Rosewood Neighborhood Contact Team Monthly Meeting Thursday, July 17, 2008 6:15 p.m. Conley-Guerrero Senior Activity Center Present ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Ofc. Christopher Davis (APD), Michael Emery, Linda Hutchins, Dusty McCormick, Langston Pennick, Laura Patlove (CoA), Gilbert Rivera, Jane Rivera, Bryan Robison, Ofc. William Torres, Jessica Wilson (Keep Austin Beautiful), and Gerard Verkaart Old Business ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Minutes provided by Michael again, filling in for Greg. May minutes unanimously approved. Chair's Report ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Jane sent in a letter of opposition to proposed development at 2003 E. 11th, which is just outside of the RNCT jurisdiction. She let our neighboring planning team, Chestnut, know about the situation. In other mail, Rudy Williams, president of Organization of Central East Austin Neighborhoods, asked RNCT to express support of the 13-district election plan; Jane will send in a generic letter of support. New Austin City Council Member Laura Morrison has asked Jane to become her nominee for the Austin Parks and Recreation Board! Jane considers that this would be a fruitful relationship because RNCT has gotten fair to great cooperation from every City of Austin entity except for the Austin Parks and Recreation Department (PARD), vis-a-vis the ongoing tugging with Downs Field, Rosewood Park and Boggy Creek Greenbelt. As a formal and official watchdog, she feels that our results might improve by joining. But Jane feels that this commitment would require her to relinquish some of her other extramural work, even to leave the post of RNCT chairperson in a couple of months. Bryan offered to take over Jane's role with the Austin Neighborhoods Council. Currently a successor is sought to take over the position of Chair of RNCT. That person will be in charge of a 501c3 corporation, Jane announced. It's official: RNCT is a now a non-profit organization. This will hopefully spur the effort to publish a newsletter and solicit philanthropic donations for the community. A treasurer will have to be selected to facilitate the handling of all that money. The Austin Parks Foundation has some $1,900 for our coffers. PARD is in charge of the Conley-Guerrero Activity Center, which is where RNCT has traditionally held our meetings. However there will soon be a $30 charge for the use of the meeting room. This begs the question: should we find another venue, one that's free? Among the suggestions were churches, schools, ACC Eastview, the public library (our night is already booked!), and the new Space 12. The latter seemed to please the most people in attendance, so that option will be investigated first. Jane and Gilbert will host a neighborhood National Lights Out party at their home on this fall on October 7th. Gilbert will try to get APD officers to attend the event. Downs Field ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Downs Field was at the top of the agenda, perhaps because of the slow but steady progress that seems to be taking place. A meeting of the minds was held on the evening of July 15th, containing representatives from PARD, RNCT, Huston-Tillotson University (HT), the Austin Metro Baseball League (AMBL), and the Greater East Austin Youth League (GEAYL). At that meeting, it was decided that the partners would create and sign a memorandum of understanding which put in writing the obligations that were expected of each partner. This seemed to be a fulfillment of the earnest, hard work by Gilberto and others. Another question for the partnership that controls Downs Field is how to make it available for public use? A rarity in Austin like Zachary Scott Theatre in Town Lake Park, Downs Field represents a not-for-profit presence that is in charge of municipal park property. The balance of the diamond's use that can be devoted to pure public use is conditioned by tight scheduling; and the need to protect the grounds and facilities from people who would do harm to the premises, such as smear up the playing surface with doggie doo, trash out the restrooms, do illicit drugs behind the fences et cetera. The cost of making the site open to the public is not in anybody's current budget, but there is the hope that the partnership will create opportunities to invite local youths to participate in organized baseball activities at the diamond. There are further goals, such as safety and cleanliness, and even upgrades and beautification of the facilities. The willingness for improvement has already resulted in parking lot and lighting upgrades, so the sky's the limit. New Business ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Ofc. Christopher Davis of APD is a native Austinite who has been given some kind of control of our district. He introduced himself and articulated reassurances to the well-being of our community. Jessica represented Keep Austin Beautiful, and announced that she would like to direct some 1000 student-aged volunteers to our neighborhood on February 21, 2009 for a day of good works. These helpful folks will hopefully assist with a "clean sweep" and tree-planting. Ecology Action has opened a recycling sub-station at Alexander and Real streets, said Gilbert. He also reported that compact fluorescent lamps can now be disposed at Austin Energy, Home Depot, Walgreen's, and through Solid Waste Services. This reporter apologizes for lacking more detail on this uplifting item. *meeting adjourned*