Volente Neighborhood Association Minutes
August 9, 2001
Final, Approved by VNA Board on 9/10/2001

Board members present:

 Erika Mott (EM)     Connie Curtiss (CC)
 Walt Thompson (WT)    Lee Bass (LB)
 Cat Smith (CS)      Leo Slaton (LS)
 Ken Beck (KB)

Board members absent:

Eileen Glover (EG)       Jerry Mills (JM)

Non-Board members present:

Ann Cole-Steichen – Volente Resident
 Ranger Dan Chapman - Travis County Parks & Wildlife
 Ranger Kurt Neilson - Travis County Parks & Wildlife
 
WT called meeting to order at 7.30pm

Welcome to Volente Sign – discussion was out of sequence to release the speaker early.

Ann Cole-Steichen – discussed the wording and format of the Volente sign which the VNA, in an earlier meeting, approved purchasing. The Board agreed to the following wording:

Welcome to Volente
www.volente.org
Volente Neighborhood Association
The sign will be purchased by the VNA and installed on private property near Randolph Street on the opposite side of 2769.  Ann will get sign made.

Park in Volente – discussion was out of sequence to release speaker early.

Background on park (WT) Travis County owns the property (Park) across from VVFD.  The park while used by some, is unkempt and littered with trash. WT asked what we could do as a neighborhood to make the park more useable by residents. We might clean it up, build a playscape, put the old antique fire engine there, install a fence, etc. Could it be named “Volente Park”?  Could we maintain it and dedicate it to recognize volunteers who have served the Volente community for an extended period of time (maybe 5 years or more).  Would it be an option for Travis County to give the park to ESD 14/VVFD, the only legal Volente local entity?

Kurt –  Thinks this land was one of three tracts donated by Reed Estate. It could be one which was donated in perpetuity to the county with stipulation that it remain as county park.

CC – Asked if the County Court House has info on the park?
Kurt - Will look into the options to include the feasibility of donating the park to ESD 14/VVFD, or using “Adopt-a-Park” program to improve the park.  VNA would raise money for project and maybe the County could help with some funds.
Dan – Neighborhood could start the adoption process, which requires one project (could be as simple as a trash cleanup), approved by the County, every 6 months (need to check into that). Would still need to maintain public access.

Meeting resumed according to published agenda.

Minutes of 7/3/01 meeting

KB motion to accept minutes, CC seconded – approved.

Treasurer’s report

Current balance in VNA account is $1,176.02.
KB will be getting package of info and recommendation on path forward re: non-profit status.
WT discussed EG’s role as treasurer – EG’s husband is in the hospital, so she has asked to step down due to family health issues. WT asked EM if she would take on duties, and she has accepted.  KB motioned, WT seconded, all in favor.
Copier update (EM) – ladies auxiliary decided to pay for all of copier, but VVFD might still need our $200 donation of funds. Leave $200 donation as is for VVFD to use as they wish or use it to buy paper? EM suggested that if check has not been written, VNA could buy supplies (toner, paper etc) or see what else the VVFD need.
 

Committee Reports

Lake Travis:

No report except for lake levels.

Business/Development:

KB – Tuesday last week – attended meeting at Volente Realty, group of concerned folks (Mattie Adams, Bob Tinstman,  Tim Davis etc) meeting on VBC. Meeting concerned VBC contact with “Wet and Wild” company out of Dallas to take over VBC. Appears that they do not want to take over waterpark, but might lease it. Several property owners were contacted by a realty organization asking them if they wanted to sell their property. Roe Fleenor was present and expressed concerns about potential take over of waterpark, which would bring additional traffic, etc.  Would not be selling VIP marina since it is a going concern monetarily for Redmond.

WT expressed concern that these folks did not approach VNA to voice their worries. Currently there is a plan filed and approved by Travis County to put in another parking lot, septic system for single family residents, and water detention ponds in the 9 acres off Mary St.

Issue then became what leverage the group would have against VBC - discussed going to COA council meetings and/or Travis County commissioners to voice their concerns and be heard. VBC was to submit another site plan this week to COA for Master Plan for any other development in that area (perhaps need to investigate whether site plan has been filed and get a copy – Cat will call COA).

Twin Creeks Development

Below are two emails from Lonnie Moore, VNA Business/Development member, updating the VNA Board on the controversial Twin Creeks development at Dies Ranch Road/2769.

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Email 8/7/01
To VNA Board:

LCRA staff met with Cedar Park officials on July 16, 2001 to review the concerns expressed by the engineering firm I hired (Glenrose Engineering) with the Twin Creeks NPS application.

On Wednesday, July 18, 2001, Bob Vann of PLTA, consultant Kent Butler, and I met with LCRA personnel Suzanne Zarling, Lisa Hatzenbuehler and Bob Critendon. During the meeting, LCRA surprised us by saying that as a result of the meeting they had with Cedar Park, that LCRA believes that the applicant's permit does meet the technical requirements. LCRA indicated that there may have been some revisions to the application since our engineer  reviewed it, but this was not clear. LCRA also stressed that they did not look into any of the numerous concerns in our engineer's report that did not specifically relate to LCRA NPS criteria. For example, the NPS ordinance does not address lift stations.

LCRA stressed that they were only looking at it in an advisory capacity based on our written request and that they do not have a legal standing to review the permit unless requested by another party. Suzanne Zarling did say that LCRA had some recommendations to Cedar Park that might improve the project (she did not say what they were) and that she was going to write a letter to Cedar Park with those suggestions.

I have left a message requesting a copy of the letter, but do not have it yet.

We told LCRA that we did not necessarily accept that it meets the ordinance criteria and that we would like our engineer, Lauren Ross, to meet with LCRA's Bob Critendon and the developer's engineer, Keith Collins of Randall Jones Engineering, to see where the discrepancies may be. They offered the cooperation of LCRA. I have not been able to accomplish that meeting yet, and don't know if the developer will balk. I talked to him (Joe DiQuinzio) yesterday and I should hear soon. The proposed meeting date is Tuesday, Aug 14, at 9:30AM.

Lonnie

VNA Business / Development Committee
c: Bob Vann; Kent Butler; C4

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Email 8/10/01
To the VNA Board;

First, the developer (Joe DiQuinzio) refuses to accept my phone calls and has not returned any of the six messages I have left since Wednesday, trying to confirm the meeting of engineers next Tuesday. Our backup plan is for my engineer, Lauren Ross, to meet with LCRA’s engineer, Bob Critendon,

at LCRA, without the developer's engineer present. We may not accomplish as much, but should accomplish some benefit. Unfortunately, this behavior is typical of the behavior demonstrated towards VNA in the past by both the developer (and City of Cedar Park).

Second, as a member of VNA's Business and Development Committee, I would like to write letters to both LCRA and to Travis County regarding the use of a fiscal surety from the developer to ensure that the pollution controls (BMPs, or Best Management Practices) actually are properly installed and maintained.

In a nutshell, LCRA acknowledges a flaw in their NPS Ordinance – what looks good on paper (the approved NPS permit application) ends up not preventing pollution due to bad design, bad construction, or bad maintenance. Once the developer has built out and sold out he is "down the road", and no one is left who has any funds or desire to correct the design or maintenance  issue. LCRA has written a letter to Cedar Park regarding Twin Creeks suggesting that Cedar Park, "Investigate the opportunity to hold a portion of or transferring a portion of the fiscal surety posted with Travis County to develop the stormwater BMPs for a specific amount of time. This will ensure that if any adjustments are required in the BMPs that those adjustments will be made." There is zero chance that Cedar Park will respond favorably to this suggestion,  as they simply do not care and have repeatedly demonstrated that they

will not do anything they are not forced to that would prevent pollution downstream of their territory. Therefore, I wish to write to LCRA, requesting that they direct the above suggestion directly to Travis County. I would simultaneously write to Travis County, on behalf of VNA, and ask that the County begin investigating if it can be done and how.

This has implications beyond Twin Creeks and beyond Cypress Creek. The current flaw in the NPS Ordinance means developments all around Lake Travis might obtain an NPS permit but have BMPs that fail to work as approved. For that reason, I am asking Protect Lake Travis to join in asking the County to look into how the County's fiscal surety process can be used to help address this significant issue.

Since Twin Creeks is on the Commissioners Court agenda for this coming Tuesday, I need to write and send the letters no later than Monday. I will call Walt to discuss, but if anyone on the board has any objection, please let me know immediately as time is of the essence.

Lonnie

VNA Business and Development Committee

c: Bob Vann, PLTA

    Kent Butler, Lauren Ross
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(CS comments - As I understand it Lonnie did send the letters as noted above)  ?????

KB commented that the VNA should be consistent in our approach to businesses and enforcement of county site permits, etc. Board agreed.  For example, the clearing of a 1 acre lot on 2769 next to the fiberglass repair business and putting two mobile homes on lot and burning big pile of trash and trees.  There was also a question of the LCRA septic system permit.

LB questioned when the VNA Board should intervene in community/development issues. The appropriate VNA committee might recommend the appropriate agencies for the individual to call.  If neighbors have called and found out an individual or business is in violation and it is of concern to numerous residents, then the VNA Board could write to appropriate agency or person in community requesting advice and assistance.

Membership:

No report.

Roadways/Safety/Common Areas:

Some patching has occurred on 2769. WT will call county regarding Lime Creek Road’s condition of disrepair and rapidly eroding edges.
Area cleanup – WT suggested putting something in newsletter regarding litter clean up of roads in Volente other than 2769.  The object would be to get volunteers to “adopt” those roads, organize volunteer teams, and perform the cleanups. Make it a loose enough to where folks can organize the efforts at their convenience. Fridays are an obvious day to do this since it is trash day.  An article outlining a program will be put in the next newsletter.

Community Relations:

LB will coordinate publishing the newsletter.  It will include articles about trash pick-up, asking for volunteers, VNA bylaws information, Café Bleu opening, VVFD retirements.
EM will write an article on membership.
WT will write an article on Volente park and one on Wharf Cove to try to get No Parking/Tow-Away Zone signs on both sides of roadway based on emergency access.  (Due to subsequent emails between VNA Board members, a decision was made not to pursue additional No Parking signs on Wharf Cove.)

Articles for the newsletter are due to LB on Tuesday and forwarded to Lonnie Moore by Wednesday.

Next meeting date is tentatively changed to Monday, Sept. 10th rather than the normally scheduled Tuesday, Sept. 4th.

Meeting adjourned at 9.3Ì‚\à