Present Board Members:
Lee Bass (LB)
Ken Beck (KB)
Connie Curtiss (CC)
Eileen Glover (EG)
Erika Mott (EM)
Jerry Mills (JM) (1st half)
Leo Slaton (LS)
Walt Thompson (WT)

Absent Board Members:
Catriona Smith (CS)

Guests:
Woody Wood (WW)
Bob Tintsman (BT)

Other Initials:
John Shipley (JS)
Volente Group (VG)
Volent Beach (VB)
Mattie Adams (MA)

WT called the meeting to order at 7:15 PM.

WT polled board members for additional agenda items, and added discussion on the March 21 meeting, guest speaker for April general membership meeting, Volente Group (VG) plans and/or permits. The floor was then opened up to the guests. The quests wanted it made clear that are not here as official representatives of SOV and their comments and opinions are their own and not necessarily the official positions of SOV.

· Guest Presentation and Discussion: KB asked them to give an overview of what Save Our Volente (SOV) is. WW began by saying SOV is a non-profit corporation in the state of Texas. They are neutral on the matters in Volente. Their purpose is to preserve the way of life in Volente, and prevent unfavorable encroachment. Individuals in SOV are very much in favor of incorporation, but SOV's purpose is to keep Volente the way it is. SOV isn't trying to stop change because it is coming, but desire to channel that to their best interest and the best interests of those they represent.

JM asked if those comments apply to all residents of Volente or just the people who live within their proposed boundaries. WW said they represent the people who live within the 2 square miles designated by SOV. JM expressed that Volente is more than those 2 square miles. WW said it is impossible to stuff 4 miles into a 2-mile area.

BT commented that he is glad to have the opportunity to come visit with the VNA board in a relaxed atmosphere. He stated that they were not there officially as SOV and did not have permission from the organization to be there, but came as a good faith gesture. EG asked what SOV's name was meaning to save. BT said the way of life in the area designated. EG asked if SOV was separate from those promoting incorporation. BT answered no, SOV is circulating the petition asking for annexation in order to vote on incorporation.

LB asked why there was so much undeveloped land in the designated area. BT said John Shipley (JS) of the Volente Group (VG) has plans for a good development that will add greatly to the tax base and since it will be a gated community the municipality would have no responsibility for their roads. LB said there are other high-dollar homes in Volente outside of their boundaries and asked why they chose houses that are not built yet over existing homes. BT responded that they are limited to 2 square miles, (JS) and SOV derived several maps and independently came to the same conclusion to start the area farthest away from the City of Austin (COA) and work in from there. When they came to the Arrowhead peninsula there were 4 ways of thinking, become part of COA, Limited Purpose Annexation (LPA), do nothing, or incorporate. BT said 75% of the area designated wants to incorporate, and there are maybe 3 or 4 houses outside of that area that compare to the million dollar homes that VG is planning to build. CC asked if those houses would change Volente as we know it since there aren't many million dollar homes in the area, she said it could be more like Lakeway then. BT said absolutely it would change Volente, and change is upon us.

BT said SOV would support whatever the majority of those outside of their area wish to do after incorporation. KB asked how they would preserve Volente. BT said zoning. EM asked if there was any public input on drawing the boundaries. BT said they had 4-6 meeting throughout Volente. WT asked if there were any outside of their designated area. BT & WW said they couldn't think of any. WT said there were none to his knowledge either. LS said he thinks one of his neighbors had one before SOV was started. WT asked BT to clarify a statement made earlier that 3 VNA board members stated at a meeting at BT's house over a year ago that they would rather be annexed by COA than incorporate, and who were those 3 people. BT said it was WT, EM and CS. EM said she has never said that or had that position, WT said he also did not say that, but there was discussion and comments made that we were concerned that the services provided by a Village of Volente might not be comparable to what COA could provide. Advantages to COA over Village of Volente were mentioned, but no one was saying they wanted annexed by COA. WT and EM have held the position that they did not want to incorporate, and that does not automatically mean they prefer annexation by COA. BT said he was not there to debate and is sorry if he misunderstood that discussion, and he will stop saying that was what was said.

WT asked what they see as the relationship between SOV and VNA. His concern is that the VNA represents a number of people in Volente including members and also looks out for the best interests of those living from Bullick Hollow Road on out Lime Creek Road. There are now several entities in Volente (Volente Homeowner's Association on Lime Creek Road as well as Lime Creek Homeowner's Association). In a letter Mattie Adams (MA) wrote to Wet N' Wild she represented SOV as a neighborhood association - is it? WW said no, it is a non-profit corporation. BT said MA may have used that term but it is incorrect. LS said probably everyone there and all in Volente agree with what SOV is trying to do as far as preserving Volente, and they are not among enemies with the VNA board.

WT said the VNA has a responsibility to keep the community, those who elected the VNA board members, informed of what is going on in Volente. Incorporation affects the whole community. VNA has tried to get information from the horses mouth, whether it is the VG developing the hill, Volente Beach (VB) or road issues. Lime Creek Road improvements that just took place were the result of over 8 months of efforts by the VNA's roadways and safety committee. From a personal standpoint WT said there are several residents who live, own property and/or businesses in the boundaries that have never gotten anything from SOV informing them of what they are doing, even though they have tried and asked. He said the democratic process doesn't start at the polls, it begins with the process of getting there. WT stated he will work against incorporation as a PVC member, but not as the VNA president, and has made it a point to keep those separate. KB is helping WT to keep that in balance. WT said he does not feel SOV has done an adequate job of informing the people in the area. WW said they have done the best they can. EG said she would like to know how incorporation would affect her and her property personally. She has asked questions but gotten no answers.

BT said 2/3 of the people within their area want to incorporate. He asked if VNA represents them. KB said yes we do. LS said yes, this board represents them also. LB asked how many people live in that area. BT said about 400, they only count registered voters and 2/3 of them signed the petition asking release from COA's ETJ.

KB asked if SOV has a timeline. BT said they are gathering signatures and will turn it in when they get more that 50%. He said the man who signed the letter from the COA last time assures him they will still reply to the petition within 30 days and not make them wait the full 6 months allowed by law. EG asked how they are gathering the signatures. BT and WW said they are going door to door. EG and LB said they live in that area and no one has come to their door yet. BT said there is no reason to get upset if you aren't invited to one of the meetings, it is up to the hosts who comes or not. He also said those who are opposed to incorporation are not invited purposely. CC asked how they know how anyone feels without dialogue. BT said they know from previous interaction with most who are opposed, and they will not be invited to a meeting. KB asked if he had a meeting would SOV come? BT said if he was invited he probably would, and clarified that not everyone at these meetings commits to incorporation. JM said to BT, you just said you wouldn't invite those opposed. BT answered, I won't. EM asked why it would matter if it wasn't to commit to incorporation what the person's position is. EG asked why not give them a way to decide? BT said people could call him; the number is in the newsletters. He also said VB did more to stir up the residents and make them want to get organized. VNA doesn't have the teeth, power to do anything about these things, such as Volente Beach.

WT asked BT if he knew of anyone who brought an issue to the VNA and there was not some action taken? KB said it isn't about taking action, but what the VNA can actually do. WT said the VB issue has been very confusing. MA expressed in an email to LB that the VNA has not upheld the agreement with VB. However the VNA has addressed every issue that VB was not in compliance with since the agreement was signed. When MA reported a gas spill VNA took action and corresponded with LCRA on it. The parking lot issue has not surfaced since before Lonnie Moore left the board. If there is an issue it is not being brought to the VNA. WT said he assumes MA is pursuing it since she has had meeting in the past to discuss it with residents. VNA board members have not been invited to those meetings or been included in any way. VB has been in compliance with the agreement VNA has with them. It seems VB is being pursued adequately by Roe Fleenor and MA, and the VNA is intentionally being excluded so it is inappropriate to criticize. KB said he thinks VNA has lived up to the VB agreement. He was frustrated that even after red tags by the COA, VB kept working. EM asked what an incorporated Volente could do about that. KB said the sheriff or police could arrest them. EM pointed out that that would cost the local government greatly to do that. KB agreed. EG said these are the type of questions she would like answers to but has been denied by the SOV. WT said 7 of the VNA board members are directly affected by what SOV is doing, and most have not gotten information or answers to questions asked. The problems between SOV and VNA are because we are trying to gather information but can't present facts to the community if they are not provided by SOV.

CC asked if SOV will be at the March 21, 2002 public meeting on the options for Volente. WW said no because he has never been to one of those meetings over the years that has been helpful. It divides the community and does no good. JM read a quote from the SOV letter responding to VNA's invitation. "It is our position that people residing outside that area do not need any additional information as this particular issue does not pertain to them." Then JM asked if they really believe those outside the area are not affected by incorporation and do not deserve to be informed? BT said no. JM said he lives a block away from the boundaries, and if their area were incorporated it would definitely have a major impact on COA's future moves in this direction. The area would then have no appeal to COA, and would likely never be annexed.

WT said LPA is an option for the whole area because there is no limit to the area as with incorporation's 2 square mile limitation. WW said on the LPA issue that he knows of 2 matters not resolved by COA in Comanche Trail which is in Austin's LPA. One is Hippie Hollow; the residents wanted it gone but only got a privacy fence dividing a nudity allowed area from a non-nudity area. There is also a 300+ acre park that has not been dealt with as desired. KB mentioned that he had an email from a man in Comanche Trail who said it takes efforts to get COA to take their side on some issues. EM pointed out that no matter where you live it is going to take efforts to get the regulating agencies to listen and take your side.

WT said he thinks incorporation may get to a vote, and VNA wants the voters to go to the polls well informed of all the options and make an educated decision. WT said his interest in incorporation is in part because Volente Group owns the property across from his Reed Drive property and he is uncomfortable with SOV's lack of communication and is concerned a new municipality with some of the same SOV individuals as Village of Volente officials might also be non-communicative on issues directly pertaining to residences.

LB said she would like a budget. BT said he has 2 budgets, a 1-year and a 3-year. BT and MA devised them using their vast experience and expertise, but they are not official in any way. He said he would not pass them out and nor would MA. He said the budget is in excess of $200k and there would be some left over. He sees no reason to have them picked apart. LB said she doesn't have that expertise and would like to look at it to better understand how incorporation is feasible. She asked why can't we review it? BT asked what good would it do if you don't have the knowledge to understand it? He said to just let the people decide. EM asked, if you want them to decide, why not inform them? BT did not respond. LB said to BT that she asked as an individual over a year ago to see a budget and asked how incorporation would benefit her; the answer she got from SOV members was "Control, control, control."

WT asked the guests to answer one more question before they left. He asked them if they were in the board's position, of being turned down by the organization promoting incorporation when asked to contribute to the newsletter and public meeting that is to include information supporting their view, how would they handle that? He said a chronology is fairly easy, but the VNA doesn't want to be accused of misrepresenting the incorporation position. BT said he is not in that position and the board will have to figure that out on their own. He also commented that he thinks the VNA's last meeting about incorporation was useless. WW said the board could use the SOV newsletters. LB asked if they could give any information that would be helpful. BT said to use the newsletters. WW said thank you for the invitation, but he has been to those meetings and they are not productive. CC said she has been to one of the SOV neighborhood meetings and it was very informative and she thinks the community would benefit from the SOV participating in the public meeting. BT and WW still said no. Reminder - WW and BT said they came to the meeting as individuals and did not speak for SOV. They left at 8:25 PM.

· Treasurer's Report: EM reported $4,604.59

· Lake Travis Committee: WT reported that LCRA is working on the private dock regulations. They have a 2nd draft out, but it was taken off the web because there is a 3rd draft that is significantly different. On March 26, 2002, there is a public meeting for comments, 7:00 PM at LCRA Precinct 2 Bldg. After a 3rd draft and public meeting, regulations will be sent to the LCRA board for adoption, and could take effect in June, 2002.

· CC has copies of the permits for marinas in Volente. She will hold them until we get permission to keep them at VVFD.

KB asked if JS or VG has filed anything for his proposed marina yet. CC said the person at LCRA she talked to said they knew of it, and she said it is sort of pending. WT commented that marina could end up being worse than VB because it is off of a residential street and the topography of the land is not conducive to a large marina. CC said she understands it is to serve the gated development he has proposed. KB said he doesn't think SOV would be in support of this marina. EM said if SOV and JS are meeting with Margaret Moore at VJ's together and have been connected in the incorporation effort it is likely SOV isn't going to do anything about it. WT asked if anyone could verify if VG has applied for any permits at all. No, but their may be dialogue going on. KB commented that when JS proposed the development he intended to build million dollar estates, but has since changed that plan due to the economy and BT was incorrect in his statement earlier. Now there is a more dense development planned. WT said he thinks they are estimated at $350-$500K homes instead of a million. The topography also limits buildable area on a lot. KB said many of them are not view lots.

LS said there was 7 acres (5 on one side of the road and 2 on the other) that sold for a million dollars near Riviera recently. There is concern that it may be a commercial development. LS said he thinks some of it is in the flood plain and would not be buildable. WT said it could be floatable though.

· Business & Development Committee: KB said he has tried 3 times to talk to Rick Redmond with no success. LS said he also tried again.

WT said if a lease has gone through, the VNA might look at corresponding with Wet N' Wild (Alpha Parks) to get some idea of their plans. WT said Highland Lakes Marina is for sale and could be available for VB expansion at anytime. Dodd Street Docks also might be available for the right price. WT will have CS again check with COA to determine if there are any expansion plans filed with the city.

LB said she noticed clearing and development at Sandy Creek Yacht Club. She asked if a dirt parking lot, road or driveway is considered to be impervious cover. KB said yes, it doesn't have to be concrete, and gravel is too. WT is going to ask CS to check with Travis County and COA for site plans/ permits. LB said when she checked last week; there were none.

· Membership Committee: EM - 46 paid members for 2002. General membership meeting is scheduled for 4/9/02, 7:00 PM at VVFD. KB made a motion to invite Margaret Moore the Travis County Commissioner to be the guest speaker. LB seconded it and all were in favor. No one had any other suggestions. The newsletter will solicit volunteers for new board members to put on the ballot.

· Roadways/Safety Committee: WT reported that Lime Creek Road has had shoulder work done finally.

· Community Relations Committee: WT is looking into possibly lowering the "Welcome To Volente" sign to make it more visible. Other locations were also explored again.

Newsletter - WT thinks it needs some short history on incorporation for those new to the area. It should also include the board members' names and contact information. The March 21, 2002 meeting will be at 7:00 PM at VVFD. The VNA board will present information on incorporation, LPA and doing nothing in 5-minute presentations at the beginning. The floor will then be opened up for questions and or comments. In an effort to keep control of the meeting, each person will be allowed 2 minutes to speak and then 2 minutes allowed for an answer. It was decided that if a question were directed to more than one person then each person answering would have 2 minutes to respond. LS will be the timekeeper. WT will send out a draft newsletter article on the meeting for the board's review. EM will forward what we have to Lonnie and ask him to use his gifting to make it fit and fold correctly. WT will have it printed and take to the post office.

KB will officially ask Margaret Moore to be our guest speaker (he already informally asked her). LS is working on incorporation chronology and asked EM to forward anything helpful she had.

LS made a motion to adjourn at 9:30 PM, KB seconded and all were in favor.