| Dear neighbors,
With the holidays fast approaching, I want to highlight some engagement opportunities that I think might interest you. These include an upcoming Safe Routes to School meeting for District 10, the Bond Election town halls and survey, and some opportunities to honor some of your favorite community leaders.
I also want to share some holiday safety tips to help you avoid falling victim to theft.
Wishing you and yours a safe and happy holiday!
Kind regards,
Alison Alter
Council Member, District 10 |
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Table of Contents - Safe Routes to School Meeting – Dec. 6
- CodeNEXT Timeline Revision
- APD Holiday Safety Tips
- Nominations Open for Austin Gives 2017 – Dec. 30 Deadline
- Muny Inducted into Texas Golf Hall of Fame
- Bond Election Advisory Task Force – Dec. 7
- Nominations Open for Austin Women’s Hall of Fame – Jan. 31 Deadline
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| | | Safe Routes to School Meeting – Dec. 6
In November 2016, voters approved the 2016 Mobility Bond, which provided $27.5 million for improvements to infrastructure in order to increase safety and access to school for Austin children. Evenly distributed across the ten Council Districts, the funding for these improvement projects is managed under the city’s Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program. The SRTS mission is to reduce barriers that prevent students from actively traveling to school by providing crossing guards at warranted locations, educating students on pedestrian and bicycle safety, and engaging with the community to increase the number of students who choose human power to get to school. Over the next 18 months, the SRTS team will be conducting walk audits at 131 elementary and middle schools and hosting community workshops in each City Council District to gather neighborhood feedback on issues and solutions regarding safe routes to school. District 10 is one of the first Council Districts to be part of the walk audits and community workshops. The District 10 workshop will be tomorrow evening.
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| | | CodeNEXT Timeline Revision
As you may have heard, the release date for the third draft of CodeNEXT has been revised to provide additional time for review. Originally scheduled to be released on Nov. 28, 2017, Draft 3 will now be distributed by Feb. 12, 2018. The new timeline will give the CodeNEXT project team the opportunity to more adequately consider the comments and concerns received from both the public and from various commissions, including Planning Commission and the Zoning and Platting Commission. I welcome the revised timeline, as it allows our commissions’ members more time to weigh in and gives Council a greater opportunity to learn from their expertise as we deliberate. Extending this process is necessary to allow for a full vetting of the draft and to give everyone a better understanding of how all the pieces fit together. I have heard extensively from neighborhoods and the business community that there is still significant work to be done, especially to implement Imagine Austin’s vision of growth along the corridors and the creation of new job and activity centers. To see the current draft and provide input online, please visit https://www.austintexas.gov/codenext. |
| | | Austin Police Department Holiday Safety Tips
Folks often do a lot of shopping and a lot of traveling during the holiday season. While you’re busy buying presents or relaxing on vacation, your things could be at an increased risk of theft. To help keep your property safe, Austin Police Department has put together a list of tips to keep in mind during the holidays. Don’t forget to help APD tackle crime trends by reporting every incident! - It takes seconds to steal a car when it is left running. Turn off your vehicle, lock your doors, roll up your windows, and take your keys with you – no matter how quickly you’ll be returning.
- Set your vehicle alarm whenever you’re away from it. Hint: just because you hear a beep when you press your key fob does not mean an alarm will automatically sound if your vehicle is breached. Make sure you understand the security system features for your make and model.
- Leaving valuables visible in your car is an open invitation to a holiday Grinch eager to steal from you. Take along your belongings or place them in the trunk before arriving at your next destination. Theft is a crime of opportunity and thieves are always watching for their chance.
- Record serial numbers to make recovery of your property easier in the event that you do become a victim.
- If you notice suspicious activity in a parking lot, a shopping center or in your neighborhood, report it immediately to 9-1-1.
- Lock doors and windows whenever you leave the house.
- Ask a trusted neighbor or family member to watch your home and pick up your newspapers and mail if you’re going to be away for an extended period.
- Place indoor and outdoor lights on an automatic timer – the more light there is, the less likely criminals are to try and burglarize your home.
- Leave a radio or television on so the house looks and sounds occupied.
- Hide holiday gifts from view – make a family game of it by looking through the windows and doors of your home. If you can see the presents, so can would-be thieves.
- Leave a note asking package carriers (UPS, Fed Ex, USPS, etc.) not to leave packages on your door step. Instead request that they leave a notice so you can pick up packages from their facility.
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| | | Nominations Open for Austin Gives 2017 – Dec. 30 Deadline
The Austin Chamber of Commerce is now accepting nominations for its sixth annual Austin Gives Generous Business Awards. Austin Gives recognizes businesses who have pledged 1% of pre-tax earnings, such as volunteer time, products, services and financial support, toward their community impact efforts. Austin Gives has created four categories based on business size: Charitable Champion, 26 or fewer employees; Big Heart, 27-100 employees; Bold Giver, 101-400 employees; and Community Leader, 401 or more employees. The winner in each category will be announced at the Austin Gives Luncheon in March. Last year’s winners included Hoar Construction, Round Rock Express, Keller Williams Realty International and Seton Healthcare Family. Applications will be accepted until Dec. 30, 2017.
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Muny Honored by Texas Golf Hall of Fame Austin’s Lions Municipal Golf Course, better known within the community as “Muny,” was recently selected to be part of the Texas Registry of Historic Golf Courses. Muny, which also has the distinction of being Austin’s first public golf course, was honored at the 2017 Texas Golf Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in October. The Texas Registry of Historic Golf Courses was created to foster interest in and respect for the role that golf courses play in the growth and history of the game and golf industry, as well as an interest in and respect for the science and art of golf course architecture.
Muny is also listed on the Registration of National Historical Places by the National Park Service, recognized as one of the first courses in the South to desegregate prior to the Supreme Court decision in Brown V. Board of Education in 1954. Golf superstar and Austin native Ben Crenshaw attended the ceremony, expressing his concern for the future of Muny as the city’s lease on the course approaches expiration, potentially leading to the sale of the land to commercial or residential developers. To read more about the ceremony and Crenshaw’s plea to save Muny, please visit Texas Golf Hall of Fame’s website or read the event press release. |
| | | Bond Election Advisory Task Force Town Halls – Dec. 7
As I mentioned in my last newsletter, the Bond Election Advisory Task Force is seeking public input in advance of offering its recommendations to Council for a bond package to go to voters in 2018. Council specifically directed City staff and the task force to focus on funding efforts to address flooding, affordable housing, mobility, high-capacity transit, parks, libraries, and existing infrastructure. While the task force develops its Council recommendations for the bond package, its 13 appointed members want to better understand what City infrastructure needs are most important to Austin residents.
To accomplish this task, the Task Force has scheduled several town halls throughout the city. There is currently one scheduled meeting remaining:- Dec. 7 – Hampton Branch Library at Oak Hill, 5125 Convict Hill Road – 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Additionally, the task force and City staff have launched an online survey and a bond simulator. Residents also will be able to call Austin 3-1-1 to provide their feedback. The City currently is developing a language access plan to ensure non-English proficient speakers can provide input into this process as well.
More information about the task force can be found on the City’s website at https://www.austintexas.gov/content/bond-election-advisory-task-force. To learn more about the task force’s five working groups and their meeting schedules, visit http://austintexas.gov/2018Bond.
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| | | Nominations Open for Austin Women’s Hall of Fame – Jan. 31 Deadline
The City of Austin’s Commission for Women is seeking submissions for the 2018 Austin Women’s Hall of Fame. Each year, the commission recognizes women who have made significant contributions to Austin and Travis County by breaking through barriers for women, working to better the lives of women and girls, or through other forms of public or community service.
Inductees will be chosen through a nomination process. Eligible nominees must be women who reside (or resided, if deceased) in Austin or Travis County. Inductees will be honored at a ceremony to be held in March at City Hall.
To nominate an outstanding Austin woman for this honor, visit the Women’s Hall of Fame page on the City’s website and complete the online nomination form by January 31, 2018. Information provided in this application will not be shared with any other organization. |
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