July ’25 Executive Cmte. Mtg. Minutes

NOTE: Minutes are provisional until approved at the subsequent meeting.

 

West End Neighborhood Development Inc. 

Tuesday, July 29th, 2025, 6:00 PM 

Virtual Meeting

2025 Directors:

Marquise “Tony” McNeal, President – president@atlantawestend.com
John Mitchell, 1st Vice President – firstvp@atlantawestend.com
Kimberly Carlisle, 2nd Vice President – secondvp@atlantawestend.com
Troy Farina, Treasurer – treasurer@atlantawestend.com
Dave Mardis, Secretary – secretary@atlantawestend.com
Melba T. Furlow, Recording Secretary recordingsecretary@atlantawestend.com
Kim Scott, Past President – kimscottmanagement@gmail.com
Terry Ross, Parliamentarian – t-ross01@hotmail.com

 

Attendance
Directors	Committee Chairs
Tony McNeal John Mitchell Kimberly Carlisle Troy Farina Terry Ross Dave Mardis	Matt Hawkins Larry Frazer Brooks Payne Kristen Koehnemann Caleb Racicot

INTRODUCTION (Tony McNeal, President)

CALL TO ORDER 6:02 PM

1. 1. 1. July 2025 agenda adopted by unanimous consent.
      2. June 2025 Executive Committee Minutes adopted by unanimous consent.

COMMITTEE REPORTS PT 1 – 

1. 1. 1. Zoning, Land Use, & Code Enforcement – 6:04pm
         • The Atwood project group did not come to present this month.
         • Next week Grace with the Atlanta Land Trust will present at the GB meeting regarding the request for the variance at 879 White St. to reduce the setback from 7ft to 4.8ft.  Recommendation from the zoning committee was to support.
         • Change of ownership request for alcohol license for the “Food n Fun” market at Lee+Beecher. Recommendation from zoning committee is to support. The applicant will sell single-serving alcoholic beverages in volumes of 14oz or more. The store will run 24/7. There will be gaming machines, which the State has approved. The Zoning Committee was told that lighting has been improved and that cameras will be tied into the city. 
         • Discussion regarding how state-wide gaming licenses are issued and the possibility of pursuing a Community Benefits Agreement with the applicant.  There is a CBA Template in the Atlanta Community Engagement Playbook.

PRESIDENT’S REPORT – 6:30

1. 1. 1. National Night Out is Tuesday. WEND GB meeting has been moved to 5:30 to accommodate.
      2. Elections – The next WEND Officers Election will be at the October meeting. Members may make recommendations in August and Sept. Open positions include President, 2nd Vice President, and Recording Secretary. WEND Secretary will ask for volunteers to join a nomination committee at the General Body meeting. The committee needs to be composed of an odd number of members.
      3. Candlelight Concert in September. Approximately 15 tables have been sold. 
      4. West End Merchants Coalition will be conducting a series of events to raise funding for the community. WEND President suggests WEND coordinates the Autumn yard sale with WEMC, with some proceeds benefitting WEND.

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION (Troy Farina, Treasurer)

1. 1. 1. Began at $6835.60. Ended at $25,511.89. This does not include Eventbrite payout for any Candlelight Concert tickets..
      2. WEND Secretary notified members of the danger of spoofed emails.

COMMITTEE REPORTS PT 2

1. 1. 1. Environmental Health & Beautification

         • The Committee Chair has been in contact with Tara with Park Pride regarding the grants and the Committee Chair thanks WEND President for helping to expedite.
         • Plants have died on interstate exits and would like to bring this to the CID’s attention. WEND President met with CID and Russell landscaping. The landscaping maintenance contract with CoA ended on June 30th and CID will pick it up. 
         • The Committee Chair will coordinate a census of current trash can locations with plans for a coordinated appeal to CoA and/or ABI to place sturdier trash cans at agreed-upon locations throughout the neighborhood.

      2. Membership – 

         • Yard signs announcing meetings are getting put out tomorrow. Membership Chair still has signs available if you’d be willing to sponsor one.
         • Currently at 179 members. 
         • Still distributing WEND Membership cards, with nice discounts at Portrait, Cultured South, and Vine and Olive.
         • Come to WEND Wednesdays and WEND Membership Committee Meetings.

      3. Preservation

         • 631 Holderness had their court case yesterday. They keep doing a lot of illegal work.
         • The proposed project at 1247 RDA is of note. This is a vacant lot at Atwood and Abernathy that was rezoned six years to allow for residential. The applicant has lowered density but wants to abandon the design standards that would keep it more in line with the neighborhood’s historic aesthetic, which has raised concern among community members.

      4. Transportation

         • The Transportation Chair will make an announcement at GB meeting asking members to let the committee know about any transportation-related projects or improvements that they’ve been advocating for, so that the committee can support.
         • The City will start working on the comprehensive transportation plan this fall.
         • It is anticipated that GDOT will break ground next year on the approved concept for RDA between Cascade and Murphy Ave, with crossings at West Hunter Baptist Church and other locations. Transportation will reach out to CID to advocate for minor improvements to the plan, such as supplanting the proposed concrete median for something greener. Approved concept is

WRAP-UP AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

1. 1. Community Leadership Institute. It’s every other Saturday starting in September.
   2. WEND President asked the Parliamentarian to reach out to WHBC regarding parking for the Candlelight Concert.
   3. WEMC will have Maj Clay this Thursday at 6:30pm at Wild Heaven.

ADJOURN