? South River City Citizens (SRCC): minutes for meeting of general membership, August 6, 2012 return to SRCC home page



MEETING OF THE GENERAL MEMBERSHIP OF SRCC
Monday, August 6, 2012
7:15 PM
GRACE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
205 East Monroe; Austin, Texas


MINUTES


SRCC General Membership Meeting Minutes 8/6/2012


CALL TO ORDER/APPROVAL OF MINUTES
1. 7:15 Room arrangement, meeting procedures, etiquette, welcome newcomers. Presenter throughout: Carol Martin, Vice President, unless otherwise noted.
2. 7:20 Membership & voting announcements. Members were reminded to provide their current email addresses so they can get the notifications SRCC sends out.
Presenter: Carol Martin, Vice President and Membership Chair
3. 7:22 Approve minutes from June 4, 2012, last regular monthly meeting.
MOTION: Dennis Cudd / Jean Mather--To approve the minutes from 6/4/2012 = PASSED
4. 7:25 Treasurer's Report by Les Case, Treasurer
Balance and Detail Profit & Loss reports available from treasurer
5. 7:30 Committee Chairs reports
1) Parks, Schools, Environment--agenda item # 10 below
2) Planning & Zoning;
3) Transportation & Public Safety; Dennis Cudd: August 1st, 2011, was when the crime watch patrols started. Over that period burglaries in the 4A/4B patrol area have decreased by 48% while the greater SRCC area has seen an increase of 79%. Participation in the patrols has seen a sharp drop, down to 19 patrols in July compared to 42 in February. SRCC areas East of I-35 are starting patrols on 8/8/2012. Statistics show that the most effective way to deter crime in an area is to physically patrol it. Dennis, Peter and Shelly are all leaving town in the near future and will need others to step up and participate in the effort and the patrols.
4) Membership;
5) Norwood; The city Parks Department wants to meet with the Norwood Posse to discuss more details on the Norwood House Restoration Project. Please contact Wolf if you'd like to help with fundraising.
6) Historic District;
7) Communications;
8) Financial;
9) Reps to ANC Austin Nbhd Council

OLD BUSINESS
6. 7:35 Update on the Reagan Signs site plan extension for its property on Woodland and I-35
Presenter: Pat Roeder, Member
Reagan Signs has withdrawn its proposal to develop the tract and any future developments will now have to adhere to the Heritage Tree Ordinance.
7. 7:40 Update from the South Congress Working Group regarding parking on and around South Congress
Presenter: Mary Lovell, Member
The only new information at this point is that the idea to add parking meters to the South Congress Avenue area has been dropped. The city contacted the representatives July 5 saying there will be another meeting in the next few weeks after staff gathers some additional data. Those interested in being part of this discussion should contact Chris Riley's aide, Leah Bojo.
8. 7:50 Update on Speedy Stop's request to sell alcohol within 300 feet of Travis High School
Presenter: Carol Martin
Richard Suttle, representing Speedy Stop convenience store located at Oltorf @ IH35 (northwest corner) has withdrawn its request for a waiver of the Alcoholic Beverage ordinance prohibiting sale of alcohol within 300 feet of a school or day care center. Faith Presbyterian Church, its Child Development Center, Austin Interfaith, PTA and parents coordinated efforts to persuade City Council against granting the waiver. Speedy Stop has also submitted an identical request for their location next to Reagan High School in northeast Austin so the group heading up the effort still delivered its message to City Council.
9. 8:00 Update on Home Slice's OMV permit
Presenter: Mary Lovell, Connie Todd, Members
Any business with a restaurant footprint may obtain an Outdoor Music Venue permit without restrictions. The Music Office can impose restrictions but the first year permit for a restaurant (general use) footprint may not be denied. Each business is allowed two violations before their permit is pulled. Please call 311 to report any violations.
10. 8:10 Update on 1227 Newning--new drainage plan has been approved
Presenter: Jeff Kessel, Member
This is the property on a steep grade with a drainage plan that originally involved underground electric pumps. In response to SRCC and residents' concerns, the system has now been changed to a gravity fed system that can be visually inspected. The heavy construction work will be completed by the end of August with the remainder of work being done by the end of the year before completing the interiors.

NEW BUSINESS
11. 8:20 Request to support Save Austin Trees in its efforts to convince Trammell Crow corporation to save the heritage trees on the Green Water Treatment Plant
Presenters: Michael Fossom and Zoila Vega, President of Heritage Tree Foundation
Michael Fossom and Zoila started this foundation which was successful in preventing the removal of many trees at Barton Springs. The new effort is to convince Trammell Crow to preserve the seven Heritage Trees on the Green Water Treatment Plant property. The City Council waived the ordinance for this project. A few individuals created a Facebook page and 3,100 signatures have been collected while also publicizing the situation through rallies and City Council contact. Design alternatives have been submitted to the city with the last resort being to relocate the trees. Expert arborist has recommended that the trees would survive transplanting. Possible ideas for funding the relocation project include raising money from the community to cost share with the developer and request that the city waiving fees associated with potential tree relocation. The Heritage Tree Foundation would like a letter of support from SRCC to ask the city to respect the Heritage Tree Ordinance both on that site and elsewhere.
MOTION: Helen Fleming / Kent Ansheutz--to draft a letter to Trammel Crow (cc: City Council) in support of the Heritage Tree Ordinance = PASSED
12. 8:30 C3's Proposal for Auditorium shores
Presenters: Garret Nick and Carol Martin
The organizers of the Austin City Limits Music Festival have proposed expanding to encompass two consecutive weekends at the same Zilker Park location. Garret and Carol were asked by Jeff Jack to represent SRCC at a private meeting including representative from neighborhood associations Bouldin, Zilker and Barton Hills. The purpose was to discuss neighborhood concerns and ideas. C3 shared ideas about how the festival could be used to fund projects along the waterfront and work with neighborhood groups more closely. Before another meeting could be scheduled, the information about ACL expanding was released to the public. Follow-up meeting is pending.

GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
13. 8:55 Tri Rock Austin street closure
Presenter: Carol Martin, Vice-President
Formerly called the Austin Triathlon and will be closing a section of Congress on Labor Day until 11am.
14. 9:00 Ben's Workshop site plan has been approved
Presenter: Carol Martin, Vice-President
The old Don Mar Motor Court at 2109 South Congress will be developed into a Mercedes repair facility and the site plan has been approved without any variances.

Garret Nick, Secretary

 

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