Wooten Neighborhood Association
Minutes of 14 May 2007


     President Marilyn Rogers called the meeting to order at 7:05 PM
in the Redeemer Lutheran Church cafeteria. The first order of
business was to announce that Carolyn Spock had been appointed by the
officers to fill the office of secretary, as the elected secretary
had been absent for the last three meetings.

Program
Guest speaker was John Gillum, Facilities Planning Manager for the
Austin Public Library.
    The North Village Branch Library is planned to open in January
2009 at 2505 Steck Ave. Funding for the library was approved in the
bond election in 1998, put on hold in 2003 due to lack of funding/
fear of lack of funding. It will be 11,000 sq. ft. (current store
front branch ca. 5,000 sq. ft.). The architects are Al Godfrey and
his wife Lori Limbacher; Jamail and Smith will be doing the
construction. Total cost will be about $5 million, $3.5 million of
that construction The building is expected to be ready in January
2009. The rented library space will be closed down about two to three
months before the grand opening so that the books there can be
incorporated with the new books. It will be a "green" facility, with
rainwater collection for the plants, an exterior sheathing of
recycled wood chips, solar panels, lots of well-placed windows for
daylighting. There will be a component of art in public places –
stained glass by artist Kathleen Ashe, a nice meeting room, spaces
appropriate for all ages (comfortable chairs!), books attractively
displayed and kept current, ca. 20 public computers and supplemental
laptops to check out if all the desktop ones are in use, WiFi, a
plaza for open-air meetings in comfortable weather, green space with
a lawn and trees (xeriscaping), 65 parking spaces. This is the first
of a new generation of libraries, a bookstore model; new concepts
were worked in during the delay in starting the project. There will
be a large audio-video section. There was discussion about costs (the
building is not designed to support a second floor due to cost
constraints and there is really no room for expansion), Austin
libraries that have been remodeled, branches (there are currently 23)
vs. central libraries (four mini-centrals about 30,000 sq. feet each
are planned for the future), the possibility of the library being a
transient attractant (libraries near space which could be used for
camping have a problem). The discussion ended at 7:25.

Minutes and Treasurer’s Report
     A draft copy of the March minutes was distributed; a formal
copy will be e-mailed to all. The treasurer reported that we have
$629.56, with $22.44 needing to go to Marilyn for copying
reimbursement – the Code Enforcement Resource Guide).

Old Business
<>North Austin Coalition of Neighborhoods
     Carolyn Spock reported on the activities of the North Austin
Coalition of Neighborhoods (NACN), and in particular the contents of
the group's Code Enforcement Resource Guide (CERG); she and President
Rogers are NACN representatives from WNA. The neighborhood
associations had polled their groups to see what things most
concerned their members. The results were tallied, and working on
code enforcement seemed to be a good way to cover a number of
concerns. The group has come up with a process which should enhance
everyone’s ability to see that code problems are addressed as
efficiently and quickly as possibly. The CERG provides the
guidelines; Marilyn had made copies of the Resource Guide for everyone.

<>Northcross Redevelopment
     Hope Morrison reported on what was happening currently with the
development brouhaha at Northcross. Wal-Mart (W-M) and Lincoln
Property are working on submitting a second site plan to the city,
due June 19. Store size is being reduced somewhat. Responsible Growth
for Northcross (RG4N) has met with an assistant city manager and
lawyer; all are confused about the process that W-M and Lincoln are
following and don't know which site plan they will decide to go with
(the original approved one or the revised and unapproved one). W-M
has written a threatening letter regarding the filing of third-party
lawsuits; RG4N plans a press conference. The plan to direct a traffic
protest around Northcross on Thursday is postponed. Discussion ended
at 7:40.

<>Transportation Around Northcross
     Beverly Kimbrough, the chair of the WNA Transportation
Committee, first explained that the committee would seek to address
any traffic issues the neighborhood had, not just those relating to
Northcross. She said that members of the group (Beverly, Marilyn
Rogers, and Carolyn Spock) had met with a W-M traffic engineer to
discuss getting mass transit onto the Northcross site (delivery to
the door instead of on the street). The suggestion would be taken to
Capital Metro; W-M would like to see this done and would encourage
the Northcross developers to approve such a plan. The primary route
of interest is the Allandale Flyer that picks up residents from local
senior communities (apartment complexes...) and takes them to
doctors, drug stores, etc. Beverly reported that she had been told
Capital Metro was agreeable to delivering shoppers within the mall.

     A second traffic issue was the W-M truck delivery route. The
one originally planned was coming into the area on US-183, down
Burnet Road and into Northcross (backside), then back out to the west
side of the mall, turning east on Anderson Lane to go back to Burnet.
After discussion with the Transportation Committee, an amended route
has been considered that leaves the mall going west on Anderson Lane
to the MoPac access road and back to US-183, cutting down on traffic
through the Burnet Road corridor. Discussion ended at 7:48.

<>Bylaws Change Discussed
     There was a lengthy debate that continued the discussion
(tabled in March) on a potential Bylaws change that would put a delay
on new members voting. Steve Rogers described the situation, noting
that, with meetings two months apart, it was sometimes hard to keep
on top of issues on which we might need to have a vote. Individuals
joining at meetings haven’t had to prove that they were entitled to
membership. Secretary Carolyn Spock suggested that perhaps the
officers could provide the membership with some options that were
less controversial than a major Bylaws change, which was discouraged
by several of those present. V-P Danny Langfield noted that there is
a 30-day review period given to the Board/Executive Committee to
approve or deny membership (never been put into play). The vote (with
a number of new members present) to support RG4N and to give it a
substantial amount of money (comparatively speaking) from the group
treasury was reviewed. It was expressed that the membership should
have as much notice about important votes as possible. LaVerne
Stauffer moved that the Executive Committee meet and bring a proposal
to the group at its next meeting that would address how to handle
questions involving ~large amounts of WNA money. Debbie Danforth and
Steve Rogers seconded the motion. The motion passed. It would not be
as a Bylaws change, but as a rules of operation option.

New Business
<>Vertical Mixed-Use Opt-In/Opt-Out
     Steve Rogers discussed the proposed changes to commercial
zoning that would allow residential units above commercial units.
This is a means of handling increased population along major roads
and transit corridors. Where there is a neighborhood planning group,
such as our Crestview-Wooten Neighborhood Planning Area, the citizens
that volunteered to serve on a zoning review committee would be (at
least theoretically) the ones to determine what changes should be
made rather than the entire associations. That committee (WNA
representatives include Steve, Mike Boyle, and Carolyn Spock) has not
been approached to meet. The currently targeted areas don't impact
WNA directly, so we should likely just let things slide. Since the
city is encouraging this option, it will probably always be possible
to opt-in. This does not seem to be a bad option, and it follows a
historical precedent. An upside to residential/commercial mixed-use
is that it puts people into an area that might be empty at night,
providing a protection to businesses. Of course, if you live above
your business, your transportation to work is minimal.... Discussion
ended at 8:10.

Citizen’s Communication
<>Burglary on Teton
     Neighbors are again warned to be careful about leaving garage
doors open or equipment unattended; a weed eater was recently stolen
from a home near the corner of Teton and Putnam. Also, keep an eye
out for our neighborhood supplicants, Sylvester and Rhonda (and
daughter). If you are approached to give them money, etc., do not do
so. You are encouraged to call 311 and report on their whereabouts
(APD knows they have been working this neighborhood). If they are
belligerent or won't leave, call 911.

<>Albertson's
     Albertson's has posted towing signs for illegal parking on the
property at Ohlen and US-183; however, the towing company (All About
Town) won't accept a call from a citizen to remove a vehicle (though
the number to call is on the sign). Adam Turner made a motion have
WNA write a letter to Albertson's corporate office asking them to
expand the contract with All About Town Towing to give citizens the
right to call in violations. Hope Morrison suggested an amendment,
extending the motion to read,  to have the parking area more
aggressively policed and to extend the right to call in a violation
to neighbors , not just Albertson's main office personnel [who aren't
there to turn in a violator]. Steve Rogers seconded the amended
motion. The motion passed.

<>General commentary
     Beverly Kimbrough asked if anyone had gone to the Commander’s
forum – apparently not.

     A member had bought a video (about 1.5 hours long) about Wal-
Mart, the High Cost of Low Prices. He offered to have a meeting and
showing at his home, with proceeds perhaps going to RG4N. Kevin Luke
began a motion (not completed) that any donation would come from
individuals, not the WNA treasury. President Rogers was given
permission to send out the invitation and provide the member’s e-mail
address for those wishing to attend.

     Debbie Danforth asked if anyone had information on Albertson’s
property and what it might become. Another member asked if the
association had been pushing for some sort of grocery store to fill
the space. She also asked about WNA coming up with an art wall like
that which has been produced in Crestview (doesn’t seem likely).
There was also a question about any attempt to beautify the apartment
area near Woodrow.

     There was no more business. V-P Langfield moved to adjourn the
meeting; Debbie Danforth seconded. The meeting adjourned at 8:23 PM.

Carolyn Spock