Monday, May 16, 2016
Pink Palace @ 702 W 32nd St.
Attendees
Roger L. Cauvin, President
Pete Gilcrease, Secretary
Alysha Haggerton, Treasurer
Natalie Gauldin, Director
Frank Harren, Director
Board members not in attendance:
Kristen Fox, Director
Ricky Hennessy, Director
Proceedings
Meeting called to order at 7:10 pm by Roger L. Cauvin.
Roger reminded board members that the membership had recently passed a resolution calling for greater housing type diversity throughout the city. He reported that he had sent the letter to City Council shortly before the board meeting.
Natalie inquired about vote participation on the resolution. Natalie wondered if having more resolutions included in a vote might help participation. Roger and Alysha noted that housing type diversity wasn’t a divisive vote that would spur people to participate. Frank wondered how people could vote against the resolution yet agree with the vision statement. Natalie pointed out that the bike master plan resolution included in the last slate of resolutions wasn’t divisive and garnered more participation.
The discussion moved to a proposal coming before city council to increase the homestead exemption. A prior council discussion had signaled an intention to phase the homestead exemption up to 20%. Pete said Mayor Adler has stated it might be better to use the money for other things. Several board members noted their views that the homestead exemption discriminates against renters, who compose a majority of residents in the city. Natalie said she’ll get more specifics, draft a resolution, and initiate a FAN forum discussion, with the intention of sponsoring a resolution to oppose increasing the homestead exemption. Natalie and Pete remarked that the votes of city council members may shift this time. Frank expressed desire for more substantive and genuine steps to address affordability and not allow city officials to portray the increase in homestead exemption as a substantive affordability measure. A measure failed last year to place a permanent property tax increase cap for seniors and people with disabilities. Such measures can be difficult to reverse once they’re enacted.
A discussion regarding the format of annual meetings and board elections commenced, focusing on how at-large membership will nominate and elect candidates for the nominating committee. Roger briefly reviewed a summary of steps from a committee created to plan the upcoming meeting and election. Alysha will flesh out the first step concerning the election of a nominating committee.
The board next discussed “meetups”. Roger asked whether they should be called “social hours” or “meetups”. Natalie said people don’t always know what a meetup is, so she prefers “social hour”. She also suggested the social hours take place near where people live or, if during the week, near where people work. Frank suggested inviting the city council member from the district in which the social hour occurs. Alysha and Natalie suggested Council Member Sheri Gallo would likely attend if invited. Natalie suggest it would be helpful to match an initiative or resolution to a council member that would champion or be sympathetic to it. Roger thinks “programming” (having a program of interesting speakers) would be helpful for attendance. Natalie suggested a speaker on the budget. Frank suggested Council Member Greg Casar on social equity. Natalie noted that Mayor Pro Tem Tovo is against increasing the homestead exemption.
Pete suggested scheduling social hours further in advance. Monthly social hours are the maximum frequency we can do; Pete suggested aiming for bi-monthly meetings for now. Natalie suggested inviting Bike Austin to present at a social hour. Roger suggested AURA could present on its transit vision.
Natalie reported she is on the Bike Austin Shoal Creek Blvd. Coalition subcommittee and wrote a letter requesting support for dedicated cycle track instead of shared with parked automobiles.
Natalie moved to add FAN’s name to the Bike Austin Shoal Creek Blvd Coalition’s letter urging council members in support of adding dedicated all ages and abilities bicycle facilities as the restriping takes place on Shoal Creek Blvd., based on FAN membership already having taking a position that implies such support. Natalie had drafted the adopted FAN resolution specifically with the Shoal Creek Blvd. project in mind, so she and other directors expressed confidence it implies support for the project. Alysha seconded the motion, and the board unanimously approved the motion. Natalie will ensure FAN’s name is included in the Bike Austin Shoal Creek Blvd Coalition’s letter.
Roger said CodeNEXT might be another topic for social hours. He also plans to initiate a forum conversation and resolution about using complete communities indicators to guide the CodeNEXT process.
Alysha reported she is trying to make contact with Evan Gill about participating in the KOOP. Evan is an economist and would be a valuable participant In the forum, she is trying to solicit members to get involved. Roger added a stub for the event in the newsletter draft, and Roger will post the KOOP radio event to social media.
With money, we’d be able to promote Facebook and Twitter posts, Pete noted. Roger mentioned FB custom audience and Twitter targeted audience and creating “lookalike” audience. He is working on a separate initiative that uses these technologies and will report back on their suitability for helping to increase the reach of FAN social media efforts.
Natalie made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Alysha, and the board approved the motion. The meeting adjourned at 8:15 pm.