Quarterly Membership Meeting (7:00 pm)
Career Center, Arlington, VA
The meeting was called to order at 7:20 pm after some confusion over the school being locked. Luckily, we were able to get space in the Career Center. Signs were posted on the school doors sending people to the Career Center.
Attendees: Dave Reidy, Alyson and David Brody, Lester Morgan, Bahar Hess, Bob Dannemiller, Willie Iriarte, Mickey Iriarte, David Kinsman, Jay Wind, Carole Lieber, Janis Wood, Debbie Powers, Noreen Copenhaver, Jack Goodman (visitor from Jefferson PTA), Gus Moshes, Lynn Dorfman (visitor from Lyon Park), Adam Croswell.
Guests: Les Morgan – Les talked about this years County Fair. Kick off is 6:30 on Thursday August 21st. Dave Reidy mentioned that it was nice to have trash receptacles through out the neighborhood. TJ will be closed August 14 through September 2nd.
Les also mentioned, not in connection with the Fair, that seniors can get transportation to Arlington County Senior Centers for only $2 each way through the Senior Program. A new program for seniors 75 years or older stats in September which allows seniors to purchase coupons good for $20 worth of rides on Red Top and Yellow Cab for only $10 through the Senior program.
Norreen Kopenhaver – talked about the Arts Arlington Program and encourage everyone to take advantage of the on-going activities. If you want to get a monthly email of events and activities you can sign up or see the calendar of events at www.arlingotnarts.org/calendar
Presidents Report
With so many guests and the presentation on the synthetic fields, Carole opted to pass on making a presidents report.
Secretaries Report
Motion: To approve the minutes of the previous meeting. Seconded, and passed.
Treasurers Report
Bob Dannemiller reports that there are 80 family members and 2 business members. The bank has $3,418.80 as of June 30, 2003.
Committee Reports
Traffic Calming
This committee needs a chairperson.
Social Committee
This committee also needs a chairperson.
Newsletter
Carole thanked Adam for getting the newsletter out.
Civic Federation
The Civic Federation has a new way to get involved in committees via email at www.civicfed.org . These allow discussion and involvement but is not a commitment to on-going meetings.
NCAC
Betty reported that the NCAC project for:
the installation of Carlyle type street lights on 2nd Street South between South Glebe Road and South Fillmore Street; on 1st Road South between South Glebe Road and Old Glebe Road; and on Old Glebe Road between 1st Road South and 2nd Street South.
was recommended for funding by NCAC and will now go before the County Board for approval. If the County Board accepts the NCAC recommendation then this project should be started sometime in the next two years (hopefully). The delay is because there is currently a backlog of projects that have been approved waiting to be constructed.
With this project approved she recommends that we submit the following to the NCAC as our priorities for projects and make the following motion:
Motion: The Arlington Heights Civic Association approves of the following NCAC projects and prioritizes them in the following order:
- Completion of installation of Carlyle type street lights on 6th Street South between South Glebe Road and South Walter Reed Drive, and installation of Carlyle type street lights on South Garfield Street between 6th Street South and 7th Street South.
- Installation of curbs, gutters, and Carlyle type streetlights on South Garfield Street between Arlington Boulevard and 2nd Street South.
- Installation of curbs, gutters, sidewalks, and Carlyle type streetlights on South Fenwick Street between Arlington Boulevard and 2nd Street South.
- Installation of curbs, gutters, and Carlyle type streetlights on South Irving Street between Arlington Boulevard and 2nd Street South.
- Installation of Carlyle type street lights on South Ivy Street between South 7th Street and South 9th Street, on South Highland Street between South 9th Street and Columbia Pike, and on South 9th Street between South Glebe Road and Walter Reed Drive.
- Installation of Carlyle type street lights on South Highland Street between South 7th Street and South 9th Street
- Installation of Carlyle type streetlights on South 5th Street between South Glebe Road and South Jackson Street.
Motion was seconded, and passed.
Old Business
Synthetic Grass
Carole asked Jay to tell about the ongoing meetings regarding synthetic grass. There is one synthetic grass field in the county at Gunston. The major issues is one of cost which is around $500,000 to install and in theory it lasts 20 years. The field is playable 365 days a year, it can replace dusty fields like the lower field at TJ. The downside is the increased play time and the impact of the increased traffic, usage and noise to the adjacent neighbors. Chris Zimmerman brought up that previously AHCA was strongly opposed to having the Marymount soccer field at TJ. The opposition to Marymount was because there was more being proposed then changing the field. It included 1) building a stadium with 350 seats, 2) clear cutting the hillside, 3) usage from 900 hours to 2000 hours a year most of which would be used by Marymount, 4) the concern about the impact of people, traffic, etc. on the neighborhood, 5) the synthetic field.
Right now the upper field at TJ is used around 300 hours a year, the lower field 1100 hours a year, and nothing was projected for how this usage would change with a synthetic field. A question raised as to how much life is left in the current field? It is a mess in dry weather, but is it still usable?
Janis Woods and Jeff Marin made a presentation about the proposed synthetic fields. TJ is one of the locations being considered by the County. Their points were:
- Limited supply of fields and high demand.
- Will set a cap on adult teams that use the field.
- Many fields are located on school property, nine fields are current candidates for synthetic fields
- 2002 bond approved funding for one field. The CIP has proposed installation of new synthetic field every two years. County is exploring alternative funding.
- Criteria has been established for determining locations. Community meetings on this issue were held.
- The Sports Commission will make recommendations to the Board.
- Should begin conversion Nov 15, 2003 and finish in March 2004 with the first few conversions approved by the Board.
The actually surfaces will be a polyethylene and polypropylene blend, non- abrasive, resistant to extreme temperatures, fibers 2 to 2 ½ inches long, porous carpet to drain rapidly, base can be rubber granules or combination of sand and rubber, and it comes with a minimum 8 year warranty. The field is designed to drain to the perimeter and feed into the storm sewers. It requires maintenance only once a week. There is little to no degradation of the field quality, it reduces the number of games cancelled because of weather, it reduces serious and 3rd degree injuries, has an environmental benefit because it doesn't require mowing or fertilization and hence very little surface runoff.
TJ's lower field was a first attempt to create a safe, flat, playable field. Lighting at TJ is supposed to be replaced in 2 to 3 years. Will talk about light pollution – the new lights are supposed to reduce light spillage to the field of play.
Concerns expressed were: what happens with water/drainage? Homes at other fields under consideration are further away then our homes. Concern about increase burden on the immediate community and specifically on residents of AHCA. What assurance will we get that it won't turn into a situation like Marymount? Can't this be done with the neighborhood so that AHCA get benefits including improvements on Irving Street -curb and gutter and better landscaping?
Others supported the idea because it would be nice to have a good field in the area and everyone in the County would benefit.
Plans for the houses on Irving and 2nd
Debbie Powers brought up that years ago she had promised that the corner of Irving and 2nd would become parkland when the houses were no longer being used. And, that there had been some action, probably in 1998 by the Board making that commitment. Per Debbie the County has definitely made the decision that the trailers would not go on that land. The schools have now said that they will NOT be putting trailers on that property. There are other places for trailers if they are necessary that don't face the neighborhood. Debbie thinks there is a possibility that the houses would be torn down with in 2 years. Dave Reidy asked if there would be ongoing dialogue with the neighborhood about what happens on that corner. There is supposed to be a master plan done on that property sometime soon.
Fenwick Center
Carole has been in communication with the county regarding the renovation of Fenwick and it will go forward as planned. AHCA asked that the County minimize the impact on the surrounding streets.
Bus Routes
There are some changes to bus routes in the area. Carole was concerned about some of the changes but felt the County has been responsive to her concerns.
Columbia Pike Jazz Festival
AHCA had a booth.
Neighborhood Day
It rained so there was no participation in the parade but 28 trees were given out to people in the neighborhood.
Yard Sale
Amy Vennett organized it and it was very successful.
County Fair
Need volunteers to sign up to staff the booth.
Garden Tour
Gardens were beautiful, 18 people turned out.
New Business
AHCA Next Quarterly Meeting
Next AHCA meeting is October 14 at 7:00 pm
Meeting Adjourned at 9:55 pm
Respectfully submitted,
Betty Siegel, Secretary