Minutes ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Rosewood Neighborhood Contact Team Monthly Meeting Thursday, June 21, 2007 6:15 p.m. Conley Guerrero Senior Activity Center Present ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Daniel Bradford, Ryah Christensen, Judith Clarkson, Steven Fischer, Marie Fischer, Todd Gravelle, Greg Hammond, Jonathan Hardy, Louis Herrera, Gilbert Rivera, Jane Rivera, Emma Roy, Sheldon Salisbury (APD), Lonny Stern, and Richard Weiss. Old Business ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Minutes approved unanimously, with the following correction: Under "Oak Springs fr Rock single fam residence to Ridgeway," those properties should read 2806, 2804, 2802, 2800, 2718, 2722. For clarification, we are waiting to hear from the city whether or not they have accepted our recommendation that development projects involving 50 or more residential units reserve 10% of those units for people earning 60% MFI. For projects under 50 units, 10% could be for 80% MFI. Chair's Report We did not receive the Austin Community Trees grant (though we came in second place). Needing more time to develop a good proposal, let's talk about forming an ACT committee SOON, so we can get a head start on next year. New Business ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Chester's Club Jane sent an e-mail to City Council recommending that the City purchase Chester's Club (as desired by the McKinley Heights association). Note for the record that we supported the idea of Chester's acquiring a liquor license so that the bar would have to operate under the laws of typical Austin Clubs (i.e., close at 2 a.m. and monitor patrons' drinking). Mr. Weidermeyer, club operator, does not want a liquor license. Sheldon Salisbury, police officer came to listen to and discuss neighbors' concerns about Chester's and criminal activities on E. 13th street. Chester's: In the last 152 days, there have been 190 calls made to the APD about Chester's, which prevents them from addressing other problems in the area, particularly between the hours of 2 - 6 a.m. Being a BYOB, Chester's does not have to follow rules for bars with liquor licenses. Apparently the last club manager, Mr. Quinn, (when the bar was named "Mr. Q's") planned to acquire liquor and food licenses, which almost everyone supported, but Mr. Weidermeyer forced him out and took over the business. Mr. Weidermeyer plans to keep Chester's a BYOB. Unfortunately, there is no legal penalty a city can levy on a business for being the subject of "too many 911 calls." Salisbury said the only legal issue the APD has on Chester's right now is that Mr. Weidermeyer has built illegal parking lots. Parking is a situation that the McKinley Heights neighborhood unintentionally exacerbated by convincing businesses on Airport Blvd to restrict Chester's patrons from parking in their lots. Now those patrons park on E. 13th, and late night traffic (cars, prostitutes, and dealing) has increased. The city offered to purchase Chester's from the owner (a pastor named Reverend Howard), until he raised the price to $1,000,000. There is pending action before city council to change the zoning on that location. Other Concerns: Louis and other residents noted that Officer Beck, regional police contact, does not return phone calls. Salisbury offered the following numbers: Sgt. Robert Jones (Beck's superior) 974-6964 Officer Beck 974-4431 Officer Salisbury 974-4498 Sgt. Stressing (Street Response) 974-8237 Kit Cambell (Code Enforcement) 974-9024 He promised to look into several addresses around E. 13th that appeared to have squatters and gang activity. East End Flats Richard Weiss, East End Flats developer is seeking a variance to cover the parking spaces (that we have already approved in his initial proposal) in order to help sales of his units. These sloped covers will stand 8' tall, 5' away from the back fence line, sloping into the planters for natural irrigation. He will also look into other options, such as rain barrels, to fully use the water collected by those roofs. Dusty brought up the point that we have already heard and approved Mr. Weiss' presentation in full (i.e. the entire East End Flats development), and that this variance is a minor aside. Ryah moved that we approve Mr. Weiss' variance and the motion was passed unanimously. Possible bylaw changes to review and vote on next month: Vote whether or not to change the wording of the By-Laws to read that "the RNCT shall have a meeting every month or as required" so that when we miss a meeting due to an empty agenda, or to conflicting meetings, we will not be (technically) in violation of the By-laws. Vote whether or not to add the office of Parliamentarian to the RNCT leadership. Don't forget that on Tuesday, June 26th, from 5:30 - 9:30 p.m. there is an MLK station area planning meeting for TOD districts at Conley Guerrero Senior Center. *Meeting adjourned*