Northfield Neighborhood Association - 09-11-06 Meeting Minutes

Northfield Neighborhood - Meeting Minutes - 07/10/06

July 10, 2006

Introductions

Treasurer's report -- Joe was absent, so there was no treasurer's report this month. Sebastian guessed that the NNA had spent $670.00 for the previous newsletter, and was bringing in about $600 in advertising for the next newsletter.

Newsletter brief: There are plans to contract with a new printer and change the format of the newsletter to cut costs.

Johnny Barnett from Austin Unique -- Johnny has proposed an October neighborhood festival on North Loop. Johnny could not make it to the meeting however. If this event is to happen, there is agreement that we need to talk to Johnny at least 2 months before the event. There is no August meeting because of Neighborhood Night Out, and September is probably too late. So, Option 1 is to ask the officers to meet with Johnny and make a decision. Option 2 is to postpone the event until November or December. Option 3 is to simply organize our own event without Johnny's assistance.

Sebastian will talk to Johnny and will talk to vintage stores along North Loop to explore options.

National Night Out -- Sebastian has drafted a flyer to be posted around the neighborhood. It features advertising for businesses and organizations that have agreed to help with NNO. The flyer is very cheap to produce -- no budget involved.

Epoch has not yet opened, but they think they will be open by the first of August. They are fairly certain we can use their electricity for our event. Sebastian will talk to the Parlor about discount pizza, Ararat about sampler food trays, Casa Brasil about coffee. Possibly also Flightpath coffee (not in NNA boundaries), Titaya's, Burger Tex, and Lamme's Candies.

Concerns were raised about making noise. Sebastian confirmed that acoustic guitar is okay. Perhaps Casa Brasil can provide a guitarist again like they did last year. Christina mentioned that there is a Hall of Fame swing musician who lives in the neighborhood -- she will talk to him.

For supplies, we agreed: Chairs -- Christina Ice Chests -- Sebastian and Brenda Fans -- Sebastian and Cuatro Name tags -- Message to mailing list -- Sebastian Table -- Sebastian

Traffic concerns -- Sebastian has been talking to the city traffic engineers about traffic problems in the neighborhood. Specifically, Sebastian asked about stop signs at intersections along Ave. F, Chesterfield, Zennia, and Genard. Sebastian also asked about speed control along North Loop and 51st, and about the dangerous intersection at Duval, 51st, and Bruning.

The city has conducted traffic studies, and have decided on the following actions: Reverse stop sign at Chesterfield and Nelray, add stop signs at T-intersections of Zennia and Genard. Paint street stripes at intersection of Duval, 51st, and Bruning. There is no action at this time on North Loop, Ave. F, or 51st Street.

Sebastian also has been talking to the city about parking on Nelray. With students crowding into the Lee properties, parking on Nelray has become unreasonable. The only real option available for the neighborhood is to ask the city to create a "resident only parking zone." This is a complicated process, however.

First, the majority of residents on the street have to sign a petition to request parking permits. Then the city must confirm that over 70% of the street parking is being used. Then, the city will allow a neighborhood association to manage the distribution of the permits. They will give 2 permanent permits (stickers) plus 2 guest permits to each electric meter. This means that a duplex could get a total of 8 permits. (Sebastian pointed out that this probably won't help the parking problem along Nelray very much.)

If we get permits, they would be $15 per household for the first year -- $10 for renewal, and $10 to replace lost permits. We could try the parking along one block of Nelray, and see how it goes. First, we need to get buy-in from residents. If they don't want parking permits, then that's the end of it. If we don't have over 70% of available parking spaces in the street taken, then we can't have them. We have to meet a lot of criteria to make this go forward.

No decision was made at this time -- we will hold over for further discussion in the fall.

Announcements: Sebastian presented a gift certificate to Cuatro Groos for Babies R Us as a gift from the NNA for the newest member of the neighborhood due to be born in August.

Meeting ended at 8:12 p.m. Respectfully submitted by Annie Ervin, co-secretary NNA