Opening Comments - Myron Polster
• Reminder that starting in September, EACA meetings will start at 7pm instead of 7:30.
• Introduction of new neighbors: Glen Galish of The Galish Group has just moved into 752 Moreland (the new live-work condos on corner of Moreland and Ormewood). He invited all neighbors to their grand opening party, 6:30-9:30pm on Saturday, June 30.
• Approval of May 2007 Minutes by unanimous hand vote.
7:50 P.M. Special Reports
EACA Conflict of Interest Policy – Heath Turner
• Heath Turner invited questions on the EACA Conflict of Interest Policy, which was approved 24-0-0.
Burgess-Peterson Academy Playground - Jennifer Mullins
• LEAP (Linking Education and Parents) meets the 3rd Tuesday of every month at Burgess Peterson School’s media center at 7:30pm.
• The fundraising total for the Burgess-Peterson playground has reached $8,843.29 (including a recently awarded United Way grant for $1,000). We need to raise a total of $15,000 by the end of August to receive the $5,000 matching grant Home Depot has awarded us. Upcoming fundraisers will include a benefit concert at the Earl on August 10, T-shirts sales (available by end of month), and possibly a neighborhood cookbook. Your donations and assistance are encouraged.
Battle of Atlanta - Henry Bryant
• This year’s B*ATL (Battle of Atlanta Celebration/Commemoration) will be held Saturday, July 21 and will mark the 143rd anniversary of the key Civil War battle fought in our neighborhood. B*ATL organizers hope to continue building the annual event to include more National/International interest. Highlights of the celebration will include living history soldiers and civilians in the East Atlanta Village, battle reenactments a short shuttle ride from the Village, walking and driving tours, a performance of “Gone With the Wind in 20 Minutes”,historic fiddle playing, and period music at Martha Brown United Methodist Church. In addition, East Atlanta ACE Hardware will screen the film “Glory" on the side of their building after dark; Village restaurants will be having specials, Civil War memorabilia will be for sale, etc.
• Contact glensatellyahoo.com if you’d like to be a civilian reinactor and/or go to www.batlevent.org for more information about B*ATL.
EAV Streetscape Phase II - Valerie Bell-Smith, Department of Public Works
• Introduced the Streetscape design team: Brad Jones of Jordan, Jones and Goulding Landscape Architects, Jeff Mills with JJG consulting, and Alan Johnson with the City of Atlanta.
• Presentation from Brad Jones: The design has been completed and features the same design elements of Phase I Streetscape on Flat Shoals (wider sidewalks, benches, on-street parking, new streetlights and trash receptacles, landscape plantings, etc.). Phase II will include the stretch of Flat Shoals (and McPherson) from Moreland to Metropolitan in addition to the stretch of Glenwood from Brownwood to Flat Shoals. The entrance to Joseph Avenue off Glenwood will also be spruced up to provide a more decorative gateway to Brownwood Park. The entrance to EAV will be redone at Moreland and McPherson, removing the existing median to provide room for a small green space/park and new, more visible signage. Planners expect environmental approval by August and hope to start construction next summer.
East Atlanta Strut - Mary Yetter
• The 10th annual East Atlanta Strut will be held Saturday, September 15, and is one of East Atlanta’s biggest opportunities of the year to show off our neighborhood. In addition, it’s our largest fundraiser benefiting local organizations like EACA, EABA, SOPO bikes, the EAV Farmer’s Market, and the East Atlanta Kids Club. Strut welcomes community organizations, churches, and non-profits to participate in the community area, and hopes everyone will spread the word, come out and enjoy the event, and/or get involved by volunteering.
• Strut features a 5K run, the Strut parade (led once again by the Marching Abominables), an all-day music stage next to the Earl (Criminal Records participating), a silent auction, kid’s area, an art fair, and great food and drink. To volunteer, email strutvolunteersgmail.com or go to www.eastatlantastrut.com for more details.
Police Report - Chad Hudson (in for Major Propes)
• Hudson says the additional unit patrolling East Atlanta between 9pm and 5am every day has really helped and they’ve noticed a decrease in our local crime.
Crime Report - Jennifer Murray
• Burglaries dropped significantly but picked up slightly in auto larcenies (mostly in village area). Auto thefts are down, too.
8:45 P.M. Committee Reports
Public Safety - Ed Gilgor
• A dog attack occurred recently on Brownwood Avenue; The Dekalb Animal Control’s response was not satisfactory—and it turns out the dog has been reported in the past multiple times. Ed will report back on whether sanctions are administered.
• Sanitation problems with the dumpster(s) behind Graveyard Tavern are almost resolved.
• Ed is working with Melissa (Beautification) to explore getting new trashcans for the Village
NPU-W - Ed Gilgor
• Three alcohol licenses were considered-two were changes of agent (Blue Frog Cantina and La Casita), plus a new application from recent Village addition Cenci; All three have signed good neighbor agreements, and Ed recommended approving. All were approved by unanimous voice vote.
• Ed is exploring why City of Atlanta fees are so high ($4.50 per transaction) for citizens to pay bills online and by phone. Ed feels the City should be covering costs but not making profit on these transactions. By unanimous vote, EACA members recommend to City to reduce these fees to cover cost of transaction only. Ed will take to City Council.
• A 45-foot windmill is being built in Grant Park, and at present, there is not much oversight required of power generating wind structures. NPU is requesting that regulation processes similar to those currently in place for satellite dishes also be required for windmills or any other such structures
Security Patrol - Myron Polster
• July 1st is the next entry date for new members to sign up for the East Atlanta Security Patrol—see patrol.eaca.netsecurity patrol link) for more details on joining. Existing members will be getting reminders to renew via email.
Membership - Heath Turner
• New members can pay at any EACA meeting with cash or check, or can sign up and pay online via www.eaca.net. Annual membership for a household is $10.
Beautification - Mellissa Dobraski
• There will be an East Atlanta Village clean-up Saturday, June 23 from 9:30-11:30 AM. To get involved in this or future EAV cleanups, email beautificationeaca.net or just show up—schedule is posted in the EACA Newsletter or at www.eaca.net
• Beautification is looking into procuring additional trash receptacles for village, as well as cigarette receptacles in front of businesses.
Transportation - Larry Johnson
• Johnson’s monthly topical song, “Make ‘Em Wide,” (sung to the tune of “Make ‘Em Laugh” from Singing in the Rain) concerned Atlanta’s penchant for building bigger roads rather than actually addressing traffic and transportation problems.
