BHNA - January 28, 2003 General Meeting Minutes

Barton Hills Neighborhood Association General Meeting Minutes January 28, 2003
Call to Order	Vice President Mark Gentle called the meeting to order at 7:01 pm. Approximately 60 BHNA members were present. [Minutes from the October 2002 meeting were posted on the Web site but not available at the meeting. Acceptance of these minutes will be postponed until the April 2003 meeting.]
Park Police Report on Barton Creek Greenbelt	Parks Police supervisor Sgt Mark Wade, with officers Tipton and Ramirez, described the responsibilities and actions of the unit in patrolling and working to clean up the Barton Greenbelt. A significant problem is caused by motocross riders who chop and clear sensitive locations, and then create deep ruts and tracks. Also highly destructive are transients’ camps. He presented a map of the Greenbelt with photos showing the locations of 21 camps that have been discovered. His unit has issued citations, class A dumping charges, and has hauled away enough debris to fill five pick-up trucks. These camps and their occupants pose health and safety risks to the public and to the environment. He discourages the public from entering a camp since they may be booby-trapped. Call the Parks Police to report any suspicious activity.
Brodie Tract Report	BHNA worked with the Barton View Neighborhood Association to write to the mayor and the City opposing the sale of the tract.
Report on Barton Creek and Barton Springs Pool Safety	Councilman Darrell Slusher and representatives of the City of Austin reported on the issues raised in a recent Austin American-Statesman article alleging the presence of PAH, a cancer-causing agent, along with other dangerous chemicals in Barton Pool. The Statesman article alleged that the chemicals leached from the soil under a nearby apartment complex as a residue of a coal plant previously at that location. Slusher is heading up a council-led investigation. He stressed that he is approaching the task with no pre-conceived ideas about the problems or causes. He welcomed the Statesman’s interest in the integrity of the city’s watersheds and hopes it’s a turning point, leading others to be concerned with water quality issues. New sets of tests confirm pollutants in the hillside under the apartment complex but do not detect PAHs in the creek or pool. He sees the opportunity to emphasize the need for everyone in the Barton Hills neighborhood to be responsible in maintaining their yards by growing native species, using less water, and preventing chemicals from running off their property. Representing the City were Assistant City Manger Lisa Gordon, Health and Human Services Director David Lurie, Asst. Director Joe Pantalion, hydrologist David Johns, and physician Dr Ed Sherwood, a specialist in infectious diseases as well as outdoor medicine and the environment. Gordon assured Barton residents that the city treasures the Creek and Springs as do all Austinites. She explained that the city has been working on this issue for some time and has coordinated closely with four agencies: Texas Department of Health (TDH), TCEQ (Texas Commission on Environmental Quality), and federal agencies EPA and ATCSR. Lurie said that the city routinely monitors recreational waters for bacteria but not typically for heavy metals. They immediately called the outside agencies when the issues arose and those agencies have concluded that there is no public health risk. In the charged Q&A session that followed, attendees asked questions on issues including the safety of swimming in the pool, the safety of the neighborhood, the validity of the tests, and the city’s competence to determine these issues. Why was the pool closed if the water is safe? Gordon replied that closing the pool moved the discussion to the issue of defining the problem and finding a solution, not questioning why the pool was open. Why are there such discrepancies in the data? Gordon: there aren’t discrepancies in the data but in their interpretation – do the data present a health risk? The City doesn’t agree with the Statesman’s conclusion. These levels are exceedingly small – not a reasonable risk. Is the problem in the water or in the sediment? Johns, who regularly tests the pool, explained that PAH has not been found in the water, only in the sediment under the deepest sections of the deep end of the pool (17’). They have not been found in the shallow end where children play. TCEQ has determined that it is safe to swim in the pool. Creek water bypasses the pool through a separate channel; the pool is filled by the springs under the pool. Slusher explained that the landlord of the apartment complex gave permission for investigators to take a series of borings in various locations on the property. Borings were also taken from the hillside. Sherwood explained that hillside definitely shows a hot spot of PAH. The danger to health would come from repeated dermal exposure or ingestion. Another hot spot is located in the dry creek below Spyglass but it isn’t as concentrated as the hillside under the complex. Neighbors recommended that the city test along the entire creek as well as all tributaries, and especially after storms when water floods into the pool and creates turbulence in the pool, perhaps lifting heavy sediments off the pool floor.
Treasurer's Report	Incoming Treasurer Derek Stuart distributed copies of the Treasury Report. Of the 253 members last year, there are 53 currently renewed or new members as of the meeting date.
Adopt A Park	Glee Ingram presented a proposal for establishing a Greenbelt Guardian Program. Residents who volunteer will work with the Parks department to tend to the long-term care of the Barton Greenbelt, from Campbell’s Hole to Gus Fruh, including the entrances at Homedale and Gus Fruh. Responsibilities will include trail maintenance, maintaining water quality, and control of invasive species, all under the supervision of Parks staff. Individuals can participate throughout the year by using sacks provided at those entrances to pick up trash along the Greenbelt. Four events will be planned annually in coordination with Parks. The first event is scheduled for March 22 to repair erosion to the Homedale entrance. BHNA will also contact the neighborhood association on the west side of the creek.
Austin City Limits Resolution	Gentle distributed a proposed resolution to the city stating BHNA’s support of the Austin City Limits Music Festival, scheduled this year for September 13-14. There were several objections to wording that discouraged parking on park property for all events, not just the ACL event. Gentle withdrew the resolution for re-wording and will present again in April.
Barton Hills Handbook	Gentle distributed prototype copies of the Barton Hills Handbook and recognized the significant contributions of Craig Smith and the Handbook committee. Gentle encouraged members to read the manuscript and get back to the Association with any proposed revisions. The Association hopes to have a final release in time for the April meeting. Handbooks will be distributed gratis to new residents and available for sale at a modest cost to anyone else.
Safe Routes to School Update	Debby Kalk reported on the status of Barton Hill’s application to TxDOT’s Safe Routes to School program for funding to create continuous sidewalks, curb ramps, crosswalks, and other safety features, on major streets in the neighborhood. The proposal was submitted to AISD in October. It then went to the City’s child safety department within the transportation department. The City approved it and sent it on to TxDOT which is expected to make funding decisions in April.
High Efficiency Light Bulbs	Scott Johnson, a proponent of high efficiency lighting, presented information on the City’s energy efficiency programs. He showed an example of a compact florescent bulb that uses 70% less energy and lasts much longer than conventional incandescent bulbs. He distributed free bulbs to each attendee along with coupons for savings on future purchases.
Parking Prohibition	Gentle said that BHNA received notice from the city that we must renew our application to continue enforcement of the prohibition of parking in front and side yards in the neighborhood. The deadline for submitting the application to the City is February 28. A motion to request continued enforcement of the prohibition was adopted unanimously with no dissenting votes.
Barton Springs Road	Gentle provided an update on the work on Barton Springs Road. Hopes for year-end completion of this project were thrown back last year when the city learned that a waste water line will need to be replaced. The new date is early April.
Sound Pollution	Residents along Rabb and Robert E Lee complained of loud motorcycles creating sound pollution. Officer Mike Summers of the APD asked those residents to call him at 974-4405 to report this activity.
Memorial for Betty Brown	Gentle said that BHNA is hoping to create a memorial honoring the late Betty Brown who contributed to the founding of BHNA and to protecting Barton Creek. Members with suggestions should contact any of the BHNA officers with their ideas.
Candidate Forum	Gentle said that BHNA is considering working with the Zilker Neighborhood Association to hold a candidate forum for candidates for mayor and city council. The forum would probably be in April (the elections will be in May).
Next Meeting	The next meeting is scheduled for April 8.
Adjourn	The meeting adjourned at 8:55 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Debby Kalk Recording Secretary

BHNA Home > Meeting Notes > General Meeting Minutes, January 28, 2003