Board Members present: President, Jared Noble; Randy Teich, Co-President; Vice-President, Jennifer Smith-Gonnabathula; Secretary, Missy Haworth

Guests: Erica Hannan, New Chair of the NACA Clean Streets Committee and Moses Rodriguez, Code Supervisor for the City of Austin (and staff member)

Not present: Treasurer, Brian LaCour and Presenter from Austin Parks Foundation

Treasurer’s Report: Brian LaCour submitted a written Treasurer’s report t the Board.

Newsletter:Mark Grayson, Newsletter co-editor/publisher mentioned that more newsletters were printed and mailed to respond to increased membership.

Minutes:The Draft Minutes for May were amended, approved unanimously and will be posted on the NACA website.

President Report: 

Budget Input Meetings for each Council District are underway, and many residents attended and report that participation seems to be extremely important. Discussion identified several budget items relevant to the health and safety goals of NACA.

ACTION A NACA Board Member will email the entire list to explain that advocating at future meetings will help NACA. Information will include dates and locations and the list of priorities identified in this evening’s meeting: 

• Watershed protection
• Expediting the Walnut Creek Flood project
• Restoring all parks to usefulness
• Ensuring 911 answers calls promptly
• Support Minimum Basic Income program

Summer Social Event

Jared suggested a NACA social event in July and welcomes volunteers. 

ACTION-The 2023 NACA Community Event will be Saturday, July 8th at Cook Elementary in support of the flood victims along Walnut Creek.

Announcements:

The Little Walnut Creek Library is asking for input on Adult Programming

Erica Hamman is our new chair of the NACA Clean Streets Team

The Code Department will visit at the next public meeting, they are fully staffed

Vice President’s Report: Jennifer updated the group on the City’s official communications regarding Mearns Meadow and Little Walnut Creek Flooding. 

She and the NACA residents are concerned with the lack of responsiveness from Councilmember Vela and the City offices including:

1. Lack of communication with the flood victims regarding a 45-day time period where the City would accept complaints
2. City communications insisting that notice was given, loans are available for repairs and emergency management funds are available-residents insist these resources are not available
3. The promised “Letter” from the City Manager never arrived. A memorandum was published, which attributes natural causes (not negligence) as the cause of the flood, with no evidence of the advocacy promised by CM Vela last month.

ACTION-Jennifer plans to follow up with help from NACA residents to:

1. Request Councilmember Vela’s Office provide accurate information that NACA volunteers can hand deliver to affected residents on how and when they may file their complaints (Monica G of GAVA offered to assist to get information)
2. Setting a meeting regarding the Walnut Creek Management Project (adopted in 2014, with RFP issued in 2020 and work started and interrupted in 2021). (Melinda S. and John G. consulting on history)
3. Requests will include:
   1. a detailed map of all waterways in the plan
   2. a proposal that interest on the unspent funds and other resources be applied to expedite completion and 
   3. restoration of Quail Creek park, streets and sidewalks

Safety Committee Report: 

Caro DuBois, Chair of the Safety Committee and Missy, NACA Secretary, and Monica G are members of the organizing committee for The Safety Summit on August 12th. Missy proposed that NACA set aside up to $250.00 that might be donated to the organizers to provide hospitality and materials, especially if funds from HEB are not secured. The treasurer communicated to the Board that those funds are available, Ann Teich moved to designate the funds, Mark Grayson seconded. Attendees voted unanimously to approve the funds to be used at the Board’s discretion.