| Dear Neighbors, May is Wildfire Awareness Month. According to the National Fire Protection Association, more than 72,000 U.S. communities are currently at risk. The topography in District 10 makes us especially vulnerable to the spread of wildfires. However, our Firewise team has been working alongside the Austin Fire Department's Wildfire Division to assist communities in mitigating the risk of wildfires. A big part of making your property and our community safer is for each of us to learn more about how fires get started and travel, how best to prevent them from spreading, and by having a plan in place if there is a wildfire in your area.
To get started, take the online Homeowner Fire Assessment or call 3-1-1 to request a fire assessment of your property. The results of these assessments will provide you with ways to maintain your property and customized recommendations for safeguarding your home. You can also check out the Travis County Community Wildfire map to see which areas in Austin are at risk.
As you familiarize yourself with the resources provided by NFPA and Austin's Firewise team, be sure to check out the Austin/Travis County Community Wildfire Protection Plan. Share the information and talk with your neighbors about protecting your communities from wildfires. Raising awareness of wildfire risk is extremely important because as the Wildfire Division will tell you, it’s not a question of if another major wildfire will hit us – but when. Wildfire is everyone’s fight. Know your risk, take steps to reduce it, and become fire adapted.
Kind regards,
Alison Alter
Council Member, District 10
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Table of Contents - District 10 CodeNEXT Town Hall – May 16
- CodeNEXT Public Hearings *New Meeting Added*
- District 10 Budget Town Hall – June 18
- Mental Health Awareness Month
- Voting in the Texas Primary Runoffs
- Mini Traffic Jam – May 19
- "Is Shoal Creek Healthy?" – May 19
- West Austin Studio Tour – May 19 & 20
- District 10 Artist Feature – Hai Zheng
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| | | District 10 CodeNEXT Town Hall – May 16
REMINDER: In order to further answer your questions and help familiarize neighbors with the third draft and current proposals, I am holding a CodeNEXT town hall on May 16. This is another opportunity for folks to learn about CodeNEXT, answer questions, and provide input so I can best represent your needs. Everyone is welcome, so please feel free to share with your neighbors! Wednesday, May 16, 2018 6:30-8:30 p.m. Congregation Beth Israel 3901 Shoal Creek Blvd, 78756 |
| | CodeNEXT Public Hearings *New Meeting Added*
The land use commissions had their first public hearings on Saturday, April 28, and Tuesday, May 2. More than 150 people spoke during the eight hours of public testimony. Following these meetings, the Planning Commission has scheduled an additional public hearing in advance of the City Council public hearing.
These meetings are an opportunity for you to speak to the land use commissions and City Council about the current draft. Sign ups to speak at the public hearings will begin 60 minutes before each meeting. Planning Commission Public Hearing- 12-4 p.m. Tuesday, May 22 – City Hall, 301 W. 2nd St.
Austin City Council Public Hearings- 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 29 – City Hall, 301 W. 2nd St.
- 10 a.m. Saturday, June 2 – City Hall, 301 W. 2nd St.
If you cannot attend these hearings, please visit the Community Engagement page on the CodeNEXT website for ways to provide input online. |
| | | District 10 Budget Town Hall – June 18 As you may know, City Council recently adopted an outcomes-based strategic plan to guide Austin over the next several years. Each City department will be creating budget recommendations that align with the Strategic Direction and each of the plan's six outcomes. In addition to the hyperlink above, more information about each of the outcomes can be found in the slides presented during the Budget Work Session on March 7. To help further explain the Strategic Direction and answer questions about the outcomes, my office is hosting a Budget Town Hall in conjunction with the City Budget Office on June 18. Please
As we enter the budget process for FY19, I would also like to share with you the city's financial forecasts for the next several years. This information was presented to Council by the Budget Office and includes a timeline for this year's budget process, which I am also including below. |
| | | | Mental Health Awareness Month
May also marks the national observance of Mental Health Month. One in five Americans are affected by a mental health condition. This month provides an important opportunity to raise awareness of mental health resources and reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness. Please visit the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Austin affiliate website for a calendar of events and for a list of local resources.
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| | | | | Voting in the Texas Primary Runoffs
Early voting is this week for the 2018 Primary Runoffs! Travis County has 22 early voting locations open from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. through Friday, May 18. Several mobile voting sites are also available with varying hours of operation. To see a list of voting locations and sample ballots for each party, please visit the Travis County Clerk’s website.
Check your voter registration status and find answers to early voting FAQs before you go!
Election Day is on May 22, 2018. Please note that you are not constrained to voting at a location in your registered precinct. Travis County voters can vote at any of the locations listed here.
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| | | Mini Traffic Jam – May 19
Capital Metro is hosting a Mini Traffic Jam to discuss Project Connect, CapMetro's vision for a high-capacity transit system in Central Texas. Join project leaders to learn about Project Connect in your neighborhood, ask questions, and provide input at the event on Saturday. Attendees will also receive a bus pass. If you cannot attend, future events can be found on the Traffic Jam page. You can also take the online survey to provide input on projects.
Saturday, May 19, 2018 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Westover Hill Church of Christ 8332 Mesa Drive
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| | | | “Is Shoal Creek Healthy?" – May 19
Join the Shoal Creek Conservancy and the City of Austin’s Watershed Protection Department for “Is Shoal Creek Healthy?" this weekend! On this walk, attendees will explore the components of a healthy, clean, and resilient creek, and look at opportunities for restoring the creek right in the heart of downtown. The tour will include comments by the Conservancy and will be led by their partners, Mateo Scoggins and Darcy Nuffer, with the Watershed Protection Department. Members of the Committee are strongly encouraged to attend this site visit if they are available. This event was rescheduled due to rain earlier this month. If you are planning to attend, please register for the event here.
Saturday, May 19th, 2018 9-10:30 a.m. Duncan Park 900 W. 9th Street
Please wear comfortable walking shoes, weather-appropriate clothing, and bring water and a snack if desired. Street parking is available along 9th Street. Attendees will walk approximately one mile along the Shoal Creek Trail and near the creek. |
| | | West Austin Studio Tour – May 19 & 20
Big Medium’s West Austin Studio Tour (WEST) is a free, annual, self-guided art event spanning two weekends in May. WEST provides opportunities for the public to meet the artists and artisans of Austin in their creative spaces. This year, we celebrate the 7th edition of WEST, which includes 381 participants: 198 Artist Studios, 155 Exhibitions, 20 Happenings, and 8 Libraries. The second weekend of the tour open on May 19-20, 2018 from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. To find an online version of the catalog and map, please visit the WEST website. |
| | | District 10 Artist Feature – Hai Zheng
Thank you to District 10 cellist Hai Zheng for her wonderful performance at City Hall last week! It was a delight to have you play at the Council meeting, and was especially fitting that day as the City presented proclamations honoring Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.
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Do you know a local artist whose work you'd love to share with your neighbors? If you or someone you know have a knack for painting, drawing, 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 own work, 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 its viewers will feel/think?
- Why did you choose the medium, subject matter, style?
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. |
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