Gentilly Terrace and Gardens
Improvement Association

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PROVISIONAL:

Gentilly Terrace & Gardens Improvement Association
General Membership Meeting:  August 8th, 2007

Meeting convened at 7:00 p.m. by Pres. Norm Whitley

Approximately 25 people present.

Wayne Gillette, Treasurer, reports that the GTGIA has $255 in assets.

Jonathan Williams, in charge of elementary schools being operated by UNO, briefed members on recent developments.  He will temporarily serve as the principal of Gentilly Terrace Elementary, until another can be selected.  G.T.E. will be jointly operated by the RSD and UNO.  The RSD will handle the budget, finances, etc.....UNO will handle educational aspects.  The State Department of Education will also be participating in operations.

Preferential seating will be offered to neighborhood residents and Mr. Williams would like the community's help in spreading this information.  The school will initially be K-8th.  But, they are petitioning for pre-K, which would require additional funds.

Testing scores at Capdau and Nelson have shown promising improvement.  

Q:  G.T.E. is a historic building.  Has anyone pursued grants directed at historic renovations?
A:  Mr. Williams says he has not been involved with that aspect of the project.  But, since Global Green is involved in the renovations, he assumes those resources have been considered.

Q:  What time will school begin?
A:  Class hours are scheduled for 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Q:  What will be the exact boundaries of preferential treatment?
A:  That is not yet finalized.  Part of that answer depends on how many schools are planned for Gentilly, as yet an unknown.  One possible consideration is a one-mil radius from the school.

Q:  What about a carpool lane?
A:  We are aware of such potential problems and will manage them.  Typically, it takes only about six(6) minutes to complete the transport.

Q:  Will there be changes to the exterior of the yard?
A:  That would be up to the community, and the availability of funding and grants.

Q:  Will school sociologists be present?
A:  We have two full-time counselors available to students.

Q:  Will school yards be open or locked during off-hours?
A:  That is still being debated.  But, we will try to coordinate with the neighborhood.  Typically, I have concerns about leaving the grounds open after-hours.

Q:  The Painters St. side is in bad shape.  Are there plans to improve the area?
A:  We will need the neighborhood's help to get it fixed.

Q:  Will you accept special needs children?
A:  Yes

Q:  Buses along Carnot and Arts Street are also in poor condition.
A:  I understand.  We will need to work together on those also.

Mr. Jonathan Williams can be reached via e-mail at jonathan.williams@uno.edu or by phone (504)942-3670.

Norm Whitley mentioned that Deana Causey has recommended that neighborhood associations create form letters that can be used to bring "issues of concern" to the attention of property owners.  The idea is to use a form letter that would help to help limit the emotions and personality conflicts that can arise around such matters.  This matter will be deferred to the next meeting.

Wayne Gillette discussed the problems that have developed around property demolitions.  Some historic properties are being demolished when they should be repaired and preserved.  Because Gentilly Terrace has only national historic designation, local officials are not required to go through the same considerations that they must go through for districts with local designation.  Councilwoman Morrell needs to be brought in to help with this matter.

Q:  Are there demolitions being performed outside the historic district?
A:  Yes.  But, the subject is complicated.  Some demolitions are done at the request of the owners and some are not.  Some owners/residents have even resorted to painting "do not demolish" on the sides of their homes to protect them.

Norm Whitley reminded people that property assessments had been mailed out recently.  He would like to know which methods were used to calculate the assessments.  He also related a story of grossly unfair assessments given to sisters with comparable homes and different levels of flooding.  The primary consideration is not the public's fear of taxes.  The important consideration is that the assessments, upon which the millage rates are based, be fairly and consistently calculated across the entire city.   By being fair, open, and consistent assessors would increase confidence and comfort with the system.  Perhaps an assessor could be invited to explain the actual procedure used.

Q:  There has got to be a national association of assessors that publishes good/fair practices.  Perhaps we could consult them.
A:  That's a very good point.

Norm Whitley also pointed out that Dr. Quintus Jett, from Dartmouth University, still needs volunteers to help his students keep track of changes in the repopulation of the neighborhood.  

Norm Whitley admitted that the problem with dumping on People's Avenue is still a problem.  We are still working on it.

Q:  The roads running between Dreux and Mirabeau are still in bad condition.
Q:  Has the association approached the seminary for help on these problems?  They have a vested interest in helping surrounding neighborhoods resolve these issues.

Norm Whitley mentioned the success of the recent Night Out Against Crime.  About 25-30 students from Arkansas were at a local church volunteering with recovery efforts and attended the event.  Another group of Presbyterian youth from Wyoming were also in town at the same time, helping out at the Baptist Church on Franklin.

New Business
Tracy Davillier, candidate for municipal court, introduced herself to residents and asked for their support.

Jarod Brossett spoke on behalf of Councilwoman Morrell.  He told Wayne Gillette that councilwoman Morrell should be approached if the neighborhood wishes to pursue a local historic designation.  (There seems to be some disagreement as to whether her office has or has not been approached already.)

Jarod also explained that the city council is aware of the issues with inappropriate demolitions.  They are working on a new, better program that would improve communication and reduce the number of such demolitions.  But, the specifics are not yet finalized.

Jarod also said that the council is aware of speeding traffic and side streets in need of remediation.  As far as side streets, they will be repaired.  But, the repairs will be based on an evaluation from 2005.  Streets not included in that evaluation will be addressed by the Office of Recovery Management.

Norm Whitley responded to a concern about the operation of pumps during storm events.  He stated that "water cannot touch the walls of the London Avenue Canal", for safety reasons.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m.