King William Association

President Brad Shaw called the meeting to order at 7:09 p.m.  Board members present: Harry Shafer, Kit Walker, Laurence Doxsey, Nancy Diehl, Janis De Lara,
Hope Garza-Cortes, Jim Johnson, Ed Haverlah, Susan Erickson, Roselyn Cogburn.
Members absent: Olin Strauss, Johnny Heidelberg, Neil Leatherbury, Noemi Cue, Bonnie Pfannsteil.  

President Shaw asked approval of agenda (attached).  Ed Haverlah moved approval; Hope Garza Cortes seconded; agenda approved.

First Visitor, Richard Contreras, KWA member and Mission Trail Rotary Club member, reported on MTRC’s operation of Kids’ Kingdom for the King William Fair.
Mr. Contreras reported there would be several free activities such as story telling and mosaic making and other activities which will cost very little such as slide and pony ride.
He mentioned that Upper Mill Park is a small space to accommodate this popular part of the Fair.  Ideas for the future include costumed people to roam the Fair Zone directing children to Kids’ Kingdom and, possibly, a private time for neighborhood children.
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Second Visitor, Fair Chair Rose Kanusky, presented a printed Fair Status Report (attached).  She also presented Board members with KW Fair 2008 pins and showed green management volunteer shirts, off-white beverage volunteer shirts, and admission gate volunteer lanyards with attached instruction cards and referrals to KW Fair website.

Discussion followed concerning accommodation of County Commissioner Tommy Adkisson, City Councilwoman Mary Alice Cisneros and City Councilwoman Lourdes Galvan in the Fair parade after Adkisson and Cisneros missed the deadline for application.

To avoid the recurring problem of missed application deadlines, President Shaw moved that in future, KWA president will invite elected office holders who serve the King William neighborhood to ride in one vehicle in the Fair parade if they wish to do so. Harry Shafer seconded the motion.

Following discussion, Ed Haverlah moved to table the motion.  Jim Johnson seconded.  Motion tabled.
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President Shaw asked for a motion to approve minutes of the March meeting.
Ed Haverlah moved approval.  Susan Erickson seconded.  Minutes approved.
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Treasurer Harry Shafer presented the treasury report (attached) and moved approval.  Laurence Doxsey seconded.  Motion carried.  Shafer said the Balance Sheet Previous Year Comparison for March would be presented at the Board’s next meeting.

Shafer presented the Finance Committee’s report (attached) on the proposed concerts in King William park, asking the Board to consider: 1) the low attendance of a previous series of concerts in the park   2) weather (heat; rain) of summer months; suggested change to late spring and early fall  3) 2008 budget has $3811 left in Community/Cultural Fund.

Shafer reported Finance Committee’s recommendation of Board approval of donation of $5,000 to the San Antonio Conservation Society Capital Fund.  Approval will be on next month’s agenda.
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President Shaw reported on First Friday issues.  He is meeting each week with Councilwoman Cisneros’ staff on this and other issues.  He reported SAPD is ticketing and towing illegally parked vehicles.

Harry Shafer reported FF music was extremely noisy: would quiet down, then come back loud.  
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Shafer reported on graffiti, not necessarily connected with FF.  On Sunday morning following FF, graffiti was found on S. Alamo St. from St. Mary’s St. to INSCO.  The Citgo station was badly hit, as was the Dollar Store on S. Presa Street.  The Mansbach clean-up team cleaned up the Dollar Store immediately.  Their continued quick action has had a positive impact on the graffiti problem east of S. Alamo.

Hope Garza-Cortes asked whether the owner of the business property is supposed to clean up graffiti.  Shafer answered, “They don’t”.

Jim Johnson questioned how often business owners renew license to do business.  Kit Walker answered: Once, when property changes ownership.  The City is becoming more aggressive on graffiti clean-up, charging owner for cost of clean-up.

Shafer mentioned the Don Noble property at 100 Madison where weeds and graffiti have covered a dumpster left there for more than two years.  President Shaw said he would have Syeira write a letter to Code Compliance.
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Shafer reported that the INSCO mural has received HDRC approval and is ready to go.
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Laurence Doxsey reported that Eric Delgado, EPA On-site Coordinator for Big Tex, says the EPA has completed soil sampling and found four hot spots.  Activity-based sampling should be completed in four to six weeks.  Remediation should start in June.  Delgado is updating the EPA/Big Tex website http://www.epaosc.net/bigtex.

Kit Walker asked that Delgado be invited to report to the next Board meeting and to the June general meeting.
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Walker reported on progress of the Underground Utilities Committee which has made several presentations to City Councilpersons who have approved the concept.  CPS cost estimates are 20% to 25% over UUC estimates.  The UUC is now analyzing differences.  CPS suggests dividing Phase 1 in half, thereby reducing the first financial increment from $7 million to $3.5 million and making an “easier sell” to City Council.  Walker said whether and how Phase 1 is divided is up to CPS.

Councilpersons are expected to present the project to full City Council in late May or early June.  Walker says prospects for approval are positive; “Mayor and (our) Councilpersons are 100% behind it.”

CPS will fund 92% to 96% of entire project.  KWA will work with non-CPS utilities to raise the final $1 million to $1-1/2 million.
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Membership Chairman, Ed Haverlah, reported that Syeira’s Fair work has delayed work on the membership directory but Syeira is now contacting new members.
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Concerts In The Park chair, Janis De Lara presented a printed report (attached) scheduling bring-your-own picnics and concerts every second Sunday, May through September, 6:00 in King William Park for KW neighborhood residents and guests.  Cost will be $400 to $600 per concert.

In discussion, Board members suggested asking Paige Middle School Band and Brackenridge High School Band, both recipients of KWA donations, to provide concerts.  Another request was to vary the music offered, perhaps including blue grass or jazz.  Harry Shafer reported Finance Committee suggestion to invite Paige Middle School Band.

De Lara moved KWA funding of $3,000 for the concert series.  Ed Haverlah seconded.  Motion carried.
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Office Manager Syeira Budd read a list of help needed for the Fair:  help getting Fair equipment out of storage; two volunteers to check out food vendors at end of Fair; Kit Walker needs help on environmental (trash); future Fair Chair.  Contact Fair Assistant, Zett Baer at Fair office.
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Board members congratulated Hope Garza-Cortes on newspaper article on Carlos’
faux bois garden art/furniture.

Board members reported that Charles Schubert is home after a long stay in hospital for serious illness and Beverly Schwartzman is recovering from major surgery.  Hope Garza-Cortes asked that flowers be sent from the Association.
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Ed Haverlah moved adjournment.  Jim Johnson seconded.  Motion carried.  

Minutes submitted by:
Roselyn Cogburn, secretary   

Minutes approved 28 May 2008 (second of two Board meetings in May 2008)