Board Meeting
– Minutes by Erika Mott
2/6/01
APPROVED 3/6/2001
Board Members Present:
Anne Cole-Steichen (ACS)
Sam Love (SL)
Sally McLaughlin (SM)
Jerry Mills (JM)
Lonnie Moore (LM)
Erika Mott (EM)
Leo Slaton (LS)
Catriona Smith (CS)
Board Members Absent
Walt Thompson (WT)
Guests
Ken & Joyce Beck
Walter & Aletha Snowden
Jeff Snowden
Mike Miller
Robert Shinn
Pamela Kingfisher
Call to order at 7:10pm.
LM announced that due to the guests present, the agenda would not be followed in the usual manner.SL announced that John Shipley of the Volente Group would not be presenting an update on his development as previously scheduled.
The Crossing – Joyce Beck gave she and Ken’s background, and what brought them to where they are today.Their learning/resort center is called The Crossings, and is located on the North side of FM 2769 between what used to be Roscoe’s and what used to be The Enchanted Tavern, (that is about ½ mile east of Bullick Hollow Rd.).The focus of the facility will be educating those in the corporate world in how to better balance their lives.SL asked what the VNA involvement should be.Ken said staying interested and involved, asking questions, and even giving programming input.Joyce added that telling them of favorite authors or other people we would like to see speak at the facility would be helpful.
Ken continued the presentation by telling about the different phases of the project, and plans for wastewater treatment.Phase One is the current construction, consisting of 8.726 acres, and should be completed by the end of February 2001.They have explored the option of hooking into Cedar Park’s wastewater system, but it looks like that will be a difficult task for several reasons.Their plans currently have a wastewater treatment plant on-site.The treated water will be pumped uphill to a 6.5-acre irrigation field.The treatment plant has a 20,000-gallon per day maximum consumption capacity.There will be an 8-day storage capacity in the event of a long period of rain, in which the irrigation field would be ineffective.Once the storage capacity is reached the facility will shut down.
There will be eight, 9 or 12 room residential quarters that the overnight guests will stay in.That will mean about 160 maximum overnight guests.There will also be daytime guests, and the maximum daytime guests are expected to be over 400.There is parking for the overnight guests at their room, and a separate parking lot for the daytime guests.The Beck’s are exploring options to deter some of the traffic by possible shuttling guests from an off-site location.They are expecting a staff of approximately 50.There were concerns about noise and music from some at the meeting, and both Ken and Joyce assured the group that they are sensitive to the people’s concerns, and are keeping the neighbors in mind when making decisions.The intended environment at the facility will be one that is tranquil and serene, to promote relaxation and learning.They asked that any issues of concern be communicated so they can address them.Jeff Snowden pointed out that if mismanaged, that type of on-site sewage treatment plant has the potential to be very odorous.
Twin Creeks– LM brought a conceptual plan for the Twin Creeks golf course development.It is going in on Dies Ranch Road, and stretches down along FM 2769.There are about 350 small lots proposed in the area called Bella Vista, (corner of Dies Ranch Road and FM 2769, on flat area before the hill).Water and wastewater are provided by Cedar Park, meaning water will come out of Lake Travis.Wastewater will be gravity fed to a lift station proposed to sit near Cypress Creek at the bottom of the property, and then pumped to Brushy Creek treatment plant.
LM reported that there was work going on in the valley, where the creeks are, without permits or silt fencing.This muddied the creeks and alerted neighbors to what was going on.After many calls and emails from individuals, the work was stopped.It was also discussed that golf course water runoff may have dangerous and toxic chemicals in it from pesticides.This would have the potential to pollute Cypress Creek, which empties into Lake Travis.The Cypress Creek arm of Lake Travis doesn’t get much circulation, and this concerns many Volente residents.LM said the VNA has been involved since 1990, and should stay involved. CS suggested that the VNA write a letter to Cedar Park expressing the concern of the residents and making suggestions for ways they should deal with it.
Pame Kingfisher handed out a summary of the calls she had made in regards to the non-permitted work on the Twin Creeks Golf Course, as well as other information related to that development and to pesticides used on golf courses and the effects they have.She is very concerned about the water quality.Pame went on to tell about what the purpose of the Alma De Mujer Conference & Retreat Center is.
In wrapping up the discussion about the Twin Creeks development, the question was asked what the VNA should do.Jeff Snowden suggested that the VNA write a letter summarizing the concerns expressed at the meeting to send to the appropriate agencies, and to inform the community about what is going on.LM said he would be happy to take the lead on that, because he is personally involved.CS made a motion that the VNA send a strong letter citing pertinent information about golf courses and expressing the concerns, asking the appropriate agencies to look at the issue.LM seconded the motion and added that he will write the letter, he has letters in his files dating back to 1990 on the issue, and all were in favor.LM added that we should watch the water tests, done in Cypress Creek near his house, to see if there are any changes.SL asked that a draft of the letter be sent by email to the board members for approval before issued.The vote was unanimously in favor of the motion.
Minutes– All reviewed the 1/2/01 minutes by topic.All changes were noted by distinguishing characters, either bold italicized, underlined or all caps.There were no other changes to the minutes.CS made a motion to accept the minutes, ACS seconded the motion, and all were in favor.
Treasurer’s Report – ACS reported the VNA has $3,526.88 in the checking account.Motion to accept the report was made by LM and seconded by JM, all were in favor.
Lake Travis Committee – CS gave an update on the LCRA Marina Ordinance Revisions.The task force meetings are finished.CS feels like they made headway with regards to controlling congestion.There was a recommendation made to regulate when there are two marinas in one arm of the lake.There must be a certain percentage of distance between them.She also reported that the previous classification segments have been done away with.The appeal process is being rewritten, and the Marina Ordinance Revision draft is due to come out soon.It will be on the Internet, and there will be another 30-day public comment period.
CS also reported that the task force for the private dock revisions would start soon.She also thinks the April general meeting might be a good time to have Jim Richardson come and talk about the private dock issue.SL asked what effects the Marina Ordinance Revision would have on us.CS explained that existing marinas would be grandfathered, but the revisions will pertain to future marinas or expansions on existing marinas of 50 slips or more.Any foam replacement will have to be encapsulated foam.SM asked if there were any restrictions on noise.CS said no, but there were changes made with lighting, so as not to shine on neighbors.LM asked if there was a one-page document somewhere that outlined the revisions.CS said Jim Richardson probably has one, and she will check into it.SL asked if there were any changes to the fuel spill response issue.CS said yes, they must have one, and it must be readily available.
LM reported that an owner of property in Northlake Hills (across from Sandy Creek Marina), Kay Bymark, expressed concern about Sandy Creek Marina’s application for a liquor license.She asked the VNA to tell her when the notice was posted, but she found out the notice was posted several months ago.TABC made an error, and her efforts to argue the application were too late.EM asked why the VNA was so active in protesting Volente Beach’s (VB) liquor license, but did nothing when it came to Sandy Creek’s application.LM said he learned in dealing with VB there is very little the TABC will consider including traffic and road conditions, when issuing a license.Also, Café Bleu isn’t a very large facility, and doesn’t seem to be trying to attract the young drinking crowd, making it not as bad in his opinion.
JM reported that HB1437 still needs a sponsor.The bill addresses the Williamson County Hose, taking water from Lake Travis.He also wanted to know if anyone was pursuing a clean-up effort for the county roads in Volente.EM said she would talk to WT about that because he was looking into that awhile back.
Business/Development Committee – SL and LM are to meet with the developer of the Twin Creeks development.LM asked SL to invite John Shipley to the March meeting to present the update that was scheduled for the February meeting.
Membership Committee – LM reported there is nothing new.
Roadway/Safety Committee – EM sent an email to Corporal Vannoy with the Cedar Park Police Dept. (CPPD) about the complaints the VNA has received from residents pertaining to Lime Creek Road.The suggestion was made that CPPD, concerned residents and the business owners on Lime Creek Road meet to discuss the issue.SL said the road has been patched, but stuff falls off the trucks.LM said Sam Roberts, Public Works Director of Cedar Park told him it was hard to justify spending money on Lime Creek Road because it is on the edge of Cedar Park, and they don’t get much tax revenue from it.They also said that if there were ever permit applied for they could use that as leverage to get the business owners to pay for repairs.
EM reported that Travis County has not done anything with the No Parking signs on Lime Creek Road at Sandy Creek Marina yet.LM said he would get a signed copy of the VNA agreement with Sandy Creek Marina to provide to the county.
VVFD Liaison Committee – (No Report)
Liaison to Other Organizations – Guest Mike Miller asked if there was any information on incorporation.LM said he spoke with Bob Tinstman of Save Our Volente (SOV) the morning of 2/6/01.Bob said they have not started circulating the annexation petition yet, but are still aiming for a May election date.There has been no newsletter sent out in 2001.
SM, ACS and LM will be retiring as VNA board members in April.LS, JM, CS, SL, WT and EM will serve again if elected.There was discussion about potential residents to run in the open positions.Next meeting will be either 3/16/01 or 3/6/01 as second choice at Alma De Mujer.April meeting will be either 4/17/01 or 4/24/01, and Jim Richardson from LCRA will be invited to speak.
Meeting adjourned at 9:40 PM.