| Below
are minutes for the Tuesday, March 9, 2004, meeting of the Atlanta
Downtown Neighborhood Association, held in the second floor
meeting room of the Atlanta-Fulton Central Library, One Margaret
Mitchell Square. Minutes by ADNA Secretary Jay Tribby.
Meeting Highlights: A presentation by Georgia State
Senator Sam Zamarripa
on State Senate Bill 613, known as the Homestead
Fair Assessment Act; a presentation on the new sewer and
water fee structure by the Atlanta
Watershed Management Department.
Welcomes
ADNA President Erich Starrett opened the meeting at 6:35
and welcomed the 45 people in attendance.
Reports & Opportunities
Downtown Neighborhood Festival & Tour of Lofts
June 12-13, 2004
Festival Co-Chairs Jennifer Henderson and Maria Balais reported
that the 2004 Festival and Tour have been moved to June 12-13.
The Tour of Lofts is still accepting applications from residents
who would like to show their homes. For further information
on applying, see this
page on the CAP web site.
Community Emergency
Response Team (CERT) Training
Captain William May of Atlanta Fire & Rescue reported
on a unique opportunity to train and certify teams of Downtown
residents in responding to extreme emergencies. The Community
Emergency Response Team (CERT) training provides 22 hours
of instruction for groups of 8-12 people and concludes with
a simulated emergency.
To join your Downtown neighbors in a future training, contact
ADNA Board member Tony Stewart at sansooboy@yahoo.com.
For general information about the program, call Captain May
at 404.853.7002.
Presentations
Atlanta Watershed Management Department
Representatives from the city’s Watershed
Management Department described the new fee structure
for sewer and water billing which took effect in January.
They described steps that the city is taking to obtain outside
funding for the upcoming water and sewer separation projects,
slated to begin in May 2005. These include grants from the
state of Georgia and the federal government, as well as a
prospective municipal sales tax increase. As outside revenue
is secured, the scheduled rate increases for 2005 and beyond
will be reduced.
Many in attendance expressed concern that the mayor and City
Council are not doing enough to create an equitable fee structure
for Downtown residents, many of whom live in multi-unit buildings.
Under the current fee structure, individuals who live in multi-unit
buildings are arbitrarily charged the highest rates for sewer
and water use. The reason given for this is that, typically,
multi-unit buildings do not have meters for individual units.
ADNA Board member Dorthey Hurt said the rate structure sends
an unattractive message to Downtown residents that they are
not valued.
The April ADNA meeting will feature much more on this hot
topic. ADNA is inviting selected city officials to attend
the meeting and explore equitable solutions with Association
members.
For more on this issue, including the new rate structure:
www.cleanwateratlanta.org.
Homestead Fair Assessment Act
Georgia State Senator Sam
Zamarripa presented an overview of Georgia State Senate
Bill 613, the Homestead Fair Assessment Act. The legislation
will create a homestead exemption for any increased value
of a home after purchase. Under the bill, property values
can still go up, but the homeowner does not pay taxes on the
new value--the exemption rises to match the increase. The
exemption lasts until the home is sold. This legislation affects
only Atlanta and Fulton County, and would go into effect if
voters approve it in the next election.
To read the legislation in its entirety, go to: http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2003_04/fulltext/sb613.htm
To share your views on the legislation with Senator Zamarripa’s
office: 404.463.8054.
Underground Atlanta Security Task Force
ADNA President Erich Starrett is representing ADNA on this
new task force. If you have views on security issues at Underground
Atlanta, e-mail ADNA at downtownatl@hotmail.com.
ADNA Donation to Atlanta Police Foundation
ADNA is making a $500 donation to the Atlanta Police Foundation.
The donation has been made possible through ADNA membership
fees, revenue from the 2003 Downtown Festival, and other social
activities throughout the year. ADNA intends to make a second
donation after the 2004 Festival.
New Downtown Businesses
Mocha Delites
has opened at 53 Broad Street. Currently, Mocha Delites serves
gourmet coffees and teas, breakfast and lunch items, desserts,
and snacks Monday-Friday. Starting April 3, the shop will
open on Saturday mornings from 8 a.m.-12 noon. The owners
are very interested in seeing the shop become a Saturday morning
gathering space for Downtown residents. Let them know your
thoughts over a cup of coffee, or give the shop a call at
404.658.0032.
Bombay Cleaners has opened at 46 Forsyth Street NW.
The shop features dry cleaning and alteration services. The
owners are interested in gauging neighborhood interest in
pick-up and delivery services. Share your ideas with them
by stopping by the shop--or give them a call at 404.522.5171.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m.
Next Meeting
Tuesday, April 13, 6:30-8:00 p.m., Atlanta-Fulton Central Library.
To Join ADNA or Renew Membership
Individual memberships $25; household $40; corporate/business
$60. To renew, download an application.
Only those whose memberships are current may vote at monthly
Association meetings.
|
