The Wooten Neighborhood Association (WNA) met on Monday, September 14, 2026. The meeting heard reports, took officer nominations and deferred city updates to October.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Presiding | WNA President |
| Officers present | President; Melinda (Vice President); Phil (Treasurer) |
| Officers absent | Ryan (Secretary; also WNPCT Chair) |
| Guests | Layla, Principal, Wooten Elementary; Ms. Franklin, Wooten Elementary staff |
| Notes | Patty |
Order of business: the agenda was adjusted so the Wooten Elementary principal could speak first.
1. Introductions
Introductions were not captured in the recording. The President welcomed attendees and the new Wooten Elementary principal.
2. Reports
Treasury (Phil)
| Account | Balance |
|---|---|
| Primary checking | $2,732.95 |
| Park fund | $2,508.15 |
| Primary savings | $5.00 (minimum to keep the account open) |
- Dues remain $5 per year. They can be paid online through Zeffy (no surcharge) or in cash or check to the Treasurer.
- The fiscal year starts in October. Zeffy memberships renew automatically.
Parks (reported by the President for the Parks chair)
- It’s My Park Day is Saturday, November 7. Signs and sign-ups are coming soon. Once the city approves it, the project will likely be tree care after the dry summer.
- Park planning. Recent development agreements have committed tens of thousands of dollars to the park. John explained that this money could be paired with nonprofit or city funds to pay for a neighborhood park plan. With a plan in place, the neighborhood could seek city bond funding. The funds will be held by the Austin Parks Foundation, which requires a process for prioritizing projects. Melinda offered to build a neighbor survey once options are defined. It is still too early for that step.
- A member suggested pairing It’s My Park Day with a Red Line Parkway bike-lane cleanup. That would give extra volunteers something to do and help the Parkway. The President recommended raising it with the organizer who puts the park day projects together.
Communications (President)
- The summer newsletter went out, and work on the fall issue will start shortly.
- At Mary Lou’s suggestion, the library has agreed to stock printed newsletters. It has already displayed the bike-event flyers.
- The communications committee will look at adding QR codes to the neighborhood meeting signs.
- Website: the WNA now has its own hosting account. The domain has been transferred to the WNA on auto-pay, and the credentials are in the shared password manager. Next, hosting (about $100/year) will move off a former volunteer’s (Betsy’s) account, after Jasmine updates and backs up the site.
WPNCT (Wooten Neighborhood Plan Contact Team)
The President summarized the Contact Team’s previous meeting.
- Toyota dealership: dumpsters have been relocated, the tree/easement issue is resolved and a revised photometric plan addressed the lighting concerns. Garage screening is the main open issue. Ryan will send the neighborhood’s screening proposal to Toyota, and the item will be discussed at the next Contact Team meeting.
- 2020 Anderson Lane (LA Fitness site): the owner is seeking a density bonus to allow roughly 100+ more units than currently permitted. There is no near-term construction plan, because LA Fitness’s lease can renew for up to 15 years. Possible neighborhood asks include decoupled parking, a parking cap, underground parking and park improvements. Talks will continue.
- Contact Team elections and bylaws: elections have been postponed to November so the bylaws can be revised first. The Contact Team’s mission may expand from zoning cases to broader planning.
At member Matt H.’s request, the following items are entered into the minutes:
- The WNPCT Chair wrote that the Section 6 executive vote applies to Contact Team business only. Officer elections and bylaw revisions are decided by one member, one vote as outlined by the by laws.
- Revised bylaws will be presented October 5 and adopted November 2, followed by an election under the revised bylaws. The President confirmed that the September 21 meeting will not be held.
- The Anderson Square minutes have been re-tagged on the website and are easier to find. The President noted they had always been posted under the WNA pages rather than the Contact Team pages.
Matt H. also asked the following questions:
- Election notice: the bylaws require publicizing meetings by available means. The WNA’s usual channels (website, Facebook, Nextdoor, with Discord as a courtesy) satisfy this. Matt suggested the bylaws name the primary notice channels.
- Separate votes on governance sections: he asked whether voting, quorum, elections and eligibility would be voted on separately from the mission changes. The President deferred to the WNPCT Chair.
- Eligibility of voters and candidates: he asked whether every voter and candidate, current officers included, would show eligibility under Section 4A. The President deferred to the WNPCT Chair.
- September 7 minutes and the city filing: the officer and voting-member list is filed with the city annually after the election. No actions requiring a vote were taken on September 7.
John thanked the volunteers who have served the WNA and the Contact Team. He welcomed Matt’s participation.
3. Wooten Elementary
Layla, Wooten’s new principal, introduced herself and asked neighbors to email her feedback directly. The school is asking for donations of liquid laundry detergent and nut-free snacks.
- Consolidation: Riley and Wooten consolidated this year. The school now serves 500+ students in three pathways: English, Spanish dual language and Mandarin dual language. The building was designed before the consolidation, and its original plans did not include the bike lane.
- Dismissal traffic: after the second week of school, a walk-up pickup location was added on Dale Drive, with car riders at the front. Two after-school programs now serve about 150 students, which has eased traffic. A neighbor reported needing to leave by 2:45–2:55 pm to avoid getting boxed in. The principal asked for more input like this.
- Partnering with the WNA: the school can post WNA information on its website or as a standing item in its family newsletter. Neighbors are welcome at Campus Advisory Council (CAC) meetings and at Coffee with the Principal, held the last Monday of each month; the next one is September 28. School tours run on Fridays from October to February, and evening tours are available on request. The President thanked the school for sending bike-festival flyers home with students.
- Donations: many families are under strain, and the school has been washing students’ clothes. It needs liquid laundry detergent, deodorant, shampoo and nut-free snacks. Popular snacks are Goldfish, fruit gummies, yogurt bites, nut-free granola bars and veggie straws. Donations can be dropped at the front office. Violet Crown City Church will drop off prepared “dignity bags.” The WNA will post a donation call on Facebook.
- Events:
| Event | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fall Fest and Color Run | November 13, 6–8 pm | Carnival and fundraiser on the campus playground. The public enters by the goat gate. The PTA has requested a park permit for the color run. |
| Lunar New Year | February 5 (tentative) | Showcases the Mandarin program |
| Spring Fling | May |
- A member volunteered to staff a WNA booth at Fall Fest using the communications committee’s existing signs and kids’ coloring books.
- Immigration enforcement: asked about immigration enforcement near the school, the principal said Wooten follows district protocol. No incidents have occurred during the school day. A member asked about community-organized ICE alerts. The President said such efforts exist separately from the WNA and offered to discuss them after the meeting.
- Neighbors reported less trouble with students around Exmoor than in past years; the problems had come mainly from middle schoolers. A service-organization volunteer left materials offering support for students and teachers.
4. Election Nominations
Nominations were opened for all WNA officer positions. The official vote will be held at the October meeting.
| Office | Nominee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| President | Phil | Self-nominated. The current President is term-limited after two years. |
| Vice President | Vacant | Open for nominations. Melinda has moved out of the neighborhood and is no longer eligible. |
| Treasurer | Patty | Self-nominated |
| Secretary | Ryan | Re-nominated unless he declines |
- The outgoing President will stay on to help with communications. Melinda will keep helping with the website, which is not an elected role.
- Matt H. asked whether every nominee will be confirmed to meet the WNA membership definition before nominations close. The President said yes. Renters and owners of a residence or business in the neighborhood are eligible.
- The nominations will be written up and sent to members ahead of the October vote.
5. City Updates
City updates were deferred to October, when the council member is expected to attend and discuss the bond program. The city council liaison, said immigrant-run food businesses and food trucks in the area are struggling amid ICE activity. He encouraged neighbors to patronize them.
6. Old Business
- Ohlen and Burrell traffic study: the city’s transportation office planned a traffic study for late August or early September. The President will follow up this week. Traffic on Ohlen has been lighter than expected since school resumed. Members stressed keeping the city’s attention, since another study may be years away.
- Living Streets barrels: a Cambridge resident asked whether the barrels are permanent. The barrels are being phased out and replaced with permanent planters; Tisdale is complete, and Ripplewood shows the new planters. They are placed in the street on purpose to slow traffic. Matt H., who is in contact with the city program organizer, will ask for the schedule for Cambridge.
7. New Business
Dale and Burrell bike lanes
Some drivers have been driving the wrong way in the new bike lanes, nearly hitting cyclists, including parents riding with their children. After the Safe Routes to School organizer contacted the city, the city agreed to add signage. The signs are backordered, and installation is expected within a few weeks.
A member asked why the northbound and southbound lanes differ in width. She also asked about a newly painted bi-directional bike lane on Woodrow near Anderson. Tim will identify the city transportation contact.
Neighborhood events
John thanked the volunteers who organized the bike lane opening, which drew a large turnout. He suggested a WNA-hosted neighborhood festival, possibly a revived Cocoa and Carols. He proposed recruiting neighbors who would enjoy event volunteering more than planning and zoning work.
AISD school closure proposal
Phil raised a recent proposal by Kirk Watson that AISD voluntarily close Burnet and Webb middle schools to head off a state takeover. Members were concerned about asking two underfunded schools with large immigrant populations to close themselves.
- Keep Austin Schools Independent (KASI) is asking neighborhood associations to partner with it. A member offered an introduction to its executive committee and to organize block walks; such walks have already been held in North Loop.
- The President suggested partnering with the Wooten Democrats on block walking.
Contact Team bylaws proposal (Matt H.)
Speaking for himself and his partner Maitland, Matt H. objected that under the current Contact Team bylaws the four officers each hold one vote, while all other residents share a single vote. The bylaws also set no quorum. He proposed:
- One member, one vote, written explicitly for all Contact Team decisions.
- A quorum of 10.
- Sending the full proposed text to every neighbor before the vote.
His written proposal has been shared with the board and the Contact Team. The President said some of the amendments have merit and that the proposal belongs at the October Contact Team meeting for discussion.
Neighborhood safety committee
Matt H. asked the board to sponsor reviving a WNA safety committee, prompted by thefts, including a gun theft on Tisdale. Several officers said they were unfamiliar with any formal sponsorship process. One member recalled that a past neighborhood watch effort had become contentious. The discussion became heated.
The President said the bylaws allow committees to be established as needed. The WNA does not do sponsorships, but it can help connect organizers with interested neighbors, the council liaison and APD. She suggested a neighbor experienced in crime prevention who responded on Discord. Matt H. will contact the President to organize.
8. Close
A motion to adjourn was made and seconded, and the meeting adjourned. The next WNA meeting is in October and will include the officer election and city updates.