King William Association

President Brad Shaw called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.  Board members present:  Jim Johnson, Bonnie Pfannstiel, Olin Strauss, Noemi Cue, Susan Erickson, Neil Leatherbury, Harry Shafer, Janis deLara, Ed Haverlah, Hope Garza-Cortes, Roselyn Cogburn, Johnny Heidelberg, Laurence Doxsey and past-president Kit Walker.

President Shaw asked approval of agenda (attached).  Neil Leatherbury moved approval, Johnny Heidelberg seconded; motion passed.

Visitor Maria Pfeiffer, member of the Traffic and Parking Committee, reported on her research of permit parking schemes as used in other Texas cities.  Galveston uses decals on resident’s vehicles; Fort Worth and Austin use hang tags for two resident vehicles and two guest permits.  Residents pay an annual fee: $50 in Dallas; $20 in Austin.  

Cities commonly require that 75% of available parking spaces be in daily use and a petition process shows a 2/3 concurrence by residents of affected area.  Responsibility for permit administration varies.  While some cities administer permits through various departments (i.e. neighborhood or police), the City of Austin works with neighborhood associations to issue permits.

Maria will make a spread sheet of her findings for a comparison of various city regulations.

Visitor Eric Delgado, EPA On-Scene Coordinator for the Big Tex Project, reported that testing has begun to ascertain that the site is ready for re-use.  Any potential health risk from Big Tex is on the Blue Star side of the river—not on King William side.  Surveys around the neighborhood have found no “stoner rock”, a waste product of the asbestos refining process (fibrous structures in asbestos ore which do not “pop” in manufacture of asbestos products).  The EPA continues to be interested if anyone can provide information about what was done with the stoner rock.

The sampling phase will be completed and submitted to specialized testing laboratories within 3—4 weeks and EPA hopes for a rapid turn around in getting results but this can not be assured.  Only a few laboratories in the country are able to do these tests.  If results are provided in a timely manner, appropriate clean-up can ensue which could make the site ready for overall reuse by the end of the year.

If a potential health threat is indicated by lab results, the EPA will remove and contain dirt from the affected area.  There is also asbestos abatement work (encapsulation and power washing) to be done on one Big Tex building.  

Replying to a question about installation of the hike and bike trail foot bridge at Eagleland, Mr. Delgado said installation must continue to wait until EPA has cleared the access area.

Residents with questions may go on-line to www.epaosc.net/bigtex or visit the EPA trailer on the Blue Star property.

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President Shaw asked approval of the minutes of the previous meeting (January ’08).
In discussion:  Janis de Lara asked to add the words “due to illness” following her name in the attendance report and objected to paragraph 4, page 4:
    “Discussion followed of Board member’s objection to most recent AAC report
              to HDRC.  (Objecting Board member not present.)  Harry Shafer reported
              that due to the objection, AAC’s report was withdrawn and KWA’s voice
              was not heard by HDRC on that item”
de Lara pointed out that the issues which concerned the AAC were addressed by HDRC and Staff.

In discussion:  Kit Walker spoke of problems with AAC guidelines and the difficult timing between AAC receiving HDRC agenda and HDRC meeting.  Johnny Heidelberg said defining AAC guidelines is a continuing process and the AAC has been asked for their in-put on changes.

Neil Leatherbury  moved approval of minutes with change to attendance report; Janis de Lara seconded.  Minutes approved as amended.
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Treasurer, Harry Shafer presented his report (attached) and reported that two proposals for the renovation of King William Park have been received from Bender Clark and Rialto.  Rialto’s $1000 bid (recommended by the Finance Committee) includes a master plan, color view of plan and meetings with KWA Board and general membership.  Additional services to be charged at an hourly rate.  Work to begin immediately.
Shafer moved approval of Finance Committee recommendation of the Rialto proposal.  Laurence Doxsey seconded.  Motion carried.

Shafer presented profit and loss sheets for year to date (attached) and reported that KWA membership is down somewhat from previous year.
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Traffic and Parking Committee Chair, Susan Erickson, reported on meetings with City Traffic Department and presented photos of proposed “traffic calming” curb extensions (attached).

President Shaw reported on meeting with Councilwoman Cisneros’ staff and Public Works representatives, at which he asked for more towing of illegally parked vehicles during First Friday; towing more effective than ticketing.

Harry Shafer said towing was used in the past, then stopped; he would also like to see a return to towing.  Susan Erickson said she is not in favor of an aggressive towing policy.
Kit Walker said illegally parked cars were being ticketed last First Friday and increased towing should be tied to the parking permit issue (if that process is going to take a long time, then towing becomes more important).  Hope Garza-Cortes suggested motorcycles be included in towing/ticketing issue as motorcycles at the B&D Icehouse frequently block the VIA bus stop.  She has called police repeatedly but, to her knowledge, police have not responded.

President Shaw asked for a straw vote on aggressive towing; approved 9 – 4.
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President Shaw reported on three meetings and several phone calls to Councilwoman Cisneros’ office and SAPD on First Friday issues, resulting in:
    1.  Councilwoman’s office has persuaded Southtown to take
         ownership/responsibility for First Friday.
    2.  SAPD will have working noise meter in use next First Friday.
            3.  Councilwoman’s staff has not heard of a planned King William
                 “entertainment zone” which would require a change to C3 zoning for area
                 businesses.

President Shaw also reported that more than half of FF outside/amplified music is from roving bands not invited by property owners.  Shaw is also researching the issue of food vendors with City permits for mobile units which may operate anywhere/any time except within 300 feet of an established restaurant.

Jim Johnson commended Shaw’s handling of First Friday issues and getting the City to take charge of the event.  Neil Leatherbury asked if KWA is talking to owners of business properties about their First Friday issues and responsibilities.
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Harry Shafer reported a noticeable decline in graffiti in the neighborhood.  Police have caught several graffiti vandals in the act.  Most are non-gang related “taggers”.  Harry and Molly and their committee have cleaned up lamp posts on S. Alamo.  Some property owners (specifically architect at Turner/S. Alamo) will not clean up graffiti on their property.

The INSCO mural is progressing; no serious tagging has occurred since wall prepared for mural.  KWA AAC has approved artist, Jane Madrigal’s concept and she is ready to start work as soon as City Arts Committee and HDRC approve the project.  KWA will pay for weather-resistant paint.
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Laurence Doxsey reported that properties slated for redevelopment on the far western side of the neighborhood (Rische/S. Flores) are being tagged, vandalized and allowed to deteriorate.  Doxsey moved that he be commissioned to speak for KWA at the City’s  March Dangerous Structures hearing and ask for the properties to be cleaned up as soon as possible.  Harry Shafer seconded the motion.

In discussion:  Kit Walker said the developer is the same one who redeveloped the old fire station building on S. Flores and built the “medieval castle” in the next block.  Walker said the developer is not “broke” but is letting the property deteriorate.  If the City is forced to do the clean up, a lien will be placed on the property.

Motion carried.
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Bonnie Pfannsteil, chair of the Spay and Neutering Committee, reported that current guidelines permit treatment of two cats per household per year and moved to change guidelines to: two household pet cats and unlimited feral cats per year.  Kit Walker seconded the motion.  

In discussion:  Phannsteil reported that feral cats are trapped, spayed/neutered and marked by ear notch.  KWA pays $45 per cat toward this service.

Motion carried.

Kit Walker moved KWA buy three traps (costing up to $50) for loan to householders.  Neil Leatherbury seconded the motion.  Motion carried.
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President Shaw moved the Board approve Joe Castorena as new chair of the KWA AAC.  Hope Garza-Cortes seconded the motion.

In discussion:  Jim Johnson suggested the AAC membership should be larger and be more geographically representative.  Hope Garza-Cortes volunteered to be a non-architect Board representative on AAC.  Roselyn Cogburn asked for letter from KWA Board/President thanking Charles Schubert and other retiring members of AAC for their work on behalf of the neighborhood.

Motion carried.
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Kit Walker reported problems with some Bed and Breakfast businesses in the neighborhood (including the one next door to his B&B which advertises four rooms when it is only permitted for two) and suggested it is time to re-visit issue of compliance with City ordinance for B&Bs.

Harry Shafer urged Board members to call 311 to report B&B owner Don Noble’s violation concerning the graffiti-marked and weed-over grown dumpster on his property in the 100 block of Madison.

Walker said printed copies of the City ordinance (concerning B&Bs in historic districts) is available at One-Stop and asked that KWA take a proactive stance by educating the community by including the ordinance in an up-coming newsletter article and including it in the welcome packet provided to new residents/property owners.
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Hope Garza-Cortes moved that no changes be made to future KW Fair parade routes without Board approval.  Janis de Lara seconded the motion.  Motion carried.

Garza-Cortes moved that the 2008 parade start at the “traditional” point: Eagleland and Guenther.  Janis de Lara seconded.

President Shaw asked that the motion be tabled until reasons for changing the starting point could be ascertained.  Kit Walker seconded the motion to table and in discussion said that no one from the protest group had volunteered to help with the parade.  Garza-Cortes said that information was incorrect; residents have volunteered but their calls have not been returned by parade chair.

Motion to table passed.

President Shaw said he would discuss parade route with Fair Chair.
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Kit Walker, Underground Utilities Committee chair, reported on meetings with Councilwomen of Districts 1 and 5, both of whom approved the project concept.
The committee is now reviewing the project with CPS to analyze costs for the entire neighborhood.  Walker expects to have the CPS report in a month to six weeks.
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President Shaw reported that the Children’s Shelter is closing its Cedar Street operation, the properties to be reutilized in some other way.  Jim Johnson volunteered to research the issue of returning the Shelter and parking lot properties to residential use.
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President Shaw reported that he is meeting twice a month with HDRC officer Ann McGlone on King William issues, currently including Bed and Breakfast business violations.
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President Shaw is also meeting with Southtown Board.  There will be a Southtown- sponsored “town hall” on Monday, February 25, at Blue Star.  Shaw will put KWA issues with First Friday in writing.
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President Shaw said the B & D Icehouse is becoming a motorcycle gang hang-out every night, not just on First Friday.  The gang moved to B & D after Lavaca Neighborhood Association was successful in closing Senor Willie’s on S. Presa Street.
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President Shaw said the Lavaca Neighborhood Association has requested a KWA representative at the Friday, February 22, meeting on the Victoria Commons redevelopment project.  Kit Walker said the issue is percentage of subsidized housing versus market-value housing.

Syeira Budd will attend the meeting to gather information for KWA and will do further research in newspaper dead files since 1996.
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President Shaw moved adjournment at 9:10 p.m.  Harry Shafer seconded motion to adjourn.  Motion carried.
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Minutes submitted by:
Roselyn Cogburn, Secretary

Minutes approved, 19 March 2008