Minutes ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Rosewood Neighborhood Contact Team Meeting January 19, 2006, 6:00 p.m. Conley-Guerrero Senior Activity Center Present ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Crayton Avry, Ryah Christensen, Judith Clarkson, John Clement, Clara Cobble, Jolene Demerson, Michael Emery, Ray Ephriam, Darlene Ephriam, Cliff Fisher, Louis Herrera, Linda Hutchins, Josy Johnson, Craig Johnson, Sun McColgin, Dusty McCormick, Angela Miller, Deborah Norris, Shelby O'Brien, Langston Pennick, Jane Rivera, Gilbert Rivera, Elizabeth Snipes and Richard Vogt. Chair Dusty McCormick called the meeting to order. New Business ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Mixed Use Project for 2931-2933 E. 12th St: Dusty McCormick introduced Richard Weiss, of Weiss Architecture, a small firm located at his home in Travis Heights. Mr. Weiss informed the group that he has the property under contract until February 16. He has until then to get a plan together for how he will use it and obtain any variances or approvals. The property is currently occupied by a barbershop, a bail bond firm The Soul Kitchen restaurant, and 3 rental homes. His plan is as follows: 1. Put in 24 residential units of between 600 and 850 square feet each for sale, with the majority available to people earning 80% of median income in Austin. He anticipates sale price to be from $98,000 to $120,000 each. 2. There will be first floor retail, with space for 2 commercial ventures. 3. There will be 34 parking spaces total. Mr. Weiss came to us to ask us to support his request to the Board of Adjustment requesting a variance to reduce the current required setback from 20 feet. Issues discussed: 1. The development will put up a fence with landscaping along Sol Wilson to buffer the parking lot from the neighborhood. The property is laid out in such a way that they can't really put the parking anywhere else. 2. Mr. Weiss plans to meet Smart Housing goals but not exceed them. He does not plan any additional community amenities other than the first floor retail. He pointed out that his plan conforms to what the Rosewood Neighborhood Plan requires for that plat. 3. He was very clear that he does not have funding that would permit him to make the housing units available to the people who are currently renting homes on the property. He is paying $280,000 for the land and expects the development to cost $2 million. He said, ideally the 2 commercial properties would sell to local businesses that might even qualify for government assistance. 3. His experience: last year he chaired the Commercial Design Force, whose whole purpose was to bring mixed use development to "downtown". What he offers that other developers who might come in if he doesn't get to do his project might not is that he knows how to put together a mixed use project, and he thinks he can do one that will meet our plan and look good. Darlene Efriam requested for future projects that he give the neighborhood most affected earlier notice. Old Business ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Election of New Officers Chair McCormick turned the meeting over to the Nominations Committee. Craig Johnson reported that the committee had volunteered at the November meeting to seek and receive possible nominations for the positions. They had some logistical difficulties but ended up finding a potential slate of one candidate for each of the three positions. He further noted that a couple of members had requested biographical information about each candidate, and that was just posted on the web site. Darlene Efriam expressed her concern that the process had not resulted in multiple candidates for each position. Mr. Johnson and Louis Herrera, the other committee member present, explained that they had difficulty finding candidates. Nominations for Chair were opened to the floor, and Ms. Efriam nominated Dusty McCormick. Mr. McCormick declined. Hearing no further nominations, nominations were closed. The team requested that each candidate give a brief overview of their interest and what they bring to us. Following this, Mr. Johnson read the names of all who were qualified to vote, based on the newly ratified By-Laws. Several members of Clifford-Sanchez have moved, and Ray Efriam asked that the sign-in sheet reflect that they were no longer part of the area: Monica Kurtz, Tina Avent, and Jennifer Rogers. The team then voted in favor of the following slate of officers recommended by the Nominations Committee: 1. Jane Rivera, Chair 2. Dusty McCormick, Vice-Chair 3. Angela Miller, Secretary All positions will be for one year, in accordance with the By-Laws. Bond Election Update Angela Miller reported that the public forums have ended. She noted that Shelby O'Brien attended the last one. The Bond Election Advisory Committee's proposal was submitted to the City Council. The Council could delay the election, and it might then be re-opened for public comment. The Mayor has publicly that that he wants to increase funding for SH 130 and purchase of watershed protection lands in west Austin. At this time, our Boggy Creek renewal projects are at the top of the drainage projects and Affordable Housing is recommended. CHDO/501C(3) Update Dusty McCormick shared written information with the team about the various things that have to be done to get the CHDO up and running. He also presented a budget for the first three years based on "known up-front expenses". Creating such an organization will take a long time. He noted that an alternative is to work with an existing entity already in the area. He suggested that we have a more detailed discussion of the budget and the steps to take at another meeting. Neighborhood Watch Project Gilbert Rivera reported that the Neighborhood Watch signs have been installed throughout the planning area. However, no neighborhood has yet been scheduled for the training. He reminded the team we had asked the officers at our October meeting if we could schedule the training for the entire planning area to occur at one time and they had basically said they would only do one neighborhood at a time. There was a discussion about the concept of neighborhood watch, and Elizabeth Snipes noted that it has worked in the Rosewood/Glen Oaks Neighborhood. The team concluded that what works is "neighborliness". Downs Field Project Gilbert Rivera reported that he and Jane Rivera had attempted the follow-up suggested by Tony Arnold of PARD from our last project meeting with him and Jimmy Cone, also of PARD. They had asked Mr. Michael Von Ohlen, owner of Prism Construction, the contractor used for most PARD projects, to assist in estimating how far our funds for this project could take us. Mr. Von Ohlen refused, as he wants to bid on the project and didn't want to be disqualified. However, Richard Vogt of the Austin Heights Neighborhood Association, who does private construction projects, has reviewed the mini-projects in the overall Downs Field project including the PARD cost estimates. Based on his review, a handout was provided putting the following projects at the top priorities: Restrooms for the south field, Parking Lot, Flood Control, and Lights to project the Parking Area. Mr. Rivera noted that the PARD staff had told us they could cover the restrooms and ADA parking needs with the federal ADA money they expected, but that the City had only received $100,000 total for all City projects. Ms. Efriam volunteered to set up a meeting with Representative Dawnna Dukes to discuss the need for the major mini-projects including the restrooms and the parking. Darlene Efriam, Gilbert Rivera and Richard Vogt expressed their commitment to continue working on this project. Redeemer Church Dusty McCormick reported that we are still prepared to meet some time but that the church representatives had cancelled the January meetings with the Planning Commission and Board of Adjustments. Following discussion, Mr. McCormick agreed to ask them if they want to meet with us again. Other New Business DAR Construction: The company that did the houses on MLK and Sanchez left trash and construction debris all over the site. Dusty McCormick has contacted the City, but since the project is officially not yet completed, they will not take action. Weiss Project The team tabled the vote on this project and determined that we would contact the developer and offer another meeting for those who still have questions/ concerns. Ryah Christiensen volunteered to speak to the barber shop owner, who owns the property, to see if he would be willing to extend the contract deadline so that we could work out issues with Mr. Weiss. Development Approval Procedure Darlene Efriam volunteered to work on wording for a new Development Approval Procedure to make it clear to developers that we will not make a decision to support or oppose them without adequate notification. We will add this to the By-Laws, so we will vote on it next month. Next Regular Meeting: February 16, 2006, 6:00 p.m. Conley-Guerrero.