President Brad Shaw called the meeting to order at 6:59 p.m. Present were: Olin Strauss, Harry Shafer, Ed Haverlah, Neal Leatherbury, Jim Johnson, Hope Garza-Cortes, Johnny Heidelberg, Laurence Doxsey, Suzan Erickson, Nancy Diehl, Noeme Cue, Bonnie Phannstiel, Roselyn Cogburn. Kit Walker was absent.
Also present were KWA members, Beverly Swartzman, David Chirnside and Patricia Villeneuve and attorneys, Frank Burney and Ron Sweeney.
President asked approval of agenda with the addition of Visitor, Frank Burney, and New Business item #8, Train Noise and item #9, Children's Shelter. Agenda approved with additions.
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First Visitor, Beverly Swartzman, spoke as member of Say Si Board of Directors, to outline the accomplishments of Say Si and urge KWA's continued generous financial support begun in 1994.
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Second Visitor, Attorney Frank Burney of Martin Draught and Torres, spoke about legal matters on which he has been consulted by KWA, first reminding Board of his prior service to KWA on the Children's Shelter and Tour Bus issues some years back and disclosing that he now also represents Clear Channel and Lisa Wong.
On the China Latina graffiti problem, Burney says Wong will see that her tenant will fix the defaced windows.
In a recent meeting with Liz Garcia and Richard Cartouche (sp?) of Neighborhood Services, Burney inquired about the Madison Suites (corner of Beauregard and Madison) renting by the day and was told this is clearly a violation of RM-4 zoning.
The Children's Shelter property, now being offered for sale at $200/sq. ft., is zoned for multi-family residential with a special use permit for day care. The parking lot is zoned RN-4; "memory" is that a special-use permit was issued to allow this residential lot to be used for parking only so long as Children's Shelter property remained as day care facility but paperwork has been lost from City files.
Burney said he could work with KWA on all code compliance issues, including
misplaced garage at 417 Adams and illegal kennel on Mission, either by the hour or on retainer. His hourly rate is $400; his associate's hourly rate is $250. He recommended that KWA do the "leg work", use his name in letters and copy him, and call him in when we are unable to get results on our own.
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President Shaw asked for approval of the July minutes. Harry Shafer made a correction: on page 5, paragraph 4, Laurence Doxsey should be listed as Chair of the Nominating Committee. Shafer moved approval of corrected minutes; Ed Haverlah seconded; minutes approved as corrected.
Old Business:
President Shaw reported that he has appointed a team (Nancy Shivers, Jim Nelson and _________) to write a proposed City Ordinance covering First Friday, to be submitted for City Council approval, identifying FF as an acoustical event (no amplified music).
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Harry Shafer reported that the INSCO mural has suffered various delays but details are now being filled in and should be finished this month, weather permitting. The mural suffered some recent graffiti vandalism but that has been painted over.
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Membership Committee chair, Ed Haverlah reported that renewal notices are going out to members by bulk mail.
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President Shaw asked all committee chairs to be prepared to give brief annual reports at the September general membership meeting. He reported that a projector has been ordered for use at general and Board meetings.
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The By-Laws Committee presented proposed changes and asked Board to read and get back to the Committee with comments and suggestions. Changes will be presented again next month to new Board members and then to general membership.
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President Shaw has attended City budget hearings, as have John Doski and Tobin Walker. Budget includes only $2 million for under-ground utilities for the whole city.
Working with Councilwoman Cisneros and her assistants, Adam Greenup and Albert Eng on other City issues, Shaw is meeting other department heads, including Animal Control. Shaw asked Animal Control to investigate the illegal dog kennel on Mission Street.
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President Shaw is still looking for a Fair Chair and asked for suggestions from Board members.
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President Shaw, as Chair of Personnel Committee, told Board members that we will receive performance rating forms by email for use in Syeira's performance review. These forms are to be filled out and returned by email to President Shaw---not to the office.
Syeira will also submit her suggestions for enhancing her efficiency, office machines to be ordered etc.
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Treasurer Harry Shafer reminded Board members that they received the Profit and Loss Statement by email. He also requested approval of the Operating Budget for 2008-2009 as presented at the July meeting. (Budget Report attached.)
At the July meeting, Board also heard and discussed Finance Committee recommended allocation of funds available after meeting KWA's fixed costs. FC recommended: 40% (Permanent/Rainy Day), 30% Preservation/Infrastructure ), 30% (Community/Cultural).
This split was thoroughly discussed and Board voted to change the allocation to: 35% (Permanent/Rainy Day), 30% (Preservation/Infrastructure), 35% (Community/Cultural).
This equates to $67,268 (Permanent/Rainy Day), $57,--- (Preservation/Infrastructure), $67,268 (Community/Cultural), for a total of $192,195.
Olin Strauss, absent in July, asked to reopen the discussion of allocations but Board members present in July and President Shaw declined to revisit the issue. Nancy Diehl moved approval of the Operating Budget as presented at the July meeting; Ed Haverlah seconded; motion carried.
Treasurer Shafer then summarized End-of-the-Year statements and Finance Committee's advice that KWA's serving as agency for "pass through" donations to individuals
(ex: neighbor owners of burned homes; neighbors injured in accidents) might jeprodize KWA's tax empt status.
At Board request, Finance Committee is reviewing audit options.
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President Shaw led discussion of grant requests (Community/Cultural funds).
Scholarship Committee reported the loss of one scholarship recipient who received funds for second semester last year but did not attend classes. Board members asked about raising required grade-point average. Committee recommended keeping the 2.0 required grade-point but suggested monitoring grade-point average each semester rather than a cumulative grade-point for the year.
Bonham Academy Library requested $8,000. Finance Committee recommends $6,000. Board member suggested setting up a "Wish List" account with Amazon.com for neighborhood schools and printing the web site and list on the last page of the KWA directory to facilitate individual KWA member donations to schools.
Other grant requests were from Bonham Art Smart; Page Middle School Band request for individual music lessons at $35/hr; Page Technology Department request for digital cameras. Noemi Cue requested better record-keeping and report from schools on what KWA money is/has been used for.
Brackenridge High School requests funds for library computers and printers. Neal Leatherbury commented that the computer models requested are too powerful and too expensive for library use; librarian needs to negotiate contract with Dell. Noemi Cue commented that vendors will give special discount to schools.
Say Si requested $15,000; Finance Committee recommended $12,000.
Olin Strauss disclosed special interest in Bonham Academy: proud grandpa of two grandchildren starting Bonham bilingual program this month. He said Bonham's art program needs help and opposed cutting Say Si's funding request. He proposed raising Art-Smart grant to $10,000 and granting Say Si the entire $15,000, taking the $9,000 difference from Permanent/Rainy Day and Preservation/Infrastructure. Susan Erickson supported Strauss' suggestion.
Laurence Doxsey reminded that Art-Smart had not used the $5,000 they were granted last year and suggested the program is not well enough organized to make good use of resources.
Jim Johnson commented that the funds granted over the years to Bonham Library have been well used.
Johnny Heidelberg suggested making Art-Smart accountable for funds granted but not to make it a matching fund.
Harry Shafer spoke against Page Middle School request for $3000 for digital cameras as being too expensive and too easily lost or damaged.
President Shaw requested Board not allocate the entire Community/Cultural budget at this meeting but hold over 10% of fund for requests which will come in during the year.
Susan Erickson suggested the Page Middle School Band request be funded at $4000 for one semester, reviewed at the end of one semester then, if successful, funded for second semester.
Olin Strauss spoke again in support of Bonham's Art-Smart request. Laurence Doxsey asked to split the grant to fund first semester, review and, if successful, fund second semester.
Harry Shafer advocated at least $6000 for Bonham Library.
Ed Haverlah moved approval of the following allocation of Community/Cultural funds:
$15,000 - Say Si
8,000 - Page Middle School Band - in two segments
3,300 - Concerts in the Park
0 - Page Middle School Technology Department for digital cameras
6,000 - Bonham Library
9,000 - Brackenridge High School Library computers/printers
10,000 - Bonham Art-Smart - in two segments
12,000 - Alamo Community College scholarships (+ $4,000 from last year)
TOTAL = $63,300 - Leaves $4,000 in reserve for later grant requests
Susan Erickson seconded the motion to approve this allocation of Community/Cultural funds.
In discussion of motion:
Noemi Cue asked for summary report from each grantee to be published to KWA general membership so members know where KWA Fair money is going.
Laurence Doxsey said grantees (ex.: Art-Smart) need to know funding given by KWA may not be the same every year; KWA should not be seen as the sole support of the program.
Harry Shafer reported Art-Smart's total budget is $25,650.
Noemi Cue said ACC scholarship recipients help at the Fair and suggested that this should be a stipulation for all organizations benefiting from Fair proceeds.
Motion to approve Community/Cultural grants as listed in the Haverlah motion
carried.
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Laurence Doxsey reported that he has been meeting with City, rail companies and a judge on the issue of train noise but will have to drop out of discussions since he is now a City employee. He suggested that KWA ask neighbor and KWA member Irby Hightower, who is already attending these discussions, to be KWA representative in these meetings.
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On the issue of the Children's Shelter property re-development, President Shaw reported that a non-KWA-member resident of King William had requested time to address the Board on this subject at tonight's meeting but due to late request and full agenda, request was denied at this time.
Jim Johnson visited with Steve Yndo, agent for sale of the property, being offered for
$2.l million for the whole parcel. Johnson said any use of the existing building or additional building the neighborhood would accept would be worth half the asking price.
Jack Downey, Children's Shelter Director, is resigning to move to the Briscoe Museum of Western Art. Lingering animosity on the part of Downey and the CS Board of Directors resulting from KWA's opposition ten years ago of CS effort to re-zone several residential properties is thought to be the cause of veiled threats to sell to developer who will build a high-rise condominium.
Parcel offered for sale includes main CS building, zoned R-33, a historic residence zoned R-4 and the parking lot across the street which KWA understands to have been given a temporary permit for use as parking lot only so long as CS property was used for day care.
Visitors David Chirnside and Patricia Villeneuve, introduced as owners of the home next door to the CS property, expressed concern about future development.
Johnson will continue to monitor the issue and researching zoning facts.
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Olin Strauss moved adjournment at 9:21 p.m. Laurence Doxsey seconded; motion carried.
Minutes respectfully submitted by:
Roselyn Cogburn, Secretary
