Toonerville Trolley Neighborhood Association

19 AUG 2010 - Meeting Notes

Toonerville Trolley Neighborhood Association

August 19, 2010 meeting notes

In attendance: Phil DiBlasi; Rebecca Kessler; Aaron Jent; Jan Hemberger; Dan Mason; Jodi Bessinger; Joan Stewart; Bill & Alice Walsh; Gail Tucker; Kevin Kouba

Guests: David James, Democratic nominee for the 6th District; Michelle Gallagher, campaign manager

• Treasurer’s Report: Currently $1,926, including dues for approximately 25 households
• 501(c)(3) Status: Paperwork has been filed, awaiting status letter from the IRS
• LDRA Contributions: TTNA’s contribution of $500 to the Louisville Dog Run Association on behalf of the Old Louisville Dog Run is to be sent to LDRA. This is the second half of the initial $1,000 committed to the Dog Run, which was voted upon and approved earlier in the year.
• Wall Repair - Toonerville has also received a check from St. James Neighborhood Association to apply toward the Toonerville Park Wall Repair. For accounting purposes, this donation will reflect as dedicated funds for the Wall Repair in the TTNA budget.
• Nominating Committee for TTNA Officers: Phil will email the association for volunteers to serve on this committee. Per bylaws, the slate of proposed officers is to be presented at November’s meeting with the voting to take place at the December meeting.
• Movie Night Banner for Fort George: Jodi will get final costs for printing a banner similar in size to the TTNA banner used for past events. Plans call for leaving blank space within the text to allow for date and title changes. Prior approval allocates up to $150 to fund the banner based on preliminary estimates. September’s Movie Night takes place on Saturday, the 25th with screenings of “Antz” and “Best in Show.” October’s Movie Night takes place on the 30th, the day before Halloween, and will feature a single screening (it is 3 hours long) of “The Shining.”
• Two-Way Street Update: A public hearing with Councilman Hollowell is scheduled for Monday, August 30 at 6:00 pm, second floor of Memorial Auditorium. CM Hollowell continues moving forward with the proposed conversion, the primary issue of which is voting. The City had pushed for 75% of all property owners to vote in favor and is now focusing on 60% of actual respondents to vote in favor. While this is a difference, there is no precedence for these percentages regarding two-way conversions happening elsewhere in the city. Three weeks before his death, the late CM Unseld had supported presenting an ordinance addressing this issue. Again, the decision to convert streets back to two-way is part of Old Louisville’s Master Plan and has been approved by the Council several years ago. This is an important meeting for all of Old Louisville, especially Toonerville. Please plan to attend.
• Tickets, T-Shirts and Beyond: Per Dan Mason, interest and participation in the Poetry Festival, a fundraiser for the Dog Run, is very high. He presented the Dog Run as a legacy project that hinges on three components: community, economics and safety. The Festival takes place on Sunday, August 28 at Fort George from 2:00 - 5:00 p.m. Tickets to the event cost $5.00. A preview reception is to be held at Scott & Ginger Dawson’s home at 1223 S 1ST ST on Friday evening. Tickets for this event are $25 and include hors d’oeuvres, top-shelf drinks featuring a high-end “Salty Dog”, conversations with the poets and more. The ticket price also includes admission to the VIP tent at the event itself. Tickets and OL Dog Run t-shirts ($20) were available for sale at the meeting, and Joan Stewart, Festival emcee, passed along a check for $100 from Oeurbacker Court Neighborhood Association in support of the Dog Run following Dan’s “pitch”. 
• David James: David James gave a brief introduction and spoke about himself and his candidacy. Retired from the Metro Police Department and former president of the Fraternal Order of Police, David is currently a lieutenant with the University of Louisville police. He lives in the Province, is currently looking for a home here in Old Louisville, and has worked in the 6th District for 30 years. Areas of particular interest and concern include the ongoing problem of prostitution in Old Louisville, the revitalization of Oak and 4TH Streets, community-oriented government and quality of life in general. As the Democratic contender for the 6th District, he pledges to engage the Old Louisville community in a hands-on, proactive way to address concerns quickly and efficiently.
• Political Forum: A political forum is scheduled for Sunday, October 17 from 3-5:00 p.m. at the Chapel of Saint Philip. All candidates for the Metro Council’s 6th District are invited as are all residents of Old Louisville. More information is forthcoming, so please make plans to attend.
• St. James: Volunteers are needed to staff the TTNA booth at the Saint James Festival, coming up on October 1-3. The 4TH Street Neighborhood Association has agreed to donate TTNA a portion of their booth space, located near the beer tent (lots of traffic!), for promoting all things Dog Run, including t-shirts, bricks, donations, etc. Please consider volunteering for a 3 to 4 hour shift to help in this effort.
• OLIC/OLNC Update: Rebecca and Joan presented information on several projects and proposals undertaken by the Council and Information Center Board. These include:
• Grassroots Gala - Center for Neighborhoods 2nd annual fundraising event takes place Saturday, September 11 from noon to 4:00 p.m. at TARC/Union Station located at 10th and Broadway. OLNC has paid the $25 membership fee, which includes membership of all 13 Neighborhood Associations in Old Louisville. Plans call for a single, large booth that highlights the many Neighborhood Associations and projects, as well as those of the Old Louisville Chamber of Commerce and Vistor's Center. In addition to neighborhood booths, the Gala includes a sampling menu from the Food Institute of area restaurants and caterers; BBC beer garden; live performances; a “Keep Louisville Weird” silent auction; and an opportunity to discover - or re-discover - Union Station’s 19th century architecture and past restoration efforts. Volunteers are needed to help set up/tear down and staff the booth during the event. Contact Rebecca or Joan for more information.
• Information Center Window Restoration Project - Legacy project spearheaded by OLIC/NC vice president, Ron Harris. The Center was once an open-air pagoda that was walled in sometime in the 1940s. Proposed project will reopen five of the archways with windows and possibly one door installed. Pamphlets including renderings and current views from these windows were passed around. At this point, a call to action is all that is requested, NOT asking for financial support - yet. Bob Bajandas has information from a prior effort, of similar scope, and will coordinate the project, as it moves forward.
• Rain Garden - A rain garden concept was presented as a low-maintenance solution to area flooding using native plants.  As part of MSD’s green projects and storm water/flooding initiatives, monies may be available to pay for plants and to provide training workshops (at the OLIC) involving plant selection, installation and maintenance. Possible starting point would be a community site where all could “learn the ropes” before installing private gardens. Pamphlets published by MSD will be distributed en masse (copies were circulated at the meeting) via the OLIC with workshop dates to be announced. Stay tuned! 
• Jazz & Blues Club on Oak Street - Lee Jones and daughter Robin have plans for an “upscale Jazz & Blues Club” located in property Mr. Jones owns at 617 W. Oak Street. The building is on the intersection with 7th street and across Oak from BC Plumbing. Although the property is zoned as “edge transition”, a revision to TNZD must happen to allow live music/entertainment. ZALU supports the request for change and all in attendance at the OLNC meeting were in favor to support the proposed club.
• Victorian Ghost Walk - Takes place over Halloween weekend, Friday, October 29th through Sunday, the 31st. The Ghost Walk is now a joint fundraiser between the Council and West St. Catherine Neighborhood Association, resuming this year after last year’s “no-show”. Joan says, they still need a few volunteers as actors, tour guides, ticket sellers, etc. Please let her know if interested. The walk typically finishes up between 9:00 and 9:30 p.m.  Since this means a bit of overlap with the Fort George Movie Night on Saturday, the 30th, it was suggested that perhaps the Walk could finish up at Fort George that night to help highlight the evening’s showing of “The Shining.”
• Meeting adjourned.

Submitted by Rebecca Kessler, August 28, 2010