NPU-F Update for August 2020
NPU-F August Meeting Updates Residents on City Activities
The City of Atlanta is divided into 25 Neighborhood Planning Units, or NPUs. Lindridge-Martin Manor is in NPU-F. It has met virtually during the summer, and the most recent was held Aug. 17.
Here are the latest updates from that meeting:
GENERAL CITY UPDATES
Atlanta Fire and Rescue: More than 100 recruits are now going through training (including EMS). They expect to be assigned to stations by the end of 2020. No stations are open to the public during the COVID-19 pandemic, except for emergencies.
Atlanta Police Department: Maj. Andrew Senzer, commander for Zone 2, provided several updates.
Street Racing: This has become a major issue during the pandemic. At this time, it is APD’s policy to “disperse and displace;” it has a “no chase” policy.
Club Allure: APD patrols are documenting vehicles parked after 3 a.m., which is the city’s official closing time; bars cannot serve after 2:30 a.m. Maj. Senzer is working with the License Review Board on a “due cause” action to shut the business. He also said APD officers have returned to start enforcing the ‘No Parking Zone’ between midnight and 6 a.m., where signs are posted on Alco Street NE and Melante Drive NE.
Homeless and Urban Campers: Maj. Senzer has made contact with GDOT Deputy Commissioner Mike Dover to address the issue of ongoing camps on GDOT property. The APD’s HOPE Unit is planning an assessment of the urban camping situation so that APD and GDOT can finalize a memorandum of understanding that will allow police to arrest for trespassing on GDOT property.
Atlanta City Council: President Felicia Moore reported that the city was forced to use some of its reserves to meet its budget for 2020. The council will assess the city’s revenue situation at the end of 2020 and determine if adjustments will be necessary based on shortfall in sales tax revenue.
Equitable Dinners Atlanta: This new organization meets via Zoom for virtual dinners and conversations on issues facing the city. The dinners are held every third Sunday of the month starting at 5 p.m. They address topics such as race equity and voting rights and they’re getting a national audience. Go to https://www.equitabledinners.com/join-us for more information. The next "dinner topic" is voting rights, set for September 20.
Atlanta City Planning Department : Assistant Director Doug Young said that the Zoning Review Board, the Board of Zoning Adjustment, and the Atlanta Tree Commission are all meeting again using Zoom or other virtual means.
Atlanta Dogwood Festival: This event has been officially cancelled until 2021.
PROPOSED BILLBOARD REMOVAL / PEACHTREE CREEK ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECT
As reported in the July 2020 NPU-F minutes, this proposed legislation (CZ-20-43) was introduced by City Councilman Adam Farokhi and is known as the ‘Grand Bargain.’
It would enhance existing billboards or establish new locations for billboards in the city. It also would result in the creation of the 14th Street Linear Park and the Peachtree Creek at Cheshire Bridge Road Environmental Education Project (involving the Atlanta Aquarium and the South Fork Conservancy).
Action on this legislation “held” pending agreement by affected NPUs and resolving other issues.
The next remote NPU-F meeting will take place Monday, Sept. 21, at 7 p.m. A link to the Zoom meeting will be posted on the NPU-F agenda. To find it, go to the NPU-F website.
You can learn more about LMMNA and our involvement with the NPU system on our website. We have two LMMNA Board members who represent our needs at NPU-F once a month:
Richard Sussman
NPU-F Co-chair for Parks, Trees, and Environment
Jane Rawlings
NPU-F Chair for Alcohol Licenses and Permits
You can contact them by sending an email to npu@lmmna.org.
Meet the team that created Equitable Dinners Atlanta.
Maj. Senzer to Address Neighbors
Contributed by Mary Norwood
Buckhead Council of Neighborhoods
Our next BCN Meeting will be a Zoom Meeting on Thursday, Sept. 10, at 6 p.m. Gordon Certain, president of the North Buckhead Civic Association, will host it and will send out the link a few days prior to the meeting.
In response to concerns about 1) illegal street racing, 2) illegal truck traffic, and 3) illegal noise violations, I have established a "Street Safety Task Force."
BCN Members Amber Connor and David Gylfe have agreed to Chair it. Their Committee consists of Maureen Becker, Gordon Certain, Charles Meriwether, Robin Morgan, and Debra Wathen. They will have a "Street Safety Resolution" for us to review and discuss at the meeting.
Maj. Andrew Senzer, commander of Atlanta Police Department Zone 2, will also be on our agenda. Also, deLille Anthony, Tree Canopy Chair, who will update us on the Tree Ordinance.
If you have something you would like on the agenda, please let me know and I'll be glad to add it.
Sincerely,
Mary
CONTACT: marybushnorwood@gmail.com
*Editor’s Note: Lindridge-Martin Manor Neighborhood Association is part of the Buckhead Council of Neighborhoods. If anyone wishes to be our standing representative on the council, please send a note to president@lmmna.org.
Fall Planting Season is Here
Fall Gardening Update
We still have plenty of room to expand in LMMNA’s Community Garden! Each plot membership is only $100 for a year’s worth of planting. Whether you join our community garden or maintain your own, here are a few things to keep in mind for Fall 2020,.
Many thanks to Bob Westerfield with UGA’s Department of Horticulture for sharing these:
One last successive planting of warm-season vegetable seeds requiring 60 days to harvest, such as summer squash, can be started in the garden. Check your average first fall frost date before planting.
Remove spent vegetable plants, including those that are done producing or have been ravaged by disease or insects. Dispose of diseased or insect-infested plants in the trash if you do not turn your compost pile or achieve temperatures in excess of 140F in the pile (high enough or long enough to kill pathogens and pests).
It’s time to think about cool-season crops for the fall, including collards, lettuce, chard, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, cabbage, and cauliflower. Transplants can be installed in late August and September.
Water transplants and seedlings, as needed.
Hand-weed and cultivate as needed for weed control; click here for other options.
Mulch planting beds for weed control and moisture conservation.
Keep an eye out for insects (i.e., aphids, white flies, stink bugs, leaf footed bugs, cucumber beetles, cabbage loopers, potato beetles) and possible disease (i.e., powdery mildew, early blight). Check with your county Extension office for treatment recommendations.
As fruits ripen, be sure to harvest promptly. Rake up any fruit that drops to the ground and compost or bury elsewhere to reduce excessive flies, bees, wasps, and other insect activity. This also helps reduce disease inoculum around the tree.
Keep figs evenly moist as they complete their ripening.
Peaches benefit from a split fertilizer application, with the first dose in mid- to late-August (after fruit harvest). The second application will occur in early spring (end of March).
Seed Alert from Extension Service
The University of Georgia Extension Service recently learned of unsolicited seeds, possibly from China, being sent in the mail to residents of the United States. This is a legitimate concern and should you or someone you know receive one of these packages, the Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) has advised that you do not open the package and you do not plant the seeds as they could be an invasive species.
“At this time, we are not sure what the seeds are and therefore are urging everyone to be exceedingly vigilant,” Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary W. Black says. “If you have received one of these packages in the mail, please use extreme caution by not touching the contents and securing the package in a plastic bag.”
GDA asks that you send your package, along with your contact information, to their office on the Griffin campus at:
Georgia Dept. of Agriculture
215 Redding Building
1109 Experiment Street
Griffin, GA 30223
or seeds can be sent to Seed lab in Tifton:
Tifton Seed Laboratory
PO Box 1507
3150 U.S. Hwy 41 South
Tifton, Georgia 31793
Celebrating Rain Garden
Rain Garden at Armand Park Comes Into Its Own
Contributed by South Fork Conservancy
A LMMNA Community Partner
It’s been a year since the rain garden at Armand Park became a reality.
In August 2019, the South Fork Conservancy, collaborating with local residents of the Lindridge Martin Manor neighborhood and the Friends of Armand Park, worked to build and then plant this spectacular addition to the Park. LMMNA organized a children’s learning event and ice cream party to complete the final touches!
The garden was funded by generous grants from the Coca-Cola Foundation and designed by Atlanta landscape architect Patrick Hand with Integrated Land Design. Not only is it full of native pollinator plants, but it also filters two million gallons of stormwater runoff before that water has a chance to make it into the South Fork.
Beauty and function in one place—how cool is that for a birthday gift we can all celebrate!
Neighborhood children helped put the final touches on the rain garden last year!