E-mail Edition Web site: www.balconeswoods.org
June 2002 E-mail: newsletter@balconeswoods.org
Balcones Woods Club, Inc.
11204 Alhambra Drive
Austin, TX 78759
June 8 Home Swim Team Meet (pool closed until after meet)
June 10 HPBC/ Quarries meeting (story below)
June 12 Operating Committee; also July 10 (details below)
July 4 Fourth of July Parade (story below)
July 9 BWC Board of Directors Meeting (details below)
Editor’s Note: We did not mail out a May edition. We’re always looking for news. Please e-mail us at newsletter@balconeswoods.org or call 338-4971. You won’t have to write the story; we can call you and write an article for you.
The web site has been redesigned at www.balconeswoods.org. Our site is very user-friendly and full of news and updates. Please e-mail us with your suggestions, news, and comments at webmaster@balconeswoods.org.
Mailing to BWC? Here are the right addresses.
Where do I mail my neighborhood association dues?
A number of letters are incorrectly sent to the P.O. Box where dues are paid. Anything sent to this P.O. Box goes straight to our bank, which means if it isn’t a check, the bank sits on it for a while and then forwards it to our CPA, who then forwards it to BWC. It may be anywhere from 2-4 weeks before it gets in the proper hands for a response.
The correct addresses for postal correspondence are:
· Payment of dues only -- Mail to P.O. Box 142554, Austin, TX 78714
· All other correspondence, including questions about dues—Mail to 11204 Alhambra Dr., Austin, TX 78759
Work Day
On Saturday April 13, Balcones Woods Club held its Annual Work Day. We had 25 people of all ages and experiences come up and volunteer their time to help get our commons area ready for the summer. Activities included cleaning, repair, painting, and organizing in and around the pool area. Here are the names of those who volunteered their time:
Larry Biggert, Craig Champlin, Kelly and Cory Folts, Chris Grunska Jr., Grant Hennig, Doug and Maggie Huyck, Ray Kohler, Terry Larson, Carol and J.D.& Connor Mogen, Terry Nygaard, Dan and Jodi Schrobilgen, Linda and Todd Shell, Tom Terry, Gary and Garrett Vander Stoep, David, Nikki, and Max Zern, and Susan Zimmerman
These people deserve our thanks and gratitude for volunteering their time. Tremendous job everyone! Thanks!
Kelly Folts - BWC Board of Directors
Splash Day
Thanks to the Balcones Woods Babysitting Co-op for donating franks, chips, and drinks to the swim team for Splash Day! Check the Co-op out on the neighborhood web site (www.balconeswoods.org) !
And thanks to the Balcones Woods Women’s Club and Maria Holzmueller for the candy donation to the Swim Team for Splash Day!
The Key to Swimming
You can't swim at the BWC pool without a key, and Tina Folts (343-8050), tmfolts@austin.rr.com, is the person to see.
We are asking that you do NOT prop open a gate - doing so automatically de-activates the last electronic key that was used and totally compromises the security system. If you have guests, meet them at the common area and go in together.
Meet with your Board of Directors
The BWC Board of Directors meets next on July 9. The Operating Committee is scheduled to meet June 12 and July 10.
These open meetings are held 7:00 P. M. at Seton NW Hospital on the Third Floor, Conference Room A. Please feel free to attend, and check www.balconeswoods.org for updates.
www.balconeswoods.org/bwc/Volunteers/Board%20and%20Operating%20Committee.html.
The Hyde Park Baptist Church-Five Neighborhoods Coordinating Committee (HPBC) met May 13, 2002. The next meeting will be June 10, 2002.
Phase 1 started on May 13 and includes the Mopac to Quarries driveway, parking lots, and infrastructure (water, sewer). This phase is scheduled to be substantially complete by November 10. As of now, there is no planned start date for construction of the first large building, the Christian Life Center.
Reminder: the Quarries area is closed for use by unauthorized personnel during the construction. HPBC has yet to determine whether summer league softball will be allowed.
A joint letter from the Five Neighborhoods and Hyde Park Baptist was finalized and mailed to City Council. The letter outlines progress to date and states that the project and our coordination are on course.
The coordination committee is developing a plan to coordinate large events. This will give the neighborhoods advance notice of meetings and a chance to voice concerns and work out potential conflicts. Contacts for the neighborhoods and HPBC will be named as issues arise during the events.
For sources of information regarding the Quarries, see the HPBC web site and the Balcones Woods site (www.balconeswoods.org). The Mesa Park site (www.main.org/mpna) has an extensive collection of documents and will soon contain minutes of the coordination committee meetings.
Please use your neighborhood committee contacts for information about the Quarries or input regarding complaints. Our Balcones Woods contact is Tom Terry, tomkterry@hotmail.com (phone during day is 459-6820).
Just Moved in? We have BWC care packages for new neighbors. But we don’t always know when someone new moves in. Please call Nikki, 502-8726.
Would you like to be listed in the Balcones Woods directory? You can enter your listing online at: http://www.balconeswoods.org/DirectoryUpdate.htm
Always open to new members--Join the Group Email list!
Visit the Balcones Woods Group Page at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/balconeswoods. At the BWC group page, you can sign-in or subscribe.
Swim Team News
Saturday, June 8: Home Meet (pool closed until after meet)
Get the latest Swim Meet results at:
http://www.balconeswoods.org/bwc/Pool/Archives/2002/Results-5-25-02.html
TENNIS
No formal tennis program this summer but volunteers needed for informal tennis.
The good news is Coach Kimberly Pennington is having a baby in early September and teaching summer school. Coach Nancy Reed says she needs to rest a lot this summer.
However, she is trying to arrange for some crazy tennis days, possibly one a week, for children who have had at least an intro to tennis. This would be a free activity, just for some extra fun. It would be very informal, lots of fun, and anyone interested in organizing this can give Nancy a call. She cannot hold the tennis day on Fridays because the swim coaches would want their swimmers to rest.
The level of tennis played would vary from bump it and scoop it over (beginners) to a more advanced play, with singles and doubles play emphasis. Coach Nancy says she has a couple of teenagers willing to help to gain volunteer hours. She will need some court volunteers (maybe some of those adults that took lessons last year from Coach Kimberly would be interested).
Watch the Marquee for further details. If you would be
willing to volunteer an hour or two a week as an adult volunteer, please let her
know.
Nancy Reed 338- 4110
Fourth of July Parade
Hosted by the Women’s Club
July 4th 11:00 a.m.
Grab your flags and decorate your wagons, strollers, bicycles, cars, yourself, your kids or your pets in red, white, and blue for our annual Independence Day parade. Meet us down at the Commons Area entrance to start by 11 a.m. or just come out to watch. Don’t forget to swing on by the pool afterward to cool off and eat. We will be selling hot dogs and hamburgers and hope to see you there! If you have any questions, call Nikki at 502-8726.
Covenants and Deed Restrictions—we need your help.
Every resident should have received the following letter by mail. Please let us know if you did not receive it by e-mailing us at
One sure sign of spring is that Home Depot's and Lowe's parking lots are full. This is the time of year many neighbors decide to add that new patio, new shed, new addition, or new deck. This is just a friendly reminder from the Balcones Woods Board of Directors that all such improvements must comply with Balcones Woods covenants and deed restrictions and be approved through the Balcones Woods Architectural Control Committee.
One of the benefits of living in a controlled neighborhood like Balcones Woods is the restrictions on appearance and use, which keep our neighborhood one of the best looking in Austin. These restrictions are attached to each lot in Balcones Woods and as such are legally enforceable.
As a homeowner or renter in Balcones Woods, you should familiarize yourself with each section of the covenants, conditions, and restrictions. The most common violations include boats, trailers, large sheds, or recreational vehicles stored on the premises; signs other than "For Sale" signs erected on the premises; poorly maintained lawns; major auto repair; dumping of lawn clippings and refuse on the association's property; and commercial enterprises conducted on the premises. Violations should be reported to a member of the Operating Committee or Board of Directors. Each year dozens of violations are corrected through enforcement procedures followed by the Operating Committee, the Board and the association's legal counsel. (At the next annual meeting, we will be voting to amend the By-Laws to implement a schedule of fines for violations.)
Please take a few minutes to study the general information about the covenants, conditions and restrictions found in your directory, or, at http://www.balconeswoods.org. If you have plans or improvements to present to the Architectural Control Committee, please contact Doug Huyck, Committee Chairperson, at 345-3135.
Thank you,
Balcones Woods Board of Directors
We received an e-mail by a resident whose medium-sized dog is getting attacked by other dogs as she tries to walk her pet around the neighborhood. She notes that several people allow their dogs in the front yard unleashed and when she and her dog walk by on the sidewalk or street, the dogs display very aggressive behavior. One dog attacked her dog and threw the pet to the ground. She cited other incidents of tagged dogs running loose in the neighborhood and noted the city’s leash law should be obeyed.
For everyone’s information, here are some of the city’s web pages on the issue and the city ordinance:
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/health/hlehs.htm
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/parks/dogparks.htm
Austin, Texas Codes of Ordinances
Volume I
Title III: Animals, Bees and Fowl
Chapter 3-3 DOGS AND CATS
§ 3-3-1 DEFINITIONS.
For the purpose of this chapter the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
OWNER means any person owning, feeding, keeping, maintaining or harboring a dog or cat. Harboring shall include knowingly allowing a dog or cat to remain on the owner's premises.
RUNNING AT LARGE means not under the direct physical control of the owner or handler by leash, cord, chain or similar direct physical control of a maximum length of six feet, and not being kept physically restrained from leaving the premises of the owner. The wearing of a muzzle by a dog shall not be regarded as control under this definition. Running at large does not include allowing a dog to be without direct physical control in certain areas as designated by the City Council, provided that in such designated areas, the dog is under the immediate personal supervision and command of its owner or handler.
REGISTRATION FEE means the annual administrative fee charged by the city or its designee for the registration of each dog or cat. This fee does not include vaccination fees.
VETERINARIAN means a doctor of veterinary medicine who holds a valid license to practice his profession.
VICIOUS DOG means that a determination that a dog is a vicious dog may be found upon the filing of appropriate affidavits with the Health Authority by affected or interested persons and the attending physician or veterinarian, where appropriate, attesting to the occurrence of the following acts:
(1) That on at least three separate occasions, a dog has bitten or scratched a person in the city,
(2) That on at least one occasion, a dog has bitten or scratched a person to an extent that the attending physician has presented a signed affidavit to the health Authority stating that the person’s life may have been endangered by such dog, or
(3) That on at least one occasion, a dog, while running at large, has killed another dog, cat, or other domestic pet, fowl or livestock or has seriously injured another such animal to an extent that the attending veterinarian has presented a signed affidavit to the Health Authority stating that the injured animal's life was seriously endangered or taken by such dog, or that such dog caused a significant permanent impairment of the injured animal's basic bodily functions or mobility; provided, however, that when the incident occurred, the killed or injured animal was not in violation of any provisions of Chapters 3-1, 3-2 or 3-3 of this Code of Ordinances concerning the confinement or physical control of dogs, fowl, livestock or other animals in the city.
('81 Code, § 3-3-1) (Ord. 860703-Q; Am. Ord. 900419-C; Am. Ord. 920528-F)
§ 3-3-2 DOGS RUNNING AT LARGE PROHIBITED; IMPOUNDMENT AUTHORIZED.
(A)Every owner of a dog and any person having charge, care, custody or control of any dog shall restrain such dog from running at large. ('81 Code, § 3-3-2)
(B)Employees of the city, as designated by the City Manager, are hereby authorized and empowered to enter upon any land, premises or public place and to take up and impound any dog which is observed by such employee to be running at large. No employees of the city shall enter a private residence for purpose of impounding any dog without first receiving permission from a lawful adult occupant of such residence. ('81 Code, § 3-3-6)
Penalty, see § 3-3-999
§ 3-3-3 AREAS WHERE DIRECT PHYSICAL CONTROL NOT REQUIRED.
In the following designated areas dog owners and handlers may allow their dogs to be without direct physical control as required by this chapter provided that such dogs, while in the designated areas, shall remain under the immediate personal supervision and command of their owner or handler while within the designated areas:
(A)Auditorium Shores from South First Street west to Bouldin Creek.
(B)Zilker Park (that portion bounded by Stratford Drive, Barton Springs Road and Park River Road).
(C)Far West Boulevard right-of-way located between Great Northern Boulevard and Shoal Creek Boulevard.
(D)Surplus Robert Mueller Municipal Airport land (that portion bounded by Old Manor Road, Manor Road, the airport fence and Lovell Drive).
(E)Red Bud Isle, located east of Red Bud Trail.
(F)Onion Creek District Park (that portion south of Chunn Road).
(G)Northeast District Park (that portion bounded by Lake Long Road, Crystal Brook Drive and Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad right-of-way).
(H)Walnut Creek District Park (that portion bounded by Cedar Bend Drive, Walnut Creek and park fences on west and east sides).
(I)Lake Austin Metropolitan Park (that portion bounded by Park Drive, park fence on west side, Turkey Creek and top ridge of bluff line which overlooks Lake Austin).
(J)Shoal Creek Hike and Bike Trail from 24th Street to 29th Street.
(K)In such areas as the Director of the Parks and Recreation may determine.
('81 Code, § 3-3-3) (Am. Ord. 930930-G)
§ 3-3-4 FEMALE DOGS AND CATS IN HEAT.
(A)It shall be unlawful for the owner or person in control of any unspayed female dog, while such dog is in heat, to allow the same to be upon the streets and in public places of the city.
(B)It shall be unlawful for the owner or person in control of any unspayed female cat, while such cat is in heat, to allow the same to be outside a secure building or enclosure unless it is in the direct physical control of the owner or person in control of it.
('81 Code, § 3-3-4) (Ord. 920528-F) Penalty, see § 3-3-999
§ 3-3-5 VICIOUS DOGS.
(A)Private property. Reasonable measures shall be taken by the owners, handlers, or keepers of any dog kept on private property to protect the public from accidental contact with any dog which, by its very nature or by training, has propensities to be a vicious dog, as defined in this chapter.
(B)Public places. It shall be unlawful for any owner or person in control of any vicious dog to keep or permit the same in and about any public house, public place, street or alley in the city.
(C)Revocation of dog registration. The Health Authority shall have the authority to revoke the dog registration of an owner of a dog which is determined to be vicious after a hearing, as authorized by this Code of Ordinances.
('81 Code, § 3-3-5) (Ord. 860703-Q) Penalty, see § 3-3-999
§ 3-3-6 NOISY DOGS.
It shall be unlawful for any person to keep or harbor any dog which makes frequent or long, continued noise which is disturbing to persons in the neighborhood who have normal nervous sensibilities.
('81 Code, § 3-3-9) Penalty, see § 3-3-999
§ 3-3-7 DEFECATION BY DOGS OR CATS.
It shall be unlawful for any person to fail to promptly remove and dispose of, in a sanitary manner, feces left by a dog or cat being handled by that person on property, public or private, other than the premises of the owner or handler of such dog or cat.
('81 Code, § 3-3-10) Penalty, see § 3-3-999
§ 3-3-999 PENALTY, and § 1-1-99 OFFENSES; GENERAL PENALTY.
Paraphrased: The offense is punishable by a fine of not less than $10 nor more than $500 except an offense that is a violation of public health and sanitation which is punishable by a fine not to exceed $2,000.