Minutes of Meeting
BARTONVIEW NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION
Thursday, April 20, 2000, 7:30PM, home of Ellen Long, 3216 Cupid, Austin, TX  78735

 A neighborhood meeting assembled upon written notice having been delivered to each neighborhood household and adjoining neighborhood business fronting on access way of Highway 290 West.  The notice included proposed bylaws and other agenda items.

 Cora Quinn opened the meeting, at which 29 parties were present.  The meeting was held out-of-doors, at neighbor Ellen Long’s gazebo.

 Cora announces the reason for changing the scheduled meeting date; due to a visit with Bill Bunch, legal counsel to the Save Our Springs Alliance.  Bill was to present a 45 minute multimedia presentation.

Cora then requests that the normal agenda be expedited, due to a second presentation by Rudolfo Carrera, representative from the Barton Hills Neighborhood Association, who wished to speak of development of a nearby office complex called “The Terrace.”  This request is accepted by the attendees without dispute.

Cora spoke of the relation between the Brodie tract; the Bradfield Tract, located on the southeast intersection of Loop 360 & Mopac; the Terrace, located on the northeast intersection of Loop 360 & Mopac, already under development.  The Bradfield tract is planned to be a 10-story office building.  It will be plainly visible from the neighborhood, and will result in the loss of many trees.

Officers introduce themselves for the benefit of new attendees.

Cora announced that a City of Austin official should come within 30 days to announce changes to the Brodie tract.  It is suggested that Association members give the City ideas about what to do with the land; all members are encouraged to be friendly and informative to the City people when they come out.

Sunset Valley jurisdiction is discussed.  The general consensus is that we should welcome any interaction with Sunset Valley, but no official action is put to vote.

Future meeting possibilities are discussed.  Art Blondin volunteers the use of his resturaunt, Art’s Rib House, 2330 South Lamar Blvd.

The proposed by-laws are discussed.  Cora directed attention to editorial correction in the title, i.e., “Formative” preceding the first line, prior to “By-Laws”, and deletion of the fourth line, “Revised…”, since this is the first formal by-laws documented.  Cora suggests the by-laws be adopted, so as to facilitate the process of future incorporation, opening a bank account, etc., unless someone had a problem with any section.  After discussion, a motion is presented to accept the distributed, proposed by-laws.  The motion is seconded, and passes without opposition. (Formative by-laws, “Exhibit 1”, attached).

Dues are discussed.  The amount of $20 per household is proposed.  After discussion, a motion is presented to set dues at $20 per household.  The motion is seconded, and passes without opposition.

Committees are discussed.  Per the accepted by-laws, Cora forms the following committees.

Neighborhood Watch Committee, Chair Jean Wilkins:  Jean offers that its first meeting is tentatively scheduled for the 1^st Tuesday in June.  Jean indicates she will report back to the Officers when a more concrete date is in place.

Block Committee, Chair Danielle Becker:  A request is made for Block Captains.  The following individuals volunteer:

Environmental Study, Chair Ingrid Morton:  Ingrid speaks of the dangers of oak wilt.  Jean mentions the city’s arbor service, with Jay Palmer as the person of contact.  Ellen mentions her son, John Long’s, oak wilt treatment service.

Governmental Affairs, Chair Cora Quinn: Cora indicates she will become increasingly active in interaction with various governmental entities.

Bill Bunch discusses the Terrace development, and the impact it will have on the neighborhood. A motion is presented that the Association present a Resolution indicating its support in protecting the remaining acreage of the Bradfield Tract, and the Terrace, currently under development . The motion is seconded, and passes without opposition:

WHEREAS, our sister neighborhood in Southwest Austin, Barton Hills Neighborhood Association, has supported our neighborhood in past environmental and lifestyle protection issues, our Association has heard of Barton Hills’ plight posed by the planned overbuilding of “The Terrace”, which will face Barton Hills across Barton Creek to said neighborhood’s west, and the planned building of the Bradfield Tract, which borders both “The Terrace” and the Brodie Tract.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that our neighborhood joins Barton Hills Neighborhood in the strong environmental and lifestyle concerns of “The Terrace”, and opposes development of the Bradfield Tract.  Specifically, there must be:

·         An accurate accounting of impervious cover.

·         An accurate accounting of floor-area ratio.

·         An attempt to downzone the proposed development of property to reduce traffic and neighborhood impact.

 AND, our neighborhood will support the Barton Hills Neighborhood Association through any means presented or revealed to our neighborhood as potentially constructive to our sister neighborhood’s cause.

 Bill Bunch suggests making his presentation another time, due to the fact it takes 45 minutes, and with the meeting being held outdoors, it is growing dark.  He relinquishes the floor to Rudolfo Carrera.

A motion is presented that the Association present a second Resolution for the Brodie Tract, similar in wording to the Terrace resolution.  The motion is seconded, and passes without opposition:

WHEREAS, the Bartonview Neighborhood Association has learned of cause for concern of a proposed sale of certain property in the 77-acre Water Quality Management tract north and east of our neighborhood, heretofore called the “H. E. Brodie Tract”, and the impact of development thereon is unknown at this time,

AND THAT, WHEREAS, the Save Our Springs Alliance and its legal counsel, Bill Bunch and Grant Godfrey, provided support, leadership and counsel to our neighborhood in 1998 when the City of Austin was urged to buy said property from J.P.I. Development Company to circumvent the planned development of a multi-story office complex with multi-story parking garages;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that our neighborhood’s purpose and assembly as stated in our adopted By-Laws, i.e. to “…promote the beauty, health and security of the neighborhood; to maintain the quality of life of its residents; to protect residential characteristics and property values; TO PRESERVE THE NATURAL BEAUTY AND WATER QUALITY OF THE BARTON CREEK GREENBELT WHICH ADJOINS THE NEIGHBORHOOD; and to maintain membership in the Austin Neighborhoods Council,” our goals entirely made possible by the environmental mission embodied by S.O.S.;

AND, that our neighborhood fully supports and appreciates the mutually compatible mission, work and projects which S.O.S. diligently pursues, and will gratefully accept its advice now and through the ensuing process expected in learning of the scope and impact of sale of said property and working with the City on acceptable site plan(s) and conservation easements and covenants.

 Rudolfo reiterates that there is strength in numbers.  He informs the attendees that neighborhood associations must communicate and assist each other.  He also believes we should make SOS the lead organization, due to its existing strength, and help it as much as possible.

At 9PM, the meeting adjourns.

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