| WABA Meeting Minutes April 17th, 2025 Location: Diatribe Brewing Co. |
| Introductions & Check-in APD Crime Update West Asheville Crime Statistics Slight increase in property crime, largely due to increased reporting from Tanger Outlets. Violent crime down 44% year-to-date. Property crime on Haywood Road up from last year but within 5-year average. Shoplifting and larceny are most common crimes reported. Ingles (669 Haywood Road) and BNB Pharmacy are crime hotspots. In Short: Property crime slightly up, but overall crime is down compared to previous years. Increased reporting from Tanger Outlets skews data. “Violent crime is down 44%.” Crime Predictions & Prevention Shoplifting expected to increase with warmer weather. Unsecured vehicle break-ins are a significant concern. Crimes of opportunity. Encourage staff to lock cars and be aware of their surroundings. In Short: Focus on preventing crimes of opportunity, particularly vehicle break-ins and shoplifting. “It’s really just a crime of opportunity…” Panhandling & Road Safety Two recent incidents of pedestrians struck, one fatally, while soliciting on Patton Avenue. Investigation underway, charges anticipated. APD focusing on addressing panhandling and offering support resources to those soliciting. City ordinances focus on solicitation, not simply holding signs expressing messages. In Short: Serious concerns regarding pedestrian safety and panhandling. Focus is on both enforcement and providing resources. “We’re trying to offer them assistance. But if they don’t take it, then we’re going to be enforcing the law.” WABA Initiatives & Events Upcoming Cleanup April 19th, 10 AM at New Belgium Brewing. Sponsored by Sunny Point Cafe, Biscuit Head, West Village Market, and The Hop. Krista provided details on the process. In Short: Haywood Road cleanup event soon, good turnout anticipated. Haywood Road Film Festival Planning a film to remember Helene impact. Discussion about attracting vendors and artists, potential partnership with local businesses. Concerns raised about slow business, need for creative solutions to boost foot traffic. In Short: Early planning stages for a film festival, focusing on community engagement and business collaboration. “How can we as cities be prepared for weather, or storm or what happens?” WABA Website & Communication Updates to the website are underway. Slack channel is available (QR code provided). First Name Last Name–Business Name naming convention suggested. Newsletters and emails will be used in conjunction with Slack for communication. In Short: Improved communication through website and Slack channel to enhance member engagement. ChatGPT Demo & AI Productivity Tools AI for Business Productivity Boomer Sassmann demonstrated four basic ChatGPT prompts for increased productivity: Email responder: Automates responses, maintains tone and brand. Brand voice builder: Extracts site content into a guideline doc. Site content creator: Builds web content from user inputs. Idea extractor: Generates ideas for products/services. In Short: ChatGPT is a powerful tool for streamlining business tasks. A tool to get into the right headspace. AI Training & Resources Free, two-hour AI productivity class offered by Boomer (May 28th, online). Additional resources (2.0 sheet) available for more advanced users. Discussion on ethics and resource implications of AI use. In Short: Resources and training available to help members leverage AI for business advantage. “The more you know about it, the less nervous you’ll probably be… or not.” WABA Board & Committees Board Member Recruitment Form available for those interested in joining the board or committees. Goal: Fill committee positions and strengthen the board. In Short: WABA is actively recruiting new board members and committee volunteers. Committee Discussion Committees discussed include Entertainment, Membership, and possibly others. Need for a bookkeeper and updated dues process to be completed by June 1st. In Short: Board recruitment is key to revitalizing WABA initiatives. Clarifying leadership and processes is crucial. Tourism Discussion & Wrap-up Explore Update Explore Asheville rep shared spring marketing initiatives. Budget cuts are impacting efforts, but positive results are still anticipated. In Short: Explore Asheville is pushing ahead with marketing despite constraints. Conclusions WABA is improving communication and engagement. Crime prevention and pedestrian safety are priorities. AI can significantly improve business productivity. Board and committee growth is essential. Tourism remains a vital part of the local economy. In Short: A productive meeting with clear action areas including communication, safety, AI integration, and community development. |