Highland Park Neighborhood Association

June 2003 edition in full

Jul 29, 2003

THE HIGHLANDER June 2003

14th Annual Neighborhood Conference
Saturday, June 7, Kelly USA

a word from neighbor and HPNA Treasurer Bertha Saucedo:
I have attended this neighborhood conference every year for the past ten years and I can honestly tell you that you will receive valuable information so that we can better take care of our neighborhood.
Several presenters will give us detailed information from Code Compliance to police protection to parks and recreation activities, as well as new developments of importance in our city.
With Toyota building its new plant in the southwest city and Target developing on Military Drive in the southeast area, along with many other new developments, we need to attend this conference to better inform ourselves!

This year?’s conferences include 18 sessions you can choose to attend:
fighting graffiti, neighborhood economic development, tours of Kelly USA, information about the earth and conserving our energy resources, citizen involvement at the state level, wrap-up of 2003 Texas legislative session, understanding our school systems, ethics and accountability, etc.

Ideally, we should take enough members to attend every session and then share the information with each other! It?’s free and there is no other source of local information like this, so please make every effort to attend!

Carpool at 7:30 a.m.; conference is 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Bring your own lunch or $6 to purchase lunch at the conference.
Breakfast is provided at 8:30 a.m. at no cost to participants.

We desperately need 2 more drivers to take their vehicles to the conference so older members and those with no transportation can attend!
If you can bring a car or need a ride yourself, please contact Rachel Cywinski at HighlandParkNASA@aol.com to coordinate your transportation to the conference.

Let?’s go community-cate!


Highland Park Neighborhood Association
general monthly membership meeting
Saturday, June 14, 10 a.m.
James Bode Community Center, 900 Rigsby Avenue

Focus: Animal Control
City of San Antonio staff will describe services and answer your questions!

8:30 a.m. Highland Park Xeriscape Garden mulching
Come to the meeting early and help mulch the garden!
Wheelbarrows, rakes and shovels always welcome!
BYOS (Bring your own sunscreen).

12 noon Highland Park Neighborhood Association
Board of Directors meeting
The Board of Directors will meet in Executive Session to discuss issues regarding 501(c)(3) status and plan events for the remainder of 2003. Any member wishing to suggest an item for the Directors?’ agenda, please contact Rachel Cywinski at HighlandParkNASA@aol.com or (210) 416-8109.


Community Events

Thursday, June 5, 7 p.m.
The City Council will convene for a Budget Open House to solicit citizen input on the question:
"What Is A Basic City Service or a Priority City Function?"
Sign up between noon and 7 p.m.
103 Main Plaza

Sunday, June 8, 1 p.m.
100th Birthday celebration!
Centennial celebration will include public unveiling of glass artist Dale Chihuly ?‘s ?“San Antonio Public Library Fiesta Tower?”
San Antonio Central Library 600 Soledad Plaza

Monday, June 9, 1 ?– 4 p.m.
?“Essentials of Gardening?”
Gardening Volunteers of South Texas presents native plant expert Paul Cox discussing
?“Using Natives in the Landscape?”
Admission is free.
San Antonio Botanical Gardens Carriage House, 555 Funston

Tuesday, June 10,
5:30 ?– 9:00 p.m.
Southside Initiative
Concluding planning session
Frank Tejeda Academy,
12121 Loop 410 SE
(access west of Roosevelt exit)

Wednesday, June 18, 1 p.m.
Alamo Area Council of Governments
Board of Directors meeting and Regional Awards
Board Room,8700 Tesoro Drive

Friday, June 20
Spay-Neuter Mobile Clinic
No- or reduced-cost services for dogs and cats available on a first-arrival basis. No arrivals are accepted after 7:30 a.m., but the list is usually full much earlier.
For more information, contact (210) 673-7722
McCreless Mall parking lot west of Beall?’s store
4100 New Braunfels Ave S

Satuday, July 12, 9 ?– 5
Cellular on Patrol Class
Sign up now!
Contact Leo Rahmgren
lrahmgren@aol.com or
(210) 534-2425
Lunch, snacks and beverages provided.
St. Stephen?’s Episcopal Church
3726 New Braunfels Ave S



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CLEAN-UP AND CODE COMPLIANCE
By Gaynell Smith, Highlands Alliance leader of Neighborhood Appearance and Character team
In order to attract better businesses and more people to the south side of town, we must show more pride in the appearance and safety of our neighborhoods. This will take the cooperation of all the people, not just a few. As part of this effort, the Highlands Alliance is sponsoring City Code education and will be spearheading enforcement in our area, and invite other neighborhood associations to do the same. We will be publishing information on two city codes each month. Please make an effort to rid your neighborhoods of violations of these codes. Report violations to the Department of Code Compliance by calling 311. You may also log on to www.sanantonio.gov/codecomp/.
For May, the Highlands Alliance highlighted obstructions on City property or right-of-way, and dangerous premises. For June, we will highlight junked vehicles/front and side yard parking, and unsanitary premises.

The City Code states that pedestrian and vehicular rights-of-way must be kept free of any obstructions. For example, structures, overhanging tree limbs, basketball goals, fences, dumpsters and shrubbery are prohibited when on City owned or City controlled rights-of-way. There are special regulations that apply at street intersections.
This means that shrubbery or fences that extend too close to the street in such a way as to obscure oncoming traffic should be cut back to a reasonable height, and that limbs obscuring street signs and stop signs should be cut back. It also means that sidewalks must be kept clear of signs, cars, basketball goals, etc., that prevent pedestrian access. Basketball goals, for example, are not allowed nearer than the setback line for your street?—this means the front of your house in most cases, or your side fence or garage on a corner lot. If a child is injured while using your basketball goal, whether with or without your permission, you, the homeowner or renter, can be sued by the parents of the child.
The City Code states that a vacant and dilapidated building may be considered a dangerous premise as defined in City code if the structure is seen as a threat to public health or safety. Depending on the condition of the property, City officials could order its demolition or cleaning and securing at the owner?’s expense. In addition the City may file a case in Municipal Court against the owner of the property. This means that any building, whether a house, a garage, a shed, a business, or any other structure must be kept in good condition. It must have locked doors, intact windows, etc. Otherwise, someone could go into the building and be injured, or the building could be used for illegal purposes.

The City Code prohibits the keeping of a junked vehicle in ordinary public view. Any inoperable vehicle without either a current safety inspection or a current license tag will be considered a junked vehicle. A $200.00 daily fine can be imposed and/or the vehicle will be towed away and destroyed. The City Code also prohibits the parking of motor vehicles on the front lawn or side lawn in a residential area. This means that motor vehicles cannot be parked on the front lawn for any reason, even to wash them. If more parking space is needed than is provided by the driveway, an area can be graveled, with a barrier to prevent the gravel from spreading, or an area can be paved.
The City Code states that property must be kept clean, free of debris, and free of overgrown vegetation. Also if your home is served by an alley, you are responsible for maintaining half of it.

All right, south side residents, join with us to improve our neighborhoods and show Toyota and other companies that we take pride in our communities.
For more information about the Highlands Alliance committee, contact Gaynell Smith at (210) 333-4563 or mrsblacksmith@aol.com.


AND HERE IS THE CHANCE FOR WHICH YOU ALL HAVE BEEN PINING !!!!
WE NOW HAVE CODE COMPLIANCE ZONE CAPTAINS!
We so much appreciate HPNA member PATRICK SANDOVAL who, in his retirement, has now begun to devote unnumbered hours every week to coordinating Code Compliance issues for our neighborhood association! You all have NO IDEA how many hours we have already spent dealing with certain issues?—documenting violations and taking photographs of some really blatant problems?—most recently the 24-hour bail bond business that opened in a residence that is zoned residential!

PATRICK NEEDS ASSISTANCE!
How can YOU assist?
SIGN UP TO BE A
CODE COMPLIANCE ZONE CAPTAIN!
Each month you will let Patrick know about any dangerous conditions in your zone.
Call Patrick Sandoval at (210) 533-1726 to volunteer!



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Every time you visit one of our wonderful business sponsors, please tell them how much you appreciate their support of your community and the Highland Park Neighborhood Association!
County Judge Nelson Wolff

Brown's Mexican Food
(210) 533-8174
2405 South Hackberry Street
San Antonio, Texas 78210

Highland's Cafe
(210) 533-4700
2314 Steves Avenue
San Antonio, Texas 78210

La Madeleine French Bakery & Cafe
(210) 829-7279
4820 Broadway
San Antonio, Texas 78209
www.lamadeleine.com

Little Red Barn Steak House
(210) 532-4235
1902 South Hackberry Street
San Antonio, Texas 78210

Subway #18286
(210) 531-0320
2927 East Southcross
San Antonio, Texas 78223

Wallace Cook Agency, Inc.
(210) 534-9293
3902 Clark Avenue
San Antonio, Texas 78223
www.wallacecookagency.com

South East Community Credit Union
(210) 534-7221
123 Waleetka
San Antonio, Texas 78210

Michael's Child Care
owned by Mr. and Mrs. Victor Saucedo
(210) 533-3939
645 Kayton Avenue
San Antonio, Texas 78210

San Antonio Fighting Back
(210) 271-7232
2803 East Commerce Street
San Antonio, Texas 78203
CBonner@SAFB.org

Neighborhood Resource Center
(210) 735-0586
P. O. Box 120246
San Antonio, Texas 78212-0586
www.nrc-sa.org


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Did you know?
In Texas, neighborhood associations (if they are incorporated) are governed by state corporate law. As Lydia Romo, Toni Villarreal, Ramon Quintero and I learned at the Neighborhood Resource Center class for association treasurers this spring, that law includes some guidelines for how different types of corporations can conduct business.
Neighborhood associations can conduct official business at any meeting of the Board of Directors as long as the directors have all received adequate notice of the meeting. We were surprised to learn that, under this law, there is no such thing as a ?“quorum?” for conducting official business?—unless the By-Laws of the neighborhood association create such a requirement. The presenters also explained some surprising advantages and disadvantages of this law.
We were surprised to learn that neighborhood associations that do specify a ?“quorum?” for conducting business often regret doing so, because they may not be able to conduct business for months at a time if they have poor attendance at Board meetings.
Of course one of the obvious concerns in associations that do not specify a quorum would be that decisions might be made that are not reflective of the will of the entire membership; thus board members should be duly notified of all meetings.
Highland Park Neighborhood Association does not have any quorum or voting restrictions in its By-Laws. For this reason, official business may be conducted at every board meeting as long as all directors are adequately notified of the meeting. However, the persons who originally drafted the By-Laws included a safeguard against decisions being made without the will of the membership. Our By-Laws require that all Directors attend meetings; and specify that any Director missing three meetings be removed from office. This provision was not changed in by-Law revisions. I believe this provision showed strong foresight on the part of those who wrote the By-Laws. It reflects the fact that not only should our decisions reflect the membership by having a strong representation, but that the interest of our Directors directly impacts the membership. After all, if the leaders don?’t commit to attend every meeting, how can we expect the membership to be committed?
In order to ensure that every Director can attend meetings, I asked each of them to tell me the days they cannot attend meetings as well as the days they can. Of course because the Board was intentionally diversified this year, it was a challenge to work with the various work schedules. However, one commitment that each Director clearly made was to make the HPNA monthly meetings their time priority for each month. You can tell the dedication of your Board of Directors by seeing them at the meetings every month.
Although every one of them has numerous commitments, they block the second Saturday off?—no vacations, no other meetings, no social events?—because they are dedicated to be at Highland Park that day!
With this commitment comes increased accessibility of the Directors to you as the members.
On July 20, our monthly Board of Directors meeting will be in a computer lab at Palo Alto College. Why in the world would our Directors be dedicated enough to set aside part of a Sunday afternoon to go to a college?
Because: They are committed to understanding the needs of the entire neighborhood! In sending out the newsletter, I quickly realized that most of our active members get information about meetings?—and receive the newsletter electronically?—through the Internet. But most of our Directors have never even seen our website. So they are dedicated enough to learn more about it!
August 9, our Board of Directors will be meeting at immediately before the general meeting. Why in the world would they arrive an hour early? Simple: They want to be accessible to all of you when we wrap-up National Night Out events.
September 13, our Directors will be meeting with Cherise Bell, City of San Antonio historian, directly before the general meeting. Once again, our Directors will be there an hour early?—only to give every one of you the opportunity to learn the ?‘why?’s and ?‘what?’s of the Highland Park History Project?—a project which we are partnering with the City of San Antonio Planning Department.
So the next time you see one of your wonderful directors, please give that leader a hug and let your Director know how much you appreciate dedication to the neighborhood. When we have an entire Board willing to show up one time, an hour before the general meeting, just to be accessible to all of you, then we know: We are going places?—good places!
-Rachel Cywinski, HPNA President


2003 Highland Park Neighborhood Association Board of Directors

President Rachel Cywinski HighlandParkNASA@aol.com
Vice President Madeline DeLaO mdelao2001@yahoo.com
Secretary Loyd Le Blanc 532-9225
Treasurer Bertha Saucedo 533-3939

Directors:
Al Lindsey, Diane Cortez, Eric Kauska,
Lydia Romo, Rita Pe?±a, Harry Oliver

Newsletter and Website Editor: Rachel Cywinski
HighlandParkNASA@aol.com

http://www.neighborhoodlink.com/sat/hparkna


THE HIGHLANDER
Highland Park Neighborhood Association
PO Box 10210
San Antonio TX 78210-0210