North Austin Civic Association

Meeting Minutes for March 21, 2024

DRAFT

Little Walnut Creek Flood Remediation Project Update

John Fletcher, [email protected], City of Austin Capital Delivery Services

Daniel Kankel, [email protected], City of Austin Project Manager Associate

This presentation was recorded separately to be placed on NACA website.

Phase I will be completed in mid-April, including the detention pond, storm outlet structure, box culvert under Mearns Meadow from Quail Creek Park to Parkfield Drive. Also included were a wastewater line from Rutland to Parkfield, and a new water line installed from Quail Boulevard to Macmora.

Phase II of the project should begin in mid-April (Mearns Meadow, from west of Parkfield to Mountain Quail Cook Elementary). A box culvert will be placed under the road, along with new curb inlets along the way. Phase II is expected to end in December 2024.

As each segment is completed, the road will be paved for temporary use. There will be accommodations for trash, recycling, and compost collection during construction, but no parking will be allowed in work areas. Any parked cars will be moved.

Phase III from Mountain Quail to Quail Valley Blvd. is expected to last from January 2025 to August 2025. Phase IV from Boyer to Macmora is scheduled from then until January 2026.

Formal NACA Meeting Called to Order

Co-President Randy Teich called the meeting to order at 7:06 pm.

Approval of February 2024 Minutes

Motion to approve minutes was made by Ann Teich, seconded by Mark Grayson, and approved by the membership present.

Treasurer Report

As of the end of February 2024, we had $3,333.82 in the General Fund.  Our Beautification Fund investments were valued at $10,270.71, and an additional $3,562.48 is available for spending.  Membership is currently at 73.

Update to Bylaws

Changes to language in bylaws are required in order to complete NACA’s efforts to become a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organized for charitable or educational purposes. This would allow for donations to NACA to be charitable deductions and would allow NACA to qualify for discounts for a web domain, etc. The IRS requires an explicit dissolution clause to be certain assets will be used for a charitable or public purpose if the organization ceases. NACA would couldn’t endorse a political campaign, but has never done that in the past.

Motion to approve changes was made by Brian La Cour, seconded by Ann Teich, and approved by the membership present.

Safety Committee Update

Committee Co-Chair Melinda Schiera thanked everyone for the support provided and for all the many ways that members of the committee have done to move the effort forward.

The Rundberg Alliance Spring Festival will be April 13 from 10 am–1 pm. The NACA Safety Committee will be at a table at Barrington Elementary’s field near Rundberg and Lamar for outreach about gun safety, including the flyers described below. Councilmember Chito Vela’s office has agreed to support further outreach events as well.

The timing of the campaign is intended to be before Cinco de Mayo, and further outreach efforts will take place before July 4, as these are holidays often associated with gunfire.

Gun Safety Flyer

Monica Guzmán and Rosie Gusman worked together with others to create a flyers in English and in Spanish, with the motto “Abrazos, no balazos” = “hugs not bullets.” The flyer will contain links to NACA’s website and to the Austin Police Department and our police District Representative.

If funding allows, there are plans to develop posters that can be posted in libraries, recreation centers, schools, and local businesses.

Caro Dubois made the motion to set aside an additional $1,000 of NACA funds to provide for printing the flyer, seconded by John Green.

NACA Letter of Commitment for Grant Proposal

Brian LaCour presented a draft of a letter to the National Science Foundation (NSF) to register NACA’s support of a grant for a gunshot localization pilot project using acoustic sensors to be placed in the community using technology being developed by Dr. William Hedgecock and others at Vanderbilt University and Pennsylvania State University.

Stage I of the grant would be a $75,000 six-month grant starting on October 1 with the purpose of having the investigators work with the community and stakeholders to design the concept for implementing the plan. After that, there would be an option to apply for a Stage II $1million program for 12 months to implement the program.

Mark Grayson moved for approval of the letter, seconded by Ann Teich, and approved by the membership.

NACA Membership Drive

Membership Chair John Green noted that there are 4,000 residences to which NACA wants to send out membership applications with return envelopes and the gun safety flyer. The effort usually takes place in late April (and/or early May if weather requires some adjustment), and will need 40–60 people to help block-walk.

Keep Austin Beautiful at Navarro ECHS

NACA volunteers and others will be picking up litter on the streets around Navarro on April 20 from 9–11. There will also be Keep Austin Beautiful events at Wooldridge and Cook, all at the same day. To participate, sign up at the Keep Austin Beautiful website.

Austin Soundwaves Musical Duet

Navarro ECHS students Travis Ortiz and Alfredo Gonzalez

More than 14,000 students in the Austin area are involved in this program, including these two from Navarro’s orchestra and more from Navarro’s band. Austin Soundwaves helps support private lessons to key members of the band and orchestra.

Redfield Update

The property has a potential buyer, the nonprofit Santa Maria Hostel. They met with NACA’s leaders along with several residents of homes along Redfield. The organization is a nonprofit and they plan to include housing for women in an addiction-treatment program who will be receiving on-site services. The facility would be fully fenced with electronic gates and 24/7 monitoring.

Announcements

Mark Grayson said there’s an effort to pressure the city’s Transportation Department to provide some sort of beacon to improve the safety of the crossing of Payton Gin at Navarro ECHS.

There are still open positions for Secretary and Vice President of NACA, and nominations are welcomed..

Allan Vaughin from Colony Creek Apartments introduced himself and committed to being involved with the community and its safety. He reported that car windows were shot out a few days ago in front of Colony Creek Apartments.

Tyler who lives on Fairfield mentioned that there are frequently gunshots in front of his home. He urged everyone to fill out the survey about the Jamestown Park at the Austin Parks Foundation website.

Adjournment

President Randy Teich adjourned the meeting at 8:15 pm.

Respectfully submitted, Mark Grayson, Secretary for the Meeting