Mason Mill Civic Association
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| Mason Mill Civic Association
Fall Business MEETING Sunday, September 28, 2014 4:00 p.m. Intown Community Church, Room 213 M I N U T E S 1. President Mary Hinkel opened the meeting and immediately introduced Al Fowler, Public Information Specialist from the North Central Precinct of the DeKalb County Police Department for a Health & Safety Presentation. Mr. Fowler reported that this precinct, which includes our area, covers about 43 miles and has a 7-8 member team of officers who patrol the area day and night. This team is separate from officers responding to 911 calls. Mr. Fowler handed out two brochures: (1) DeKalb County Police Telephone Resource List and (2) Safety At Home: A Closer Look, and reminded us that safety and security requires a partnership between residents and police. He encouraged residents to always call 911 when you feel unsafe and to use cellphone cameras to capture information. He also reported that crime in the area is down from last year, and the police recently apprehended a group of thieves who admitted to a number of burglaries in this area. Also attending the meeting was Lt. Meredith, who reported on 911 call procedures. He reminded us that the operator should ask if we want to meet with an officer. That is what will prompt an officer to meet with you either before or after he handles the call. If you are concerned with how an officer responds, please ask to speak to their supervisor, or to have a supervisor come to the scene. Lt. Meredith also reminded us that any solicitor at the door should have a county-issued solicitation permit and identification. In addition, if someone comes to your door, you don't need to open the door, but you should let the person know you're there, in case they are scoping out which houses are empty and not empty. Tell them you're busy and you can't come to the door. If you are suspicious, call 911. 2. President Mary Hinkel proceeded to welcome members, new neighbors and guests and introduced members of the board and executive committee. 3. The Minutes of May 18, 2014 Annual Meeting were approved without dissent. 3. Pat Brittain made the Treasurer’s report, detailing income and outflow of funds this fiscal year to date. With annual dues paid on the day of this meeting, the total funds in MMCA account amounted to $8,707.86. Recent expenses included donations to the Intown Community Church and the Alzheimer Association (in memory of Susan Berry) and administrative expenses. Mary Hinkel presented a budget for the year, showing projected income and expenses for the year. 4. Patrick Noonan reported for the Committee on Parks, Public Space, and Environment: Patrick reported on upcoming volunteer days at the Park. He urged those present to consider volunteering their time on October 11, the next scheduled Workday in the Park. 6. Mary Hinkel reported on Traffic and Transit: Thank you to Steve Miller for his work maintaining the islands. Also to Brad Lawley, John and Reed Owens, the Hinkels and Fords for water usage and/or picking up trash in islands. Potholes and sink holes are reported monthly; the County is responding, usually within a month. Street repaving is based on a numerical system. Roads ranking greater than 31 are scheduled for repaving as funds allow. Currently our streets are rated as follows: Mason Mill (26), McConnell (16), Vistavia (23), and Houston Mill (32). The President will follow-up with the County to understand the criteria for this ranking and to point out the importance of Mason Mill and Houston Mill to traffic headed to Emory and the CDC. Erica Birg of VE and Patrick Noonan are following up on the changes at Lavista and Houston Mill. We've lost our right turn protection markers, so drivers from Houston Mill must stop and look before turning right on a red light. They are asking about why these changes were made and if any monitoring is being done to assess whether the changes are working or not. The Ga DOT is proposing to add two left turns at the intersection of Lavista and Biltmore. On the horizon is the CDC's Master Plan calling for an additional parking deck on the campus, which will result in a net increase of 1200 parking spaces. The new deck will be located at the end of Houston Mill on the CDC campus. The civic association responded negatively to this plan during the community response period and our residents continue to oppose the new deck. We expect further discussion about this matter to occur in collaboration with Emory and Victoria Estate. 7. Cityhood Update: City of Atlanta Annexation Councilmember Alex Wan of Atlanta's Sixth District (Druid Hills, Virginia Highlands, Morningside) addressed issues for our neighborhood to consider regarding annexation as an option to staying in unincorporated DeKalb County or joining a new city. City and county services Public Safety 2,000 City of Atlanta police vs. 1,000 DeKalb County police Commitment to public safety by Mayor Reed and City Council Property & Zoning Well established history and pattern of zoning matters Neighborhood Planning Units (NPUs) are asked to weigh in on zoning matters Urban Design Commission (UDC) has special expertise in historic preservation Infrastructure City is preparing for a $250 million infrastructure bond referendum in March 2015 The bond referendum will address sidewalks, streets, bridges, and buildings It will be funded through operational budget efficiencies NOT property tax increases Water & Sewer City of Atlanta CEO Geissler replies below to the question of whether citizens in the area that could be annexed will buy water and sewer services from their current provider -- DeKalb County -- or Atlanta. The default position under Georgia law is that boundary moves will not change ownership of infrastructure used to provide water and sewer services or water rates themselves and water and sewer services will continue to be provided by the customers’ existing provider, unless there is some agreement to amend the current service areas. Some customers in the area receive services from DeKalb County while others receive services from Atlanta and this would not change as a result of annexation. Atlanta currently provides sewer service to DeKalb on a wholesale basis, which will not change as a result of the annexation. (It is highly unlikely that DeKalb would be able to justify a rate differential on sewer and water services for a jurisdiction that is totally within the County’s boundary so, customers should not see rate changes unless DeKalb and Atlanta make a separate agreement as part of the annexation. Levels of service would not change either). The DeKalb water consent decree further assures that the City would not purchase the infrastructure because it would also end up assuming consent decree work liability AND DeKalb cannot sell infrastructure because bonds are tied to that revenue obligation. Taxes Increase in property taxes is not as high as perceived Assessed and collected by DeKalb County City of Atlanta (including schools) Credit back for services now being provided by City HOST consideration Will it be recalibrated to address various cityhood impacts (past and future)? If so, then it will be destined to go up. Further analysis Shows perceived increase in City property taxes is really not that high. Trajectories City of Atlanta has been modestly rolling back its millage rate during the past two years. Schools Post annexations, students would become APS students Small scale: would enter the Grady cluster Large scale: one possible path is for APS to contract back to DeKalb County to educate students in their current schools. Another path is through establishment of the Druid Hills Charter program. Resident Diane Benjamin spoke about this effort Methods of Annexation -100% petition For single properties City Council action -50% + 1 (referendum) For larger areas Need state legislative action to authorize referendum Could be simultaneously considered with various DeKalb cityhood conversations as an option for those not drawn into their boundaries. -60% (petition) - for larger areas - 60% of property owners and 60% of registered voters must sign - limited by boundary length proportion to shared boundary with Atlanta - needs council action
- MMCA should determine wishes of the neighborhood and convey those to new city leaders and state legislators before the Nov 15 map deadline. 8. Communication issues: Mary Hinkel reported that she is working with Sally Chase and Chip Gooding on using Mailchimp as a tool for sending out official civic association emails. In addition, residents are encouraged to use Nextdoor.com for neighbor-to-neighbor communications. 9. Social and Special Events: The civic association's appreciation was expressed to Hilary Ford and Eric Benjamin for their work in creating a New Resident Welcome package that will include a letter from the civic association and information relating to Nextdoor.com, Mailchimp and Friends of Thomson Park. Neighbors are encouraged to attend the neighborhood picnic on Sunday, October 12th. Resident attendance at meetings and events will be tabulated and at year end (June 30) the association will host a street party for the street having the greatest participation. 10. The meeting was adjourned at 5:30 pm. Directory: files files -> Answer True False 2 points Question 2 files -> Integer programming and game theory files -> 4 Integer Programming files -> Bpa vehicle Window Repair Scenario #1 task: Procure vehicle window relacement. Objective files -> Pop Warner History files -> North Carolina Inclusion Initiative Mapping Where Children with ieps are Being Served Purpose files -> Fall 2013 Spring 2014 Program Data: Standard 1 Exhibit 4d files -> Hanban – asia society confucius classrooms network 2010 request for proposal files -> Northern England’s set-jetting locations Download 22.15 Kb. Share with your friends:
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