| | Dear Neighbors,
Please join us on April 30 for our District 10 Town Hall beginning at 6:30 p.m. at Congregation Beth Israel. At the town hall, you will have the opportunity to meet and hear from Austin's new fire chief, Joel Baker, and discuss the upcoming 2020 Budget with the City's Deputy Chief Financial Officer.
My staff and I also will be reporting on the current land development code discussions. As you may recall, Council voted to end CodeNEXT last summer. In the last few weeks, City Manager Cronk issued a memo outlining possible paths forward in the code revision process. While I believe this process should be moving at a speed that is conducive to garnering and maintaining public trust, a majority of council members have articulated their interest in finalizing adoption of a new land development code before the end of this year.
To that end, please note Council will be taking public comment on the city manager's memo at the April 11 Council meeting, and my staff will be hosting office hours on this topic (detailed below). Please feel free to share this information with your neighbors.
We hope to see you at the town hall!
Regards,
Alison Alter Council Member, District 10 |
|
|
| | |
Table of Contents - District 10 Town Hall – April 30
- Land Development Code Hearing (April 11) and Office Hours (April 19)
- Nonprofit Spotlight – Meals on Wheels Volunteer Opportunity
- Project Connect Open House – April 8
- Highland Park Water Improvement Project Meeting – April 10
- Camp Mabry Open House – April 13 & 14
- AISD School Changes Community Workshop Series – April 16, 17, 24 & 25
- City of Austin Annual Career Fair – April 17
- Austin Water "Irrigation Controllers 101" Workshop – April 20
- Barton Springs University – April 23
- Shoal Creek Boulevard Feedback – Closes April 30
|
| | District 10 Town Hall – April 30
In addition to discussing the topics I mentioned in my opening letter, neighbors also will have an opportunity at the town hall to share feedback, ask questions, and voice concerns about any issues facing the district.
Tuesday, April 30 6:30-8:30 p.m. Congregation Beth Israel 3901 Shoal Creek Blvd.
When you arrive, please park in the northwest parking lot and enter through the doors just south of the sanctuary.
|
| | Land Development Code Hearing (April 11) and Office Hours (April 19)
In response to the city manager's memo, my colleagues and I have shared some initial thoughts on the Council Message Board. We will be discussing the Land Development Code as a Council at our April 9 work session. I invite you to tune in to the conversation via ATXN, the City's flagship TV and online channel.
At the April 11 Council meeting, you are invited to provide comments on the Land Development Code memo from March 15, including the "Land Development Code Revision Policy Guidance" attached to the memo. If you would like to testify, please sign up to speak on Agenda Item 5. For information on how to sign up to speak on specific agenda items, please see this webpage.
Following the public hearing, my staff will host office hours to help answer any questions you may have and to take your input.
Friday, April 19
10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Galaxy Cafe NW Hills
8127 Mesa Dr. Ste. A100
|
| | | Nonprofit Spotlight – Meals on Wheels Volunteer Opportunity
Last month, my staff and I volunteered with Meals on Wheels Central Texas to deliver lunches to District 10 residents. Meals on Wheels is a fantastic organization that serves important needs in our community. Their programs extend beyond the well-known senior meal delivery and include veteran services, home repairs, respite care, and even pet food delivery.
Meals on Wheels Central Texas relies primarily on volunteers to provide these highly needed services in Austin. There are many opportunities to get involved, and volunteer windows are flexible to fit your work or home schedules. As we heard on our delivery route, many Meals on Wheels clients develop close friendships with their volunteers and do not know what they would do without the food and assistance Meals on Wheels offers. I encourage you to consider volunteering for Meals on Wheels. You can visit https://www.mealsonwheelscentraltexas.org/ to learn more. |
| | | | Project Connect Open House – April 8
Join Capital Metro for a Project Connect Open House on Monday, April 8 at the Austin Central Library. Discussion will focus on Project Connect's Orange Line Corridor, which includes North Lamar, Guadalupe and South Congress Avenue, and folks can come and go as they please.
Attendees will have an opportunity to provide feedback on multiple aspects of the project, including the project study area, purpose and need, and potential environmental impacts. Capital Metro also will be joined by various partner agencies to answer questions about mobility programs taking shape in the city and region.
Monday, April 8 3-7 p.m. Austin Central Library, Special Event Center 710 W. Cesar Chavez St.
If you are unable to attend, a virtual open house will be available on the website at projectconnect.com from April 9-24. Visit the site to view meeting materials and comment online.
If you have special communication or accommodation needs, please contact Courtney Black at 512-531-5920 or Courtney.Black@capmetro.com. |
| | | Highland Park Water Improvement Project Meeting – April 10
A water improvement project is being planned in Highland Park to construct a second water line to feed into the area. The project will run about three miles from Far West Blvd. to Crestway Drive with much of the work being done along Balcones Drive.
This project is part of the Renewing Austin program, which replaces aging infrastructure throughout the city. Water line breaks are well-documented in this area, and the existing 12-inch line is not connected to other water lines. The project is currently in design phase and construction on Phase 1 is expected to begin in 2020, with a total construction duration of up to three years.
Austin Water staff will be holding a public meeting to discuss the project with neighbors and stakeholders in the area. More information can be found at austintexas.gov/highlandpark. If you would like to receive email updates on the project, please sign up here.
Wednesday, April 10 7-8 p.m. Northwest Recreation Center 2913 Northland Dr. |
| | | | Camp Mabry Open House – April 13 & 14
Next weekend, Camp Mabry will host their annual open house called "Muster Day". Muster Day traces its roots back to when Texas was a republic. In the early days, on an annual basis, the troops were ‘mustered’ or called to report. Over the years, the mustering of the troops became obsolete. However, the Texas Military Forces Museum holds a Muster Day where reenactors of all periods since the Texas Revolution can display their historical uniforms, weapons and equipment to the general public. There also is a large World War II battle reenactment each day. These battles feature 200 Allied and German soldiers recreating a WWII battle using original equipment, tanks, and weapons from the time period. The museum will be open Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
In addition to the museum events, there will be displays by the Texas Military Forces, helicopter demos, children’s activities, a Vietnam Wall Memorial, vendors with food and drink and more. Event entry and parking are both free. |
| | | | AISD School Changes Community Workshop Series – April 16, 17, 24 & 25
Austin ISD is working to reimagine how our schools could be used to benefit students and communities and is reinvesting resources to reinvent how students are educated in the school district. You are invited to join AISD officials for a conversation regarding potential school consolidations, repurposing and program planning. Each workshop will feature a panel of AISD staff, community members, planners and developers followed by facilitated activities to reimagine the future of AISD.
Two workshops will focus on the academic priorities of the district and how we are responding to the changing economic landscape in Central Texas.
Tuesday, April 16 6-8 p.m. Bowie High School 4103 W. Slaughter Lane
Wednesday, April 24 6-8 p.m. Alternative Learning Center 4900 Gonzales Street
The remaining two workshops will cover equity and community benefit. Attendees will discuss how AISD can continue meeting community needs in different capacities and how the reinvention process presents an opportunity to increase equity in the district.
Wednesday, April 17 6-8 p.m. Fulmore Middle School 201 East Mary Street
April 25 6-8 p.m. Dobie Middle School 1200 East Rundberg Lane
To learn more about the AISD school changes, please visit their website. |
| | | City of Austin Annual Career Fair – April 17
The City of Austin is hosting its ninth annual career fair. This year’s theme is Keep Austin Hired and is free and open to the public. More than 100 employers are expected to register, including private employers, state agencies, higher education and technical schools, temporary agencies, many smaller businesses with skilled labor and customer service job openings, and City of Austin departments. Attendees are encouraged to bring copies of their resume. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Palmer Events Center 900 Barton Springs Road
Free parking will be available in the Palmer Events Center garage. Pre-registration for attendees and a complete list of employers is available at austintexas.gov/careerexpo.
For more information about the event or to register, call (512) 974-3210 or email employment.services@austintexas.gov. |
| | | Austin Water "Irrigation Controllers 101" Workshop – April 20
Are you frustrated by the complexity of programming your irrigation controller? Do you want to learn ways to save water and avoid high water bills?
Join Austin Water staff at the upcoming Irrigation Controllers 101 workshop to learn how controllers work and master hidden features that can help you save water and money. Participants also will practice programming a controller similar to the one in their yard and learn efficient scheduling strategies.
Saturday, April 20 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Austin Water - Room 104, Waller Creek Center 625 E. 10th Street
Registration and parking are free to attendees. Please note, these events are very popular and can fill up quickly. To register or to receive more information, contact David Turnage at 512-974-3517 or at wwip@austintexas.gov.
|
| | | Barton Springs University – April 23
Barton Springs University is a year-round series of educational events and classroom presentations, highlighted by a full day of outdoor learning and fun at Barton Springs Pool. The Barton Springs University day is designed primarily for high school students, but includes college students and the general public. It features lectures, hands on activities, an interactive community fair and training by leading academics, professionals, and policy makers on central Texas water science, public policy, history and sustainable living.
Tuesday, April 23 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. South Hill of Barton Springs Pool 2131 William Barton Dr.
Students are asked to arrive between 8:30-9 a.m. The keynote address will begin at 9:30 a.m., and a full list of the day's learning sessions can be found here. If you are interested in registering, please do so via the online registration page.
|
| | | Shoal Creek Boulevard Feedback – Due April 30
Most recently, ATD hosted three public open houses to hear feedback on possible alternatives for the street. If you were unable to attend the open houses, all materials are available on the project website. Staff also is currently accepting feedback via a public survey that is open through April 30. Community input will help inform ATD's decision on which alternative moves forward. Next steps and all survey results will be shared with the community via email by early summer.
|
| | | | |
