| | Dear Neighbors,
I am proud of the progress we have made during the first two council meetings of 2019. At our January 31st meeting, I sponsored a resolution to hire a third-party entity to evaluate the way the Austin Police Department (APD) processes and investigates sexual assault reports. This resolution seeks to rebuild trust in the community, identify concrete steps to facilitate and support the work of our dedicated officers, and transform the system into one that provides healing and justice for survivors. Thanks to hard work and collaboration with my council co-sponsors, advocates, survivors, APD, and other City and County officials, the resolution passed unanimously. Below, please click the image to see my closing remarks and the Council's unanimous vote, or read some local coverage provided by the Austin Chronicle. |
| |
|
| At last week's Council meeting, my colleagues and I voted unanimously to authorize negotiation and execution of amendments to the City’s lease of the Lions Municipal Golf Course and the Brackenridge Development Agreement. If approved by the University of Texas Board of Regents, the termination dates will be extended to May 25, 2020 or a later date agreed upon by the parties. It is my hope that this extra time will create the space we need to bring our negotiations with UT to a successful conclusion that benefits the City and UT and that yields a resolution that future generations will praise.
On February 7th, Council also finalized committee assignments. I am pleased to be serving as chair of the Audit & Finance Committee and continuing my service on the Mobility Committee, the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO, our regional transportation policy board), and the Joint Committee of the Austin City Council, Austin Independent School District Board of Trustees, and Travis County Commissioner’s Court.
In this newsletter, as usual we offer ways for you to increase your engagement with the City. I invite you to consider applying for a seat on one of the City's various boards and commissions. Below, you also can find information about upcoming public events and volunteer opportunities, including It's My Park Day and Amplify Austin Day.
In conclusion, I would like to offer a very special thank you to Alba Sereno, who has served as a policy advisor in my office for nearly two years. Alba is a bright, hardworking public servant committed to improving our City. She worked diligently on key issues such as the sexual assault resolution, the new public safety contracts, the bond, budget and transportation projects. Alba has taken a leadership position within the City’s Innovation Office where I have no doubt that she will continue her work to make Austin a better place for all. We will be honoring Alba with a Distinguished Service Award during music and proclamations on February 21st and I invite you to join us.
Regards,
Alison Alter Council Member, District 10 |
| |
Table of Contents - RM 2222/RM 620 Bypass Project Groundbreaking
- Happy Lunar New Year!
- Boards and Commissions Openings
- Austin Marathon – Feb. 17
- Senior Community Job Fair – Feb. 26
- Amplify Austin Day – Feb. 28
- Warrant Amnesty – Through Feb. 28
- It's My Park Day – March 2
- Austin Resource Recovery Plastic Bag Survey
- Workshop for Loop 360 Project at Courtyard Drive/RM 2222 – March 7
- Austin Water Wastewater Averaging
- Austin Resource Recovery Personalized Schedules
- D10 Call for Artists
|
| | | RM 2222/RM 620 Bypass Project Groundbreaking
In January, TxDOT and the City of Austin broke ground on the first of two projects along RM 2222/RM 620. These projects are facilitated through a partnership between the City and TxDOT that leverages bond and state dollars collaboratively to solve some of the traffic problems in the area. I would like to thank the community for voting to invest in the city’s long term health by approving the 2016 Mobility Bond, which is helping to fund this project.
These improvement projects are designed to relieve regional congestion at the RM 2222 and RM 620/Bullick Hollow Road intersection by adding travel capacity and a new bypass lane from near Steiner Ranch to RM 2222. TxDOT’s study of the area shows that by 2020, travel times would increase by 40-59 percent from RM 620 to Ribelin Ranch Drive if improvements are not made.
|
| | The first project will widen RM 2222 from Bonaventure Drive to Ribelin Ranch Drive. A third travel lane will be added from eastbound Bonaventure Drive to Sitio Del Rio Boulevard and westbound from Ribelin Ranch Drive to Sitio Del Rio Boulevard. Safety will be improved by restricting turning movements with the installation of a raised-center median with turn lanes within the project limits.
Throughout construction, TxDOT will be sending out email alerts for lane closures and other important project information. If you would like to sign up for email updates, please send an email to FourPointsImprovements@txdot.gov and write “updates” in the subject line.
|
| | Happy Lunar New Year!
Wishing everyone a Happy Lunar New Year! This year celebrates the Year of the Earth Pig. For those who may not be familiar, the pig is a lover of comfort and joy. The Year of the Earth Pig reminds us the simple joy of life is to be comfortable with family and friends. I had a wonderful time celebrating the Lunar New Year at the Asian American Cultural Center, and I look forward to the continued festivities. |
| | | | Boards and Commissions Openings
With each new Council comes new opportunities to engage with different City initiatives. The City of Austin has various boards and commissions covering a wide range of topics, including a Parks and Recreation Board, Arts Commission, Commission on Seniors, and more. All District 10 positions are currently filled by our wonderful commissioners, and I would like to thank them for the work on the many policy issues they consider.
Though all of my appointments are filled, newly elected or re-elected Council offices are seeking candidates to serve in these capacities, and other Council offices may have some vacancies. If you are interested in a particular policy area, I encourage you to look through each of the City's boards and commissions to see if there are openings or upcoming term expirations and reach out to the appropriate Council office to discuss your interest.
Not only does an appointment to one of these positions expand your network and civic involvement, but it often can allow you to have a direct say in policy making, too. Many important City proposals come before the relevant board or commission for a vote before making their way to Council for approval, and my office always considers board/commission votes as part of our agenda process. Applications for a board or commission appointment also can be completed online, and more information about the application process and what to expect as part of your service can be found at the Board and Commission Information Center. |
| | | Austin Marathon – Feb. 17
Next Sunday, the 2019 Ascension Seton Austin Marathon, Half Marathon and 5K will fill Austin’s streets with more than 20,000 runners. Participants will race along open roads that pass iconic landmarks like the UT Tower, The I Love You Mural, and the Austin Power Plant. Runners also will enjoy miles of Austin's unique neighborhoods such as SOCO district and Hyde Park and are greeted by cheering crowds as they close in on the finish line in front of the Texas State Capitol on historic Congress Ave. Registration will be available online until Feb. 16 at 4 p.m.
Please note, part of the course runs through District 10 along Enfield and Lake Austin Blvd. For road closures and route information, please see the Austin Marathon Traffic Guide. |
| | | Senior Community Job Fair – Feb. 26
Are you over the age of 50 and looking for your next career? The City of Austin will host its first Senior Community Job Fair on Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019 with the goal of providing an opportunity for Austin’s seniors to network and connect with area employers.
Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Workforce Solutions Capital Area 6505 Airport Boulevard
Job seekers will be able to meet face-to-face with recruiters and representatives from public, private and temporary staffing agencies, as well as organizations with resources to assist seniors with securing employment.
Whether you are seeking career advancement, wanting to start a new career, or just looking for a part-time job after retirement, this free job fair will help attendees build their networks and find new opportunities.
Note: Even though this event is geared toward seniors, everyone is welcome to attend.
|
| | | Amplify Austin Day – Feb. 28
Amplify Austin Day, organized by I Live Here I Give Here, is our city’s annual day of giving. The 24-hour period provides an easy and fun way for the entire community to give while helping local nonprofits. On Amplify Austin Day last year, donors raised $10.3 million for 700 Central Texas nonprofits.
Gifts made on Amplify Austin Day will be matched by generous sponsors and also may help your chosen nonprofit win a prize. If you want to raise money for a nonprofit that is not listed, Amplify Austin allows individuals and businesses to create their own fundraisers supporting their favorite organizations.
|
| | | Warrant Amnesty – Through Feb. 28
From Feb. 1-28, Austin Municipal Court and Downtown Community Court will conduct a Warrant Amnesty Program. During this time, Austin residents can take care of unpaid citations, have warrant fees on outstanding warrant cases waived, and have active warrants cleared.
Individuals who resolve active warrants will have warrant fees waived; however, they must contact the court to take advantage of this program. No officers will be sent out to take defendants into custody during this time frame, and those who come to any Austin Municipal Court or Community Court location voluntarily will not be arrested. This program applies only to active cases in front of the Austin Municipal Court or Downtown Austin Community Court.
|
| | | It's My Park Day – March 2
The Austin Parks Foundation is holding its semi-annual It's My Park Day on Saturday, March 2 at project sites across the city. Originally held once per year, It's My Park Day has become Austin's largest city-wide volunteer event and now encompasses both a spring and fall date. In Spring 2018, over 3,000 volunteers worked on nearly 100 projects across town, and in Fall 2018 over 2,000 people volunteered on nearly 85 projects. As It's My Park Day continues to grow, the Austin Parks Foundation partnering with restaurants and businesses across the city so you get more when you give. Wear your Spring 2019 IMPD t-shirt to any of the partner locations and receive great discounts and giveaways! You can find a list of projects, register to participate, see FAQs, and more here. |
| | | Austin Resource Recovery Plastic Bag Survey
Austin Resource recovery invites you to provide your thoughts on how to reduce plastic bag usage in Austin. Though the single use bag ban is no longer in effect, the City is exploring ways to promote voluntary participation. To share your input, take the online survey here. |
| | | Workshop for Loop 360 Project at Courtyard Drive/RM 2222 – March 7
The Texas Department of Transportation ( TxDOT), in conjunction with the City of Austin, is moving forward with the Loop 360 project at Courtyard Drive/RM 2222. The project includes removing the traffic signal on the Loop 360 main lanes at Courtyard Drive and adding an underpass where the Loop 360 main lanes cross under Courtyard Drive. The project also proposes reconfiguring Loop 360 at RM 2222 to a diverging diamond intersection (DDI).
On March 7, TxDOT is hosting a public workshop for the project. At the workshop, the project team will gather feedback on the recommended improvements to help guide the next planning phases. The feedback received will help shape factors such as environmental analysis, final design and construction. The public workshop will be in an open house format, so attendees may come and go at their convenience.
March 7 4-6:30 p.m. Riverbend Church (Community Center) 4214 N. Capital of Texas Highway
If you are unable to attend the workshop in person, a virtual workshop will be available on the website at loop360project.com. Interested citizens can view meeting materials, take our survey and comment online. Future workshops will be held to gather input on the additional intersections.
|
| | | Austin Water Wastewater Averaging
From November to March, Austin Water calculates customers' wastewater usage to determine monthly billing for the next year. Wastewater averaging is used as a way to save customers money since most of the water during these months goes directly into the sanitary sewer system instead of being used for outdoor watering. To learn about how to save water and possibly lower your wastewater bill, visit http://waterwiseaustin.org.
|
| | | Austin Resource Recovery Personalized Schedules
Wondering when Austin Resource Recovery is scheduled to pick up trash, yard trimmings, bulk items, or other things? You can download a personalized pickup schedule for all curbside services by entering your address into the online ARR collection schedule tool. You can add your schedule to Google, iCal or Outlook, or you can print it. You also can sign up for text, email or phone reminders and alerts. |
| | D10 Call for Artists and Musicians
Do you know a local artist whose work you'd like to share with your neighbors? If you or someone you know have a knack for painting, singing, drawing, guitar, photography, etc., we would love the opportunity to feature work from District 10 artists in the newsletter!
To submit an artist/piece to be featured here, please email my Communications and Outreach Coordinator, April Brown, at April.Brown@austintexas.gov. If you are sending in your visual artwork, please include a photo of the work you would like to share with your neighbors, the work's title, year, medium/materials, and a link to your website if you have one. Also encouraged is a bit of background info, such as: - What/who inspired the work?
- What do you hope viewers/listeners will feel/think?
- Why did you choose the medium, subject matter, style?
For musicians, please send a photo of the musician(s), a brief description of the artist's or band's background, music genre, instruments played, etc. If a band website or online link exists, please feel free to share that as well.
We also are looking for musicians to play at City Hall! If you or your group are interested in playing before Council, please send us an email indicating your interest and include the information above with a link to your music.
Through these artist features, we hope to showcase some of the many talents and passions of District 10 residents and increase awareness of the importance of art in our communities. |
| | | | |
