08.03.09 Ex Comm Meeting Minutes

NOTE: We may want to have a secondary contact for the website

Present: Kat, Page, Tonia, Heidi, Marcus, Tim, Eddie; Absent: Don, Deanna

Guests: Emily Wilson (Community Member), and Bo McCarver to discuss Non-Profit

Emily purpose at the meeting was to discuss establishing Crestview as a recognized “Green Neighborhood”. She passed out “Green Neighbor“ packets which fully explain the program. The idea is to encourage neighbors to take a challenge which encourages people to put green practices in place. The City makes the program fun which is explained in the packet. There are prizes for individuals, and if enough participation takes place, the neighborhood can be designated as “Green”.

Emily wanted ideas for delivering the “Green Neighbor” packets to Crestview residence and asked CNA. to support the initiative and solicit volunteers.
Unanimous vote to support Emily in her initiative, but Emily will do the leg work.
Emily will lead the implementation of the project
Emily will attend the C.N.A. General meeting next week and present for 10 minutes on the Green Neighbor initiative.
Emily will get with Steve Cooner (sp?) to coordinate getting the packets to the newsletter delivery people so they can be delivered with the newsletters.
An idea mentioned was to have a competition with Brentwood to encourage participation.
It was agreed that Emily would write something for the newsletter for the September issue.
Emily’s contact number is 740-2790, her email Emily.willson8596@gmail.com
Tree trimming was discussed as an example of a green project, regarding when the City has a contractor trim the neighborhood trees, we as homeowners can opt. to have the mulch left in our yards. Page mentioned that you needed to sign a wavier to do this. An idea presented was to see if all the mulch could be put in one place for neighbors to use as needed. One example was to dump it at Brentwood.

Bo McCarver: Purpose was to discuss setting up Non Profit, he if from the Blackland Neighborhood
Bo discussed the history of Blackland, and the reasons they became “non- profit”.
Being adjacent to UT (tried to annex the land) property they wanted to protect their property from rising prices, and preserve the neighborhood. Did so by becoming non profit and buying land and building rental properties etc to keep out the mega corps. For 29 years they have been able to protect the community, and have community initiatives to work together on properties which also teaches skills in fixing and maintaining properties to those who are interested while getting community projects completed.
There are three other Non Profits in Austin (Clarksville, Montopolis, and Guadalupe)
Non Profit is eligible for HUD money, and has aided them at Blackland in getting Grand Money.
Non Profit can set up properties to designate for purposes like Safeplace. (One thing Blackland did.)
Setting up Non Profit
Register with Secretary of State ($25 fee)
Need 501C3, and if cash flow over 20,000 need 990. (possibilities of provisional 501C3 discussed)
Non Profit needs to be a separate entity from Neighborhood association
Non Profit cannot support or endorse political candidates
Need bi laws and strategic plan
To be Non Profit need three things
a neighborhood culture or identity
Technical experts on developers
Lawyers
Texasc-Bar (can find pro bono lawyers)
Lawyers can help to train the board of the non profit
Blackland’s goal is to keep diversity in the neighborhood and protect from rising cost/property value.
Benefits of Non Profit
Can develop pocket parks
Community building (neighborhood volunteers)

Non profit will develop enemies (example those in neighborhood not on the same page with the mission/goal of the non profit.
Example: Blackland wants to keep property value down to preserve the diversity in the neighborhood, some in neighborhood want property value to go up.
C.N.A. discussion on Non-Profit
Discussed issue of Liability
Non profit would get insurance to cover staff as well $200 per year
What are other benefits outside of housing?
Helps the moral of the neighborhood, community projects
Can go through pay pal for payment if designated as a non profit.
Local organizations are more likely to donate to a non profit
Larger neighborhoods use non profit status to help with newsletter distribution
General discussion was around may not be what C.N.A is interested in at this time, but decided to discuss further at a later date.

Heidi Update on Neighborhood Planning Contact Team
The current plan from 2004 has us combine with Wooten
The City will mail out to all households information regarding a meeting to discuss/educate on Planning Teams. At the meeting we can decide if we want to have a Planning Contact Team.
Whether C.N.A. decides to have a planning team or not, other neighbors can decide to have one.
Discussion regarding whether or not the Planning Team would be in competition with neighborhood association. (would association lose their voice)
There was a lot of discussion and concern regarding the purpose/goal of the Neighborhood Planning Contact Team therefore we (Heidi) will contact the city contact and invite her to speak with the exec. Com. Team next month. Since the first Monday is Labor day, we will meet when she is available, possible dates to look at are Monday August 31, or Wednesday September 2nd. The Gerneral Meeting will not change. It will remain the 2nd Monday.
Page suggested we talk to Brentwood and Allendale to find out the pro’s and con’s of the Planning Contact Teams.

Heidi update regarding variance requests etc. (General discussion, no votes or consensus.)
Does C.N.A. want to send an opintion in support or against different things to the Board of adjustments.
We do not want to start getting into other peoples business, but an option is to form a subcommittee
Subcommittee would contact immediate neighbors (within 300 ft.) of whatever project is in the works would affect, as well as discuss the project with the homeowner to get an understanding of what the project entailed.
We would only oppose if there was a good reason found to oppose otherwise take non opposition
Heidi can formalize process of C.N.A involvement.
Heidi will report that the planning exists as they occur, but cannot lobby one way or another.
Heidi will contact someone at the City so she can get the notices directly.

Other Discussion:
Page wants to invite Jim Cotton, the owner of the new 7000sq. ft bar (The Fault) going in by Hobby Lobby to present his plan for the establishment to the General Sept. Meeting.
Newsletter Update:
Kat handed our info on newletter ad’s and the newsletter Vision, Goals, and Guidelines for everyone to review and provide feedback.
Give any suggestions to Kat prior to next exec. Com meeting, and Kat will consolidate and bring suggestions to review at the next exec. Com meeting at which time we can vote on any changes.

Membership Renewal:
§ Tim will send Tonia current membership, residence, and past membership information

08.31.09 Ex Comm Meeting Agenda

Susan with Violet Crown

Margaret with City of Austin
Regarding Neighborhood Planning

Newsletter
Calendar of events
Religious and Political articles

Modifying bylaws regarding Term of each office?
Three year terms, alternating two members each term

VMU
Defending particular parcels (1 and 100)
Subcommittee’s Role

CNA role in making recommendations to the board of adjustments. (what role to we want to play
Heidi to draft a neighborhood protocol for getting involved and determining which situations we will get involved in

Sept. NA meeting
National Night out
Neighborhood watch

Mailing out of CNA membership renewal notices

Results of non-profit status meeting?