WCA May Meeting
(05/21/01)

• Board Members: Brett Fox, Ann Lunson
• Committee Members: Ellen Jones, Howard McGowan
• WCA members

Meeting called to order at 7:42.

Current Business

Election of Officers: The slate presented at the March 2001 meeting was elected with one opposed, two abstentions, and remaining in favor. The new executive board is as follows:

• President: Ellen Jones
• Vice President: Don Gross
• Recording Secretary: Dede O'Donnell
• Corresponding Secretary: Jim Toronto
• Treasurer: Ann Lunson
• Parliamentarian: Mike Murtha

Dues Notice: Ann Lunson, WCA Treasurer, stated (in response to a question) that the fiscal year covers 1 June 2001 to 31 May 2002. According to current by-laws, all adults residing or owning real property within WCA boundaries is eligible for membership, upon proper application and payment of dues of $5.00 per person. Several members had been under the impression that the dues and membership applied to each household, but the current bylaws specify per person.

Civic Association Priorities for the Following Year:

One member proposed that the Civic Association should involve itself less with funding and Conservation Plan projects and more with our overall community needs. This participant advocated that the Civic Association become more involved in zoning issues. This thought was echoed by several other members who suggested that it would be nice if the Civic Association could begin to function more as the voice of the neighborhood to express overall neighborhood priorities to the County Board.

Other participants countered with the observation that the Civic Association had done a detailed survey of neighborhood goals, the perceived strengths and weaknesses of the community, and major problems. Another noted that our focus on Conservation Plan projects was because, as a civic association with a newly-approved plan, we had only a limited time to take advantage of the prioritization this status gave us. Another member agreed, noting that the attention to the two Conservation Plan projects -- Little Falls and Minor HIll -- was the outgrowth of open discussions and votes; implementing these projects was a way for our neighborhood to begin to get back some of the taxes we pay in.

Several members expressed support for additional beautification and parks projects.

Several members observed that the major problem with addressing additional issues was lack of adequate participation. Several others echoed that observation, adding that our Conservation Plan projects should inspire greater participation by residents.

One participant criticized the practice (stipulated in the current by-laws) of voting for the executive board at membership meetings. This participant proposed instead voting through the mail. Another suggested that, if the ballot mailing went only to dues-paying members, this would encourage more participation by residents in choosing officers. This change would require a modification of the bylaws.

Speeding/pedestrian safety was a major concern of many participants, who suggested that the Civic Association work to resolve a host of traffic issues in addition to those on Little Falls Road. One member expressed the hope that the median strip in the middle of Little Falls would promote pedestrian safety by offering a safe haven for street crossers, suggesting the use of stop signs or stop lights if this measure did not work. Other problem streets mentioned: Somerset, WIlliamsburg, 27th Street, and Sycamore. One participant suggested that the new four-way stop signs be highlighted by painting prominent white lines to mark out the intersection. Another expressed a desire for traffic calming measures, but not speed bumps. Several participants noted that the Williamsburg Traffic Circle is confusing. Another expressed support for construction of sidewalks on those streets that currently lack them.

Several members proposed that WCA devote more attention to social activities, such as block parties.

Another suggested that we try to increase participation through a membership drive.

Another participant proposed that we compile a new directory of WIlliamsburg residents.

Several participants suggested that the meeting program include a speaker from the County and time at each meeting to discuss citizen concerns.

New Business: Residential Zoning

The remainder of the meeting was devoted to the issue of residential zoning and the structure currently under construction on Sycamore Street. One participant proposed that the Sycamore structure was only a symptom of a broader issue: the need for balance between two (sometimes) conflicting goals: allowing and encouraging upgrades to existing houses that made the housing stock in this community more responsive to current needs while discouraging construction that many neighbors perceived as detrimental to the neighborhood (i.e., because too little of the lot was left for green space).

This presentation sparked a lively discussion, during which participants expressed conflicting views of what construction was allowed under current zoning restrictions. Participants requested that the WCA President query County zoning officials on this issue and post an outline of current zoning guidelines and a letter expressing neighborhood views of the Sycamore construction on the Civic Association web site.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:05 PM.