Vice-President, Nancy Diehl called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Present were Michael Guarino, Nancy Price, Curtis Johnson, Olin Strauss, Ed Haverlah, Jim Johnson, Sherry Hess, Neil Leatherbury, Hope Garza-Cortes and Roselyn Cogburn. Absent were Brad Shaw, Janis de Lara, Kit Walker, Molly Shafer and Jack Kent.
Also in attendance were KWA members Janet Williams, Jose de Lara, Ed Day, and Kim Abernathy, Executive Director, San Antonio River Foundation.
Neil Leatherbury moved approval of the agenda (attached); Michael Guarino seconded; motion carried.
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First Visitor, Dr. Russell Persyn, San Antonio River Authority Engineer (accompanied by Steven Schauer, Manager, Intergovernmental and Community Relations; Carol Earman, Education Specialist; Jim Blair, Manager, Watershed Operations; Lee Marlowe, Natural Resource Specialist) gave the Board an update of progress on the Eagleland Segment of River Improvements, a joint effort by SARA, U. S. Army Corp of Engineers and the City of San Antonio. Dr. Persyn handed two exhibits to Board members: 1) Map of entire San Antonio River Improvement Project and 2) Landscape design and plant schedule for Constance/Crofton Park.
Dr Persyn told the Board that construction of the two parks and pedestrian bridge at Eagleland would commence as soon as the EPA completes its work at Big Tex. He asked for feed-back from the Board on the transition strip (mow line) between private property and low-maintenance wildscape planned for river-side. Hope Garza-Cortes, whose home backs on the river, voiced a preference for neater more maintained landscaping rather than wildscape. Sherry Hess spoke in favor of wildscape grasses which attract a variety of birds. Janet Williams suggested SARA poll affected homeowners concerning a (mowed) buffer. Nancy Price suggested reliance on property owners to maintain buffer might be problematic.
Janet Williams and Hope Garza-Cortes mentioned the problem of blue panicum (invasive non-native grass) spreading from SARA property into private property. Jim Johnson asked how the blue panicum is/was spread. Dr. Persyn said SARA's intention was to reintroduce native grasses on the river verge. A contractor, hired by the City to do work on the Cypress Area, charged with planting native grass, planted instead the invasive non-native blue panicum which subsequently has spread aggressively along river and into private property. Panicum spreads both by seed and lateral runners.
Dr. Persyn expressed SARA's willingness to work with property owners on the question of the transition strip between private property and SARA property. He asked KWA to contact the affected property owners (newsletter, email) for consensus.
Ed Day commented that the river improvement through King William is the first environmental restoration in an urban setting by the U. S. Army Corp of Engineers and will serve as a model for development further down the river.
Dr. Persyn commended the KW Neighborhood River Amenities Committee (Janet Williams, Jose de Lara, Barbara Wade and Johnny Heidelberg) for their help in planning the Constance/Crofton Park and Eagleland terminus Park. He asked for a Board member to help with selection of contractor.
Janet Williams presented printed report of the River Amenities Committee activity to date (attached). She said the goal is: 1) ease of maintenance 2) native/drought-tolerant plantings attractive to birds and butterflies 3) irrigation system and drainage 3) safety and visibility.
Kim Abernathy of SA River Foundation reminded the Board of KWA's pledge of funds to support the park development. Jose de Lara said the pledged amount was $100,000 for design and construction. Janet Williams said the amount was $50,000 for Constance/Crofton and Eagleland, and $50,000 for the Cypress area at Alamo Street.
Dr. Persyn and various members of the KW NRA committee said KWA funds were no longer needed for the Alamo Street area as that was part of the recent successful City bond election and is expected to be in the City's 2009 Park Budget.
Janet Williams reported commitments from one individual, one private foundation with a connection to the neighborhood and the Mission Trails Rotary Club to purchase Carlos Cortes benches for the Constance/Crofton Park and the Eagleland Terminus Park. The NRA committee requests KWA to purchase a fourth Cortes bench in the range of $7,500 to $9,000, installed. Mr. Cortes has pledged to maintain the benches.
(Clarification is needed on: 1) Is the cost of this bench covered by KWA's original pledge to SA River Foundation? 2) Is the cost of this bench to be in addition to the original KWA pledge of $50,000 toward design and construction of Constance/Crofton and Eagleland? 3) If the City is constructing the park at S. Alamo, is KWA still obligated to SA River Foundation for the $50,000 pledged toward design/construction of that park?)
Dr. Persyn reported that bollards to prevent vehicles from entering the Constance/Crofton Park have been knocked down and asked if neighbors were agreeable to replacing the bollards. Those neighbors present said they want the bollards replaced.
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Second Visitor, Fair Chair Rose Kanusky, joined Treasurer Neil Leatherbury in presenting printed Finance Committee report (attached) supported by printed materials (attached) on Fair Committee's search for contractor to handle Fair cash (ticket sales). Included in the packet are: Request for Proposal; Replies from PMG Retail Entertainment, CRE8AD8, and Roadway Productions.
Treasurer/Finance Chair Leatherbury commended Fair Chair Kanusky on thorough research and reported that Finance Committee agrees multi-year contract with fixed-price bid is advantageous to KWA and judges the PMG proposal best of the three submitted. PMG charged $35,000 for its services to Fair '08 and proposes $36,000 for Fair '09.
Fair Chair Kanusky said Fair and Finance Committees are approaching the Fair cautiously because "the Fair may not always be there" due to 1) national economy 2) some KW residents want the Fair to be smaller; some residents don't want the Fair at all 3) the difficulty of recruiting volunteers especially among the neighbors and KWA members 4) difficulty of recruiting Fair leadership due to size the job has become.
Treasurer Leatherbury read Finance Committee recommendation that the Association enter into a long-term contract with PMG (Promotional Management Group) for performing the cash handling operations during the Fair. The Finance Committee recommends a 3-year contract be implemented, with a 2 year option to renew.
The Finance Committee further recommends that the Fair Chair, in consultation with an attorney engaged by the Association, be empowered to negotiate the final details of the contract under the best terms possible. Final pricing should be within +2%/-5% of the pricing proposed under the original response to the RFP. (Refer to KW Fair finance report, 14 November '08 for details.)
Treasurer Leatherbury moved approval of Finance Committee recommendation. Olin Strauss seconded; motion carried unanimously.
Fair Chair Kanusky reported that one person has shown interest in becoming Fair Chair Elect but would need time to train for the job. In answer to questions from Curtis Johnson and Michael Guarino, Kanusky said there are event management companies which could be hired to run the Fair for KWA at a probably cost of 50% of Fair proceeds.
Fair Chair recommended the Association do some serious long-term strategic planning for the Fair.
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Michael Guarino moved approval of the Minutes of the October meeting; Ed Haverlah seconded; Minutes approved.
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Treasurer Neil Leatherbury reviewed the October Financials (attached) and recommended the reinvestment of a maturing CD, keeping some $85,000 in "fairly liquid" Money Market account in view of commitments to SARA and Fair set-up.
Treasurer Leatherbury moved approval of the October Financials; Nancy Price seconded; Financials approved.
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OLD BUSINESS:
V-P Diehl reported that the By-Laws would be mailed, to dues-paid members only, as soon as possible by bulk mail with vote by general membership at the January meeting. (Note***It was later re-called that there is no January General Meeting. Vote will, therefore, be delayed to the February General Meeting.)
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SouthTown's request for KWA support of a decrease of the speed limit on S. Alamo Street from 30 mph to 25 mph was discussed by Board members. No action was taken on SouthTown's request. The consensus opinion was that Board members preferred increased enforcement of the 30 mph. limit by SAPD and VIA Trans over decrease of the speed limit.
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V-P Diehl reported that in preparing the Employment Review for KWA Office Manager, Syeira Budd, President Brad Shaw will be issuing questionnaires to Board members and others on their interaction with Ms. Budd. Shaw is also re-activating the Personnel Committee.
V-P Diehl also reported that Jack Kent is researching insurance pools to cover KWA office staff, but has not yet found an appropriate pool.
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NEW BUSINESS:
Roselyn Cogburn reported on the COP Class, October 25, 2008. Two SAPD officers, assisted by Mina Lopez, COP President, presented a four-hour class on crime statistics in San Antonio and crime prevention in King William and Lavaca.
The class was attended by seven King William and Lavaca neighbors: Jim Gillette, Elvia Quijano, Carmen Nava-Fischer, Max Hensley, Lori Hall, Rebecca Kary and Roselyn Cogburn. The number of attendees was smaller than expected but those who were there got helpful information on crime spotting and reporting. All expressed appreciation of the class.
Cogburn has written a newsletter article thanking the participants and drafted a letter of commendation for the officers to SAPD for KWA President's signature.
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Tourism Management chair, Roselyn Cogburn, reported that the Rock and Roll Marathon '08 was not as difficult for the neighborhood as feared. Neither of the bands slated for Pioneer Mill parking lot on Guenther and King William Park materialized. Parking by residents and visitors was restricted Saturday and Sunday between S. Alamo and Main Street. Access and egress of residents by vehicle was impossible between S. Alamo and Main Street and difficult east of S. Alamo. Parking permits allowing affected residents to park at HEB and SAHA lots were not delivered to residents of King William Street; those residents who received permits were able (with some difficulty) to walk through the runners and several blocks to retrieve their vehicles.
Street barriers were delivered and stacked on sidewalks on Wednesday and picked up late Sunday afternoon. There were no portable toilets in the neighborhood and directions to the runners were by means of temporary signage removed late Sunday afternoon.
The only real negative was the large amount of litter left on King William Street and around King William Park (coffee cups from Saturn exhibit, water bottles, soda cans, candy wrappers, energy bar and drink wrappers, cigarette wrappers etc.). Board discussion suggested a letter to R&R management thanking them for what went right and asking that next year R & R place litter bins on the race route and pick up litter after the race has passed through neighborhood.
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V-P Diehl mentioned the proposal to incorporate the neighborhood west of the river into the historic district. Sherry Hess indicated willingness to be part of a committee, perhaps with Board Member Jack Kent and other KWA members and former Board Members who also live in that part of the neighborhood.
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V-P Diehl mentioned the need to up-date the Neighborhood Plan. Asked when the original plan was written, former president Jim Johnson said "So long ago it was called The Riverbend Neighborhood Plan". Best guess at time previous plan was written: fourteen or fifteen years ago.
Nancy Price, Neil Leatherbury and Michael Guarino volunteered to serve on committee to update Neighborhood Plan.
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Nancy Price reported her conversation with Stephen Yndo concerning street lights in the SouthTown TIRZ. Price learned from Yndo that the light poles originally planned would require additional real-estate, blocking sidewalks. SouthTown now proposes adding "arms" to existing utility poles, thus saving money and possibly lighting the entire TIRZ area, including portions of Adams, Mission and Cedar streets.
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COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Social Chair, Hope Garza-Cortes announced the December Social, 6:30, Wednesday, December 3, at St. Joseph's Hall. Dinner will be catered but KWA members requested to bring appetizers and deserts. Two beverage tickets will be provided to guests for drinks served by St. Joseph bartender. RSVP is required. KWA members and guests are requested to donate gifts to the Children's Shelter. Syeira will post details on the e-blast. Contact Hope for more details.
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Membership Chair, Ed Haverlah, reported 315 current members following two mailings reminding members and former members that it is time to pay dues. 114, including some 20 businesses, did not re-join. Ed passed around a list of those who had not re-joined and Board members made note of names they could/would contact to remind.
The need for printing a new directory at this time was discussed. Chairman Haverlah and other Board members agreed that a page printed to insert in current directory would suffice; an entire reprinting would be a large and unnecessary expense.
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Architecture Advisory Committee Chair, Michael Guarino, reported there was no AAC meeting November 3, 2008, as there were no cases in King William to review. At the November 17 meeting, the Committee reviewed two new cases, 631 Mission Street (removal of chimney flue at the rear of the house, not visible from the street), and 316 Cedar Street, application for repainting. Both cases were on the HDRC consent agenda and the AAC concurred with staff recommendations for approval. Apart from the application for residential zoning, no further action on the Nix Houses has been brought back to the HDRC. The completed house on the corner (Johnson/King William) has, reportedly, been leased.
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Neil Leatherbury, liaison to the EPA, reported the agency is ready to start environmental cleanup of the Big Tex property. Cleanup should take six to eight weeks at most.
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V-P Diehl reported that she, Deb Field and Molly Shafer attended a workshop on Extreme Sweep Target Neighborhood. A number of City departments will concentrate on King William and Lavaca in February. To make the effort most beneficial to the neighborhood, neighbors need to walk the area and make notes of all kinds of problems to be addressed while we have the City's attention.
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V-P Diehl, as chair of Scholarship Committee, reported that the committee has met with four KWA scholarship recipients. All three first-year recipients are doing well. One of the second-year recipients is having problems and one second-year recipient has not been in contact with his/her KWA mentor.
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Printed report from Molly Shafer on Parking: "Most of the corner houses on Madison Street have been informed of their options concerning parking signs either on the side of their property or in the front of their property or both. It is up to them whether to request a sign from the city but the information of the contact person with the city, David Halderman, has been provided to them. This information will also appear in the King William newsletter in a future issue."
"We are also working on getting stop signs on Madison and Beaureguard which would make this intersection a four-way stop intersection. This seems necessary because of the expected increase in traffic flow on Madison due to St. Benedict's."
"Parking on First Friday (November) was worse than it has been in the Madison, Turner, Beauregard, Sheridan, Johnson areas. Cars were parked halfway into resident's driveways; cars were parked the wrong way, and cars were also parked in the "No Parking" areas. Tickets were given but no towing was seen. I talked with a policeman about having the cars towed that were parked in the "No Parking" areas, and he said that if they towed one, they would have to tow all of them, and he would have to call his supervisor for approval. I said that I had seen people get a ticket, tear it up, and throw it on the ground as $25.00 doesn't mean anything to them; however, it costs them $100.00 when the car is towed and that means more. I think we should convince the police and/or homeowners to institute towing to help alleviate this problem."
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Printed report from Molly Shafer on Graffiti: "There was graffiti clean-up on Thurs., Oct. 30, from the intersection of Durango down South Alamo to Guenther. Most of the graffiti was on the silver boxes. More (cleanup) needs to be done on the green lamp posts and brown benches along South Alamo. There also seems to be a new graffiti artist at work here."
"Graffiti clean-up was done on Saturday, Nov. 8, after First Friday the night before. There was some graffiti on Madison Street but most was on S. Alamo. The wall at the Citgo Station had been cleaned earlier but there was other graffiti at the station that was cleaned on Sat. along with places on S. Alamo."
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Printed report received from Maria Pfeiffer (attached), updating Board on Bed and Breakfast issue. The report summarizes two years of frustrating attempts to work with City personnel on questions of compliance of neighborhood B&Bs with City ordinance.
Pfeiffer is willing to keep working on the issue if the Board desires her to do so.
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Sherry Hess moved adjournment at 8:50 p.m.; Nancy Price seconded; motion carried.
Minutes respectfully submitted:
Roselyn Cogburn, Secretary
