BHNA - January 23, 2001 General Meeting Minutes

Barton Hills-Horseshoe Bend Neighborhood Association General Meeting Minutes January 23, 2001
Call to Order	President Joe Gieselman called the meeting to order at 7:00, and at his request the approximately 70 neighbors in attendance introduced themselves as the first order of business.
Crime Report	Keith Hamblin, Austin Police Department District Representative for the BHNA area, addressed the meeting with a neighborhood crime report: He reviewed kinds of problems that detract from the quality of life in the neighborhood (parking in the wrong places, speeding, etc.) He distributed a survey to identify neighborhood concerns needing city attention. He summarized categories and numbers of offenses committed in our region last year. He introduced 6 new police cadets. He also addressed general questions, including a concern about the difficulty getting response to calls about problems in the greenbelt.
Appeal for Mentoring Volunteers	Donna Brown and Angela Hansen from Barton Hills Elementary School described the school's mentoring program and appealed for volunteers to donate one lunch period/week with a child.
St. Mark’s Expansion Master Plan	Tom Joyce, a neighbor who is on the board of St. Mark's church, and Mike McElhaney, associate architect for church expansion plans, described the multi-phase master expansion plan and solicited support in the permitting process from BHNA. The church needs more space primarily for office staff and for adult classrooms, and it hopes to break ground in January of 2002. Discussion articulated neighborhood desire to continue in a mutually supportive relationship with St. Marks, as well as concerns about the proposed impervious cover ratio and runoff into Barton Creek. Tom Joyce distributed a resolution (attached hardcopy) asserting BHNA support for the plan and he proposed that it be adopted, with his motion seconded by Betty Brown. This initial motion passed after consideration of a substitute motion: After discussion on the initial motion, Peter Hess offered a substitute motion to table the original motion pending recommendations from a BHNA group that would meet with the St. Mark's building committee to get more information on articulated concerns and offer an amended resolution for adoption at the April 24th meeting. The substitute motion was seconded by Nan Clayton. Vote on the substitute motion was 25 in favor and 39 against. Vote on the initial motion was 42 in favor and 24 against.
BHNA Priorities	Joe Gieselman summarized results-to-date of his survey to develop Barton Hills Neighborhood Association priorities: among votes tallied so far, crime prevention and Barton Creek clean-up are leading the list of priorities.
Committee News	Joe Gieselman reviewed new committee assignments: Environment and Beautification will be chaired by Craig Smith. Transportation will be chaired by Carl Newsome. Crime Prevention will be chaired by Art Stone. A new committee will address neighborhood planning and will draw it membership from past officers of the BHNA. The Executive Committee will be asked to take responsibility for a neighborhood directory. Joe asked for a show of hands to approve adding to the new BHNA listserv the email addresses from neighbors who provided them on membership applications. Joe noted that members added will be given directions for removing their names at any time, and that the Executive Committee will provide guidelines for using the listserv. A majority of meeting attendees expressed interest in this approach.
ANC Update	Kay Killen announced that the Austin Neighborhood Council will meet on January 24th and is seeking input on traffic concerns from the neighborhoods.
Meeting Business	New Business Juanita Tijerina distributed magnets showing the Watershed Protection Department's Environmental Hotline phone number, and she urged the membership to report any spills. Old Business Due to reorganization within City administration, Joe Gieselman and BHNA representatives have not yet met with city staff assigned to traffic calming. In addition, Joe intends to draft and send a letter to the city about paving of Barton Skyway.
	The meeting was adjourned at 8:45 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Sharon Slagle Recording Secretary

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