BHNA - June 24, 2003 General Meeting Minutes

Barton Hills Neighborhood Association General Meeting Minutes June 24, 2003
Call to Order	President Robin McKeever called the meeting to order at 7:05 pm. Approximately 55 BHNA members were present. Howie Richey moved to accept the minutes for the April 8 meeting. The motion was seconded and the minutes were approved.
July 4th Parade	Parade chair Jen Stuart asked for volunteers to prepare snacks, set up and clean up, and other specific tasks. The parade starts at 9 am on Friday, July 4, at Barton Market. The parade route is up Barton Hills Drive to the elementary school where there will be games, treats, and presentations.
Survey	Graduate student Mark Ysnaga distributed a one-page survey on Barton Springs Road and asked that members complete the form and turn it in at the meeting.
Richard Troxell Presentation	BHNA member Lance Schriner introduced Richard Troxell, a nationally-recognized, Austin-based advocate for the homeless. Troxell described his efforts to provide stability and integration to homeless people, focusing his efforts on the most stubborn problem, helping single men with chemical abuse problems. He has developed projects to help them but recognized that an underlying problem is that even with a full-time job, it’s not feasible for a working person earning minimum wage to be adequately housed and integrated. He said that 42% of the homeless are working. Troxell pointed out that federal poverty guidelines haven’t changed since the programs were developed in the 1960’s. At that time the concern was the war on hunger while today housing is the most significant household expense. He is addressing these issues through the organizations, Universal Living Wage and Bringing America Home.
Greenbelt Law Enforcement	BHNA member Art Stone raised concerns about the police department’s slow response to a series of complained about greenbelt camps. Neighbors reported aggressive behavior including trespassing in private yards and fires in the greenbelt near Westhill Drive. Members also reported problems with a camp at Robert E Lee, under the embankment.
Town Lake Park Phase II	Larry Akers reported on two issues affecting the delays in building Phase II of Town Lake Park on 54 acres west of the Palmer Special Events Center. In the first, the city’s bids on the project were non-compliant and the RFP will have to be reissued. The good news is that costs have come down and the city will be able to get more for the same money including a bus turnaround on Riverside. This will result in an approximately nine month delay. They expect to break ground in April. The more serious concern is that revenue projections are below estimates and what revenue there is will be diverted to cover costs at the events center and the parking garage, both running below their revenue estimates. This means that money that would have been available for the park will be diverted to cover the costs of those two other projects. A bright spot is that the Junior League has contributed $500,000 to the children’s garden area of the park.
Invasive Species	Rene Barrera, acting manager of the city’s Natural Resources Division of the Parks and Recreation Department, discussed the issue of invasive, non-indigenous species in our parks. He showed slides and video of natural areas that have been invaded with species such as nandina and ligustrum. These invasive species are suppressing the native species, interfering with natural protections and balances with parasites, nutrient cycling, predators, diversity, land use and values, and the distinctiveness of our natural environment. The concern is that non-native species do not have natural predators, produce abundant fruit and seeds, and create a monoculture that threatens biodiversity. He demonstrated the weed wrench tool that community volunteers can use to rid natural areas of invasive species. He emphasized that community groups are welcomed but need training. His goal is to help educate the community to reseed and repopulate areas with indigenous species which he acknowledged will require a cultural shift. Native species tend to grow slowly and may be less showy. However, they need less water and are suited to the Central Texas environment. They also help promote more wildlife diversity. Barrera introduced Eric Beckers, an oak wilt specialist with the Texas Forest Service. Beckers said that Texas is somewhat behind the curve in dealing with invasive pest species. Barrera also introduced John Cook, the city’s greenbelt specialist who is directly responsible for the greenbelt’s health and maintenance.
Greenbelt Guardians	Glee Ingram encouraged neighbors to work on the greenbelt for the quarterly trail maintenance effort on Saturday, June 28 beginning at 7:30 am at the Gus Fruh entrance to the trail. Mary Ann Neely moved that BHNA authorize the Greenbelt Guardians to spend up to $200 to purchase supplies for the trail maintenance. The motion was seconded and carried.
Who was Gus Fruh?	A member asked who Gus Fruh was. Fortunately, Art Stone knew him. He was the city's first environmentally sensitive engineer in the 1960's.
Grant Application	Glee Ingram reported that preliminary planning had been completed for a BHNA application to the Austin Parks Foundation for 100% matching grants from $300 - $2,500. Ingram worked with the city's John Cook to identify the most needed projects including four standalone projects. A written motion was distributed to members for discussion. The matching portion of the application would be based on BHNA funds of up to $500 and a specified number of volunteered hours of labor valued at $10.65 per hour. Ingram will work with City staff and the BHNA executive committee to finalize the application, which is due on August 1, 2003. Mary Ann Neely moved to approve the written motion as proposed, the motion was seconded, and approved unanimously.
Betty Brown Memorial	McKeever gave an update on the effort to establish a memorial marker for Betty Brown. Mrs. Brown was a BHNA founding member, and a strong advocate for the Greenbelt. Several options considered included renaming a street for her, funding a park bench such as on Town Lake, and renaming the Homedale entrance to the Greenbelt in her honor. Nan Clayton addressed the various options and expressed the opinion that naming the park entrance for her would have meant the most to her. The cost of this project could be up to $900 for a new carved wooden sign. The city has a process for changing the name of a park and although no problems are anticipated, the project will require detailed effort. A general motion was adopted for the BHNA to proceed in support of the project. McKeever will identify a volunteer to coordinate the project, including fund raising and developing options to reduce the total cost of the sign in response to member concern.
Vice President	Volunteers were solicited to fill a vacancy on the Executive Committee in the position of Vice President. BHNA member Don Long was unanimously elected as Vice President to fill the remaining six months of the 2003 term.
Sidewalks	Cindy Bogard, who is a relatively new resident of Barton Hills and BHNA member, has volunteered to coordinate a special project to review options for getting sidewalks installed on those stretches of Barton Hills Drive that lack them. McKeever will appoint a special committee of 3-5 members to develop recommendations for the executive committee's consideration prior to the general BHNA meeting in October. Bogard solicited additional volunteers for help on the committee. Debby Kalk, who chaired the Safe Routes to School application in 2002, will serve on the committee. The association has identified the completion of sidewalks on Barton Hills Drive as a neighborhood priority for several years, but previous efforts have been unsuccessful for reasons beyond BHNA control.
Walgreen's	McKeever announced that neighbors including Dr. Teresa Davidson are alarmed about the plans for Walgreen's to build a 24-hour standalone store at the corner of Bluebonnet and Lamar, on the site of a vacant storefront. The development plans have been voted on twice and will be up for a third reading before the City Council in July. The South Lamar Neighborhood Association (SLNA) is opposed to the plan because of potential powerful night lighting, increased traffic, and the possibility of heavy trucks using neighborhood streets. Detailed information is available on SLNA's website: www.southlamar.org/scoop.htm. Clayton moved to write a letter to Walgreen's stating BHNA's concerns. The motion was seconded and carried. Ingram and Stone will assist and review the letter.
Safe Routes Update	Scott Johnson reported that a city-wide group, comprised heavily of cycling advocates, recently met to determine why none of the city's Safe Routes applications were funded. A small group is arranging to meet with city manager Toby Futrell soon.
Strategic Planning	Because of budget cuts, Barton Hills will not be scheduled for a strategic planning process with the city this fall as expected. Instead, the effort will be pushed back until 2004. However, a preliminary meeting of city staff and neighborhood representatives will be held Tuesday, July 15, 7-9:00p.m., at the Kinney Avenue Baptist Church hall. Meeting participants will include City Planning staff and representatives of the BHNA, the South Lamar NA, the Galindo NA, and the Zilker NA. BHNA members are invited to attend.
Benefit Bike Ride	Art Flatau asked for support when he rides in a 55-mile benefit in Utah in November. He will be raising money for leukemia. Flatau is a leukemia survivor.
Important Phone Numbers	Art Stone can provide neighbors with information on whom to call for city services, especially relating to junk vehicles and other blights. Barton Hills' police department representative is Officer Mike Summers at 974-4405.
Newsletter	McKeever announced that BHNA is considering forming an editorial board for the newsletter. Volunteers are encouraged to contact her.
Next Meeting	The next meeting is scheduled for October 14, 2003.
Adjourn	The meeting adjourned at 9:05. Respectfully submitted, Debby Kalk Recording Secretary

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