Monthly Meeting Minutes, April 16, 2024

Minutes from the April 16, 2024 Clarksville CDC Monthly Meeting

The meeting began upon adjournment of the Annual Meeting. It was held at the Haskell House.

Board members present: BJ Friedman, Paula Hern, Malcolm Greenstein, Kim O’Brien, Thomas Schiefer, Chris Thomas, Gregory Tran

Others Present: Znobea Williams, Felecia Miller, Vanessa Lively, Eric Fox, Kristin Fox, Karen Kennard, Randi Shade, Kurt Schmidt, Brad Prak

1.     Approval of minutes from the March 19, 2024 monthly meeting.

Due to illness on the part of CCCD Secretary Kim O’Brien, the minutes from March 19, 2024 were not available. They will be shared with the board at a later time.

2.     Presentation of monthly financial reports.

Brad Prak, Prak Property Management, reported that new tenants will be moving into a unit on May 1, a boost to our income bottom line. One of the units which required substantial foundation work may be rentable by the end of May.

The minutes from the Finance and Operations Committee appear at the end of these minutes.

3.     Monthly property reports:

a.     CCDC properties managed by Prak Property Management.

Brad Prak reported that foundation repairs at 1817 W. 10th might be finished in 3 weeks. The hoped-for May 1 completion of the renovations is not likely because vendor schedules have slowed down.  

b.      New construction at 1611 W. 10th Street.

Kim O’Brien reported that the beat goes on. American YouthWorks was on site today, reforming the steps that the previous concrete contractor poured at the wrong height. The City will need to inspect this work before the Driveway permit can be issued.

4.     Haskell House reports:

a.     Haskell House Advisory Group status report.

Felecia Miller, HHAG member shared that since formation 3 months ago, they have come up with many ideas. These are detailed in the 3/30/24 HHAG meeting minutes that appear at the end of these minutes. Summer plans include participation in the area Juneteenth parade and undertaking oral histories of former Clarksville residents.

CCDC member Vanessa Lively reported that she has dug up a collection of nails belonging to former long-time Clarksville resident and “travelling blacksmith” Seymour Washington. She can share them with the HHAG.

b.     Haskell House Heritage Garden status report.

Kurt Schmidt, community gardener, Haskell House docent, and driving force behind the funding for the Heritage Garden, reported on progress. The $30,000 project, located to the east side of the Haskell House, will be funded 90% from an ACL/Parks Foundation grant, and 10% from community garden fees. He, working with Ashante Reese, UT, and Hannah Michael, UT graduate student and HHAG member, are researching what Freedmen would have eaten, and planting appropriate plants. Signage will be installed giving context--Ashante and Hannah will draft the text. He will soon put plants in the ground. This go around, they will be the correct plants, but not necessarily the right varieties—that will come later. They are looking toward being able to serve a meal with the produce the garden produces.

Malcolm suggested contacting Toni Tipton-Martin as a resource. He will get Kurt her contact information.

c.     Recent improvements made by PARD.

In Mary’s absence, Kim O’Brien shared that we are thrilled to have the new mini-split air conditioning unit supplied by the Parks Department. They plan to install new interior lighting soon.

5.     Report from OWANA Steering and Zoning Committees. Paula Hern & Kim O’Brien

Paula reported that the OWANA Steering Committee considered 2 Mathews-related requests: from the Mathews Fund for Excellence, requesting financial assistance for scholarship money for former Mathews students now graduating from high school, and support on settling an easement issue on Mathews’ property.

Kim reported that the Zoning Commission had crafted language for 2 amendments to the ETOD (equitable transit-oriented development) overlay being considered by the City Council. These amendments will address historic compatibility triggers and address properties in high-risk flooding areas--which includes both sides of N. Lamar between Enfield and W 9th Street.

6.     Other Business.

No Other Business was discussed.

7.     The board did not meet in Executive Session.

Minutes From Finance & Operations Committee Meeting, April 11, 2024 

1. BJ reviewed the March financials.

2. Mary reported that we are still dealing with holdups in getting the go-ahead from the City to pour the driveway at 1611 West 10.th Kim is trying to find out if the current holdup is because of the city or the fault of the concrete contractor.

3. Mary has found a landscaper who is willing to help us with landscaping at 1611 on a pro bono basis. No luck so far finding a company willing to give the CCDC the plants it wants or to sell them to us for a deep discount.

4. Regarding the lawsuit related to 1611, the defendant’s attorney is on a two-month paternity leave. Meanwhile Malcolm has filed a Motion to Compel. 

5. Mary reported that the foundation work at 1817A West 10th and at 1009B Charlotte has been completed. Interior repairs at 1817A have begun—drywall repairs, new cabinets and maybe replacing the tub with a shower. Also, the exterior fence will be removed and exterior repairs will happen. Prak is waiting for the foundation contractor to haul off the dirt in front of 1009B. Once that happens, skirting will be installed and interior repairs will begin, including window repairs, flooring and wall repairs and maybe the replacement of some flooring in a couple places.  

Haskell House Advisory Group Meeting Minutes

Saturday March 30th, 2024  

Attendees: Felecia Miller, Lanelle Jarmon, Stephanie Lang, Hannah Michael, Tara Dudley, Znobea Williams, Otisha Rhambo-Montgomery 

1: Check-ins and introducing new member(s)

2: Discuss 2024 Project Ideas

➔   Partnering with local orgs/associations like Sweet Home, Carver Center Museum or Geneology Center

➔   Summer Oral History Collection

➔   Clarksville Community Archive (H)

➔   Homecoming event

◆    Build relationships, share info and raise awareness around ccdc/hh events/etc

◆    September

3: Summer 2024

➔   Sign up for spot in Juneteenth Parade

◆    Saturday, June 15th from 10am-2pm

◆    More info here: https://www.juneteenthcentraltexas.com/parade

➔   Potential celebration for 10 year anniversary of historic marker in July - soft launch

4: Haskell House Heritage Garden updates

➔   Kurt Schmidt is working with the city on the garden and provided the following updates:

◆    The underground water lines and the hose bibs have been installed and inspected by the City of Austin.

◆    The bamboo has been eradicated (although that may be an ongoing job for a few years yet).

◆    We recovered enough space to add three new garden plots in the Clarksville Community Garden. We were able to move the storage shed several feet closer to the property and opened up the path and view to the gardens.

◆    Moreover, the heritage garden has been laid out and we are already working on the second turning (of four) of the soil to ready the bed for the appropriate heritage plants.

◆    Aiming for something wooden and under/at 2 feet height to frame heritage garden

5: Housekeeping

➔   Discussing team assignments and roles

➔   Planning next meeting and setting goals

Next Agenda:

-working with schools, building connections with local schools - Matthews and O.Henry,

-Funmi K-12 lesson plan  - school field trips - connecting with UT students - elementary level plan

-summer camp field trips

-confirm merch idea(s) by juneteenth: sticker, keychain, magnets, lanyard, bottle, guidebook

-seo/marketing for haskell house