Below are minutes for the September 9, 2003, meeting of the Atlanta Downtown Neighborhood Association, held at the Atlanta-Fulton Central Library. Notes were written by ADNA Secretary Wendy Darling.

Welcome & Introductions

ADNA President Dorthey Hurst welcome the gathering, asking people to introduce themselves. In addition to Downtown residents living in a variety of different buildings, there were represenatives from Georgia World Congress Center, the Shakespeare Tavern, Central Atlanta Progress / Atlanta Downtown Improvement District, The Story newspaper, District 2 City Councilor Debi Starnes, Friends of Sweet Auburn, and several applicants looking for zoning or license recommendations.

Board Reports

Dorthey Hurst introduced several issues that have come up among the Board:

• Bylaws.
  • Everyone (especially all ADNA members) are strongly urged to read the bylaws. Bylaws were distributed on paper but are also available online.
  • Also remember, to vote on issues or vote in elections, you must be a paid member.
  • Amendment possibilities:
    • Update to map boundaries, which are not quite accurate in official document;
    • Directors/Board org structure changes, which some people have questions. Present structure is perceived as overcomplicated and some simplification seems to be in order. It's decided, through discussion, that the issue merits its own special meeting, so we can talk more thoroughly and have it reviewed by lawyer prior to Oct. meeting.
• Elections
  A nominating committee will be accepting nominations for elected positions. (Nominations will also be accepted the night of the elections.) The two committee volunteers are Sam Bacote and Donna Tomsula. Contact information will be sent out shortly.
• Community Prosecutor
  We now have a "Community Prosecutor" whose job it is to work with District Attorney's office on behalf of Zone 5, prosecuting crimes within just this zone. Her name is Marcia McClutcheon (sp?) and she will be appearing at next meeting.

General ADNA Announcements

• Next Happy Hour @ Lunatique, Wyndham Hotel
  Don't forget the Downtown Dweller Happy Hour, Friday, September 12th, 6-8 p.m., Lunatique at the Wyndham on Spring Street. There will be door prizes and other fun stuff! A great way to meet your neighbors!

Businesses Seeking Support

Several businesses came to present proposals and ask for our support at the NPU and/or City level.

• Atlanta Classic Weekend
  Robert Johnson spoke to the group about Atlanta Classic Weekend @ Woodruff Park. Sept. 19-21. Gave outline of what is planned along with a one-page handout. A lot of sports teams are playing at home that weekend and there's the 100 Black Men classic, with parade. Offered explantation of all their provisions for street layout, sound, food service, cleanup. Sat. & Sun., have permit until 9, but shutting down at 8. There will be no activities on the grass. Grease will go in drums, not in drains. They do pre- and post-event inspections. 15 ADNA members vote in favor of event getting our backing as OK.
• Level3.
  Lawyer who formerly came with another client planning to buy the Level3 space is now out of the picture -- now there's a new interested buyer. This new client (Samille ?) and his business partner have been in hotel business "for many years" and own hotels all throughoust the southeast. They want to purchase nightclub and get into that business. No physical imporvements to exterior. This is strictly a nightclub, Thurs-Sun nightclub, some Mondays, Tues.-Wed. more private. Client described as "upscale," 21+, cover will be $10-20. Music will be European techno, dance music. Deal is not closed, ETA Oct.-Nov, plan open end of Nov. Vote: 15 members in favor of saying OK to a liquor license.
• Compass
  This hospitality company. Hosting private events in lobby and meeting rooms at the Georgia-Pacific buildng. 15 yes votes to their request for a liquor licence.

Gold Medal Garden

Presentation by Pat Cudden, Master Gardener with Fulton Count, talking about a wonderful new project for Centennial Olympic Park: a "Gold Medal" perennials garden in the northern end of the park area by playground, plaza, across from where aquarium wil be. All plants wil be "Gold Medal" winners. The group looking at doing it is looking to partner with us, doing work doing it, maintain it, etc. In planning stage at the moment, but they would start in October. Further information will be sent out.

Ga. State Rep. Douglas Dean

ADNA President Dorthey Hurst explained that she invited Rep. Dean in after something came up last week. A mass feeding was done at Woodruff Park, going against the stand of ADNA, the mayor, the Comission for the Homeless and others, and the letter that went out to people announcing had the names of City Councilor Derrick Boazman, State Sen. Vincent Fort, and State Rep. Doug Dean. After Dorthey and others called him about it, he pulled out his support.

Dean addressed the meetings. Says out of the three men on that feeding event, he's the only one who reps Downtown. He then went on about Downtown revitalization. Said he's against people coming in from outside (esp. other counties) to do feeding and has himself kicked group out of Summerhill for doing feedings. However, says event was in protest of present plans (e.g. of Commission). Right now, is trying to set up meeting with Commision / Mayor Franklin so people who did this feeding can pose their issues to Commission.

Question and Answer Session:

• Dorthey asks him about Honey's, where he was when Commission was having hearings, what is he doing now, as opposed to in the past. Dean says he had back surgery, was out of commission for some time.
• ADNA Vice President Patrick Busko points out how City has taken on so much, even when it's not really City's responsibility. Says it's really distressing to see other parties (state, county, etc.) criticize and undermine when the City is doing more than its share.
• Jennifer Hender points out that contrary to somethign Rep. Dean said, the police are not arresting homeless, but criminals.
• Jason (Centennial House) points out issue of homeless being "lost," separated from community, family, end up in Atlanta.
• Bill Whitlock tells Dean that "Downtown is NOT a dumping ground."

To contact Rep. Dean, call (404) 656-0137 or write 412 Legislative Office Building; Atlanta GA 30334. (See profile: http://www.gssanet.org/ind/gash048.html)

Miscellaneous

• Next Happy Hour @ Lunatique, Wyndham Hotel
  Don't forget the Downtown Dweller Happy Hour, Friday, September 12th, 6-8 p.m., Lunatique at the Wyndham on Spring Street. There will be door prizes and other fun stuff! A great way to meet your neighbors!
• Coke Sign
  Patrick Busko has talked to Coca Cola about getting an ADNA "Welcome" message onto the Coke sign at Five Points. Ideas should be emailed in to ADNA.
• Shakespeare Tavern
  Came to promote themselves as a special deal for residents: 2-for-1 on Thursdays! All-Shakespeare theater is located at 499 Peachtree Street and is enjoying its 15th season. Upcoming Thursday shows: Taming of the Shrew (Sept. 18) and Twelfth Night (Sept. 25). Shows start at 7:30, dinner and erinks from 6:35. To reserve, call 404-874-5299. Mention "Condo Thursday" -- and if you don't have a coupon they handed out, print out this email. More info on theaater: www.shakespearetavern.com

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