CNA 11.10.08 General Meeting Minutes

The new City Manager, Marc Ott, spoke at the general meeting. A city org chart and a brief description of the City Manager’s duties were available for those unfamiliar with Mr. Ott’s position and responsibilities.

Mr. Ott talked about his 26-year background in city management, his mission to make Austin the best managed city in the country, and his sense that he is exactly where he wants to be in his career. He spoke about the first challenges that he has faced during his 9 months as City Manager in Austin: Ending the last fiscal year without a deficit in the face of dwindling sales tax revenue, closing the latest budget gap of 25.3 million dollars while opening up the budget process for greater input and getting a 2.8 billion dollar budget adopted by Council in 45 minutes, and negotiating labor contracts (fire, police, EMS).

The neighborhood began voicing their concerns and Mr. Ott attempted to address some:

Despite reigning in labor salaries (currently 30-40% above industry norms), no reduction in police or fire forces are anticipated.

He has started the process for a comprehensive plan in Austin, leading the effort with the help of a hired outside consultant. The intention is for openness and inclusiveness, while trying to get consistency and agreement among the various patchwork plans and land use ordinances.

When asked about accountability when city staff changes ordinances between 1st and 2nd readings, after neighborhoods are less involved in the planning process, Mr. Ott indicated that City Council is ultimately responsible, and the only recourse to neighbors if implementation fails.

Regarding Crestview Station, Parkland Dedication fees must be spent in the area of the TOD where they are collected (to include playscapes). Brewster McCracken is claimed to have said that the Austin Energy property on Ryan is targeted for 80% affordable housing and 20% green space.

The level of investment for street upkeep is set to maintain 80% of the streets at excellent, good, or fair condition and 20% at poor. In actuality, it is closer to 30% at poor. Historically, street upgrades have not been a priority as citizens wish to discourage increased traffic.

Mr. Ott had a recent discussion with ANC by bringing in heads of departments to which people could ask questions. He offered to come back and do the same for the neighborhood association.

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At the next general meeting there will be traffic calming committee members to brief the neighborhood on the status of their efforts [EDIT: As of 11.20.08 this has been cancelled - Don], and Steven Zettner from Sustainable Neighborhoods will present on open space issues in the central north Austin region.
A resolution was presented to the assembled that will be voted on at the next general meeting. [NOTE: The resolution is currently posted on the neighborhood web site under the Neighborhood Documents section] The resolution asks for a minimum of 20% of sidewalks and open space for future mixed use developments.

The property owner of the L-shaped plot on the southeast corner of Burnet & Anderson (Northstar strip mall) has submitted an application to subdivide that property. This is important to the neighborhood because once a property drops below 5 acres in size, there is no longer a requirement to dedicate 2% of the land to open space on new developments. This application goes before the Planning Commission on Nov. 25th. Parties interested in formulating a neighborhood response are encouraged to contact the CNA President, Jonathan Locklin.

McCALLUM KNIGHTS FAMILY AUCTION & DINNER

Sunday, December 7th, 5:30 p.m.
McCallum Cafeteria

Proceeds to benefit the Class of 2009

All McCallum students, faculty, families and friends are encouraged to attend.

Dinner will be catered from 6:00-7:30 by Pok-e-Jo’s for $10.00. There will be live music for entertainment.

Both a silent and live auction will afford a number of incredible items in time for holiday shopping. Some of the auction items already secured include the use of vacation homes, gift baskets, gift certificates from favorite Austin merchants and restaurants, student and teacher items and much, much more!!

Proceeds will benefit:
Senior Prom – May 9, 2009
’09 Senior class Baccalaureate – May 31, 2009
Grad Night – a drug & alcohol free all-night party after graduation – June 5, 2009

For Dinner reservations, please send checks payable to Austin Community Foundation by December 1st to Lisa Thomas, 4710 Highland Terrace, Austin TX 78731. Your reservation will be on a list at the door.

North Village Branch Library closing for five months

Press release from the city:

North Village Branch Closing for Five Months in Preparation
for the Opening of the NEW Branch Library

New North Village Branch

On Monday, December 1, 2008 the North Village Branch of the Austin Public Library located in North Central Austin at 2139 W.
Anderson Lane will close its doors for approximately 5 months to prepare for opening in the newly constructed library building located at 2505 Steck Avenue, near the corner of Steck Avenue and Burnet Road. The projected Grand Opening for the new North Village Branch is April 25, 2009 and the Austin Public Library will partner with the community to make the event a very special and festive occasion. For interim library service please visit the Old Quarry Branch, 7051 Village Center Dr., or the Yarborough Branch, 2200 Hancock Dr. All library services at the North Village Branch will stop on November 29, 2008. Please call 974-7400 for additional information or
visit www.cityofaustin.org/library.

In the 1998 City of Austin General Obligation Bond Election, voters approved the funding to build a permanent, 11,000 square foot branch library to serve this area of the city. The existing North Village Branch has been housed in leased spaces since its inception in 1970. Since 1989, it has been located in a 5,000 square foot storefront space in the Star Home Shopping Center located near the intersection of Anderson Lane and Burnet Road. Once open, the new North Village Branch Library will operate as a “library for the future”, patterned after a popular new design model for community libraries which incorporates many features found in upscale bookstores.

This new and very sustainable branch library facility was designed by Limbacher & Godfrey, Inc. in keeping with Green Building Program concepts and is presently being finished by Jamail & Smith Construction. The City of Austin Art In Public Places program selected one of Austin’s best-known glass artists, Kathleen Ash for the library’s public art project. She has created a window wall between the browsing area and the meeting room, using colorful laminated glass to depict children sailing on open books over an ocean of letters (or sea of knowledge) heading towards an island of discovery. Additionally, in the library’s “living room,” Ash’s creation is a mobile of large laminated glass letters suspended by cables. These letters, comprised of translucent white glass which emulates parchment, are inscribed with quotes from literature.

New Location for CNA 10-November-2008 General Meeting!

The usual location for the CNA General Meeting at St. Louis Church is not available this month. The general meeting for 10-November-2008 will be held at the Crestview Baptist Church in the Bailey building at 7pm. The address for the church is 7600 Woodrow (corner of Woodrow and Morrow). However the Bailey building faces Morrow just West of Woodrow and adjacent to the parking lot on Morrow.



The new City Manager, Marc Ott, will be presenting. People are encouraged to come with questions relevant to neighborhood concerns.