Algiers Point Association Board of Directors


Minutes of Meeting of January 19, 2017

In Attendance were: Susan Aspinwall, Leighton Barrett Strong, Rob Booms, Ralph Bradshaw, Connie Burks*, Brian Dufour, Kelsey Foster, Skip Gallagher, Vlad Ghelase, Virginia Hebert, Paul Langenwalter, Leann Logsdon, Jeremy Miller, Gary Mouton, Tom Roche, and Marty Stroble. Tricia Sperier was absent.
Minutes: The minutes of the November 17, 2016 board meeting were approved.
Treasurer’s Report: Available funds total $24,741.33. Memberships increased significantly over last year, representing $556.05 in income this month. The report was approved.
*Nominations: The proposed Advisory Committee for 2017 was approved. Members are: Dylan Knoll, Jan Matney, Vinnie Pervel, Heather Shields, Kate Stiteler, Lorraine Summers, and Michael Verderosa. Connie Burks was nominated and approved as a Board member of the Algiers Point Association and APA Foundation. Board members and visitors, including Lisbeth Pedrosa, community liaison for City Council District C, introduced themselves.
SOUL (Sustaining Our Urban Landscape) Tree Planting: The tree planting will take place on February 11, 2017. Virginia Hebert will post a notification online of how to apply for those trees which are still available.
Crime Camera Grants: Skip Gallagher will provide specific information for the website on how residents can apply for an APA crime camera grant. He and Connie Burks will work on promoting the installation of cameras on the levee and throughout the neighborhood. The board will consider additional security options – especially for the levee – at the Board Retreat scheduled for January 28, 2017.
Events: Dylan Knoll will coordinate the Spring and Fall seasons of Movies on the Point. The board approved a contribution of $300 toward the annual ALLA Breakfast for District 4 police officers which is scheduled for February 19. Vlad Ghelase voted no on the expenditure. The APA Board Retreat will be held from 9:00 AM to noon on January 28, 2017 in the Mt. Olivet meeting hall. The board approved $500 for the retreat facilitator, Mr. Keith Twitchell of the Committee for a Better New Orleans. The board also approved $1000 for the APA Confetti Kids Mardi Gras Parade, which goes through the neighborhood on February 4, 2017 beginning at 3:00 PM. Family Pirate Day will be held on March 25, 2017 to coincide with Treasures from the Point, the neighborhood’s annual porch sale. APA Clean and Green Day is planned on a date in May.
Development Updates: Pieter Stoffels has a revised design for his City Beach project which he is vetting in the neighborhood. Mike Bertel is still in the permitting process for a residential development on Patterson.
Ferry Terminal Update: The latest information from the RTA provides an overview of the new Canal Street Ferry Terminal. It consists of a new floating dock with a small structure. The floating dock connects to two foot bridges which lead to a new ferry terminal building. The areas on both sides of the terminal building are not covered and the railroad overpass is to be demolished. The RTA will present the design of the new ferries at a public meeting. The board directed the APA President to send a letter to the RTA to communicate concerns about the proposed terminal’s design, in particular the removal of the overpass which currently affords ferry riders a way to safely cross the active train tracks at the foot of Canal Street. In addition, the letter should object to the failure to provide passengers protection from rain and wind.
Membership: Membership is up 72% over last year. Several business owners have joined at the Business Level.
New Business: A new Algiers Point brochure, developed by local business owners, was circulated. The board voted against contributing funds towards the cost when it was pointed out that a former board member had offered to pay for the brochure and that his offer was rejected.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:03 PM.