SRCC GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
Monday, January 5, 2015 7:15 PM
GRACE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
205 E. MONROE, AUSTIN, TEXAS
AGENDA
To be sure you get a vote, become a member. You can join or renew online www.srccatx.org. Not sure if you are current? Email membership@srccatx.org and we’ll let you know.
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 (see also footnote*).
Presenter throughout: Sounthaly “Tune†Outhavong, SRCC President, unless otherwise noted. (5 min)
2. 7:20 Membership and voting announcements. 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, 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. 7:22 Approve minutes from November 3, 2014, last regular monthly meeting (available at www.srccatx.org). (3 min)
MOTION: Carol Martin / Claudette Lowe – to approve the general membership meeting minutes from Nov 3rd = PASSED
4. 7:25 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)
We donated $750 to Travis Heights Elementary and had expenses for Blunn Creek that were already approved.
5. 7:30 Committee Chairs reports
1) Parks, Schools, Environment; 2) Planning & Zoning–item below; 3) Transportation & Public Safety–item below; 4) Norwood–item below; 5) Historic District–item below; 8) Finance; status of projects funded by SRCC–item below; 9) ANC*; 10) Communications (10 min)
Norwood House – Caroline Wright is the new Project Manager for the Norwood Park Foundation. She has been working on preservation issues in Austin for 7+ years. The house has been temporarily moved in order to rebuild the foundation and should be back in place within a month. The house was moved in the 90’s and is not currently in the proper location so that will also be corrected. There are ten heritage oaks on the property that will be cared for possibly through a grant.
OLD BUSINESS
6. 7:40 Update on Terrace Hotel (110 Academy Drive/1101 Music Lane)–plans approved by council
Presenter: Sounthaly Outhavong, SRCC President (5 min)
This project appears to be moving along as presented and expected.
7. 7:45 Travis Heights Elementary’s Mission75 Fundraising campaign–vote taken by Executive Committee to donate $750
Presenter: Sam Martin, SRCC Finance Chair (5 min)
The Mission 75 fundraising campaign is to raise money, during the 75th anniversary of the school, to support all the new programs and initiatives being fostered by THES. The amounts requested were $7.50, $75.00, $750.00 and $7,500.
8. 7:50 Update on new Torchy’s coming to South Congress–request for variance has been withdrawn.
Presenter: Sounthaly Outhavong, SRCC President (5 min)
Torchy’s lawyer withdrew their request until a later date. SRCC does not have a standing policy on alcohol but chose to support the stance of AISD and Fulmore Middle School which was to oppose the variance.
9. 7:55 Blue Bonnet Hills Local Historic District update–postponement/changes in schedule
Presenter: Angela Reed, reed.as@gmail.com (5 min)
It was determined by City Council that there was a one day delay in notifications by the city to affected residents and postponed this issue until next month. The Historic Landmark Commission meeting is the 4th Monday of every month, Jan 26th at 7pm at City Hall, and the Planning Commission meeting will be on a Tuesday in February. Interested parties should show up at those meetings in support of this effort.
NEW BUSINESS
10. 8:00 Grace United Methodist Church–update on challenges the congregation is facing, request for help
Presenter: Carolyn Moore, Chair of GUMC Administrative Council; cabmoore@hotmail.com (15 min)
Grace UMC is over 100 years old but has experienced a lull in membership that is forcing them to get creative with how to afford to keep the doors open. If the effort fails then the property will be taken over by the United Methodist Church and sold. Another option is to repurpose or make the space available for various events and meetings. The third option would be to retain the caretaker’s cottage and the garden with the remainder of the property being sold off. They are open to ideas and would love to talk about them. It was suggested that they add an insert in our newsletter asking for support and ideas. Parking seems to be one of the larger issues. Could they pair with the church down the street that burned down and share space for parking or other churches who would like sanctuary space in the neighborhood?
11. 8:15 Grant from Austin Parks Foundation for Heritage Oaks Park–summary of the scope of the project, requirements we must meet, Q&A
Presenter: Carol Martin, SRCC Membership Chair (5 min)
The new pocket park in East Travis Heights (at Parker and Window) is now open but we’ve been working to improve the space with the help of SRCC donations and an Austin Parks Foundation grant. A contractor will install ADA compliant features that include a trail, benches and landscaping.
11. 8:20 SRCC logo contest!
Presenter: Sounthaly Outhavong, SRCC President (10 min)
The logo contest officially starts. Anyone can submit a logo design. Once submitted, the designs will become property of SRCC. Voting will take place at the March potluck meeting and the winner gets bragging rights! Acknowledgement will be given on the SRCC website, social media accounts and newsletter. Submissions must be received by March 2 and emailed to president@srccatx.org. Questions should also be directed to this email.
12. 8:30 Special training opportunity–offered to SRCC and our neighborhood Planning Contact Teams. Session is lead by Carol Gibbs, Neighborhood Advisor in the City of Austin Planning & Development Review Dept., Monday January 12, 2015, 6:30 – 8:30 pm, location to be announced.
Presenter: Carol Martin, SRCC Membership Chair (5 min)
Carol Gibbs will be hosting a training session for all interested members who would like to learn more about the City’s online tools for researching permits and other development related information. The first training meeting will take place on January 12th from 6:30pm-8pm at One Texas Center, 505 Barton Springs Rd, Rm 500. Ten people have already RSVP’d but there is still room for more. membership@srccatx.org
13. 8:35 Norwood House grant–vote needed on change of purpose for grant from SRCC to Norwood House
Presenter: Wolf Sittler, Norwood Committee Chair (10 min)
SRCC made funds available for grants and one of those grants was given to the Norwood Park Foundation to rebuild the porch (approx $10,000) and to be spent by June 2015. Due to delays, the Norwood Park Foundation will have trouble spending that money by June and asked to use the money instead to work with Austin Heritage Tree Foundation to clean up the landscape and care for the trees. The benefit is to prep the site for pending work and improve the overall health of the landscape. The issue was raised that the porch was to be named after the SRCC and that we should consider some other way to identify SRCC support that is related to the landscape since the porch will be one of the last features installed.
MOTION: Sam Martin / Sarah Campbell – to redirect the funds for the Norwood Park Foundation from the building of a porch to site cleanup and tree care = PASSED
GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
Call for submissions for next newsletter
Presenter: Gretchen Otto, SRCC Vice President
If you have any content that you’d like to see included in the next newsletter, please send them in to newsletter@srccatx.org. It will be printed and delivered in February.
Annual potluck and elections for officers coming up on Tuesday, March 3rd at 6pm.
Presenter: Sounthaly Outhavong, SRCC President
Want to get involved in your neighborhood and the issues that affect us all? Please let us know that you’re ready to commit a few hours a month to make a difference in the way your community grows.
Volunteers needed for 2015 Special Events Committee
Presenter: Sounthaly Outhavong, SRCC President
Account reconciliation, Profit & Loss and Balance reports available upon request from treasurer@srccatx.org
Presenter: Nancy Byrd, Treasurer
*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