Gentilly Terrace and Gardens
Improvement Association

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Gentilly Terrace & Gardens Improvement Association
General Membership Meeting:  November 8^th, 2006

Meeting convened at 6:40 p.m.

Approximately 30 people present.

Norm Whitley introduced association leaders present and reminded members that meetings from the meetings are available on the webpage at www.gentillyterrace.org  Please reach out to your neighbors and try to bring them to the next meeting.  He then introduced Mike Park, Director of Operations for the Corps of Engineers.

Mike Park explained that there are 14 functions under the National Response Plan for the hurricanes that are controlled by FEMA.  The Corps of Engineers is responsible for Number 3 on that list, including the Blue Roof program, temporary facilities, removal of debris, etc…

The Stafford Act limits some of the agencies actions.  But, some of those guidelines have been broadened in response to the recovery.  That is especially true for debris removal.  The Corps has removed 28 million cubic yards of debris statewide.  Ten million cubic yards has already been removed from New Orleans .  About 130,000 cubic yards were removed daily from New Orleans in the days immediately following the storms.  That removal has slowed as the debris stream became more dependent on homeowner and business owner actions.  Now, the daily removal rate is about 12,000 cubic yards from New Orleans .

Phillips & Jourdan has the contract for removal of debris from the area North of I-10.  They are systematically sweeping every street on a weekly basis.  Segregation of debris into different classifications is necessary to handle asbestos, refrigerants, etc….So, more than one pick up may be necessary for each individual pile of debris.  The city’s hotline, reached by dialing 311, can take requests for debris pick ups.

Q:  What about removal of tires?

A:  A new contract to remove tires began yesterday.  They are starting at Elysian Fields drop off center and working across the area.  FEMA initially underestimated the quantity of tires and has expanded their collection capacity to accommodate.

Q:  Where do they go?

A:  The contractor is responsible for their disposal, partly through recycling.

Q:  Early on, they posted that they would remove dead trees from backyards.

A:  Yes, I am providing right of entry forms.  On July 17^th, FEMA authorized the Corps to remove dead trees from public rights of way.  The Corps issued a solicitation for contract, which was immediately opposed by various individuals and groups.  A new solicitation has been issued and, this time, the removal of dead standing trees from private property is included.  Mayor Nagin issued an executive order that authorizes access to properties without homeowners permission, if a resident cannot be found.  The 70122 zip code zone has not yet been cleared by FEMA’s archaeological people.  But, that work should be approved by Monday. 

Q:  What if a house is not occupied and there is a standing, dead tree on the property?

A;  FEMA has assessors inspecting all properties in the area.  They will determine which trees are eligible for removal.

Q:  How do we return these right of entry forms?

A:  I can take them with me now.  Or, you can mail them to me at Louisiana Recovery Field Office, 525 St. Charles Avenue , New Orleans , LA   70130 .  I will also provide a digital copy of the form to the GT&GIA so it can be posted on your website.

Q:  We’ve been noticing that someone is marking trees, what does that mean?

A:  Those are the assessors signifying whether or not a tree is eligible for removal.

Q:  So they’ve already identified trees on public property and are now working to identify trees on private property?

A:  They will visit properties and assess the trees.  Assessors are doing their best to exercise their discretion and approve trees for removal that are so severely distressed that they will die.  There is no sense is leaving a tree simply because is currently has one or two green leaves and it will not survive much longer.

Q:  What about removing bushes?  We have many large azalea bushes in this area that have died.

A:  I am not sure that they will be able to classify bushes as safety hazards and therefore eligible for removal.  But, local folks are working on the assessor teams and they are doing their best.

Q:  What if nobody answers the door when assessors arrive?

A:  We have a huge capacity for debris removal.  And we are bringing that capacity into action as needed.

FEMA has performed about 1,800 demolitions in New Orleans so far.  Mayor Nagin realizes the urgency of keeping the Corps busy.  When the workload drops below a certain level, it will be difficult to justify the Corps continued presence.  The City is now doing more to help bring the necessary work to FEMA.  That is part of the reason behind his executive order allowing us to go onto private property.

The Corps first demolition was done in the Lower Ninth and was immediately protested by community leaders.  A lawsuit was filed that delayed action.  That was resolved through the issuance of a consent decree that preserves due process.  This includes public notifications, a waiting period, etc….But, the result was a delay of about 150 days.  The Corps part of the process is only about 21 days.  Demolition requests must still be submitted to the 5^th Floor of City Hall.  The entire process takes about 90 days on average.  There is a huge stack of forms necessary to complete the process.

Q:  What if a demolition is requested/needed in an historic district.

A:  FEMA evaluators determine that process.  There is a wide range of possibilities, depending on the property.  Sometimes demolition is allowed.  At the opposite end of the spectrum, every piece of the property might need to be “deconstructed” so that it can be utilized in other construction.

Q:  What is the future of debris removal?

A:  Orleans Parish’ debris stream is remaining steady at about 12,000 cubic yards per day.  The removal so far has been about 10.5 million cubic yards.  The original estimate, probably low, was about 12.6 million cubic yards.  The current deadline for the federal government to pay 100%of removal costs is December 31^st, 2006.  Unless that date is adjusted, the local cost would then become 10%.  FEMA and the President determine the deadlines and various deadlines have been adjusted several times already.

Q:  What about eventually requiring people to use dumpsters for removal?

A:  The City does a systematic assessment of properties.  Properties identified as hazards will be condemned.  They will probably seek to fast-track that process.  Civic associations such as this can help by identifying potential hazards. 

John Lyon explained that Joann Albrecht, Parks and Parkways, will attend our next meeting to discuss their programs, including the Urban Tree Project.  Information is also available on their website at www.parkwaypartners.com.

Norm Whitley reports that he and April Lauterbach have spoken with the foreman working on Gentilly Terrace Elementary School.  He says that the school is supposed to open in January, but perhaps only the second floor.

Deana Causey just met with Ron Mallis and personnel with Alvarez & Marcel.  She reports that the gutting of the G.T.E. School is being sponsored by the Recovery School District .  It will not open in January.  But, the building work should be finished by the end of the school year.  It should open next fall as a K‑8.  She will e-mail us with more information.  This is the only school in our area slated for re-opening before 2008.

Q:  What about the Nelson?

A:  No word yet.  Bradley was mentioned.  Dr. Jarvis is now “open” to the idea of volunteer groups organizing Clean Up days.  They admit that the schools still contain student records and there is a plan to work on them by August 2007.

Creating an awareness of the need for schools is important.  An aide with Sen. Landrieu’s office agreed that a petition would be a good way to garner support.  So, one has been created and is being circulated by hand and online.  It can be found at _______.  Norm commented that Lower Gentilly is very concerned about the future of the Bradley school.

Jim Hollingshad explained that the Association is working on creating a database of properties within the Terrace.  The City declined our request for a database of properties, but we have copied enough homeowner information from public sources in order for us to begin outreach.  Karen Fernandez is also checking to see if she can find a database of resident information to augment our listing.  Renters were not included in the public sources we used to get our first data, only homeowners.

J.P. Morrell was introduced and congratulated on his election to the state legislature.  JP offered a follow-up to his presentation about the new garbage contract from the last meeting.  The situation surrounding the new contract is better than first thought, although it has not yet been finalized.  But, when everything is ready to begin, there will be both a website and a phone # for residents to use to request the cans they would like to use.  Their new garbage cans will then be delivered to their home.  JP is also working with Deana Causey to try to document both support for and a need for a public high school in the area.  He also added that Greg Riggamer is a good source of information for neighborhood addresses if we need.  JP can be reached at his office, (504)943-6520.

Norm Whitley explained that Wayne Gillette was called away on business and will not be able to make his presentation about the “representation document”.  That matter will be discussed at the next meeting.

Norm Whitley discussed the availability of historic building grants.  The deadline for the grant program is December 15^th, 2006.  More information is available at http://www.crt.state.la.us/hp. 

Norm Whitley discussed the changes that were requested during the recent District 6 Charrette.  Among those changes/corrections was a mistaken reference to using half of G.T.E. School ’s land for a new grocery store.  That has been removed.  The Charrette will soon have their plans ready for release to the public.  Included in tonight’s agenda packet were several handouts that discussed corrections the requested corrections in more detail.

Norm Whitley then summarized some of the points made during this week’s meeting of the former GCIA Land Use and Zoning Committee.  The committee heard presentations from several Community Development Corporations.  Among those were the North Gulfport Land Trust (focused on preserving affordable housing, the Our Lady Queen of Viet Nam CDC (focused on community development, and the Dillard University CDC (focused on student and employee housing).  Duany made some excellent comments about the recovery of the Vietnamese community, attributing their rapid pace partially to a charismatic leader and an unawareness that they should wait on the government to lead their recovery.  The Dillard University CDC has languished, until recently.  But, they “may” be ready in December to discuss partnering with surrounding neighborhood associations.  Instead of discussing the CDC idea in depth tonight, members should read the packet of info and be prepared to discuss in the near future.

OLD BUSINESS:  There was none.

NEW BUSINESS:

Q:  Isn’t it possible to find another meeting location that might be more stable and avoid changing from month to month.

A:  The Methodist Church near St. James Major is a possibility.  JP Morrell will check with them.  Dr. Friedman at the Baptist Seminary may have availability.  Norm Whitley will follow up with him.

Q:  Is it possible to make the G.T.E. School play area more user friendly?  It is perfectly located for people to walk their dogs, meet their neighbors, etc…

A:  Animals create problems, mostly because of their waste. But, the school usually doesn’t mind people using the play area.  The Association will look to find possibilities.  JP Morrell underscored the importance of finding a good neighbor-friendly dog park location.  Perhaps at St. Roch and Filmore or Robert E. Lee and St. Roch???  

The next meeting is scheduled for December 13^th.

Meeting adjourned at 8:10