Castleberry Hill Neighborhood Association
General Business Meeting
May 17, 2010, 6:30pm
The Granite Room – 211 Peters St.
MINUTES
President, Laurel Emery, called the meeting to order at 6:36pm.
SPECIAL GUESTS
Major Khirus Williams – Zone 5 Commander
- Major Williams stated he, the mayor, and the chief received more than 80 emails from our neighborhood.
- The parameters of beat 508 are MLK, southside is I-20, westside is Northside Dr., and east side is I-75. This is really big for a beat as it includes the state capitol, underground, city hall, not to mention every accident on I-75, I-20. This is tackled by day watch, the evening watch, then morning watch.
- Major Williams realized quickly that this beat is too large for 1 officer, which is why C’hill has a detail. This was working until we started seeing an increase in crime here early this year. We had a 5% increase. By adding details, we turned that into a 10% decrease in crime.
- It was then time to rotate those additional officers out which coincided with someone who went to Chief Turner and complained about additional police. However no one gave orders to remove police officers, we don’t respond to a complaint like that, we base decisions on the data.
- They practice CPR: compliance, professional, and responsiveness. The goal is for every employee to be safe.
- Major Williams wants to see a 10% decrease in crime in our beat in addition to a decrease in all beats in zone 5. For this year’s period we have 20% YTD decrease against 2009. Murder is the only crime we are up in this year. We are 5 incidents this year compared to 4 in 2009 for same period. One crime is one too many, but we are glad to see the decrease. We understand it is very personal when you are victim, your neighbor is a victim, or someone else you know.
- There will be an increase in details in the near term b/c it is in the best interest of this community. We are not here to harass you or violate your constitutional rights. Check points allow us to see who is coming into CH when you are away at work. You will see slow patrols in this neighborhood.
- Implement community oriented policing: they must provide 2 weekly contacts who they met each week. When you have a problem, you should be able to contact the beat officer.
- We need residents to call 911 when appropriate. When you see anything suspicious, don’t let a crime take place without calling 911. When you see someone illegally trying to park cars, call 911.
- Williams: we need to come up with a good loitering law, we have no law that can manage that. It is not comfortable to walk down a sidewalk and there are 5 males congregated together.
- Resident: the check points are disproportional and excessive.
- Another Resident: I have had businesses all over Atlanta. It is a deterrent to my customers if they see a police car with lights.
- Major Williams: we use checkpoints because the research supports it.
- Resident3: I’m an artist too, and we have owned a building here since XXXX, but last few years her customers don’t feel safe. But with the increased police presence, her customers feel like they can walk around and spend money. Her patrons want to see the police presence.
- Resident: do we have more of a police presence during the day than at night?
- Williams: yes, we want to provide presence while you are away at work.
- Resident: I have called 911 4 times in 4 years, but a police officer has never come.
- Police Officer: we can get a 911 supervisor to come to our June meeting.
- Krista R: We are planning on a field trip to the 911 operations center.
- Resident: can we get the 911 procedures so we can put on our website?
- Major Williams: when you call 911 don’t hang up and call back.
- Same resident: those are the kinds of tips we would like.
- Resident: I understand that crimes are down, but our quality of life issues seem to going up and he’s been here since XXXX and it’s the worst ever: the panhandling, the noise, the illegal parking.
- This is the email for the supervisor of permits and license, bcavender@atlantaga.gov
John Eaves – District 1 at-large Chairman
- John Eaves: here to talk about public safety and county government. The county is mostly responsible for health and library services, but also police enforcement.
- We are getting closer to buying the city jail. He supports buying the jail. County currently outsources some of its incarceration services to others because they are over capacity.
- 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of each month the board of commissioners meet and you are welcome to attend @141 Pryor St, also live streaming website, or can contact his office directly.
OFFICERS’ REPORTS
President: There is a census taker in the neighborhood and please assist him to gain access to buildings.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Public Safety
- Tuesday, June 15 at Artist Trifeca is the next public safety meeting.
Railside Dogpark
- Permit is at the Bureau of Buildings for the fence.
- The visioning map is available.
Pushpin
- The next beneficiary is Cleopas Park and it will be held at Castleberry Point.
NEW BUSINESS, ANNOUNCEMENTS
Cloud IX is seeking a liquor license.
- Ed Johnson is consulting for Cloud IX (formerly the Star restaurant).
- Laurel: 2 pieces to license: safety, health and background check for name on the license. This business was sold and can apply for a temporary liquor license while they are going through the license process. She wants to understand the difference between a new business and a change of ownership.
- Ed and police officer: if the previous business had a valid license and it’s under a year, then they can make application for the temporary license.
- Business owner resident: how many parking places will you have? Star’s previous patrons would park at No Mas.
- Johnson: 50 parking spaces
- Resident: Can you prove you bought the business?
- Johnson: He is consulting on the license; he does not have paperwork for the business transaction.
- There is a motion on the floor to defer. It was seconded. Laurel held an oral vote.
- unanimous to defer, 1 abstentions, none opposed
- The neighborhood did not discuss nor vote on the application of the liquor license.
05/22 W Peachtree Place, Downtown Festival.
- Scavenger hunt, Top of Atlanta tours, rooftop tours.
Boxcar Grocer
- Alfonso and Allison Cross: are opening the Boxcar Grocer. We are still several months out, hopefully September. Will be at 249 Peter St. and will be open 7 days a week. Primarily organic store, urban natural food store. Everyone should be able to eat well. Please feel out a questionnaire for the store.
Atlanta Streets Alive
- Jay Tribby: please come out and support.
National Night Out 2010
Inspector Swoope: This year’s is Aug. 3.
CH as an Eco-district
- Brian Dillman: please provide feedback, he will leave a survey. Also there will be an electronic survey coming out.
Meeting was adjourned at 7:55pm.
