Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Minutes from July Board Meeting

Minutes
Reston Citizens Association
Board of Directors Meeting
July 22, 2013

Attendees:  Colin Mills, Sridhar Ganesan, Connie Hartke*, Gary Walker, Tammi Petrine, John Hanley, George Kain*, Joe Leighton*, Terry Maynard, Gary Lee Thomas (*Newly-elected Board members)

1.  Agenda:  On a motion by Joe Leighton, seconded by George Kain, the Board unanimously accepted the revised draft agenda (which re-ordered some agenda items).

2.  Minutes:  The draft minutes, as revised, were approved with the new members abstaining.

3.  Treasurer’s report:  Colin Mills noted that the Reston Accessibility Committee (RAC) had collected funds at the Reston Farm Market.  Next month, RCA will renew its FCFCA membership.  The Treasurer’s report was adopted unanimously. 

4.  Election of RCA Board Officers:  John Hanley was nominated and unanimously voted Vice President.  Joe Leighton volunteered to be Treasurer and was so elected by the Board unanimously.  After some discussion, the Board agreed unanimously to handle the responsibilities of Secretary on a rotating basis.  Mills will provide a list for the rotation through the next year.

5.  Board views of the year’s priorities:  Colin Mills noted that the last year had been very successful for RCA with the work of the Board and Reston 2020 on community planning issues, including the proposed recreation center, Soapstone crossing, etc.   He complimented the Board on its ability to work together, and asked that each member identify what he/she thought should be the Board’s priorities for the coming year.  The following topics were identified and discussed:

  • Keeping an eye on the Reston National Golf Course issue despite the indefinite suspension of developer efforts to re-develop the golf course.
  • Fundraising was a broadly acknowledged need for RCA, including issues of how to accomplish that, developing community understanding of why they should contribute, etc.  This discussion included following up on the identified need to create a tax deductible 501(c)3 entity for RCA.
  • Continue building relationships with RA, ARCH, and other community groups, noting that several Board members are also leaders in other community organizations.
  • Advancing RCA’s work on the proposed Reston Recreation Center, especially issues concerning its location and financing.  The need to involve the public in this effort was highlighted, given that the issue will likely go to a bond referendum in November 2014.
  • Staying on top of the Reston master plan effort, both as Phase 1 closes by the end of the year and the re-development of the village centers is put on the table in Phase 2.
  • Finding volunteers willing and able to help with the multitude of initiatives that RCA is pursuing.


6.  Election Committee report.   Sridhar Ganesan provided an overview of the Election Committee’s report.  Terry Maynard described how the features of EXCEL were used to count the vote and validate the voters and candidates.  There was a brief discussion of the handling of a concern about outdated information on the RCA election webpage. 

7.  Board meeting space for the coming year.  Colin Mills reported that RCC has stated that it will not provide free space for the Board to meet at its facilities.  He noted that we should probably continue to rent the space ($18/monthly meeting) through the end of the calendar year.  George Kain volunteered to explore with Supervisor Hudgins’ office the feasibility of using the community room at the North County Government Center (free) and other possible sites for the next year.

8.  Maker Fair update.  Gary Lee Thomas said that he would forego discussing the Maker Fair in the interests of time.

9.  Technology report.  Gary Walker reported on the use of Monkey Chimp to disseminate the RCA newsletter by e-mail, including its self-culling features, the high engagement rate of those receiving the newsletter, and the “click through” rate to the RCA website.  He discussed the use of Facebook and Twitter social media to add to RCA’s outreach efforts and noted he would launch an RCA Facebook page first.

10.  Reston Recreation Center update.  Tammi Petrine discussed an independent (non-RCA) committee she is heading that is examining issues surrounding the recreation center proposal and developing alternatives.  She focused on the efforts of two committee members who have identified profitable recreation centers.  She noted that in a discussion of the rec center proposal at the last Reston Planning and Zoning Committee meeting, people were generally unaware of the intention to use the Reston special tax district as the funding mechanism for its construction and operation.  She highlighted the need to make Restonians aware of the costs of the proposed center. 

Terry Maynard suggested there were two key timeframes for outreach to the community:  late this year before the RCC Board decides whether to proceed with a bond initiative and late next year before the bond referendum vote in November 2014.  Colin Mills noted that no progress has yet been made in bringing together RA and ARCH with RCA—and potentially RCC—in jointly studying the options for a new Reston recreation center.

11.  Reston 2020 update.  Terry Maynard highlighted the presentation at the last Reston Task Force (RTF) meeting on transportation, including its failure to define what a “network level of service” means and its inattention to public transit, bicycling, walking, and the importance of new connectors across the Dulles Corridor.  He also described his exchange of letters with BOS Chairman Sharon Bulova and C/DPZ regarding the over-stated planning assumption that future office workers will require 300 GSF of space each.  He noted that the RTF meeting on July 30 would focus on new draft language regarding urban design and might have a revised parks and recreation section, which was highly criticized in previous draft plan language.   

12.  Other business.  There was no other business.


13.  Next meeting.  The next RCA Board meeting will by a 7:30PM, August 26, 2013, at RCC—Hunters Woods.  

No comments:

Post a Comment