Present: Erika Mott (EM)
 Walt Thompson (WT)
 Cat Smith (CS)
 Ken Beck (KB)
Leo Slatin (LS)
 Eileen Glover (EG)
 Connie Curtiss (CC)
 Jerry Mills (JM)

(Lee Bass absent)

WT called to order at 7.10pm

Additional agenda items: non-profit organization status.

Wharf Cove issue (EM) Visitors: Frank Carter & Carrie Carter.
EM report on public boat access

Public Boat Access in Volente
Marinas & Parks Public Access # of Boats/Parking Hours Fees Notes
Cypress Creek Park Yes  Sunrise-9pm $5/day $50 year
Cypress Creek Marina Yes 13 acres 24 hours/day $399 year
Anderson Mill Marina
Riviera Marina No N/A N/A N/A No Ramp
VIP Marina No N/A N/A N/A No Ramp
Highland Lakes Marina No  24 hours/day ? Residents Only?
End of FM 2769 Yes Varies 24 hours/day Free No turnaround
Dodd Street Docks No N/A N/A N/A No Parking
Sandy Creek Marina No N/A N/A N/A No Ramp
Sandy Creek Park Yes  Sunrise-9pm $5/day $50 year
 

Frank may be willing to use Highland Lakes parking.
EM distributed photos taken on 6/30/01 to illustrate traffic congestion in Wharf Cove. Cars parked up and down street on both sides, several waiting to launch boats, jet skis etc.
Discussion on VB safety issues.

EM digression on meeting several years ago with County representative, Tom Ashcraft (from VNA) about no parking signs, painting center dashed yellow line and white line to help parking issue.

Frank Carter: Wharf Cove is not a boat ramp and not to prevent people from launching, however, traffic issue is huge and something needs to be done re: road vs. ramp. If boat ramp status was stopped, Frank might be inclined to let Volente residents using his boat ramp for launching. Wants to know what the law is on the status of this road?

Current patrol man does not always enforce towing on the no parking side of the road.

Bob Steichen will probably object to closing the road due to his business etc. Should be a safety issue.

KB questions who has authority. EM states that LCRA has said it needs to be public access. However Wharf cove is not listed as a public boat ramp. May not be defined as a boat ramp, but it functions as one. County should enforce “appropriate “ markings on road.

What are options?
Shut down completely so it’s only a road
Install signs etc. Someone would have to be there to enforce it.

Frank: boat ramps have turn-around areas – this doesn’t; County won’t maintain it as a road which makes it almost unusable as a boat ramp also.

WT: it’s a road, not a boat ramp. Offering to talk to Gretchen to get opinion and course of action to address issues. County road dept. Need to solve safety issues, and thus parking issues. Need to have access for Star Flight and other EMS; easier to pick up injured person at Wharf Cove so that Star flight can have access. Better to use Wharf Cove than VBC as pick-up point. Posted on both sides as no parking and emergency access only. County will probably not accept Wharf Cove use for residents only.

Frank repeated that he might be able to accommodate residents of Volente using his ramps. Could have meeting to discuss with residents. Frank could provide stickers for local residents' cars. Trash is becoming an issue also.

Cypress Creek park – you can’t launch your boat if there isn’t any parking.
Sandy Creek park doesn’t have parking issues.

JM comments on validity of use of sticker method for residents; would County dedicate last 300 ft of Wharf Cove to VVFD or VNA?

EG: why not just have it restricted to emergency vehicles only.

EM: Bob suggested cabling off the road  just past VBC gates, and VVFD etc have a key etc. But then have problem of congestion at intersection.

Going to have opposition  from locals folks (Steichen) who have boat yards etc.

WT: will talk to Gretchen at County Commissioners and let her know what our views and suggestions are. Might be an issue which goes up to commissioners court. She will most likely refer  us to county roads folks to start discussions. WT and EM will go together.

JM: suggesting VNA put our opinion in letter and send it to everyone, especially if we ultimately get denied by County and LCRA etc.

EM will find out VBC position on wharf cove traffic. VBC are charging $80 a day to park your car and trailer in their lot.

Minutes of previous meeting: JM motioned to approve, EM seconded. Approved.

EG: Treasurer’s report: $4,296.02.

EG: Transfer of accounts: previously Ann Cole’s personal account. As an organization this should not be a personal account, and wants to know what we need to do to become a registered non-profit.

EM commented on IRS process to register as non-profit. Very long process with lots of paperwork. Should get tax ID # from State comptroller. The investigate non-profit status with IRS. IRS will want tax return yearly. KB: his CPA is moving to Booth Circle so we will ask him for an opinion. JM: doesn’t think we need to be 501c (3) non-profit org, but we probably don’t have to file a tax return.

VNA will get a tax ID from state comptroller.
Investigate IRS process.
Convert bank account to non-interest-bearing account.
EG still working to get Ann’s name off all account paperwork.
EM went and got her name signed on to the account. WT will also go and sign on account.

Lake Travis Committee: 676.68 FT msl
Board will watch High Water video after meeting (LCRA video).

Business/Development Committee: nothing to report on VBC condo development because Rick left before KB and he could talk. Try to schedule meeting with Rick before newsletter so we can include this item as local interest. (target for newsletter three weeks time)

C4 update: not much has happened, still waiting on July 10 meeting with LCRA and Cedar Park. Note on lack of activity at golf course site.

Membership Committee: Need to change mailing address for membership checks on next newsletter. WT to ask Lonnie to put something on website re: mailing checks for membership.
Need to put ID on newsletter to identify who hasn’t paid for this year. How to do this without printing mailing labels instead of using Route 3 mailing. What about issuing stickers for Wharf Cove issue only to VNA members.

Roadways/Safety Committee:
Wharf Cove (already discussed)
Volente Park - WT talked to Gretchen at county re: adopting the park. Gave suggestions on cleanup, putting up playscape, or putting old fire engine there. Gretchen did not think county would have problem, but could be issues with liabilities for county. Gretchen will call director of Travis county parks to give him heads-up before WT calls. Would take agreement from VVFD, ladies auxiliary and VNA for park adoption. Might have to go to Commissioners for agreement. KB suggested putting the Volente sign in park. Might be able to block off current path/road through, fence the area, put some patio work, picnic tables, clean it up etc.
Could suggest volunteer schedule to pick up trash etc.

Ann Cole found out that county will probably not put sign up in unincorporated areas, and certainly not with www address on it. See Ann’s email.

EM update on Lime Creek issue with rock quarries – she got an update from Corporal Vannoy. Really a Cedar Park city issue since it’s their road. He said that ….see email forwarded from Erika.

Community Relations Committee:
(LB absent) LB and Lonnie will work on newsletter in next few weeks. WT will ask LB what she’s looking for as far as articles/input for residents – wharf cove, park, membership, Lime Creek road/quarries.

VVFD copier – EM – talked with Georgia who said VVFD needed a new copier. But VVFD already bought one with VVFD funds. Georgia was asking if ladies auxiliary would contribute to cost ($1600 approx.). Ladies aux. meeting next Tuesday and will most likely pay half. EM suggested that VNA also pay half. WT doesn’t think VNA should pay half but could make a contribution. If all three organizations can use it, then no reason VNA shouldn’t contribute. VNA will contribute $200. Motion KB, LS seconded.

Note: bring Jerry a list of board members with phone #s.

Adjourn at 8.55pm.