minutes of SRCC meeting of general memgership October 5, 2009
return to SRCC home page
SRCC general membership meeting minutes - 11/2/09
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2009; 7:00 PM
GRACE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
205 E. MONROE, AUSTIN, TEXAS
MEETING MINUTES
1. 7:00 Meeting procedures & etiquette. Welcome newcomers.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
2. 7:10 Approve minutes from October 5, 2009, general membership meeting (available at www.srccaustin.org)
Motion to approve by Claudette Lowe
Second by Sam Martin
Approved with no opposition
OLD BUSINESS
3. 7:15 Presentation on what's happening at 1603 S. Congress, the parking lot south of the Congress Ave Baptist Church currently occupied by several mobile food trailers.
Presenter: Mike McHone, owner's representative
Mike McHone presented the two plans - the License Agreement and the Excavation Plan - that had been approved after they had applied for (and were denied) the height variance.
These two plans are on hold right now as the developer, Bill Gurasich, has decided to scale the project back in order to
obtain financing. At this point, although official plans have not
been drawn up, the plan is to reduce the size of the hotel from 120 rooms
to 56 rooms with 1800 sq ft. of retail (restaurant) and 25,000 sq. ft. of
conference space. With that approach, Mike said that the building
would likely get pushed towards the front of the lot, the back would
become surface parking, and the parking garage would be limited to
one underground floor. With this approach, they believe they can
finance the project locally and it will be much more appropriate
given the current economic times. They are going to resubmit plans
and go through the approval process all over again. The intent is
to try an open in late 2012.
No motion was taken
NEW BUSINESS
4. 7:30 Election of Rachel McClure as the new Area Co-Coordinator to
replace "retiring" Helen Fleming in Area 7 and assist Fred Krebs.
Motion to approve by Claudette Lowe
Second by Helen Valdez
Approved with no opposition
5. 7:35 Vote to approve/disapprove certain street closures for the Statesman Capitol 10,000 to be held on April 11, 2010
Presenter: Marc Davis
Motion to approve by Rachel McClure
Second by Jean Mather
Approved with no opposition
6. 7:45 Discuss request for variance at 608 Academy Drive (& Riverside Drive) "to decrease the minimum side street setback requirement ... from 15 feet to 5 feet 2 inches in order to attach a deck and enclosed porch to an existing single family residence."
Presenter: Jean Mather, Chair of oning & Planning Standing Committee
Motion to "not oppose" by Jean Mather
Second by Elizabeth Gardener
Approved with no opposition
PRESENTATIONS
7. 7:55 Update on Norwood House: status of phase one, status of agreement with Parks Department and Austin Parks Foundation, results of fundraiser at Continental Club.
Presenter: Wolf Sittler, member
The fundraiser was a success - generated approx. $1250 which was split with the Travis Heights - Fairview Park Historic District. The Landmark Commission has approved the Norwood Posse's first phase plan to remove all existing roofing and then secure leakage, but more money is still needed.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
8. 8:00 Fall newsletters ready for distribution in November.
Presenter: Helen Day Valdez
9. 8:05 The Ad Hoc Communications Committee has begun testing some
technologies for a new collaborative website and will be reporting back in future meetings.
Presenter: Marc Davis, Vice-President
8. 8:10 The 3rd and final reading at Council of the contested South Shore PUD (Grayco) will be on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009, beginning at 2pm. It is expected to pass. Meanwhile, the owners have already submitted their first subdivision within the PUD (C8-2009-0111).
Presenter: Gayle Goff, member, Chair EROC NCT
Gayle presented a number of "wins" that EROC managed to score on this project against huge odds, after dogging it for a full year.
OTHER BUSINESS
Rachel McClure announced the South Austin Artists Co-op Art Show & Silent Auction that will occur Sat-Sun, Nov. 13-14, 10am-7pm at Marketplace Austin 6800 Westgate Blvd.
Carol Martin encouraged all to go online to participate in the design process discussion for the new central downtown library.
Two visitors took a minute each to promote their candidates Olga Seelig for County Court at Law 3 and Cliff Brown for District Judge.
return to SRCC home page