May 2026 General Body Mtg. Minutes

GENERAL BODY MEETING MINUTES
West End Neighborhood Development Inc.
Tuesday, May 5th, 2026, 7:00 PM
Virtual Meeting

2026 Officers

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

➡️ CLICK HERE TO VIEW MEETING RECORDING ⬅️

INTRODUCTION (Tony McNeal, President)  

CALL TO ORDER  –  7:03 PM

• Welcome
• Motion to adopt May Agenda properly seconded and approved. (Kim C & Troy F)
  Favor: 17  Oppose: 0  Abstain: 0
• Motion to approve April 2026 Minutes properly seconded and approved.  (Kim C & Melba F)
  Favor: 16  Oppose: 0  Abstain: 1

CITY REPRESENTATIVES  & ELECTED OFFICIALS 

• N/A

PRESENTATIONS  –  7:08 PM

• 250 Years Against Oppression 
• West End Food Mart – Alcohol License. 
  • Terry Ross recused himself.
  • Conversation around a shooting on the property last week
  • Question around police presence

PRESIDENT’S REPORT  –  7: 17 PM

• Lee+White has requested WEND move its hybrid meetings to 1200 White St. This property is not subject to parking enforcement.
• ATL Showcase Grant – We applied for a grant to host a watch party / block party with free food, games, music, etc. Hopefully we’ll hear soon whether or not we’ve received that grant.
• We’ve put in a letter of intent to go after a Park Pride grant for this year for a master plan for West End Park as well as another grant for Rose Circle Park. We’ve also applied for a grant to Fulton County to do the Fulton Fresh cooking demo and fresh food distribution.
• Tour of Homes, Gardens, and Arts Stroll – We have 15 businesses who have signed on. Hammonds House Museum will be on the tour, as well as West Hunter Street Baptist Church, Wren’s Nest. Please participate! Help us promote!
• Candlelight Concert – Executive Committee recommends. 2nd VP motions that WEND spends $41k on 2026 Candlelight Concert, with cost of procuring the talent not to exceed $25k.
  • Yea: 23  Nay: 0  Abstain: 2

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION  –  7:26 PM

• $11,519.38 account balance.
• April Revenue: $12171 
• April Expenses: $2359.37

CITY REPRESENTATIVES  & ELECTED OFFICIALS –  7:28 PM

• Shadé Stokes-Campbell – ATL311
  • Please create an ATL311 account to track your tickets
  • ATL311 will have extended hours during FIFA.

• DeMicha Luster – District 4 Atlanta
  • Check out the District 4 Flyer.

   COMMITTEE REPORTS  –  7:34 PM

• Education Committee – Barbara Mislan and Ayana Dunston, Co-Chair
  (Education does not have a standing meeting, but communicates by text chain. If you’d like to join, email WENDeducation@gmail.com)
  • N/A
• Environmental Health & Beautification – Kristen Koehnemann (Pronounced “Cane-uh-man”)
  (Does not have a standing meeting, but if you’d like to join, email WENDbeautification@gmail.com) and visit the committee page
  • WEND has applied for a Park Pride grant for 2026 for a master plan for West End Park. We’ll eventually need a letter of support from WEND. 

• Events – Doug Cain
  (Does not have a standing meeting, but if you’d like to join, email wendevents@gmail.com or call/text 404-934-0583)
  • West End Tour of Homes on June 13th
  • Annual Spring Yard Sale on May 16th. 
• Grants – Looking for a Chair

• Membership – Rohen Sundaram
  (Meets virtually on second Tuesdays via zoom. More information on committee page
  • Joni Webster with Kindred Futures presented on her org, which focuses on ameliorating inequality in Black Wealth. They’re doing a survey with residents about their experiences living in West End regarding the presence of Black-owned businesses and needs that need to be addressed. Joni-leigh@kinfutures.org.  Participants will be paid $50 for their time.
• PR – Brittney Cain
  (Does not have a standing meeting, but if you’d like to join, email AtlantaWestEndPR@gmail.com)
  • Echoed upcoming events (See events)

• Preservation & Urban Design – Caleb Racicot (Pronounced “Ras ih co”)
  (Meets the first and/or third Wednesdays at 6:30 PM, as needed. If you’d like to join, email WENDPreservation@gmail.com)
  • Four new applications for appropriateness that will be reviewed tomorrow. If that interests you, please reach out!
    • 664 Holder
    • 1237 Lucile mods
    • 947 White St.
• Transportation – Matt Hawkins
  • Next meeting on May 19th at 7:30 at Monday Night Garage.
  • New speed tables installed on White Street.
  • Please park with traffic.
• Film Committee – Melba Furlow
  • Nothing to report
• Zoning – Larry Frazer 7:46 pm.
  Meets last Monday of every month. Advises on new applications as it relates to development, zoning variances. We work hard to make sure that the voices of the community are heard. We also review alcohol licenses and special permits.
  • West End Farmer’s Market – 555 Hopkins St. This is one of our annual events, which was recently held at Gordon White Park. It will be every Friday 2pm-6pm, June 5-Aug 30th. There will be two port-a-potties on site. There will be some line dancing, yoga classes, and the occasional fish fry as well. Recommendation from committee is to support this applicant.
    • Favor: 25  Oppose: 0   Abstain: 0
  • Celebration of 250 Years of Resistance Against Oppression – Mr. Jihad presented to the zoning committee at their regularly scheduled meeting. The event will be at West End Park on July 4th, 2026, from 12pm to 10pm. Setup time is 8am. Expecting 1700 attendees. It’s his first event, but he’s being assisted by the organizers of the Malcolm X Festival. There will be police presence. Portable restrooms will be provided by JB Port-a-Potty, along with recycle bins. Parking will be supplemented by Good Shepherd. One side of Oak St. will be closed off. There will be speakers, dancers, and food trucks. The event intends to honor Black, Brown, and Indigenous People in the U.S. There will be a medical tent staffed by Emory doctors. There will be 30 volunteers. Recommendation from committee is to support. President recommends ending the event before 10pm, due to lack of daylight, and since it is their first year.
    • Favor: 20  Oppose: 2   Abstain: 2
  • ALC-0000992218 – West End Food Mart at 1107 Ralph D. Abernathy. Currently operates 8am to 10pm. There are 4 exterior and 25 interior cameras. Recommendation from committee is to NOT support. Motion carries.
    • Favor: 22  Oppose: 3   Abstain: 1
  • X

WRAP-UP & ANNOUNCEMENTS

• NPU-T will meet Wednesday, May 13th at 7pm at 929 Lee St in person, as well as online.
• June 7th – There will be intergenerational event at the Shrine of the Black Madonna from 2p-5p. Youth Ensemble of Atlanta will be performing. A Brazilian dance troop will be peforming. Musicians. Free for all!

ADJOURN