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Northfield Neighborhood - Meeting Minutes - 03/06/06 1. The March meeting was called to order at Dayspring Chapel by Vice-President Cuatro Groos at 7:04 p.m. 2. Introductions went around the room. Twenty-two people attended. 3. Jan Sewart provided the treasurer's report. Our current balance of $1,038.24 includes $285 in payments this past month, including: * One year rental's of NNA's new Post Office box. * Printing costs of the "Welcome, Neighbor" letter. * Pizza for the volunteer distributors. * One year's payment for the new Web site and hosting facility. 4. Jan noted that NNA is not a tax-deductible organization, but she has information if we wish to push forward in this regard. At any rate, NNA doesn't have to file tax forms. 5. Cuatro led a discussion of current Super Twos and McMansion activities, both at the neighborhood and City of Austin level: * McMansions and Super Twos are appearing all over at an alarming rate. Demolishing existing structures to make way for large "homes" is also occurring in the neighborhood. Unfortunately, it appears that our North Loop Neighborhood Plan to allow modest granny flats in the 'hood is being stretched to allow large apartment-like complexes in SF-3 zoned lots. * The City Council has declared a moratorium on McMansions, which ends at the end of May, and has chosen a Residential Development Regulations task force to study the problem and make recommendations. (Note: The COA has a taskforecewebsite at http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/zoning/task_force.htm.) * The task force, consisting of Austin neighbors and business representatives is meeting twice weekly. Unfortunately, the original language doesn't address the problem of Super Twos--only the primary residence on a lot. * Cuatro, Sebastian, and others are taking an active role to promote neighborhood interests, in limiting the total area of structures within a given property. * Concerned neighbors are encouraged to write City Council members and provide feedback directly to the taskforce: http://residentialregs.org. 6. Nominations for next year's NNA officers were accepted, after the responsibilities of each office were discussed. We will vote on this slate of candidates at the April meeting: * President - Sebastian Wren * Vice-President - Monty Newton * Co-Secretaries - Annie Ervin, Jan Sewart, Kate Amerson * Treasurer - Joe Carcione * Newsletter Editor - Beka Clark-Smith * Newletter Distribution Manager - Brenda Benner * Webmaster - Andy Espenscheid * Keeper of the Green - (Unconfirmed, but we're hopeful) 7. Recognition of our outgoing Co-Presidents, Mary and Gerry Patrick, capable and conscientious leaders, was discussed and a motion was unanimously approved. 8. The NNA will renew our membership to the Austin Neighborhood Council (ANC) and choose a representative to participate in the monthly City-wide meetings. 9. The printing and distribution of the Welcome, Neighbor letter went smoothly. Sebastian led a discussion of "problem neighbors," with attendant parking, noise, and trash issues: Responding to problems, both as individuals and as an association; the importance of documenting incidents and communicating issues; and ways that the Association can help. Sebastian hopes during the next year that the NNA can put together a process to deal effectively and helpfully with such issues as the neighborhood continues to grow in popularity and density. 10. Our new NNA Website is now online. Check it out at http://northfieldna.org. 11. Beka reported that the upcoming newletter is aimed for publication the week of March 20th. We'll need volunteers to distribute. Beka has already brought in $190 in advertising revenue for this issue. 12. Meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Bill Yoder Ad Hoc Secretary |
