President Brad Shaw called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. Present were: Neil Leatherbury, Nancy Diehl, Johnny Heidelberg, Jim Johnson, Janis De Lara, Hope Garza-Cortes, Roselyn Cogburn, Harry Shafer, Ed Haverlah, Kit Walker and Bonnie Pfannsteil. Absent were: Olin Strauss, Laurence Doxsey, Noemi Cue and Susan Erickson.
President Shaw asked for approval of the agenda (attached). Kit Walker asked to add an item concerning a code compliance issue (illegal dog kennel business in residential property). Agenda approved as amended.
President Shaw asked for approval of the minutes of the June meeting. Neil Leatherbury moved approval; Nancy Diehl seconded the motion; motion carried.
Secretary Roselyn Cogburn reminded Board of request from member, Mark Swartzman, and Board approval two years ago for brief re-cap of Board minutes to be emailed to membership soon after meetings; Johnny Heidelberg reminded that the request was also for the agenda to be posted to members so that they can have the opportunity for in-put on issues of concern. This has not been done; Cogburn asked for Board/President approval to do so in the future. Approved.
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Treasurer Harry Shafer presented the Balance Sheet Previous Year Comparison as of
June 30, 2008, and the Profit & Loss Budget vs. Actual. Finance Committee member, Kit Walker, added KW Fair Profit & Loss Previous Year Comparison July 2007 through June 2008; KWA Community/Cultural Fund Transactions by Account as of June 30, 2008 (grants and scholarships); KWA Preservation/Historical Fund Transactions by Account (sidewalk reimbursement); KWA Restricted Contributions: ACCD Scholarship Fund; KWA Profit & Loss Budget Overview, January through December 2009. (All attached.) Shafer moved approval of financial statements; Ed Haverlah seconded; motion carried.
Treasurer Shafer provided minutes of Finance Committee's July 9, 2008, meeting which reviewed Transportation/Parking Committee Chairman, Susan Erickson's request to fund Phase I of neighborhood traffic survey by Gary Ford, Jr. of HDR Transportation in the amount of $11,200 (attached).
Finance Committee recommends tabling the proposed survey at this time for two reasons:
1. The City is conducting its own study of noon-time and First Friday parking in King William. Molly Shafer, Parking Committee Chair met June 11, 2008, with Councilwoman Cisneros' staff (Eng and Pena) Paula Stallcup, Director of Downtown Operations, SAPD and other City officials to discuss permit parking for selected areas of King William. Stallcup said permit parking is probably not feasible but City will make decision by the end of August.
2. At a June 25, 2008, meeting at downtown police station on First Friday issues including parking, SAPD Chief McManus acknowledged parking problems in
King William and said he was aware of the permit parking proposal. SAFFE Officer, Eric Doyle, informed President Shaw, Harry and Molly Shafer, that SAPD and Downtown Operations are looking at the possibility of event parking for King William, with First Friday classified as an event.
With this background, Finance Committee recommends tabling the proposed traffic survey pending results of City study of traffic and parking problems in King William.
Treasurer Shafer made the motion to table; Nancy Diehl seconded; motion carried.
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Old Business
President Shaw invited Board members to attend a First Friday meeting at the KWA office, Friday, July 18 at 11:00 a.m. July 4th First Friday was monitored by a large number of SAPD officers including vice squad who wrote several citations for open containers. One vendor (on Ben Vending property) was cited for blocking an intersection and arguing with an Assistant Police Chief. A neighbor was arrested for open container and arguing with an officer. An ambulance was on hand but unused.
Shaw said some officers had sound metering equipment but he did not know if citations were issued for loud music. Casbeer's had very loud music including amplified drum but they did shut down at 10:00 p.m. They have also had a sound engineer work on sound dampening for their building.
Harry Shafer and Neil Leatherbury reported they could hear Casbeer's in the Lofts in between loud music from King Willie's. Kit Walker agreed King Willie's was very loud.
Hope Garza-Cortes said Blue Star music was very loud and went on until 11:15 or
l1:30 p.m., which she said is usually the case on First Friday.
Shaw said the committee working on a noise ordinance may ask for no amplified music, making First Friday an "Acoustic Event".
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Graffiti Abatement chair, Harry Shafer, reported that artist, Jane Madrigal, is back at work on the INSCO mural, which is expected to be finished by the end of August. An additional $3,000 is needed to complete the project because some of the pledged funding did not come in; much of the artist's time was used in attending City meetings such as Public Art Commission and HDRC; and expense of closing one traffic lane of
S. Alamo St. for scaffolding.
Treasurer Harry Shafer reported Finance Committee recommendation to provide the additional $3,000 from Preservation and Historic Fund. Shafer moved approval; Nancy Diehl seconded; motion carried.
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Membership chair, Ed Haverlah, presented 2008 Directory to Board members and said general membership copies went into bulk mail two weeks ago but have yet to be delivered. He will send a letter to members reminding them to pay their '08-'09 dues by September 3 general meeting/board election. A second letter will go to non-member neighbors encouraging them to join KWA.
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Concerts-in-the-Park chair, Janis De Lara reported on a successful concert on the evening of Sunday, July 13. Eighty-four people, mostly neighbors and some from distant parts of the City, enjoyed good weather and good music, picnics and ice cream provided by the Association. St. Joseph's provided toilet facilities and a rain venue if needed.
Board members suggested having membership forms at the concerts and inviting attendees to join the Association. Graffiti Abatement chair, Shafer, requested that concert flyers not be posted on telephone poles.
There will be no concert in August. The next one will be September 14.
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Hope Garza-Cortes asked if there was another graffiti hot-line other than 311 which has not been responsive to calls concerning graffiti on the river retaining wall. Shafer suggested calling Lisa McKenzie and said he would provide the number; McKenzie's number may be included in the E-Blast contact numbers.
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Railroad Quiet Zone chair, Laurence Doxsey, was not present but Johnny Heidelberg reported that Beverly Swartzman had attended a meeting with Mr. Marcello from Public Works and a representative of Union Pacific concerning the crossings at Probant and Flores. Swartzman's impression was that the Union Pacific man would be helpful in neighborhood efforts to secure a quiet zone.
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President Shaw announced a meeting of the By-Laws committee for Tuesday, July 22, at 7:00 p.m., at the KWA office. Committee members (Shaw, Leatherbury, Johnson, Heidelberg, Cogburn) are asked to read the By-Laws and make notes of suggested changes in preparation for the meeting. Any interested Board member is invited to attend.
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New Business
Kit Walker discussed several instances of non-code-compliance in the neighborhood including owners of a house on Adams St. given HDRC approval for double-paned wood windows, another who installed vinyl framed windows with no permit at all, and a kennel being operated in a residence on Mission St.
He reported that more than two dozen calls concerning the kennel had been made to 311 over a six-month period. After Officer Doyle visited the house, the dogs were removed for a short time and then were brought back.
Walker asked that these issues be added to the list to be discussed with Attorney, Frank Burney. Jim Johnson, designated by President Shaw to make the initial contact with Burney, made notes listing the various issues to be addressed.
Walker moved approval of an initial legal budget up to $5,000. Nancy Diehl, Hope Garza-Cortes and Harry Shafer all seconded. In discussion, Johnson said he expected Burney to first decide if he could help us on these issues, then to prepare a letter outlining the approach he would take with the City and estimating cost of his services.
Motion carried.
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President Shaw reminded Board members to RSVP (with checks) for the Desayuno al Fresco Fundraiser for the Llanas family whose house was recently damaged by fire. (Invitation attached.)
For information only, Shaw announced the formation of a critical response team of neighbors with skills (architect, structural engineer, preservation and legal) to advise neighbors in situations such as house fires.
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President Shaw reported that the Park Police are being merged with Airport Police and asked the question "What does this mean for King William parks?" Board members cited safer neighborhood due to frequent patrols of River and neighboring streets as well as parks and instances of Park Police responding to burglar alarms faster than SAPD.
Officer, Daniel Martinez, has requested a letter from KWA to the City saying that Park Police have done a good job for our neighborhood. Jim Johnson said the letter should go to SAPD also. Kit Walker said the Park Police credentials don't merge with SAPD credentials so Park Police have to reapply for their jobs along with new applicants and SAPD is already short of the number of officers they should have for a city this size.
He suggested the letter should go to SAPD and the City Manager, asking what is the anticipated use of force--how well will King William streets/parks/river be covered?
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President Shaw reported that a member had requested a KWA-sponsored going-away party for Michael and Betty Yndo, and Leno and Elisa Diaz. Johnny Heidelberg suggested the August general meeting be a covered-dish dinner honoring the Yndos at Blue Star. KWA will provide a cake and purchase beverages from Blue Star. Social chair, Hope Garza-Cortes will check this out with Blue Star. Janis De Lara and Johnny Heidelberg will help.
The October general meeting will honor the Diazs.
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President Shaw announced that Rose Kanusky and others are researching the recent explosions at Newel Recycle. The company has a history of fines for previous explosions.
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Shaw announced there is still no Fair Chair but Rose Kanusky is working with Zett Baer, mentoring her to become Event Co-Ordinator. In discussion, it was asked whether Rose would chair another Fair. Answer: She won't, but she will teach someone else if we can find a candidate.
There was also discussion to the point that creating the position of Event Co-Ordinator is a Board decision. Shaw was asked to ask Rose to bring a proposal to the August Board meeting.
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Shaw reported the AAC is working on guidelines for property owners contemplating restoration or additions. These guidelines will be sent to new owners to let them know the rules well in advance of proposed changes.
Welcome Wagon chair, Hope Garza-Cortes, said she would like to include the guidelines in the packet she delivers to new property owners.
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Harry Shafer, Nominating Committee Chair, announced that committee will meet Thursday, July 17, at 5:30 p.m. at the KWA office.
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Treasurer, Harry Shafer, moved approval of the Finance Committee's recommendation of allocating next year's budget as: 40% - Permanent/Rainy Day Fund
30% - Preservation/Infrastructure
30% - Community/Cultural
Jim Johnson seconded the motion.
In discussion:
1. Shafer mentioned Finance Committee did not recommend renewing insurance on the Big Pig but did recommend purchase of two lap-top computers (one for Fair use and one to "float" in the office).
2. Nancy Diehl questioned the amount budgeted for the newsletter as too low; "slave wages" for Angela Martinez. Kit Walker said Martinez bills and is paid $35/hr. She is efficient and was paid "good money" to create templates for the newsletter two years ago.
3. Walker said Music-in-the-Park needs to be approved for next year's budget.
4. Neil Leatherbury asked why the permanent fund is so large. Shafer and Walker reiterated possibility of rained out Fair would put KWA in financial bind; two rain-outs or discontinuance of Fair would bankrupt the Association.
President Shaw called for a vote on the motion. Motion failed.
Neil Leatherbury moved the following allocation: 35% - Permanent/Rainy-Day
35% - Community/Cultural
30% - Preservation/Infrastructure
Johnny Heidelberg seconded the motion.
In discussion, Kit Walker mentioned that a huge beneficiary of KWA's Community/Cultural grants over the years is SAY SI, which now has an annual income of $750,000 while KWA's income has only this year risen to slightly more than $200,000.
Continued grants to entities which have become self-supporting means those funds are not available to fund other worthy start-up projects. Walker asked how much of the money SAY SI receives from KWA is spent on students of Brackenridge High School.
Roselyn Cogburn asked Treasurer Shafer to bring, with Finance Committee recommendations for specific allocations, a history of how much has been given over the years to SAY SI and other repeat applicants.
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At 9:20 p.m., President Shaw asked for a motion to adjourn. Ed Haverlah moved adjournment; Neil Leatherbury seconded; motion carried.
Minutes respectfully submitted by:
Roselyn Cogburn, Secretary
