Town Hall Meeting
Council Member Joycelyn V. Johnson - East Ward |
Thursday, April 26, 2007
6:00 p.m.
City Council Chamber, Room 230
Highlights / Minutes  

Call to Order - Council Member Joycelyn V. Johnson

Introductions of Neighborhoods: City View, Dreamland, Northeast Winston Neighborhood Association, Kennedy, Liberty Street, Excelsior and Goler Heights

Moments of Meditation / Prayer - CM Johnson

Introduction of City Staff: Ms. Tabetha Bailey; Neighborhood Assistant Specialist, Mr. John Allen; Economic Development, Mr. Greg Turner; Assistant City Manager/Public Works, Mr. Stan Polanis; Director of Winston-Salem Department of Transportation, Mr. Ed McNeal; Director of Marketing and Communication, Mr. Marco Andrade; City/County Planning Department, Mr. Tim Grant; Recreation and Parks, Captain Barry Rountree; Winston-Salem Police Department, Chief Pat Norris, Winston-Salem Police Department, Assistant Chief Ronnie Abernathy; Winston-Salem Police Department, Sgt. Connie Southern; Winston-Salem Police Department, Mr. John Lucas; Winston-Salem Deputy Fire Chief, District Chief Anthony Farmer; Winston-Salem Fire Department, Mr. Bruce Bailiff, Housing and Neighborhood Services, Mr. Ritchie Brooks, Director of Housing and Neighborhood Services, Mr. Derwick Paige; Deputy City Manager, Ms. Wanda Nichols; Housing and Neighborhood Development, Ms. Mellin Parker, Director of Housing and Neighborhood Development, and Ms. Yolanda Taylor; City Secretary’s Office.

Introduction of Guest: Mr. Larry Woods; Executive Director of HAWS, Mr. Pat Ivey; Division Engineer NCDOT, and Mr. Michael Penny; NCDOT.   Council Member Joycelyn Johnson asked the question “How do you see your neighborhood/East Ward in the next five years?” Edith Jones, President Happy Hills Neighborhood Association responded, “Back to the good ole’ times in1958 when Happy Hill was happy.  We were happy, so we want to get back to that. There were nice homes and nice people living there. We want people to take care of what is being built over there now. There is a lot of money being spent over there. We really need to put the right people over there so we can keep it like that, so we want to go back.”

Community updates:

Council Member Johnson introduced Ms. Evon Smith, Goler CDC

Goler Community Development Corporation (CDC)……...………….…...Evon Smith
Ms. Smith stated that Goler CDC is at the corner of Patterson, Liberty and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive that some may know as the Truliant Federal Credit Union. Goler CDC is has been working on the revitalization of what used to be the old Goler Depot Street neighborhood. Ms. Smith distributed a master plan of the Revitalization Plan.  That area is all the way down to 5th Street up to Liberty Street with the plan to go up to Trade Street. Currently, Goler CDC has about seventeen projects going on that include; Town homes, Historic buildings, Gallery Lofts, Truliant Federal Credit Union and the Revitalization of Patterson Avenue that will be commercial and retail as well as residential. Goler Church just completed their Enrichment Center on Patterson Avenue. The newest project that should be completed this June is the seventy-nine unit senior community Independent Living Center Apartments for seniors 62 years of age and over that are 50% below median income. The rent would be less than $350 a month. Goler CDC has a new program for development called Victory Contract Resource Center that should start June 2007. It is a new initiative to try to bring up minority contracts to do larger scale projects.  For this particular program, Goler CDC will be hiring a Director and a Project Manager. Goler CDC is always interested in what the community can do to help and always looking for volunteers to help. Goler CDC is appreciative to the City of Winston-Salem, the Winston-Salem Police Department and businesses that have helped get this project started. Goler CDC is a $100 million development and they are $27 million into the development.

Council Member Johnson introduced Ms. Carol Davis, Executive Director of S.G. Atkins CDC

S.G. Atkins Community Development Corporation (CDC) Carol Davis, Executive Director Ms. Davis stated S.G. Atkins CDC are currently building single family affordable homes on Excelsior Street, 10th Street, Graham Avenue and Lawrence Street. S.G. Atkins CDC is partnering with a local loan program to do business lending for small business. The first loan has been to Dr. J’s Soul Food restaurant.  S.G. Atkins CDC has about $100,000 left to loan for new business owners to start a business in the Martin Luther King Jr. Drive area. S.G. Atkins CDC has been working very closely with the City’s Northeast Area Plan.

Council Member Johnson introduced Ms. Mercedes. Miller, Consult with Liberty CDC

Liberty Community Development Corporation (CDC)…………………..….Jim Shaw
Ms. Miller, Consult with Liberty CDC. Ms. Miller stated that the Liberty CDC has worked very closely with the City of Winston-Salem. Liberty CDC works with business and property owners in the Liberty Street area to promote business and economic development. Our current focus is the Liberty Street Corridor that spans from 12th Street to New Hope Lane. Liberty CDC has a plan to revitalize urban and commercial areas that was awarded to Liberty CDC in the fall of 2006 that was $500,000. The purpose of the funds is to work with business and property owners to do the side improvements so that the Liberty Street area matches what the City deems as appropriate and necessary has to how the Corridor should look. Liberty CDC also receives funds from the state of North Carolina to provide small business loans to businesses on Liberty Street or businesses that relocate to Liberty Street. When you ride down Liberty Street you will see buildings that have been renovated, demolished and new construction projects. The Liberty Street CDC appreciates the support of the City of Winston-Salem, our Chief of Police and our City Council Members.  

Council Member Johnson introduced Mr. Larry Woods, Executive Director Housing Authority of the City of Winston-Salem  

Housing Authority - Happy Hill Neighborhood Association Larry Woods, Executive Director Mr. Woods explained the last phase of property at Happy Hill - Willows Peak. The project is ahead of schedule, should be completed by the end of this year. There will be seven different styles of single family units with very large lots and the price range is affordable. There will be first time buyers’ assistance and help with assistance in reconstructing credit to help qualify for pre-approved mortgages. HAWS will begin advertising another project that will begin construction soon. There will be fourteen units for those that are 80% below median income. This project is not a part of Happy Hill or Hope IV projects in the city. HAWS come to the City as partners with the City of Winston-Salem and to become a good neighbor and to help the next neighborhood.

Presentations  

Council Member Johnson introduced Mr. Marco Andrade, Planning Department  

City-County Planning:
Visioning 2007-2011…………………………………………..…..…Marco Andrade  
Mr. Andrade discussed working on a plan with the committee which is the Old East Winston Plan.  Planning Board has program to look at the City’s as well as the County’s smaller areas.  We do an in depth study to work closely with the committee and to come up with some recommendation.  We are currently working on the Vision Session, a small portion of the plan completed. Everyone is invited to attend these sessions to give your input. We are working with the committee to have a draft plan, then on to the large committee where you can give your input, then to the Planning Board, then on to the City Council Members to give an Adopted Plan. Some of the recommendations will be funded over the course of years; some short term years and some long term years, will keep you posted. We are anticipating by this fall to have all the recommendations ready.

Council Member Johnson introduced Mr. John Allen, Director of Economic Development 

Development:
Signage for Winston-Salem Business Park……….….…………........... .John Allen 
Mr. Allen presented a picture to show the type of monument sign that will be placed at Winston-Salem Business Park that is on Lowery Street. The sign will be about four feet wide and three feet tall. The sign will be placed at two locations; at Business I-40 by Martin Luther King Jr. Drive exit at Lowery Street. Also, further down Business I-40 directional signs up on MLK Jr. Dr. Students from Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) helped create the design of the signage.  

Council Member Johnson introduced Mr. Gregory Turner, Assistant City Manager/Public Works  

Transportation:
Waterworks Road………………………………………………..……………Greg Turner  
Mr. Turner introduced Mr. Michael Penny, NCDOT, Pat Ivey, NCDOT and Stan Polanis, WSDOT. Mr. Turner gave an update of two road projects that have been approved. One is still under construction and the other is in design. The first project Waterworks Road is under construction by Old Greensboro Road to Winston Lake Road. That road has been torn up for sometime. Phase one began when Atkins High School opened, we are currently in phase two of that road improvement project.  From Old Greensboro Road to New Walkertown Road will be three-lane section with curb and gutter. The plan is for that project to be finished by the end of the summer. The road will close completely around the end of May, because we have encountered some bad soil under the road that has to be dug out. There will be a detour route in place for the area. The second project is work on Bowen Boulevard with some redesigns in place.

US 52 update/ Martin Luther King Jr. Drive..Michael Penny (NCDOT)/Greg Turner
Mr. Penny discussed the US 52 improvements projects that originally started from Business 40 to the south proposed Northern Beltway intersection of US 52. Safety issues along US 52 with traffic accidents twice the state average. US 52 is a very old highway that was designed in the 1950’s and built in the early 1960’s. Our standards for highways are a lot different now then what they were in the ‘50’s and ‘60’s. The beltway will take the traffic off of US 52 to go around the City of Winston-Salem. There have been public meetings since 2000 discussing US 52. From those meetings there are three alternatives from Stadium Drive up north to Akron Drive. The proposal is the ultimate closure of the Stadium interchange. That will not occur until the Diggs Salem Creek connector project is finished. If accidents continue to increase at the on ramp at Stadium Drive and US 52 / Business 40 off ramp it does give the local NCDOT the ability to close it if they need to; hopefully that will not occur. We have worked with Winston-Salem State University on their long range plan. The next option would be to close the Third and Fifth Street ramps that are probably the most controversial of any ramp closure. If those ramps are closed then we would have to do serious improvements to Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. There would also be an interchange at MLK Jr. Drive and US 52 ramps. To prevent motorists from sitting in traffic for a period of time the ramps would be signalize. The next improvement that is recommended is Akron Drive (on the west side). We have worked the area businesses to make sure there is no loss of business and continue to provide access. There has been a meeting with several organizations including; the Ministries Conference, several of the CDC’s, public meetings, Planning staff of City of W-S, WSSU, and other smaller organizations. NCDOT has tried to work to address any concerns from the affected groups. The accident rate in this particular section of the US 52 corridor is about twice the state average and that is severe and in some cases the accidents rate higher than twice the state average.

After Mr. Penny’s, presentation, the floor was opened for questions and concerns.  The following questions were asked from citizens and were answered by Mr. Penny.

Davis Garage…Stan Polanis, Director of Transportation of City of Winston-Salem 
Mr. Polanis gave an update on Davis Garage with turning it back eventually into a train station and in the interim a multi-mode Transportation Center.  We are working with a private developer and Mr. Davis very closely for a large office space and condo to be next to that land. Plans are moving forward, but we are in the early stage. The goal is to see trains running through that train station one day. In continuing with what Mr. Penny was saying earlier, some projects you will see take place by the end of this year and some sooner. The first project is at the western end by Cherry / Marshall Streets (by the Public Safety Center on University Parkway) there will be a traffic signal installed. During that same time frame by Highland Avenue and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, east bound, there is no separate left turn. That has been accident problem for years, so we have managed to find the funds to create a separate left hand turn. Both of those projects are scheduled to be completed by January 2008. Another project will take place at WSSU; we will replace the signalized pedestrian crossing with count down pedestrian crossing that will be much easier to tell the pedestrians how much time they have left to cross the street. Also, we will install auto pedestrian signal for people who have a disability that will give them a sound of when it is safe to cross the street.  That should be installed before September 2007.  The pedestrian signal will tell people when it is safe to walk across the street in some areas of downtown.

After Mr. Polanis, presentation, the floor was opened for questions and concerns.  The following questions were asked from citizens and were answered by Mr. Polanis. 

Mr. Pat Ivey, NCDOT responded to an earlier question about I-74.  

Council Member Johnson introduced Ms. Mellin Parker, Director of Housing Neighborhood Development  

Housing Neighborhood Development:
Forest Ridge.........................................................................Mellin Parker
Ms. Parker gave an update on Forest Ridge extension from HUD. HUD gave an approval to move forward to 2008 and the need to reduce to 142 units. The property will be rental property. The project is about $10.7 million. There will be 1-4 bedroom units with over 70% for low income and 20% for regular income. HUD is helping us move forward with the project. In the East Ward the CDC’s such as Goler and Atkins have done a great deal. Along with the Housing Authority, Habitat, Homeownership Partnership. 

Council Member Johnson introduced Mr. Tim Grant, Director of Recreation and Parks               

Recreation………………………Tim Grant/Denise Scott-Johnson/William Royston
Mr. Grant discussed WePlay Family Field Day event on June 2nd at the Fairgrounds. This event is designed to get parents and kids active, healthy and stress free. Participants will be able to build up points for several nice prizes, including a donated cruise to the Bahamas.  The master plan was finished last year and approved by the City Council in April 2006. Part of that funding will start a couple of projects including; a master plan for Winston Lake Park and Happy Hill Park. Bowen Park has new fitness course equipment at the cost of $25,000. First Street Park was closed some years back because of vandalism, but is back open with minimal vandalism. There will be five summer camp locations this year with locations listed in WePlay. Summer feeding sites are being discussed with the Mayor’s Office and the WS/FC School System to get more kids fed. The feeding will include breakfast, lunch and an afternoon snack to all of the summer day camp kids. Last year $7.1 million was returned turned back to the state of North Carolina of money that was not used to feed kids during the summer.  Brushy Fork Greenway has a culvert that is owned by Norfolk Southern Railroad. We are working with a representative from Norfolk Southern Railroad to get final approval to investigate that culvert. There are two culverts that we have spent some money to see if we can put a greenway under there. If so, then we can connect Skyland Park all the way to Reynolds Park Road. Then citizens will be able to walk, run, skate or ride a bike over to Salem Creek Greenway. Hopefully, Norfolk Southern Railroad will give final approval by the end of this year. We are in the process of developing a First Tee program that is associated with the PGA and US GA professional golfers. This program will mentor children through out the year. The goal will be to name Winston Lake Golf Course as the home of the local First Tee program and to provide a minimum of 250 hours per year for instruction of golf and life skills to kids. If have any new ideas, just let me know.

After Mr. Grant’s presentation, the floor was opened for questions and concerns.  The following questions were asked from citizens and were answered by Mr. Grant.

Council Member Johnson introduced Mr. Ritchie Brooks, Director of Housing & Neighborhood    

Housing Services:
Housing Initiative and Improvements …………………………….....Ritchie Brooks
Mr. Brooks discussed enforcement of minimal housing code, environmental code, trash; abandoned vehicles, animals, and sanitary conditions.  In the area of environmental we have started a city-wide rat bat. The city is divided into six section and we started with the central city to work our way out to the city limit.  We will bat in all storm drains and manholes through out the city. We do have funds to go outside of those concentrated areas. The environmental, housing and vehicle inspection report is Exhibit A.  There is a total of a 96% corrections rate for housing and environmental issues in the East ward. City Council approved to reduce the abatement period from ten days to five days; which means conditions are getting addressed much quicker. There will be a program this summer to help be more efficient and a service to property owners. A vendor’s list will be inside of the notice of violation with private contracts citizens may choose to use, instead of the City coming to do the job of removal of trash or any other City violation. The least amount the City charges to remove trash is $185.00; we are hoping that maybe by using the independent vendor, the violations can be removed quicker. The fiscal year inspection results for Lakeside Apartments, Skyline Village Apartments, Colony Place and Mountain Lodge is Exhibit B. There are two new projects that will involve several City departments. The first project is the neighborhood improvement plan. This project has begun with Lakeside Apartment and Weatherwood Court that will help the Hispanic community. Services that will help the community become a better place to live. There will be a video (English and Spanish) that will be distributed to the rental community that will tell renter’s  what the expectations are when they move into an apartment and how they are expected to maintain the unit. Second there will be a neighborhood improvement seminar that discusses the do’s and the don’ts of property owner’s and renter’s. This will also include a video (English and Spanish) that will be distributed City-wide at different venues.  The Neighborhood Assistant Specialist (NAS) will conduct the seminar with different groups to discuss; Sanitation, Housing, Zoning, Keep W-S Beautiful, etc.  We have been working closely with the WSPD and WSFD. Our Operation Impact is a joint Inspections program that involves several departments. There have been a lot of City/County groups wanting to join in the Operation Impact program within the City. This is a program were property is identified as a nuisance property. There is a 90% correction rate for that program. For example; just recently on Charles Street a citizen was working on cars in the yards and that nuisance was taken care of quickly. Citizens are encouraged to call to nominate a problem location or property. Another program is Trash Busters for illegal dumping throughout the City. Cash rewards up to $250.00 for the arrest or identification of someone illegally dumping trash.

After Mr. Brook’s presentation, the floor was opened for questions and concerns.  The following questions were asked from citizens and were answered by Mr. Brooks.  

Police…………………………..…….Assistant Chief Ronnie Abernathy  
Sgt. Connie Southern status report of the East Ward location Exhibit C.   

After Sgt. C. Southern’s presentation, the floor was opened for questions and concerns.  The following questions were asked from citizens and were answered by Sgt. Southern.  

Council Member Johnson introduced Mr. John Lucas, Deputy Fire Marshall Winston-Salem Fire Department  

Fire………………………………………………………………………………John Lucas
Deputy Fire Marshall Lucas discussed the fire hazards of cooking out on decks. Ms. Mary Fergusson is the community contact person for the WSFD. Ms. Fergusson can be reached at 773-7965 if you have any questions about safety, regulations, inspections or cooking. Some of the Hispanic neighbors may not know the safety concerns and regulations regarding fire safety.  The WSFD can also come out to you or your group to explain fire prevention tips.  

Council Member Johnson introduced Mr. Lee Garrity, City Manager 

Budget and Call Center ………………………………………...........Lee Garrity  
Mr. Garrity discussed the Budget for the up coming Fiscal Year. The budget will be released on May 17th with the first hearing on June 7th at 7:30 pm. Mr. Garrity stated the budget looks fairly good for this upcoming FY. CM Johnson encouraged citizens to come out to the budget workshops and hearings to seek funds for the different areas of the City.  

Mr. Garrity discussed the Call Center that will start on July 1st. The number that many of you know as Citizen Service 727.8000 will be the Call Center’s number on July 1st. There will be four departments in Phase I that will have their phone lines to be directed to the Call Center. Those departments will be Citizen Service (727-8000), Sanitation (727-2638), Transportation (727-2707), Storm Water and Streets (748-3070). Citizens should not be routed from department to department.  A work order will be put in while citizens are on the phone. The call taker will have ownership of that request. This should be much better for citizens to navigate through City Government. By 2008 all departments will be routed to the Call Center. Hopefully Forsyth County will join us with this Call Center.

Thank you:  

The citizens at the meeting would like to thank the WSPD and especially Sgt. Connie Southern for all her dedication and help in the East Ward.  

Upcoming Community Events:

A keychain was given to everyone that signed the sign in sheet. CM Johnson stated, “You are the key to   neighborhood improvements”.  

Meeting adjourned at 8:12 p.m.    

48 citizens and staff in attendance        

Yolanda G. Taylor
Recording Secretary