BHNA - February 9, 1999 General Meeting Minutes

Barton Hills-Horseshoe Bend Neighborhood Association General Meeting Minutes February 9, 1999
Treasurer's Report	Peter Hess, President, called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. He thanked the Green Mesquite for providing the BBQ dinner and announced that the next meeting will tentatively take place 27 April 1999, subject to the decision reached at the next Executive Committee meeting. John Bell, Treasurer, announced that the membership is over 200 with more new memberships coming in still. The checking account balance as of 31 December 1999 was $3052.56 with $67 of that being designated oak wilt donations, leaving a total available of $2985.56.
Neighborhood Association Goals	Goals reached by the association in 1998 included the planting of approximately 250 trees in the neighborhood. In response to the questionnaire on the membership form in the newsletter the goals for 1999 most frequently checked were the continuation of the sidewalk from Barton Hills Elementary School to Zilker Park and oak wilt education and abatement. Other possible goals brought up at the meeting were cleanup of the Barton Creek greenbelt (including police patrol and action on crime and vagrants there), the speeding problem on Barton Hills Drive, development across the street, voluntary environmental standards for the neighborhood with respect to runoff into the creek, more inclusion of residents of the multifamily units in the association, and the issue of noise from the new airport. Sign-up sheets for committees to work on these issues were circulated.
Program: The Closure of Robert E. Lee at Barton Springs Road	Toan Nguyen and Nick Naccarado of the City of Austin Public Works Department were present. Mr. Nguyen, the project engineer, showed diagrams of the work to be done which will commence 15 February 1999. The work will include stabilizing and reconstructing the roadway, building an overhanging sidewalk which will be connected by a stairway to the hike and bike trail, and general stabilization of the slope to prevent erosion. The closure of the road is projected to last three months. The project will cost $500,000; funding has been rerouted to this work which is being done on an emergency basis because of major safety concerns, i.e. , the roadway and embankment are eroding into the creek. The construction does not address any widening of the road at this time, primarily because of lack of funds. For answers to questions about detour problems, call Garry Silkoi at 499-7024. Peter Hess asked that we be considerate of the residents of the Zilker neighborhood when detouring.
Committee Reports	Citizen input has been requested about the South Austin Pipeline. Sixty-five trees were planted along Barton Parkway in November 1998. The Web-page is coming along. So far it includes the basic association bylaws and a list of the officers.
Old Business
Barton Skyway Roadwork	The roadwork on Barton Skyway should be completed by the end of February 1998. After the installation of the water and wastewater lines the road will be repaved.
Sunken Gardens	The Barton Hills Neighborhood Association will have input in the reconstruction and landscaping of the Sunken Gardens area of Zilker Park. Anyone interested should contact Peter Hess.
New Business
Old Photographs	Pat Oakes bought old photographs of residents of the neighborhood to share with anyone who wants them.
School Boundary Changes	Diane Singleton of the Barton Hills Elementary School reported on possible changes in school boundaries. The proposals would track already neighborhood schools to neighborhood middle and high schools. By their nature the proposals would lessen diversity in AISD schools, a concern particularly in East Austin. The final vote will take place at the 27 February 1998 meeting of the AISD School Board. The Barton Hills Elementary School PTA is in favor of the proposed changes.
Live Oak Pruning	Peter Hess announced that residents should not prune live oaks at this time because of oak wilt but wait until midsummer.
4th of July Parade Committee	Roberta Preston, head of the 4th of July parade and party, asked for volunteers to help, and a sign-up sheet was circulated.
	The meeting was adjourned at 8:37 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Yates Barreda Secretary

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