06.14.10 CNA Executive Committee Meeting Minutes

Rails with Trails
John Michael Cortez from Cap Metro, along with Robert Okamoto (engineer) and Jolina Marshal (TOD group) came to update the neighborhood on the “rails with trails” effort. They indicated that they were still early in the process and looking for input before making decisions. They had already spoken with Wooten, Highland, and Northfield.

For the past 6 years they have been working in accord with the All Systems Go plan, Cap Metro’s plan for growing the transit system over then next 20-25 years. They are about a quarter of the way through implementing the plan. Their goal is to connect neighborhoods to their transit stations (like Crestview Station). They have implemented a pedestrian/bike thoroughfare through downtown to I-35 (Lance Armstrong Bikeway, Boggy Creek Bikeway), and their next priority would be to implement something similar from I-35 along Airport to Highland. However, they can’t afford to do that segment currently. They have received a chunk of federal stimulus money ($1.9 million) that needs to be spent in the next 1-2 years. They believe that this will allow them to implement a pedestrian/bike thoroughfare from Crestview Station up north past 183.

Because of the requirement for 50’ of right of way along the tracks, most of the rail in central Austin will not be able to have a trail running along side of it (it would encroach into people’s back yards), so the thoroughfare will mostly be along existing roadways, zigzagging parallel to and across the track through neighborhoods. Cap Metro’s effort would be to increase signage and safety at crossings, but they probably wouldn’t narrow existing roads with bike lanes. There was no support by the assembly for this plan at all. Crestview and the other neighborhoods spoken to thus far by Cap Metro favor having the trail run along the tracks through the former Huntsman tract (now including the Optimists’ fields), and Cap Metro is discussing the possibility of getting enough land from the current property owners to construct such a trail. In the event that the property owners are not willing to sell or donate the land, the proposed route to Crestview Station would go along Morrow until midway between Grover and Lamar, and then meander through the Midtown Commons before reaching the station.

They don’t want to create another crossing of the tracks at the station to allow people from Brentwood and Crestview pedestrian access to the station without going onto Lamar. Board policy is to remove two crossings for every one added. They can’t address Austin Energy’s plans for the Ryan property, and therefore could not speak to the possibility of having a pedestrian overpass/underpass of the tracks to get to the station from there. Another bicycle/pedestrian connection to the station will be along St. Johns, connecting up to Guadalupe.

Cap Metro’s budget for fiscal year 2011 is currently on-line. They are looking for feedback on how to spend their money. A 10-minute video and 5-minute survey is here until this Sunday (June 20th).

Red Home – The recipient of the recent charity home remodel in Crestview, Leona Sledge, was present to thank the community for their support and to offer her help with future endeavors. She and her husband moved into their home on Morrow in 1954. She was recently financially strained when forced to redo the plumbing in her slab home.

Traffic Calming – Traffic calming has started. Speed cushions are in along Morrow. The entire process will take about 6 months, with temporary barriers representing possible island locations to go in soon before eventually being replaced with permanent islands.

NPCT – The Neighborhood Plan Contact Team will have its first meeting next week (June 21st) at 6:30pm at Genuine Joe.

Keep Austin Beautiful Proposal – Karen Lorenzini and Cheryl Goveia presented their proposal to the association to write a grant proposal to Keep Austin Beautiful to get funding to create artistic signage into Crestview. They would like backing from the association to increase their competitiveness with others applying for grants. The signs would be open to the community for involvement with design, construction and placement. They are asking for $1000 from the association along with a letter of support. The deadline for response was stated as Wednesday (2 days). Karen came to the association with a similar proposal last year for placing a landscaped bench at an island in Crestview with an equally short deadline for a response from the association. The CNA ultimately decided to decline support at that time because of the short deadline. The executive committee was again wary of offering support because of the short deadline and having not yet created a criterion for determining project eligibility for funding or the amount of funding the association is comfortable dispersing per year. It was decided to offer financial backing of $500 with a possibility of additional money if Karen and Cheryl are unable to find additional funding from other organizations or sources in the neighborhood.

Budget - May: $9901 + $110 memberships + $187 ads - $392 newsletter printing - $100 Violet Crown donation - $30 bounced check = $9675

Newsletter – Looking for more distributors. 6 or 7 entries for the logo contest.

Membership Renewals – Needed to wait until new bylaws were voted on before monthly renewals could go out. Expect to start sending out renewal notices in August.

CNA’s Spending Policy – What percentage of ad revenue and membership dues should go back into the neighborhood? In what way? This policy needs to be in place before making future decisions on spending. As it was 9:40pm, this policy discussion was deferred for an executive committee meeting next month: 2nd Monday in July at 7pm at The Pour House.

Ice Cream Social – It was decided to hold this year’s ice cream social in front of the Little Deli on July 18th from 1-3pm. The social will be on Sunday instead of Saturday this year because the Little Deli is now open on Saturdays. We need to post something on the listserv looking for neighborhood musicians willing to play (Deanne Rene played for the Violet Crown Festival, and Christie Barry coordinated. Susan will send the contact info to Kat.). Tonia will contact the Alamo Drafthouse about tickets for raffle. Additionally for raffle, the neighborhood association will purchase $20 gift certificates for the MiniMax, the Little Deli, and Genuine Joe. A flier in July’s newsletter will serve as both a membership renewal and raffle entry. Don can bring a small pavilion for shade.

06.14.10 CNA Executive Committee Meeting Agenda

General Meeting:
- Announce Ice Cream Social (sometime in late July)
- Announce NPCT meeting June 21st
- Announce Traffic Calming measures have begun
- Alissa from Cap Metro - budget development process video and survey

Executive Meeting:
- Plan the ice cream social - Jul 18th? (look for musicians, raffle,
bullhorn/karaoke machine, flyer with newsletter and CNA membership
renewal as raffle entry).
- Plan the renewal notice mail-out.
- Decide upon a policy for determining how much money the CNA is able
to spend each year on events (ice cream social, pumpkin carving party,
etc.) and in support of community initiatives or organizations.
Determine what criteria (if any) must be met in order to receive CNA
financial support (membership? meeting attendance?).