BHNA - September 16, 2003 Executive Committee Meeting Minutes

Barton Hills Neighborhood Association Executive Committee Meeting Minutes September 16, 2003
Attendees	Officers present were Robin McKeever, Don Long, Lance Schriner, Peter Hess, Derek Stuart, and Debby Kalk. McKeever called the meeting to order at 7:10pm.
Austin City Limits Festival	McKeever reported that Jesus Olivares from the city's parks department has offered the neighborhood association two 3-day passes to the event which will be held Sept. 19-21 in Zilker Park. They have offered two passes to each neighborhood association in the area. McKeever explained that BHNA will participate in a follow up evaluation meeting with Jesus and neighborhoods in November. McKeever suggested offering one pass to Glee Ingram in appreciation of her contributions to the neighborhood and extensive work in developing the Greenbelt Guardians program. McKeever also suggested making one pass available to the neighborhood. Kalk suggested posting the offer on the list serve and giving a cut-off for responses, then selecting a name out of a hat. Also, the participant agrees to report back to BHNA on any comments on the event and suggestions for future years. Stuart offered to handle the posting and selecting the name by creating a special Yahoo email address for the occasion to avoid being inundated with requests.
Tri-County Committee on Upper Barton Creek	BHNA is a participant in a newly formed, regional group that is exploring solutions to issues of pollution on upper Barton Creek. McKeever appointed Peter Hess as BHNA's representative. The group is still in formation and determining its mission, charter, and goals. It is officially called the Regional Water Quality Planning Committee for the Barton Springs Segment of the Edwards Aquifer. The Committee does not have legal authority but has assembled stakeholders including Austin City Council member Darrel Slusher, Hays County Judge Powers, and the City of Dripping Springs. Other stakeholders will include realtors, environmentalists, and landowners. About 60 attended a September 8 meeting. The process is driven by LCRA which has built the first phase of a water line. LCRA won't start Phases 2 and 3 until a regional plan is in place. LCRA will spend $100K on water pipelines contingent upon the development of a regional plan. All stakeholders recognize that wells are running dry and they need water to develop. The concern is that once Phases 2 and 3 are completed, density will climb dramatically.
Barton Creek Remediation Plan	Hess reported on committee efforts. Consultants have presented to the city several remediation scenarios. The best solution is a retention pond with a sandy bottom because it catches large particles that are held back by sand. Hess showed the proposed locations for a sand filtration pond. The best solution takes the water past Barton Springs entirely and delivers run-off to Town Lake below Barton Springs. A drawback to this area is that it uses up part of a highly used soccer field. The pond would also be partly visible from Barton Hills Drive. Hess wrote to Les Tull at the city about these concerns for the pond and its location. The city wants to fast track this. The committee will review these issues and make a recommendation to the membership. Schriner suggested other uses for the park area, such as making it a dog park. Long stressed that we want a beautiful park - not a compromised one. Hess also explained that the product that caused the pollution, a parking lot sealant, is still supported by the EPA and available at Home Depot. The Barton Creek particulate levels mark the first time in the US that these sealants have been considered harmful. The city is working with contractors to ask them to avoid using these sealants since there are alternative products.
Envision Central Texas	McKeever explained that this group is gearing up for new publicity and events. All of the papers will features inserts on this. The material will include four different growth scenarios with the implications for transportation and infrastructure. It will also include a survey for the public to fill out. McKeever stressed the importance of these surveys and the need to get people involved. Many board members are real estate interests with goal of getting a master plan. On the other side, Livable Cities is pressing this issue to get neighborhoods to vote. We may want to have a rep from Livable Cities speak to the neighborhood association.
Parks Grant	McKeever announced that BHNA was awarded a wonderful grant to support the Greenbelt Guardian program. The Austin Parks Foundation, which awarded the grant, will have a grant orientation. They are still working out the procedures for purchasing and leasing the weed wrenches. They envision a central facility that will check out tools to neighborhoods. The next Guardian workday event is scheduled for the Saturday following the general meeting.
Sidewalks	McKeever reported that the Sidewalks committee had a committee meeting, is reviewing several approaches to raising money, and is considering holding a garage sale. Cindy Bogard, chair of the committee, might want to submit an article to the newsletter.
Betty Brown Memorial	McKeever explained that the development of the Betty Brown memorial is being chaired by Mary Campbell, with the assistance of Nan Clayton.
Town Lake Park II	McKeever reported that because of the dire city budget this issue is of great concern. BHNA committee chair, Larry Akers, spoke at last ANC meeting. All neighborhoods are upset about this. An update on this topic is recommended for January 2004.
Bylaws Amendment	BHNA lags other associations in paying attention to development requests within our own jurisdiction. For example, BHNA had no ability to intervene in a recent request to increase residential density on the hill at Barton Parkway and Westside. Neighbors in that immediate area are alarmed at the prospect of additional impervious cover that would result in greater storm water runoff and erosion. The General Meeting agenda is full so McKeever explained that we won't have time to deal with this issue at the upcoming meeting. She suggested we benchmark what other associations have done and see what we can do and look at bylaws changes for next year.
Newsletter	McKeever is still hoping to form a newsletter editorial committee. Schriner reported that the June newsletter cost more than $1500 to print and mail to all area residents, but it did get to all addresses. He also reported that advertiser Bank of America requested information on the number of homes the newsletter was mailed to. Stuart will provide Schriner with the post office receipt to document the amount. Schriner also reported a new advertiser, Daughterty Arts Center, which purchased a 1/4 page ad. Discussion about whether the newsletter should go to all Barton Hills residents four times per year, rather than only two times per year. The problem is funding but perhaps membership rates could rise. McKeever suggested that the next president might want to form a committee to look into this. It will require bylaws changes.
Officers	Emily Mazac is working on slate of officers for 2004.
Terrace Lights	Long will assume responsibility to contact them.
Universal Living Wage	Schriner proposed that BHNA endorse the concept of the living wage. Discussion followed on whether this is within the neighborhood association's charter. Hess proposed putting this on the January 2004 agenda along with a review of what issues are appropriate neighborhood issues.
Miscellaneous	Long will handle putting up the meeting signs. The board needs to find ways to sell Handbooks. We missed the July 4th opportunity because the event was cancelled due to rain. We will try to sell them at every BHNA event. Stuart will get copies of the new Green Grow guide from the City to bring to the meeting. Kalk will help set up for the general meeting.
Next Meeting	This marks the final EC meeting for the BHNA executive committee in 2003. The new group will meet prior to January to have a hand off meeting hosted by the incoming president in the second week of November.
Closing	Respectfully submitted, Debby Kalk Recording Secretary

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