12.07.2009 Executive Committee Meeting Minutes

Present: Tonia, Eddie, Heidi, Tim, Marcus, Don

Financial Report
Start: $8443
+$438 ads
-$392 newsletter
-$250 Violet Crown Community Works donation
End: $8237

Newsletter Ad Policy
We decided to table the decision on church ads in the newsletter until Kat was present.

Neighborhood Planning Contact Team
Still working on the by laws. The next meeting is scheduled for December 17th at 6:30pm in Rm 201.

Sustainable Neighborhoods Proposal
Steven Zetner was requesting endorsement from the north Austin neighborhood for various projects for which the city is supposed to already have some money (capital improvements). Steven planned to present his proposal to City Council this month. However, apart from the initiatives previously endorsed by CNA, we decided to endorse the rails with trails initiative, the pedestrian bike bridge over the commuter rail, the pocket park on Ryan, and an improved crosswalk at Burnet and 2222 for Lamar Middle School. The full list of initiatives is here.


By Laws Amendments
We discussed the possible amendments to the by laws to address the change in membership terms, and the possibility of officers having staggered terms, and the number of general meetings per year being reduced. Association members expressed their concerns over the procedure to amend the by laws, and it was decided that, first, the ex comm. needed to meet with all members to get clear on what they were proposing, then an article in the newsletter would present the proposed changes with pros and cons, and then a feedback meeting would be held for neighborhood input, before a voting meeting on the changes would ever be held.

Association Member Input
Some neighbors were against the language in the membership term proposed by laws amendment that would grant business owners and absentee property owners membership in the association.

Some neighbors would like to see meeting re-caps in the newsletter. They would like to see monthly crime stats (addresses, crime, date, etc.) in the newsletter. They would like to see more articles about things that “affect the neighborhood” in the newsletter, like zoning variance requests and items before the planning commission.

One neighbor mentioned that he had been alerted to a variance request by a hotel that was buying out the condos on Northcross Dr. to be able to have a lounge bar. Members of the ex comm. asked for the information to be forwarded on to them, if possible.

Emily Wilson spoke about her attempt to get Crestview listed as a Green Neighborhood with the city. She has 63 homes signed up and needs 540. She requested that the ex comm. members all submit their booklet answers as an example to the neighborhood. If she can get the 540 houses to send their responses in, the city can donate things to the neighborhood like trees or a sign. She also mentioned that Crestview won second place in the city’s National Wildlife Habitat Challenge, and there will be an awards ceremony on Dec 17th with the participants honored. Finally, she spoke about the Friends of Brentwood Park. They plan to have 3-4 work days each year, and they want a water bed to water trees around the playscape in times of severe drought. The city doesn’t want to pay for that, but they will offer some support if there is support from the neighborhoods (monetary and volunteer). She would like to see neighborhood associations donate a few hundred dollars, if possible, and encourage people to volunteer.

January General Meeting
Eddie was tasked with contacting the person who was willing to speak about the 2222 HEB expansion to come to speak to us about it. Marcus was tasked with inviting someone from the Lamar Middle School to talk about their initiative to start a magnet program. If, after the January ex comm. meeting, there is clarity on what is desired for by laws amendment and arguments for and against, this can be presented to the general assembly as a first “heads up” about coming newsletter articles and feedback meetings.

12.07.2007 Executive Committee Meeting Agenda

This month the general meeting and ex comm meeting will be combined into a single meeting. There is no topic for the general meeting, and anyone is welcome to attend the ex comm meeting to observe, voice their opinions/concerns, or ask questions.

All
6:30 – 7:30 By Laws Vote in January
- Meeting Frequency
- Membership Period
- Term Staggering
Announced in newsletter to check web site on specifics.

Kat
7:30-7:45 Conclude church newsletter ad discussion and decide on policy.

Eddie
7:45-8:05 Sustainable neighborhood recommendations/endorsements

Eddie, Tonia, Heidi,
Marcus
8:05-8:15 Update on neighborhood contact planning team meetings

All
8:15-8:30 January general meeting