Agenda
- Greetings [Lila Valencia]
- Welcome new and non-members
- Egg Scramble wrap-up
- Mueller Yard Sale wrap-up
- Treasurer’s Report [Luke Downs]
- The Jordan at Mueller update [Megan Matthews, Foundation Communities]
- Texas Outdoor Family [Ky Harkey, Texas Parks and Wildlife]
- Summer Playgrounds Program [Jesslyna Olivares, Austin Parks & Recreation Dept.]
- Morris Williams Hike/Bike Trail Proposal, possible action [Lila]
- Mueller Commission Update [Chairman Michael Jones]
- POA Update [Joe Freeland and Ashley Lions Fisher]
- MNA Directions Survey [Lila]
- Local Business Spotlight: HEB
- Announcements
- Adjourn
Item: Greetings and Introduction – Lila Valencia
Egg Scramble wrap-up – has been taking place for about 10 years – looking for volunteers to coordinate next year’s event
Mueller Yard Sale – MNA has taken over coordination from the POA, looking for volunteers to help next year
Item: Treasurer’s Report – Luke Downs
Starting balance: $8881
Income – dues, tip jar $126 + 36
Sponsorship – $22,250
Expenses – $70 for coffee plus block party grant
Current balance $11,183, with 288 members
Item: The Jordan at Mueller update [Megan Matthews, Foundation Communities]
Last year MNA passed a letter of support for Foundation Communities, who was awarded land for developing The Jordan at Mueller. In addition to housing they provide financial education, health services, and much more. The Jordan will offer financial coaching, ESL, after-school programs. It will be at the corner of Tilley and Philomena, just south of Austin Film Studios. 132 units, 1- 2- and 3-Bedroom units, for families earning 60% or less of Austin’s median income, and 13 units for chronically homeless families. Target completion summer 2019. Mueller residents can volunteer and get involved. Rental rates will be set shortly before opening. It will have a community space and a learning center with four classrooms. The 500 financial coaching volunteers just helped more than 20,000 people with limited income to do their tax returns. Non-residents can participate in the Free Minds learning classes, ESL, and financial management classes.
Item: Texas Outdoor Family [Ky Harkey, Texas Parks and Wildlife]
Ky is a Mueller neighbor with Texas Parks and Wildlife who promotes enjoyment and awareness of state parks. Goal is to make the outdoors accessible to everyone. Texas Outdoor Family program is a way for families to have their first family camping experience with the help of park rangers. A ranger will loan them equipment, help them set it up, offer instruction and support to – for example – set up the tent and cookstove, and help organize the fun activities (fishing, kayaking, biking, geocaching).
If a 501©3 nonprofit wants to get their member youth or veterans outdoors, particularly from historically underserved communities including communities of color, Parks and Wildlife offers reduced rates, training for leaders and other support. Group sizes typically range from 20-100. Texas Parks and Wildlife also offers ranger-led educational programs – look at Calendar of Events on the website. Contact Ky at [email protected] if you want to join a family workshop, get support for your nonprofit, etc.
Nature Rocks Austin is a collaborative that host a website about the importance of being outdoors and how to enjoy it.
Item: Morris Williams Hike/Bike Trail Proposal, possible action [Lila]
The MNA has written a letter of support for the proposed perimeter hike/bike paths along the exterior of the Morris Williams Golf Course. A study should be starting shortly to explore the concept in more depth. The draft was created by the working group and approved by the Steering Committee on March 7. There was a motion to vote in support of the letter and the members in attendance voted in favor.
Item: Mueller Commission Update [Chairman Michael Jones]
Have gotten approval from the Planning Commission for Historic Landmark designation, with a letter of support from the MNA, for the Mueller Airport Control Tower. It is expected to come up before the city council on May 10.
The University of Texas’ parcel of land at Mueller is expected to be put to use for the medical school.
Street safety – new fire code requires streets to be at least 25 feet wide, and many Mueller streets don’t fit that requirement. In some of the new developments, there may be restrictions on street parking, but that is still under discussion.
Pecan Street Project has 1100 solar participants from Mueller alone, the largest in the country. The Electric Cab Company of North America is debuting their 6-seat electric vehicle with a human driver along designated stops to get to the bus.
Awaiting an update from the Mueller Foundation on Mueller affordable housing in the May meeting, including results of their third-party audit. The Foundation also sent a letter in support of improvements to 51st Street, which did not make City recommendations for CAMPO, but you can still express your support for that funding.
Mike and Ruth were re-elected to the Mueller Commission for another one-year term. Will be submitting their annual report in July. Lots of work on transition issues as Catellus winds down and Mueller steps up to the responsibilities. Commission member terms are tied to the city council member who appointed them so if the councilmember changes at election, the new council member can appoint someone else.
Item: Summer Playgrounds Program [Jesslyna Olivares, Austin Parks & Recreation Dept.]
This is a free summer camp for youth ages 4-12, offered on a drop-in basis at 11 locations throughout Austin. Jesslyna offered a flyer in English and in Spanish with locations, including Bartholomew Park, which generally gets 60-70 children per day – staffed with 8 leaders and 1 supervisor with the children divided by age groups. Lesson, play, and many other activities are nature-based and targeted by age group. Central Texas Food Bank provides free lunch and afternoon snacks at most sites. Parents register the child on the first day of attendance. Campers and leaders are very diverse. Each park is staffed based on anticipated attendance referencing the prior year’s participation, using the maximum as the guideline, and substitutes can step in if a busy day pops up. All staff are trained and state-certified and are very focused on youth development. Camps bring in community partners like the fire department, EMTs, etc. Volunteers are welcome provided they pass a background check. Program dates this year are June 11-August 3, Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Item: POA Update [Joe Freeland]
Catellus doesn’t yet have much in the way of transition planning but the POA is encouraging that. Please note that homeowners are responsible for their own tree trimming, watering, and maintenance going forward (not the POA).
Item: MNA Directions Survey [Lila]
We’ll be surveying the neighborhood at large to find out what issues are important to them and prioritize where the MNA should focus to help the Steering Committee sets goals. We plan to have the survey published online next week. It will be posted on the Mueller Neighbors Facebook page, Mueller Nextdoor and the MNA Website. It shouldn’t take more than 5 minutes to complete. Thanks to Dan Updegrove, Andrew Clements and Lila for drafting and finalizing the survey.
Local Business Spotlight – HEB [Heather Guerrero]
HEB is a great supporter of the MNA and Mueller. They now offer a Curbside service for convenient food pickup and/or delivery from HEB. Info at heb.com/curbside to register, create your shopping list – which you can add to over time – and then select a pickup time when you’re ready. Your order will be ready in as little at 4 hours. Pickup windows are 30 minutes to an hour. When you pull up you text with your location number and someone comes out with the order. If you have issues, please contact the Curbside team directly. If you cancel or can’t pick up your order, refunds take 5-6 business days. It helps to have your list thought out and search by item – it’s generally more efficient than going through the store by department. You can choose whether or not to allow for substitutions by item. You can add notes – for example, “I want mostly green bananas,” or “I want large bell peppers because I plan to stuff them.” You can add your Yellow Coupons. Shopping fees are waived for your first 4 orders, and thereafter $4.95 personal shopper fee per order. No need to tip when you pick up your order. You can also have a stored shopping list that you can update each time you visit. Usage is growing rapidly, with about 100 orders daily at Mueller.
Pharmacy delivery – Jessy – Mueller HEB has the busiest pharmacy in Central Texas. People on regular medications or with one-time need can get delivery, $5 delivery fee for one prescription or free for 2 or more. Delivery windows are 4-hour, you can pay in advance over the phone or by cash or check at delivery. Delivery is through a partner company. Delivery can be on request or regularly scheduled for maintenance medications on auto-refill. Delivery can be to your home or worksite. Discounts are available for uninsured or people on high-deductible plans. Talk to the pharmacy staff to learn more.
For delivery, there’s a $7.50 service fee and you may provide a driver tip at checkout since drivers are generally using their own cars. HEB delivers both directly and through partners like Shipt and Favor. If you order your groceries via Favor, fees may differ.
HEB is debuting a new service in San Antonio – scan and go, currently in trial, which may be rolled out more widely in the future.
Announcements
MNA Neighborhood Engagement Committee – The committee is looking for additional volunteers to help co-chairs Audrey Glaser and Alison Raffalovich. Please let them know if you’d like to get involved by contacting them directly or through [email protected].
4th of July – Bill Berman and Bill Kirwin are beginning to organize the event including the parade. Volunteers are welcome. If you know of someone who has a group that would like to march in the parade or a unique vehicle, get them involved.
Karisha Community Earth Day volunteer day – April 28
Community Conversations – May 12 and May 24 (tentative) – details to come
Bike to Work Day – Friday May 18; Betsy Hilton is helping to organize the station on the circle
Upcoming Mueller Transit Adventure [Joan Quenan] – free bus outing to Fareground eating area at Congress and 2nd. Tuesday May 1, meet at Wildflower Lobby at 6:15, walk 1 block to the #20 bus stop. It’s about 4 blocks from the other bus stop to Farground. Info is on Eventbrite. Return around 8:30. Lots of great transit options for Mueller coming June 1. Dave Neider will give more info at the May meeting.
Composting info is coming in May, starting in the summer.
Aging in Neighborhood Committee [Ani Colt] – looking at 51st/Berkman, have a design and looking for a developer.
Austin Classical Guitar season finale is on April 28 at the AISD Performing Arts Center, and free tickets are available to MNA members.
Future Dates:
May Meeting 05/19 at 10 a.m. at the Seton Administration Building
Respectfully submitted,
Alison Raffalovich, Secretary
Minutes approved by Steering Committee 4/23/2018