Toonerville Trolley Neighborhood Association

20 May 2010 - Meeting NOTES

Toonerville Trolley Neighborhood Association

Meeting 20 MAY 2010

(NOTES - not minutes)

 

Folks- It is difficult to chair a meeting and take notes, so if there are errors or omissions, lemme nose.

 

The meeting was attended by (in no specific order)- DiBlasi, Hemberger, Kessler, Mason, Driskell, Furnish, Tucker, Bill & Alice Walsh, Bessinger and Jent.

 

The meeting started 15 minutes later than scheduled (started 7:15) because Bessinger and Jent both notified me that they were going to be about 20 minutes late.

 

The proposed agenda:

·         Financial - Jent

·         Jodi et al. on Dog Park fund raising ideas- Bessinger & Mason

·         Curb painting to dissuade individuals from parking near alley entrance/egress - DiBlasi & Mason

·         Fort George mowing - DiBlasi and anyone

·         E-mail tree for complaints to city (since they appear to ignore individual complaints) - DiBlasi

·         Donations - DiBlasi

o   OLNC

o   Central Park

·         Fort George Neighborhood Association contact about potluck with police & fire due to inordinate number of break-in in their neighborhood

·         Don Driskell is elected as president of Old Louisville Chamber of Commerce

·         Street Tree Grant from Brightside -Kessler

·         Thunder Plant Swap report - Kessler

 

We informally decided to go with who was present.

 

A discussion was opened by DiBlasi about the current complains of vehicles parked at alley entrances. Some vehicles actually block part of the alley. There is an ordinance that vehicles cannot park within 30 feet of the center of the intersection - this is a safety issue. This issue is a constant problem in Old Louisville, especially with one-way streets where traffic travels at high speed. Numerous complaints to CM Unseld's office have resulted in a request from that office to the company that writes parking tickets to "pay particular attention to Old Louisville".

 

OLNC has come up with a faux ticket that is actually a pleasant warning, that we can place on parked vehicles, asking them not to park so close to the alley entrance. Apparently, for those willing to put them on windshields, they are available from OL Information Center.

 

We have also found out, that according to city policy, "No Parking" signs are only installed after four accidents per year. However, anyone, with a $25 permit, can paint the curbs yellow (within proscribed limits) indicating no parking areas. Then, one assumes the violators will stop parking so close to the alley entrances.

 

Much discussion ensued and it was decided to "target" the 1300 Block of 1ST Street. We will seek permits and paint alley entrances and around the fire hydrants. We will also ask for "regular" enforcement. If this works, we will expand to other intersections members consider dangerous.

 

We feel is may be an idea to inform the public by writing an article for the Chapel News. It needs to be in by Tuesday.

 

Dog Park funding was discussed by Jodi Bessinger and Daniel Mason. Two major ideas were discussed to raise money for the Old Louisville Dog Park. The first is movies in Fort George. The idea is to show two movies, the early one suitable for kids, the second suitable for adults and older kids. When the movies are shown, people can bring food and beverages, chairs, tables, blankets and just enjoy the evening. Toonerville could also sell soft drinks, popcorn (someone has a machine), and hot dogs. Maybe we could charge admission and for the price, you get a hot dog and drink. The target date is Saturday 12 JUNE.

 

Details need to be worked out - movie rental and rights, movie selection (much debate about that - should each movie have a dog??), projection and sound equipment, who will prepare food and other questions. There is an organizational meeting, this Saturday at 1000 am at Daniel Mason's estate (1323 1ST ST). Come prepared to work and volunteer.

 

The second fundraiser is the literary arts - Dan knows a nationally known poet [Mathew Graham?] who is willing to conduct a half hour reading. If we can get other local poets interested, we could have an evening of poetry reading in Fort George. Again, people can bring food and beverages and / or we could sell to them. There would be a small donation asked for attendance. We could get donations for a silent auction.

 

Prior to the poetry reading, we could hold a reception / cocktail party (at the Dawson estate) where people could meet the poets. Food, maybe if we can get David Domine to come and use recipes from his cookbook, could be provided. At the reception, we would ask for contributions for the Dog Park.

 

Aaron Jent (treasurer) provided a financial report. We have $1999.91. He has written the check for Toonerville's OLNC dues, but needs to deliver or mail it.

 

Don Driskell has just been elected as president of the Old Louisville Chamber of Commerce (OLCC). He explained that he wanted the OLCC to run like a business. He pointed out that annual dues for a business is $95 and pointed out what one received for membership. Don also pointed out that OL Visitor's Center has a budget of about $2000 / month and yet we have more visitation than the City of Louisville's Visitors Center - that has a much higher budget. Maybe people want to visit Old Louisville. Therefore, he wants to promote Old Louisville more.

 

Don suggested a festival or activity in Old Louisville once a month jointly supported by OLCC and a neighborhood association or other group. OLCC partnering with Toonerville to support eh OL Dog Park could be one such activity. Don has a new person who is apparently a fundraiser who can do all the work, has many contacts and works for 10 percent of the funds generated.

 

Don also pointed out that OLCC has a website - OLChamber.com - where calendar items can be placed. Once they are on the OLCC website, they are automatically entered in the city, county, and state "things to do" tourism calendars.

 

Aaron Jent brought up the fact that he is hosting a website. He wants to buy the domain names "Toonerville Trolley" or some variant of it. He wants to host a community blog and if homeowners have done research on their houses, they can put them up there. He has seen this work in other areas and they generate a great deal of outside interest in neighborhoods such as outs. More information as this develops.

 

Someone noted that once we establish a "name" for Fort George, possibly we could rent the space for activities. There was really no discussion about this.

 

DiBlasi brought up the question of donations to OLNC and Central Park. He suggested a small donation this year because of the work we are trying to accomplish at Fort George and the OL Dog Park. There was discussion about our current need for funds and other efforts such as curb painting that will require money. There was no motion to donate to either.

 

Rebecca Kessler spoke about the Brightside grant that she had written - Street Trees. We have received $1000 from Operation Brightside. Toonerville had contributed $100 and Ouerback had contributed $100 for a total of $1200. Trees are expensive and one of the tree wells has a stump that needs grinding. The trees are going in on the 1300 block of Brook Street. In this area there are no power lines and many of the trees have been killed for whatever reason along this stretch of street. The species of tress has not been chosen. Kessler wants trees that produce bright fall colors. The trees, after discussion with the city arborist, will be planted in the fall for better survivability.

 

Another important aspect to this grant is that Brightside limits the number of times an organization gets funding. Toonerville acquired this grant independently of OLIC (using our own tax number). Had we gone through OLIC, it would have been the second year and they would not have been able to get another Brightside grant for a year or two. This way, both organizations are eligible for one more grant, before we have to "sit out" a year.

 

The proposed community garden on the property across of Burger Boy (northwest corner Brook & Burnett) was not funded. However, Dan Borsch has tilled it and it will be planted. OLNC is going to be involved as this project develops.

 

Rebecca closed with a discussion of the Thunder Plant Swap. She indicated it was a great deal of fun and, due to the widely distributed e-mail, there were people from all over Old Louisville (people from 6TH ST) that participated. She thinks this may become a regular event.

 

We were reminded that the Chapel News deadline is this Tuesday (25 MAY), if anyone wants to get an article - email it to Heather Cruikshank (chapelofstphilip@bellsouth.net).

 

There was a rush to adjourn the meeting. It appears Aaron Jent made the motion and it was seconded by Rebecca Kessler. No one seems to have voted as they all bolted for the door at 8:35 pm