August 9, 2001
Board members present:Board
members absent:
:Erika Mott (EM)Eileen
Glover (EG)
Walt Thompson
(WT)Jerry
Mills (JM)
Cat Smith (CS)
Ken Beck (KB)Non-Board
members present:
Leo Slaton (LS)Ann Cole-Steichen – Volente Resident
Connie Curtiss
(CC)Ranger
Dan Chapman - Travis County Parks & Wildlife
Lee Bass (LB)Ranger Kurt Neilson -Travis County Parks & Wildlife
WT called meeting to order at 7.30pm
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
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.
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 whatwe 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 –Thinksthis 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, orusing “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.
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.
Copierupdate (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.
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 Tintsman,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).
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 Hatzenbuhler and Bob Crittendon.
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 engineerreviewed
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 Crittendon 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
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'sengineer,
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 maintenanceissue.
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
(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 individualor
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 onWharfCove 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 9.30.