmembers with questions, comments or concerns

      • Conversations with the Council President: she has info for residents that need eviction aide. Over 530 cases already with the Marshals and 400+ waiting to go to court

      • Please complete the census if you haven’t and recommend others do so. It is important for resources such as funding

   2. Captain Jeff Cantin APD Zone 4 - JCantin@atlantaga.gov

      • Zone 1 had nothing new to report

      • Zone 4–overall crime down, homicide up with 3 since last meeting (1082 Lucile Ave - homeless woman, 1014 Oakland – Airbnb incident, Oglethorpe – pending/robbery)

      • Please assist APD efforts to reach out to the waterboys by not giving them cash. It makes it more difficult to deter their behavior.

   3. Captain Derek Hullender – Atlanta Fire

      • No major updates. Please continue to check smoke detectors. Masks are being used inside the fire stations in an attempt to avoid Covid-19

7. Department Representatives

   1. Barbara Dougherty – Atl 311 Community Affairs Coordinator 470-698-5171

      • All 311 agents are working from home but still taking calls 7am-7pm

      • Dial 311 in the city or 404-546-0311 or use the app

      • You can call 311 re: waterboy locations

   2. Mr. Bisi – Public Works

      • Follow-up re: call from Melody Blount about no parking signs for several streets. Some may be possible.

      • Residents may call him with reference # to receive updates

      • Question re: 6 sidewalks that were removed on RDA during city repaving including Atwood, Hopkins and Holderness. Laura Hernandez to email him for research and follow-up

   3. Officer Knight – SWEET

      • Call 311 to schedule bulk pickups. Please do not put it out until 7pm the evening before your scheduled time

      • Solid waste is not collecting yard trimmings at this time to staffing. Residents may bag clippings and leave them out. You will not be fined

      • Question re: yard trimmings are being picked up in Buckhead but not NPU-T, why? They are not aware

      • Question re: Will bills be adjusted for the time yard clippings are not being collected? Not at this time. Contact council members

   4. Officer Brayboy – Code Enforcement

      • No interior inspections at this time due to Covid-19

      • Exteriors are being inspected for compliance

      • 156 Lawton–eviction/reported for bulk pickup

   5. Aaron Johnson - Fulton County Board of Elections aaronvjohnson@yahoo.com

      • Election issued improved for 8/11 runoff.

      • Smoother process. Increased early voting locations from 8 to 19. State Farm Arena as new location successful

      • There will be 24 voting location in November

      • Recruiting younger/tech savvy poll workers.

8. PLANNER’S REPORT

   1. Matters for Vote/Review and Comment (See attachment)

9. COMMITTEE REPORTS

   1. Zoning & Land Use – Walter Slaton

      • 1 item from planning office, CDP-20-24 Beltline Masterplan Subarea Recommendation – approval with condition of meeting all impacted neighborhoods

        Favor 22 Oppose 1 Abstention 5

      • Update on Entra – Kelly King 212-535-3174 kking@kkingco.com/John Case (Morehouse)

        • Location will have 3 retail spaces. A salon (Jamella Bartley owner) and bookstore which are locally owned. 3rd lease pending

      • Committees including UDC, LRB etc are all meeting remotely

   2. Transportation- Alan Babiliński

      • Marta board meeting on 8/13

      • Summerhill BRT– there were a lot of interest from residents

      • Metropolitan ART–will run every 15 minutes

      • Campbellton/Summerhill will hold additional meetings

      • Route 813 will be reinstated. There will be shelters. Temporary then permanent

      • Diandra Evans– Marta Rider Advisory Councilmember evans.diandra@gmail.com

        • Marta Station renaming was presented by Erica Pines

        • Station renaming include Ashby, Dome, Civic Center, Bankhead and Fort McPherson (potential new names Washington Park, GWCC/Centennial, Downtown Connector, Westside Park, Sylvan Hills/Langford Pwky)

        • Overall, stations being renamed to relate to their current neighborhoods/locations

   3. Public Safety- Jason Hudgins

      • Please complete census and encourage neighbors to do so. We are at 52% completion and should be at approximately 63% at this time

      • Request absentee ballots if needed. If you do not mail by October, drop off in person or early vote to ensure your vote is counted

      • Sign up to be a poll worker if you are able

      • City Council passed legislation to help deter drag racing. There will be fines.

        • streets in NPU-T impacted by racing are being looked into/traffic studies

   4. Education- Sharifa Jackson

      • Dr. Lisa Herring was sworn in on July 1

      • APS starts 8/24

      • Some charter schools have different dates

      • You can order breakfast and lunch in advance for your kids/students

      • $256 is available per child for those receiving free or reduced lunch

      • 8/13 virtual kindergarten experiences

   5. Finance – Lisa Stines

      • Received grant check from the city and will distribute

      • Submitted application for grant from Emory for environmental improvements- TBD

      • Opening NPU-T bank account

      • Distributed 150 PPE kits to seniors/neighbors

      • NPU-T September neighborhood beautification day TBD on a Saturday

10. PRESENTATIONS

    1. Tapestry Development Group, Inc.–Jonathan (Jon) Toppen

       • Representing Villages of Castleberry

       • Nonprofit affordable housing developer

       • Partnering with HJ Russell

       • 284 Units Phase I construction completed last year

       • Invest Atlanta for getting bonds for this project, which is a task, need letter of support to assist in getting the bonds

       • This is through Atlanta Housing

       • They are hired architect and soliciting bonds, Funding from Invest Atlanta requires community support.

       • Recommendation from committee is to defer until they meet with impacted neighborhood – AUC

         Favor 18 Oppose 3 Abstention 1

11. ANNOUNCEMENTS

    1. Elected Official–Robert Kelly, Commissioner Natalie Hall’s Office robert.kelly@fultoncountyga.gov

       • Hosting a town hall for the cure to help sickle cell leukemia

       • Donor information drive. African Americans are the lowest represented

       • Bethematchatl.org

    2. Elected Officials–Council member Cleta Winslow

       • Work on Dean Rusk Retention Pond is complete. Was put in to alleviate flooding in the Ashview Heights neighborhood

       • Street racing legislation includes fines of up to $1,000

       • Just Us – cement street on Morris Brown Dr. work completed

       • 8/15 Ashview Heights neighborhood clean-up

       • Question re: follow-up on requested sidewalk repair on Lucile between Holderness and Langhorn and four way stop sign at Lucile Ave/Atwood Street? TBD – Kimberly Scott will follow-up with Ms. Winslow by phone

    3. Wan Smith - Partnership Southern Equity

       • Re: Energy equity. Virtual input session on 9/7

       • Emergency Electricity Location September 7th 7pm. register online BIT.LY/AUCHUB OR 404-666-9266

    4. Carter Coleman – APD Urban Planning

       • SPI4 Adoption–Urban Plan for Vine City, English Ave, Ashview Heights/AUC

       • Vine City plan was adopted

       • TherewillbevirtualfocusgroupsmovingforwardtoAshviewHeights/Just Us

       • Carter E. Coleman III Real Estate Development Associate APD Urban Planning and Management, LLC678-679-3775 CColeman@apdurban.com

12. ADJOURNMENT – 9:27PM