SRCC GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
Monday, December 7, 2015 7:15 PM
LIFE IN THE CITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
(formerly Grace UMC)
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.
2. 7:20 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, 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.
3. 7:22 Approve minutes from Nov. 2, 2015 monthly general meeting (available at www.srccatx.org).
MOTION: Wolf Sitler / Andy Cantu – to approve the minutes from the November 2015 meeting = 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
Presented by Sam Martin in Nancy Byrd’s absence.
5. 7:30 Committee Chairs reports
1) Parks, Schools, Environment; 2) Planning & Zoning; 3) Transportation & Public Safety; 4) Norwood–see below; 5) Historic District–see below; 6) Finance; 7) ANC*–see below; 8) Communications; 9) CodeNEXT–Russell
CodeNEXT: Andy Cantu – the City’s effort to redo the land development code is ongoing and most recently there was a “sound check†event to explore what the menu of options would look like in the context of Austin. These were real world examples for people to comment on. 2017 is the projected date for the framework and mapping of the code changes followed by the application. The consultant is pushing for a form based code versus a use based code.
OLD BUSINESS
6. 7:40 Bluebonnet Hills Update–support from ANC and Preservation Austin
Presenter: Gretchen Otto, Vice President, vicepresident@srccatx.org
There is an active petition against the Local Historic District (LHD) that will require a super-majority of Council in order to overcome. The ANC and Preservation Austin both voted to support the Bluebonnet Hills LHD.
7. 7:45 Quarter Cent Fund Update–projects within SRCC neighborhoods to be funded by city.
Presenter: Sounthaly “Tune†Outhavong, President, president@srccatx.org
City staff have submitted their first round recommendations to the mobility council committee for the quarter cent fund and have been asked to revise their recommendations. Various groups, including SRCC, have submitted proposals to MPT Tovo and staff for how to spend that money. Categories for consideration were anything within a ¼ mile of a school or activity transit center, council member priorities, and transportation infrastructure needs. Projects within SRCC boundaries that were given initial inclusion in the list of possible projects to be funded are two pedestrian hybrid beacons along Riverside at Alameda and Summit and bike lanes on Riverside between I-35 and Hwy71.
8. 7:55 Norwood House–update on progress on the Norwood Estate project.
Presenter: Colleen Theriot, Chairperson of the Board of the Norwood Park Foundation, colleen.theriot@norwoodparkfoundation.org; and/or Wolf Sittler, SRCC Norwood Park Rep
The Norwood House project has been funded entirely with private funds and grants up to this point, no City money has been spent. The grant provided by SRCC to the Norwood Park Foundation has been used for site improvements that help donors visualize the future of the house. The view from the house has been restored for this purpose and to help make the property profitable as a future public venue. Photos of the property before and after the work funded by the SRCC grant were shared at the meeting.
NEW BUSINESS
9. 8:05 Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Ordinance – Executive Committee vote and results. Presenter: Sounthaly Outhavong, President, president@srccatx.org
At the last SRCC meeting it was requested that we take an official position on the ADU Ordinance. A vote by the Executive Committee was taken to oppose the change, but the position was not submitted to the City Council in time before they heard the issue. The final city council vote was 7 in favor and 4 opposed, and SRCC sent a letter to both parties voicing appreciation and disappointment. You can see a complete list of changes at http://www.austintexas.gov/page/ADU
10. 8:15 Officer elections in March–Tune will not be seeking re-election as SRCC president, so we have an opening for a new officer. Please contact either Tune or Gretchen if you are interested in serving as either president or vice president, or would like to nominate someone.
Presenter: Gretchen Otto, Vice President, vicepresident@srccatx.org
We are looking for a volunteer to fill in as the President or Vice President for the coming year starting April 2016. Please e-mail Tune at president@srccatx.org or Gretchen at vicepresident@srccatx.org
11. 8:20 Bylaws ad-hoc committee–An ad-hoc committee, to be chaired by Carol Martin, is being formed to update the SRCC bylaws. Interested members can contact Carol at membership@srccatx.org.
Presenter: Carol Martin, Membership Chair, membership@srccatx.org
The goal of this ad-hoc committee is to review and update the bylaws to reflect the changes and improvements made over the years. The SRCC bylaws were passed in 2002. Since then SRCC membership has voted to establish the Finance Committee which has implemented several new processes that insure SRCC organization maintain standing with state and federal requirements. The bylaws need to be to be updated to include 1) FC as a standing committee; 2) reflect online communication procedures; etc. The ad-hoc Bylaws committee consists of Carol Martin, Tune Outhavong, Gretchen Otto, Jean Mather, Sarah Campbell, Marc Davis. The SRCC bylaws allow for the creation of an ad-hoc committee by any dues paid member without prior approval from the membership. Once an ad-hoc committee is formed they can meet, record minutes and later present their findings or ideas to the membership. The recommendations will require a â…” majority vote at a general membership meeting. The committee hopes to present recommendation to EC at their April 2016 meeting.
12. 8:30 Alcoholic beverage waiver ad-hoc committee–A new ad-hoc committee is being formed to organize efforts to prevent alcoholic beverage waivers in our neighborhood, and specifically Torchy’s, who is expected to re-apply any day now.
Presenter: Gretchen Otto, Vice President, vicepresident@srccatx.org
If you are passionate about the Torchy’s alcohol waiver issue, please contact the VP about participating.
8:40 GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
Presenter: Gretchen Otto, SRCC Vice President, vicepresident@srccatx.org
No general membership meeting in January, next meeting will be February 1, 2016
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! We still need a volunteer to chair our neighborhood watch program. We also need a new Area Coordinator for Area 2. And now also a new officer!
Monthly Review: Stay up-to-date on neighborhood news and SRCC announcements by signing up for our Monthly Review emails at www.srccatx.org. These simple, easy-to-read digests are available to all area residents.
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
