SRCC GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
Monday, June 5, 2017 7:15 PM
LIFE IN THE CITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
(formerly Grace UMC)
205 E. MONROE, AUSTIN, TEXAS
MINUTES
CALL TO ORDER/APPROVAL OF MINUTES
1. 7:15 Meeting procedures, etiquette, welcome newcomers. Verification of quorum. Reminder: state your name when presenting or seconding a motion. If an acronym is stated during the meeting and you don’t know what it means, please feel free to raise your hand and ask.*
Presenter throughout: Gretchen Otto, SRCC President, unless otherwise noted. (10 min)
2. 7:25 Membership and voting. Pay multiple years in advance and get a discount. Single membership: 1-yr $20; 2-yr $35; 3-yr $50 / Family membership: 1-yr $35; 2-yr $65; 3-yr $95 NOTE: In order to vote or make motions, dues must be paid a month in advance, with the exception that if a former member’s dues have lapsed no more than 2 years, they may renew at the meeting and be eligible to vote. (2 min)
3. 7:27 Approve minutes from May 1, 2017 monthly general meeting (available at www.srccatx.org). (3 min)
MOTION: – Ingrid Perkins / Angela Reed – to approve the minutes from the May General Membership meeting = PASSED 28 for, 0 against, 0 abstain
4. 7:30 Treasurer’s Report – see attachment to agenda distributed at the meeting; all reports are available upon
request to the Treasurer. Presenter: Nancy Byrd, Treasurer (5 min)
Details of the report can be obtained by emailing treasurer@srccatx.org.
5. 7:35 Committee Chairs reports
1) Parks, Schools, Environment; 2) Planning & Zoning; 3) Transportation & Public Safety – Woodland closure at I-35; 4) Norwood; 5) Historic District; 6) Finance; 7) ANC/SCC*; 8) Communications; 9) CodeNEXT-see item below; 10) Executive Committee; 11) South Central Waterfront (10 min)
Transportation – In recent discussions with St Ed’s University, asked about planned traffic calming (speed humps on St Ed’s). Will be 5 sets of rubber cushions along St. Ed’s Drive. Not sure who signed the petition, and where it is in the approval process. Expect there to also be 20’ of “no parking†signed areas adjacent to cross streets, for safety.
Westbound traffic on Woodland @ I-35 will be detoured for another 1-2 weeks, then open for about a month, then closed for another 2-3 weeks.
The History Hunt was postponed due to rain. It will start and end @ Stacy Park along Eastside Drive. June 24th is the new date.
ANC CodeNEXT workshop was very helpful. There were generally concerns about questions that are still unanswered.
Looking for new communications chair!
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
6. 7:45 Ciclovia proposed in SRCC area by Bike Austin for 2018. The Ciclovia is an open street event that would turn over a street to bikers and walkers for part of a day; Congress Avenue is being considered for 2018. VOTE EXPECTED. https://bikeaustin.org/ciclovia/
Presenter/Guest: Carson Chavana, Bike Austin, carson@bikeaustin.org (15 min)
Bike Austin is planning for a Ciclovia early next summer; it will consist of the closing of streets to cars for bikes, pedestrians, etc.. It will be different than a typical festival – just turning an area that is usually used for car traffic into a navigable area. They are planning to be on 2 miles of Congress from 11th St. to Mary St., will be limited cross traffic on Congress during this event (will likely keep Riverside open, and possibly Cesar Chavez). Would like to host on Congress in order to interact with it in a different way. Event will be on a weekend, for a few hours (possibly from 10 am-4 pm, streets open by 6 pm). Want it to be a long enough stretch of road that it will not be crowded, and possibly encourage people to bike along it and get out and exercise. SRCC residents expressed some concern about the length of time.
The intent is to be a local and family oriented event. Intend to pay for a large portion of it via fundraising. There will be vendors and food, etc., but not a big emphasis on that aspect. Often include health and healthcare organizations as part of the event and sponsorship. Expect a proposal to the City later this summer (July). City may match portions of the funding. SRCC residents had several questions about funding and the cost to the City.
Kathie Tovo mentioned that this event may require a Council resolution to overturn the moratorium against road closures.
SRCC residents suggested that they put up notices/signs a week or so ahead of time in order to alert neighbors about the road closures.
MOTION: Betty Weed / Rachel McClure – to support the idea of Ciclovia on Congress Ave. with the understanding that a significant portion of the cost will be covered by private donations = PASSED 26 for, 4 against, 1 abstain
7. 8:00 Update on CodeNEXT. The SRCC/GSRC NPCT ad-hoc CodeNEXT committee has developed a position paper for SRCC. VOTE EXPECTED. Portions of SRCC are being proposed as transect zones where zoning is based mostly on the form and design of buildings, rather than their use. Comments on text of Code are due June 7th; comments on zoning maps are due July 7th. The text of the paper can be found on our website here: https://www.srccatx.org/2017/06/01/srcc-position-paper-on-codenext/
For more information: http://www.austintexas.gov/department/codenext
Presenter: Tom Fitzpatrick, Committee Chair, fitz @ prismnet.com (15 min)
A draft paper has been posted on the website. The first page (close to an executive summary) was handed out.
At the NPCT CodeNEXT meeting it was asked if the City will have to amend the FLUMs, but they are still awaiting an answer.
The District 9 CodeNEXT open house was held last Saturday, and it was well-attended. In addition to being informative, multiple residents thanked Kathie Tovo for the well-organized presentation and meeting.
There was discussion about a National Historic District for Travis Heights, but this would not change the requirements for demolition, but likely just delay them.
The position paper will be sent to Council, Planning and Zoning, the CAG, etc..
MOTION: Tom Fitzpatrick / Cynthia Milne – that SRCC supports the main points outlined in the summary and that, after some light editing, the final version of the position paper should be sent to the City as our comment on CodeNEXT = PASSED 30 for, 0 against, 3 abstain
The next SRCC CodeNEXT Committee meeting is scheduled for Monday, June 12; contact Gretchen if you would like to get involved.
NEW BUSINESS
8. 8:15 Update on recent property crimes, as well as homeless encampments.
Presenter/Guest: Officer Black, Region 3 Henry Sector 1 rep, APD, andre.black@austintexas.gov (10 min)
Violent crime in this area is down. Burglaries to vehicles and homes are steady or increasing. Make sure to lock doors and windows in cars and homes. These are a lot of crimes of opportunity.
There is a lot of homelessness in this area, APD is trying to find other options for these people. Officer Black discourages people to give them money, as it can perpetuate their lifestyle. APD has been writing tickets and taking people to jail when people panhandling are breaking a law, but that often pushes them into the neighborhood. APD has been aggressively addressed the camp near Big Stacy Park. He encourages people to keep calling in about homeless camps. This issue is overwhelming the resources of APD. They have been writing citations to owners of undeveloped lots in the neighborhoods where there is not enough upkeep to deter camps.
There was discussion about a future meeting topic to discuss resources for homelessness and what we can do.
The homicide on Congress was an isolated incident.
The issue of helicopters in the neighborhood came up and it was suggested that people call the Public Information Office (PIO). If there is imminent threat or danger in your area, you should get a phone call. Betty pointed out that there were several police cars and dogs in front of their house a few weeks ago, but didn’t get a call. He suggested that people call 3-1-1 if they are concerned and don’t get a call.
APD has a group of park police that check parks and along the creek. Citizens can request additional park patrols by calling the park police.
Gretchen suggested that anyone interested in reinstituting the Neighborhood Watch program in SRCC contact her.
9. 8:25 Presentation of Travis County Juvenile Probation Center’s Master Plan, including the facility at South Congress and Long Bow Lane. See the current version of the Master Plan here:
https://www.traviscountytx.gov/images/planning_budget/srp/final_tcjpd_phase_2_report.pdf
Presenter/Guest: Allison Fink, Planning Project Manager, Travis County Planning and Budget Office, allison.fink@traviscountytx.gov (15 min)
The Commissioner’s Court recently approved the Travis County Juvenile Probation Center Master Plan. It includes the Gardner Betts Juvenile Center on South Congress, which is planned to have 120 beds in detention, 118 in residential. They currently have 238 beds. In 30 years plan to have 224 beds.
The zoning of the current site is P – Public use. The former Bank of America (BoA) site being incorporated into the design is GSC-MP-NCCD (??), and CodeNEXT shows it as T5.MS. They plan to incorporate more green space in the current Bank of America area. They currently have a one story garage, plan to make it 2 stories. The tallest building will front S Congress.
The intent is to start building at the BoA site in 2018, though now expect it may slip; may be 1-2 years before it gets started. We should expect to have more discussions closer to the design phase, which will include site plans.
You can find more information about the this project by following the link on the agenda.
10. 8:40 Ordinance for a temporary plaza at Barton Springs near South Congress, sponsored by Mayor Pro Tem Tovo. This “plaza†closes off that dedicated right hand turn off Southbound South Congress Avenue onto Barton Springs Road. Will likely review for about 12 months before determining whether or not to make it permanent.
https://www.srccatx.org/2017/06/02/temporary-plaza-proposed-at-barton-springs-and-south-congress/ Presenter: Gretchen Otto (5 min)
May be on council agenda for June 15th. Will try it for a year, then get community input and decide what to do next.
11. 8:45 Update on St Edward’s area parking and housing development issues.
Presenter: Elloa Matthews (10 min)
The new St Ed’s Operations Building is at dead end of St. Ed’s Drive, though it was not shown in this location on previous versions of the Master Plan; it used to be on Woodward. St Ed’s Drive is completely parked up in the last 5 years since St Ed’s started charging for parking. There are no sidewalks, now to include 18 wheeler traffic. The trucks have a right of way variance so that they can block the intersection at Carnarvon to turn around, since the streets aren’t big enough. This is creating safety issues with visibility of oncoming traffic to get onto St Ed’s.
There have been several DUI/DWIs in the neighborhood from St Ed’s students, including one student driving a car into a house. When trying to get assistance from St Ed’s University, the interactions have not been useful.
Sherwood Oaks is SF-2 except for some duplexes. Some people in the past were building duplexes in places where the zoning didn’t allow them. At the time neighbors were able to stop construction of one, but there was another one that was far enough along that the City didn’t halt construction. The owners of these structures are now trying to sell them, and the realtor is listing them as duplexes. Another letter will be drafted to oppose selling it as a duplex. It was suggested that they find the agent’s broker, who has financial responsibility, and may be more responsive to listing the homes in a responsible way.
12. 8:55 Bylaws reminder; questions?
Presenter: Gretchen Otto (5 min)
All suggestions to bylaws need to happen in the next couple of weeks. After the new version of the bylaws is provided, there can be no changes – only an up or down vote will be allowed.
9:00 GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
There will be an Executive Committee meeting on June 19.
Next newsletter timeline: articles DUE THIS WEEK to have summer newsletter delivered in July
Free t-shirts! We have a bunch of old SRCC shirts that we need to get rid of. Come and get yours before they are donated!
Greater South River City Neighborhood Planning Contact Team is seeking new members. Visit this page for more information: https://www.srccatx.org/about/greater-south-river-city-neighborhood-plan/
Contact Terry Franz if interested: tmfranz @ airmail.net
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! We need volunteers for several open positions
COMMUNICATIONS CHAIR
neighborhood watch program organizer
SRCC Special Events Chair to organize the July 4 picnic
SRCC Newsletter Editor
more folks interested in helping on SRCC transportation committee
Austin Monitor discount: SRCC16 for 20% off subscription
Account reconciliation, Profit & Loss and Balance reports available upon request from treasurer@srccatx.org or financecommittee@srccatx.org
*Frequently used acronyms: ACF: Austin Community Fund; ANC: Austin Neighborhood Council; SF: Single Family zoning category; FLUM: Future Land Use Map; GSRC NPCT: Greater South River City Neighborhood Planning Contact Team, NCCD: Neighborhood Conservation Combining District; SCC: South Central Coalition of NAs
Agenda Prepared by Gretchen Otto, president@srccatx.org, and Dan Fredine, vicepresident@srccatx.org
Agenda subject to change. Please check www.srccatx.org for most updated version.
