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Northfield Neighborhood - Meeting Minutes - 05/01/06 Agenda: 5 min. -- Introductions 5 min. -- Treasurer Report 5 min. -- ANC Update 5 min. -- Business Relations Subcommittee 5 min. -- Newsletter Update 5 min. -- Membership Drive 20 min. -- Changes in Procedures 10 min. -- Announcements Treasurer Report -- The May balance was $1,090.83. The current balance $1,305.83. There were two new memberships. ANC meeting update -- Sebastian talked about highlights from the April 26 ANC meeting. Art Corey (Austin area tax assessor) shared information with the ANC about recent increases in property tax assessments. The state legislature may drop assessed taxes for the school district, and that may balance out the increase. There is a 10% cap in annual increase for people with homestead exemption. McCracken spoke at the ANC meeting about his proposal to drop that cap down to 5%. Sebastian said that it is possible to fight the change in tax assessment, but that the procedure is complicated. He recommended that anybody who wants to do that should talk to him first. Sebastian also shared information about a city lawn-mower trade-in program. Gas powered lawn-mowers can be traded in for electric mowers for a substantial price discount. Business Relations -- Beka shared information from the Business Relations Subcommittee. They are recommending putting together welcome and "thank you" baskets for businesses. Baskets would be filled with references and tips -- whom to contact for police, graffiti, gardening tips, map of businesses in the area, copy of the welcome letter, guide to NNA (our website, listserv, newsletter). We also talked about adding coupons from other businesses. That led to a conversation about new member packets. Beka also recommended assembling a list of neighborhood businesses for the website. Newsletter Update -- Beka gave a May 31 deadline for the next newsletter. Going to printer on June 20th, and distribute by late June / early July. Kirsten is writing a plant article. Other articles will include neighborhood pets, elderly neighbors, etc. Need to discuss neighborhood night out -- day and time and location. Johnny from Austin Unique wants to put on a neighborhood festival on North Loop -- could coordinate Neighborhood Night Out with that. Membership Drive -- Sebastian said that there are dozens of former members that we need to reach out to -- invite them back to the meetings. The NNA should be more representative of the neighborhood. Christina Baker? moved to allocate $100.00 toward building membership in the NNA. Joe Carcione seconded the motion. The motion was passed unanimously. Changes in Procedures -- Sebastian recommended a few changes in procedures. The sign-in sheet for meetings is now different -- names are already on the sheet, and members just need to check their name when they walk in. Also recommended that either all members pay dues on the same date, or that membership renewal dates be listed on the sign-in sheet, and possibly on the NNA website. After discussion, no decision was made. This needs to be brought up for further discussion in the future. It was recommended that Andy Espenscheid investigate other NAs to see what they do. In the mean time, the latter recommendation (listing renewal dates on the sign-in sheet) will be followed. Jan recommended this be discussed at the next meeting. Announcements -- None. Christina Helmrich asked if it was possible to make a Spanish version of the NNA website. It was agreed that it was possible and reasonable to at least create parts of the website in Spanish if she was willing to do the translation. 8:10 pm Adjourn |
