Board members attending: Bryan Chester, Gail Morriss, Charles Johanson, Susan Pascoe, Candace Volz, Matthew Wheeler, Pat Tate, Elizabeth Cash
Board members absent: Tom Daniel, Drew Miller, Charles Heimsath, Greg Hybl
Honorary directors present: None
Visitors present: None
The meeting was called to order at approximately 7:40am and adjourned at approximately 9:05am. A quorum was present.
Agenda Item #1: Annual meeting/picnic
The picnic will be held in the same location as previous years. Bryan will send out a mass email reminder (including to bring a dessert), will arrange the food, and the bouncy house for the kids. He will also call Mariette Rowe regarding tables and chairs. Charles J. will arrange for signs and music. Matthew will bring beer. Pat, Susan, and Gail will do the membership table. Candace will bring nametags and tickets. Gail will arrange for a friend to handle the carriage ride sign-up table. It was decided that carriage rides would be $75 this year, since we have just broken even in previous years. Various potential sponsors were suggested. Food will be free with a $40 annual membership. Otherwise, food will be $10 adults, $5 children. The board also voted unanimously to raise annual dues after the meeting/picnic to $50/year. We are going to try PayPal for one more year, to see whether it works better with the new website arrangement.
Agenda Item #2: Triangles
The Hicks/Huffines triangle at the main entrance to the neighborhood will be complete by October 14th. A couple of weeks ago a neighbor noticed running water at the Hardouin triangle and was uncertain whom to contact. It was decided to list Lance and Bryan’s names in each issue of the newsletter as the contact for triangle issues until permanent maintenance is established.
Sponsors have been found for the Gaston x Wooldridge triangle. Another neighbor has agreed to assist significantly with maintenance of some of the triangles. The generosity of these neighbors (and all who have donated) is greatly appreciated.
Agenda Item #3: City disaster information form
Susan presented the City’s request that PHNA (along with other neighborhood associations) provide certain information to be used for disaster preparedness:
The City’s Health and Human Services Dept. (HHSD) would like to coordinate their communication with neighborhood associations in the event of a disaster. The effort focuses on pandemic flu, but the work will be useful in the event of other types of disasters or emergencies.
HHSD has general plans to make information broadly available to all citizens through the media and their website. Beyond that however, it will be beneficial for them to leverage the already existing networks that neighborhood associations have in place for communicating among residents in each area. This way, HHSD will be able to reach out to individuals they might otherwise miss, broadcast information specific to our area, or solicit assistance with special needs in our neighborhood.
Bryan will make a first pass at preparing the form and return it to Susan.
Agenda Item #4: 3215 Exposition development request from WANG
West Austin Neighborhood Group had formally requested PHNA support with a development issue just west of MoPac, which affects PH, however, as part of the neighborhood planning area. Approximately 2 acres of the former State School property have been sold to a developer who is requesting MF-1 zoning, to allow for 27 units of apartments and townhomes. The proposed development is across the street from a traditional single-family home area zoned SF-3. The neighbors on the streets near the development indicated to the City a preference for SF-3, grading to more intense development toward MoPac as the remainder of the State School tract is auctioned off. The City staff recommended SF-6, which is intermediate between what the neighbors and the developer want. However, the Planning Commission recently voted in favor of MF-1. The case is headed for City Council. The board voted unanimously to support WANG’s position of opposition to MF-1 zoning across the street from SF-3 zoning.
Agenda Item #5: Letter to RDCC
Now that PHNA has been before the Residential Design and Compatibility Commission for a case, Chairman Burkhardt invited us to submit to the commission any comments we had about the process. A draft letter had previously been circulated and suggestions were made. A final version will be circulated before it is sent to the commission.
Miscellaneous notes
1) Information from the various crime bulletin e-mails and the mailbox handout was shared. It was decided to see about listing Jeff Minch’s contact information in each newsletter as the person to report crimes to (in addition to the Austin Police Department) to help his tracking efforts. Pending his OK, he would be listed in the PHNA newsletter.
2) The next neighbor profile for the newsletter was also discussed.
3) Various membership issues were discussed, with no resolution.
**The next meeting is the annual meeting/picnic, Sunday, October 14, 4-7pm.
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