Rosewood Neighborhood Contact Team Monthly Meeting Thursday, February 21, 2008 6:15 p.m. Conley Guerrero Senior Activity Center Present ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Ryah Christensen, Michael Emery, Greg Hammond, Gerard Verkaart, Mocha Jean Herrup, Greg Hammond, Gilbert Rivera, Jane Rivera, Bryan Robison, Ricardo Robles, and Greg Paxton. Old Business ---------------------------------------------------------------------- January minutes unanimously approved. Chair's Report ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Greg Paxton, our new city planner, attended the meeting, and will investigate some of Jane's questions regarding whether or not a restaurant parking lot at 2015 Manor Rd, and a new church at Utility Hill Missionary Baptist Church, 3001 E. 16th St, require Neighborhood Plan amendments. Glen Oaks Corner ---------------------------------------------------------------------- The Ceremonial Groundbreaking for Glen Oaks Corner will happen Wednesday, March 12th, 11:00 - 11:30 am, at 900 Neal St. Come and meet the officials involved in this exciting new project, spearheaded by Community Partnership for the Homeless (CPH) and SafePlace, and supported by the Rosewood / Glen Oaks neighborhood association, which will create a supportive housing environment for previously homeless, single parent families. This development represents the continuation of CPH' s commitment to help end homelessness by providing safe, affordable housing and access to supportive services for those working to achieve independent living. Plus, Glen Oaks Corner will be a five star green rated project! And, it is a guaranteed affordable housing project, given that the city owns the property but CPH owns the houses with a 99 year lease (a process called "land embanking"). Contact Gilbert Rivera 477-2352 for more information. Redeemer Church ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Bryan gave us a Redeemer Project Update. Apparently Redeemer church has presented the surrounding neighborhood with a new design that only builds on 2 acres in the middle of the featherlight tract (as opposed to 8), and repositions the church to face West. Everyone is much happier with this arrangement. RNCT Officer Elections ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Mocha Jean and Greg gave us an election committee update. There were no nominees at the beginning of the meeting, partly due to a need for bylaw clarification regarding term limits. According to our bylaws, officers are allowed to serve a 1 year term for no more than 2 consecutive years, UNLESS a 2/3 vote overrides that clause (which is how Jane has been serving for more than 2 years). Motion to override that clause again, so that Jane and Dusty (maybe the only willing martyrs... any other volunteers?) may be nominated to serve yet another round, passed unanimously. I, Ryah, am not going for another term as secretary because I am about to have my first kid and I have no idea what to expect, so, I'm trying to slim down my commitments a bit. Greg hinted he might be willing to accept a secretarial nomination... RNCT Newsletter ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Hopefully, Lonny is beginning work on our first newsletter. Gilbert encourages everyone to think about all the uses this publication can have. So e - mail your ideas about possible articles, surveys, issues that you would like to work on, comittees you would like to form, neighborhood contests / prizes or events--in short, let's generate ideas that will help make this newsletter help us get things done and bring people together. For instance, Michael suggested that part of the publication be dedicated to a chapter of the neighborhood's history. What a cool idea! Neighborhood Clean-up ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Remember that the neighborhood clean up will coincide with Clean Sweep, on April 5th. Look for final details in March. Robles Residential Project ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Ricardo Robles, who owns the property at 2930 E. 12th St, came to answer questions about the new construction occurring on his lot. His goal is to leave all of his properties to his three children; his daughter Yolanda inherits the property on 12th St, and the construction there is her project--a kind of detached duplex (2 single family houses) that should be completed in 2 or 3 months. Although she currently is attending school up North, her plan is to move into one of the two houses on the lot and rent the other. Mr. Robles also wanted to apologize to Mt Zion for trash that has been migrating from his property onto theirs; he says it is not his construction workers' but belongs to people who are dumping in his dumpster after hours. He would also like Mt Zion to know that his construction workers would like to compensate the church for parking on their lot. Future Topics? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Possible topics for April's meeting (March cancelled), include the Homestead Preservation district (maybe we could invite Mr. Rodriguez to speak with / educate us on the matter?), the McMansion ordinance and Ocean's failed plan amendment, and Rosewood's role as a 501C3 development corporation. Homewood Heights Community Garden ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Greg gave an update on Homewood Heights' Community Garden. The city is ready to lease Homewood Heights residents its empty lot on Sol Wilson for $1 / year for a community garden. Teaming up with Sustainable Foods "Steps to a Healthier Austin" program, Greg has managed to get the $450 survey fee, $450 application fee, $1500 tap installation fee, and $1250 insurance fee ALL DONATED. All we are waiting for is results from recent testing, done by Watershed Protection, on nearby soil that revealed higher than normal levels of lead and arsenic due to long term dumping. If given a clean bill of health the garden should be up and running by Spring '09. Thanks Greg! *meeting adjourned*