King William Association

President Brad Shaw called the meeting to order at 7 p.m.

Present were board members Shaw, Heidelberg, Shafer, Erickson, Diehl, Letherbury, Strauss, De Lara, Doxsey, Pfannstiel, Garza-Cortes. Cogburn and Cue had been attending an earlier meeting, representing the Association, and arrived late.

He asked for approval of the previously distributed agenda. Shafer made, Erickson seconded a motion to approve the agenda. Shaw called for a vote; approval was unanimous.

Shaw introduced Anne Alexander, home tour chair, who gave a brief report on the status of preparations for the event on Dec. 1. She requested donations of cookies for the event; refreshments will be served at the event. Marley Diehl is designing the brochure. She requested approval of funds for a flutist and pianist to play during the event, as well as a stipend of $100 per participating household to help defray preparation and clean-up expenses. The board agreed that this was consistent with past policy and within the budget for the event, which is up to the committee. There are very few expenses. There was discussion of how the event was being promoted.

Treasurer Shafer gave his report. Three items required discussion and action. First, Curtis Johnson, chair of the KW Park Committee who had previously given a report to the full board, had met with Rialto Studios about the park design. The Finance Committee recommends getting two or three proposals for design, and plans to approach Sarah Lake and Wells, Bender, Clark about submitting designs, as well. They propose using $1000 from the infrastructure fund to support a conceptual design from the designer selected. Shaw made that proposal and Leatherbury seconded; motion passed unanimously.

Shafer and Walker went over the current balance sheets and discussed with the finance committee moving funds on hand in money markets to higher-yielding CDs, government bonds, or online savings accounts, as suggested by Leatherbury. Shafer moved for authorization to continue to look into if moving the funds is advantageous and to move funds if it will increase our income. Heidelberg seconded. Further discussion as to what the funds are used for followed. Most is in preservation/historic and river amenities.

Heidelberg had a question for clarification. Is the money we have pledged to the River Foundation pledged for construction of parks or for amenities? Shaw replied that it is for construction, not amenities. There is money in the parks fund that could be used for amenities if requested. Discussion ended and the board voted on the motion, which passed unanimously.

Shaw then brought up an item that her had received via email from Cué. It is a request for funds for a school trip that is coming soon. He stated it could not be approved as we had no information and it had not gone through the finance committee. It needs to be approved beforehand.

The second visitor was neighborhood resident Mary Nethery, who spoke about concerns about the proposed restaurant at 1024 S. Alamo and the lack of parking. She asked if the KWA was requesting that the agenda item concerning this restaurant be pulled from the Nov. 21 HDRC agenda. Councilwoman Cisneros pulled it once. Nethery stated she was not anti-growth but anti-unplanned growth, before getting a comprehensive neighborhood parking plan for KW and Lavaca. She also believes that we should request a position paper from the Conservation Society, and said that it has been at least 10 years since the last parking plan.

Cogburn and Cué arrived.

Erickson asked Nethery about a roundabout at Adams/Pereida. Nethery had met with the Southtown architecture committee about this. She suggested that this could be part of a plan; those whose property abuts the intersection are supportive.

Nethery summarized what had happened so far relative to the restaurant, at the request of Garza-Cortes. Shaw thanked Nethery for her input.

Shaw then requested that Cogburn report on the status of the restaurant in question. Cogburn indicated that we should not assume that this is a done deal and that we should continue to fight it. The Board of Adjustment had previously indicated that they were not in favor of the variance for parking; no member would propose it. The board members of the B of A said the restaurant backers could not now receive this variance. The property owner went to the Development Director who put it on the HDRC agenda; there is a loophole if you have a cooperative parking agreement you can open a restaurant. So they can theoretically open only in the evening when their agreement is operating. Members expressed skepticism.

Cogburn says that in the long term we may need to try to close this loophole, but we need to act now. Shafer asked what course of action Cogburn was suggesting, in addition to meeting with our councilwoman and Ms. Gallegos in the Development office. Cogburn proposed getting legal advice on the matter.

Shaw said that the executive committee had suggested forming an ad hoc committee to deal with this issue immediately, consisting of Molly Shafer, Susan Erickson, Nancy Shivers, Mike Schroeder, Roslyn Cogburn. M. Shafer was proposed as chair of the committee, as was Nancy Shivers.

Shafer cautioned against taking legal action against city on this, in case it might be detrimental to other major issues.

Shaw asked Cogburn to contact the proposed members of the ad hoc committee.

Cogburn made a motion and Heidelberg moved to accept the October minutes. Shafer made a correction to the previous minutes for clarification and spelling correction. Minutes were then approved as corrected, unanimously.

Parking committee report given by Susan Erickson. Erickson reported on her hour-long 10/25 meeting with the Southtown director, Juan Gutierrez, and Steve Yndo. All were in agreement regarding area parking concerns and problems. Juan Gutierrez noted that restaurant employees park near restaurants utilizing potential patron parking spots. He has attempted to interest business members in relocating employee parking; no results thusfar. All see the problems as likely to increase in the future in the area adjacent to S. Alamo. Erickson spoke of preliminary results and comments from the September parking questionnaire and specifically mentioned Traffic and Parking Committee's first project requesting the city to mark 20' intersection setbacks with street stenciling or curb painting; there was concurrence that this would be useful and desirable. She brought up the hiring of a consultant. Southtown indicated that they would physically but not financially participate. Southtown spoke of the eventual parking garage. Erickson saw the meeting as useful only in so far as identifying differing perspectives on and approaches to the parking problems. Southtown appears to have beginning concern with increasing parking spots on S. Alamo, etc., and KWA is concerned primarily with parking and traffic on the residential streets. The term "entertainment district" was mentioned in passing by Southtown. No future basis for collaborative work was identified.

Erickson spoke to David Haldeman at City Public Works about marking 20-foot setbacks at corners. He said city used to paint curbs but figured out anyone could do that. They then put up "no parking" signs but now only put up signs on corner properties at the property lines so that there is no parking in front of any part of the corner property. He also said permit parking is very expensive to set up and to enforce/maintain. She has Committee meeting set up with him and two people from Councilwoman Cisneros' office on Dec. 6. Three issues are parking by permit parking, parking both sides on very narrow streets, and corner setbacks. A further Traffic and Parking Committee meeting is scheduled with Councilwoman Cisneros for Dec 14.

Shaw has been collecting information and anecdotes about First Friday permits. Strauss reported that Señor Willie's did not get their liquor license renewed. Shaw asked for volunteers to walk around on First Friday to observe issues. Garza-Cortes volunteered her husband. Others inquired about time and meeting place; one of Councilwoman Cisneros' aides is scheduled to come. Shaw also wants to obtain large trash cans to place along the FF route to collect trash to analyze for all of the illegal items thrown away—beer bottles, etc. Leatherbury suggested getting trash boxes from City Parks and Rec; he agreed to take care of this.

Heidelberg presented her committee’s suggestions for modification of the rules of the ARC. The first two are changes in existing rules. The first is to have nominations to the ARC come from the board, with recommendations from the existing membership. No discussion.

Proposed new terms would run from Feb. 1 through Jan. 30 and a member serving for no more than 3 consecutive terms. Terms would be staggered, with approximately 1/3 of the members rotating off each year. Currently there is no rule as to the constitution of the committee as to the proportion of architects, just that the architects be in the majority. After discussion related to the availability of architects, Leatherbury suggested that terms could be extended that the discretion of the board.

Other proposed changes: chair of the committee should rotate every year, with the chair chosen by the committee members. Also, we will publicize the KW ARC and encourage all homeowners to consult on plans for their property in advance, with the understanding that the ARC will be making recommendations to the HDRC regarding aesthetic aspects of the plans as well as code issues.

Erickson suggested a name change to Architectural Advisory Committee, which more accurately reflects the purpose of the committee. There was discussion of this change. It will be a motion for the next meeting.

If the homeowner wants to appeal, they can do so, but not until the next regular board meeting. A representative of the ARC would also be present. This might slow the process, but that is unavoidable. Members suggested that this process would be difficult. De Lara felt that it was adding another layer or bureaucracy. After continued discussion, we agreed to strike this suggestion.

Diehl moved and ?? seconded that we accept rule 1 and 5 and proposed changes A and B. Point of clarification: this vote does not include the name change. Passed unanimously.

Shaw brought up nominations to replace board members Laracey and Garceau-Kragh, who had resigned. He suggested Jim Johnson and Ed Haverlah. Heidelberg moved that they be nominated to fill the open slots. Strauss seconded. No further discussion. Passed unanimously.

Cogburn reported on the meeting to discuss the proposed location for the new courthouse, which she and Cue attended on behalf of the association. Many neighbors attended as well as Tommy Adkisson, who said he was there for the KWA. Cogburn read a statement representing the KWA urging that the courthouse not be placed in the area bounded by Durango, which would again adversely affect parking in the neighborhood. The location to the west seems to be favored, which is good new for the neighborhood.

Neighborhood Plan: Shaw stated that we are looking into one. Cogburn thinks it was at least 10 years ago, probably longer. The purpose would be to consolidate all the issues facing the neighborhood with suggestions as to how to solve them, as well as a provide a professional perspective. It could serve to coordinate and prioritize the wide variety of issues that concern us.

Erickson discussed hiring a professional to do a parking/traffic study. She will explore who is available and the cost. Erickson made a motion to authorize the traffic/parking committee to seek out someone to provide a study with a budget not to exceed $3000, to come from the infrastructure fund. Leatherbury seconded. Discussion followed. Passed unanimously.

Shafer gave an update on the INSCO mural, which is still being discussed with the owner of INSCO. The muralist, the owner, and the committee are negotiating. Meeting was adjourned at 9 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Nancy Diehl