Rosewood Neighborhood Contact Team Monthly Meeting
Thursday, August 21, 2008 6:15 p.m.
Conley-Guerrero Senior Activity Center

Present
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Ryah Christensen, Jarrett Cole, Michael Embesi (City of Austin),
Michael Emery, Louis Herrera, Laura Patlove (City of Austin), 
Corey Pudhorodsky, Katie Pudhorodsky, Gilbert Rivera, Jane Rivera, 
Bryan Robison, and Gerard Verkaart.

Old Business
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Minutes of the July meeting were approved as written.

Chair's Report
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Change of venue
PARD has started charging for use of their facilities. Charge for our
normal room is supposed to be $30.00 for the two hour meeting we have
monthly, but through an agreement with the Director, we are getting
charged $12.00. However, since we have no funding at this time, this
is a large burden. Other locations investigated include ACC East View
(which charges $50 per night for the two hours), Oak Springs library
(in use Thursday evenings and also about to start charging),
Millennium Center (not open to the public), and City Maintenance Yard
(not open). The only down side to using a private location that is
free is the potential for conflict of interest. Unanimous vote to
accept the offer of Space 12 (3121 E. Twelfth) beginning next month.
In addition, there was a vote to have the Chair work through the Parks
Board to rescind charges to Neighborhood Associations and
Planning/Contact Teams to meet at City facilities.

Senior Implementation Planner Request for Plan Update
The new implementation planner for Neighborhood Planning and Zoning
requested an update of the Rosewood Neighborhood Plan to show action
items already completed and which are still in the top ten. Jane did a
draft that actually prioritized all remaining items. Final suggestions
are to be emailed to Jane, but most had no additional changes to
suggest and the draft was approved for submission. Laura took a copy
to turn in to the planner.

New Business
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Austin Community Trees Award Implementation
Laura Patlove and Michael Embesi, City Arborist, discussed the
processes needed to implement our tree award. Michael told us that the
awards are available only to those neighborhood planning areas where
the urban forest is in decline, and Rosewood does qualify. The whole
idea is to improve the urban canopy to provide protection. Previous
awards have provided around 300 trees per planning area, so we will
have enough to get to everyone. Each home can have two trees for the
front of the lot, and a corner lot can have a third tree on the side.
No trees are to go in the back of the lot. The program is supposed to
go to residences only, but we asked if small businesses or local
churches that were willing to commit to the care of the trees would
qualify, and were told that they would consider it. The proposed
schedule:

    * Saturday, Sept. 13 the volunteers are to meet with Michael to be
    trained on how to identify homes for trees and get the door
    hangers for qualified homes. The meeting will be held at 2606 Sol
    Wilson at 8:30 a.m.
    
    * The deadline to get the "request for tree" cards back to Austin
    Energy is Friday, Sept. 26.
    
    * The second meeting will be Saturday, November 8 to distribute
    "get Ready" door hangers and "Dial before you dig" information.
    
    * On Friday, November 14 the vendor will deliver the trees to Mt.
    Zion Baptist Church. We need volunteers to help unload and
    organize trees.
    
    * Saturday, November 15 is the big day. We'll pick up the trees at
    Mt. Zion and deliver them to the recipients who will be
    responsible for planting and watering along with volunteers.

Zoning Revert
There was discussion about whether or not we could get upzoning that
we approve to revert to its previous state in case a project fails to
go through. The discussion was precipitated by the Jason Reese plan
for mixed use development that is now for sale. Chair will
investigate.

Glen Oaks Corner
Gilbert announced that Community Partnership for the Homeless is
holding their open house at Glen Oaks Corner on September 18 from 5
until 8 p.m. Homes will be shown and there will be a reception and
speeches. Since that is the same date as our next meeting, Jane asked
if people wanted to change the date but the decision was to retain the
regularly scheduled RNCT meeting. RNCT members may attend the open
house prior to attending this meeting.

ANC
Bryan noted that the Austin Neighborhoods Council postponed their vote
on single member districts, as there were too many concerns about the
specifics of the motion. However, they provided information that the
plan itself will be based on the 2010 census and all following
censuses will be used to draw the boundaries, thereby eliminating our
fears that areas would be constructed in a way to ensure some sort of
outcome, rather than based on population. The group was in concurrence
with that change, we could support the plan.
	
	*meeting adjourned*