MINUTES --CPRO Board Meeting

Thursday, January 25, 2018 11:30 a.m. Location: CPRO office, 2611 Columbia Pike

Members Present:Diane Duston, Mike Garcia, Thomas Gibson, Guy Gotts, Alex Iams, Linda LeDuc, Andrew Moore, David Peete, Carmen Romero, John Snyder, Susan Soroko, Tad Lunger. Staff: Cecilia Cassidy, Stephen Gregory Smith, Amanda Lovins. Members Absent: David Orr, Kim Plaugher, Barbara Taylor. Guests: AED’s Marc McCauley, Michael Stiefvater, Alex Iams.

Minutes for November 2017 meeting: Minutes were approved unanimously.

President’s Report:John Snyder has been appointed to Career Center Working Group (CCWG), which will meet on a fast track in the coming months to determine the redevelopment of the Career Center site, which includes the Community H.S., Patrick Henry E.S., Career Center and Columbia Pike Library. The Pike Presidents Group also has Pike civic association representation on the CCWG.

Updates on FY18 projects. Cecilia Cassidy reported on the following projects with follow-ups from board members and staff.

1. Cleaning Program. As part of its cleaning program, CPRO wasone of several nonprofits participating in the MLK Day of Service on January 15, 2018. The project was on the West End bus stop wall at the Pike and Dinwiddie Street. 18 volunteers, including County Board chair Katie Cristol, CPRO prez John Snyder and CPRO staff Amy McWilliams and Stephen Gregory Smith braved the freezing weather to clean up this block on the West End.

2. Banner Program. Staff submitted a banner program proposal to County staff on December 18th, and were waiting for a response.

3. Arlington Mill Farmers Market. The Use Permit for the new farmers market was on the County Board consent agenda for its November meeting and it was approved. Recruitment continues for vendors for the market which is scheduled for a grand opening on May 5.

4. West End Activation Committee. The committee, chaired by Linda LeDuc, advertised for stewards for a Little Free Libraries project in the West End, with a goal of installing one Little Free Library in each of the West End’s four civic associations. 17 applicants -- all booklovers, librarians and avid readers -- applied. Andy Moore applied for a grant from 84 Lumber for materials for the libraries. The Committee’s Holiday Decoration challenge was completed, and decorations were judged by Signature Theater’s Artistic Director Eric Schaefer the week of December 2.

5. Membership. Cecilia circulated a revised copy of a new membership brochure.

CPRO Events:Upcoming events include the Pike Progress Luncheon, to be held April 25 at the Sheraton Pentagon City. Carmen Romero is heading up that project. A CPRO board holiday party was held in December at William Jeffrey’s Tavern. Immediate past president John Murphy picked up the tab for the event. In January, staff will begin sponsorship campaigns for Movie Nights and the Blues Festival.

Financial Report: Net Operating Income at the end of November: $69,338. Total November revenues: $30,909.67, including a $10,000 grant from the Washington Forrest Foundation for the banner program. Total expenses: $23,696.29. County grant’s 2nd Installment scheduled for receipt in January 2018.

AED’s Columbia Pike Market Study: AED staffers Michael Stiefvater, and Marc McCauley reported on the first phase of the study, in which they interviewed Pike stakeholders and retailers. They will make an effort to include more diverse coverage in their outreach.

Planning Commissioner’s Report: Elizabeth Gearin has succeeded Kathleen McSweeney as the new PC rep to CPRO.

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