Dear Neighbors,
I am pleased to share some updates on three projects I have long worked to bring to District 10: a joint Fire and EMS station, a preserve and public garden honoring Carol Lee, and the renovated Dell Jewish Community Center. You can learn more about each of these recent openings below.
Davenport/360 Fire and EMS Station
In 2018 I was proud to set in motion an ambitious goal to build and staff 5 new Fire/EMS stations. On May 26, we celebrated the official opening of the third station, located at Davenport/360. This station will improve response times in my district and is critical for our wildfire preparedness and prevention efforts. It was especially fitting to celebrate this opening during Wildfire Awareness Month and EMS Week!
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Carol Lee Preserve and Memorial Garden
On May 23, we honored my constituent and friend, Carol Lee, with the dedication of a 34 acre wildlife preserve and a public memorial garden near 360 and 2222 adjacent to The Reserve at Lake Austin Retirement Community. Carol passed away in 2018, and spent her final months working with my office to secure this preserve as part of the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve.
I still miss Carol’s presence. Carol devoted her energy, intellect, and thousands of hours to improve Austin. She was tireless in her dedication and commitment to protect the environment, improve our parks, and enhance our community.
Thank you to Linda Bailey, Marisa Lipscher, Jonathan Coon, HPI Real Estate, the neighbors of the Lake Austin Collective, the staff at the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve and at the Reserve at Lake Austin Retirement Community, and Linda’s husband, Peter Sawyer, for their partnership throughout this project and their dedication to honoring Carol’s memory.
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Dell Jewish Community Center
On May 15th I joined Shalom Austin, the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation, and leaders from Austin’s Jewish community for a ribbon cutting for the renovated Dell Jewish Community Campus (JCC) in Northwest Hills. The updated JCC includes a fitness center, living room, café, education center, meeting rooms, and many more amenities. My family and I have been to countless events on this campus, and I'm excited to see the ways our community will come together in this new space. Thank you to the many people who worked tirelessly to see this vision come to life.
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These new spaces will serve our community well. When you can, please visit the JCC and the Carol Lee Garden this summer and stop by the new station to welcome our new EMS medics and Firefighters. In the remainder of this letter, you will find information on my summer town hall and office hours, the return of the Zilker shuttle, summer pool openings, and more.
Congratulations to all of the recent graduates in my district, including my son, Zachary Suri!
Regards,
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Council Member, District 10 |
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Summer Town Hall and Office Hours
Council Recap
Featured District 10 Greenspace: Laguna Gloria
Council Member Alter in the Community
City Services Updates
Announcements Congrats to APD Cadet Class 147! Elevate Grant for Austin Creatives Thank you to St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church! Kudos to the Highland Park Elementary Archery Team
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Summer Town Hall and Office Hours Save the date! I’m hosting a budget town hall in the evening on Thursday, July 27. The town hall will include in-person and virtual attendance options. I’ll also be holding daytime office hours that week. More details to come in my June newsletter. |
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Austin Light Rail Update On Tuesday, May 23, the Austin Transportation Partnership staff announced their official recommendation for the first phase of the proposed light rail system path. After reviewing professional expert opinions, along with community input at various forums throughout town, they recommend the 38th Street to Oltorf to Yellow Jacket option for the first phase of the Austin Light Rail Implementation Plan. Their full report and recommendation can be viewed at atptx.org. Information about future expansions can also be found here: atptx.org/faqs. On May 30, the Council discussed ATP staff’s recommendation during our Council Work Session, which you may view here beginning at 2 minutes and 20 seconds. From June 1 to June 6, 2023, the Austin City Council, ATP Board of Directors, and CapMetro Board of Directors will vote on the ATP staff’s recommendation with final actions taken during a Joint Partnership meeting on June 6, 2023.
May 18 Council Meeting Council approved investments I’ve previously championed in access to childcare and workforce development, including funding for workforce development initiatives targeting childcare providers. Council also invested in Phase II of the planned improvements to the Asian American Resource Center and supported a resolution from Council Member Velásquez that designated all in-use City recreation centers and public libraries as participants in the Safe Place program. |
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Featured District 10 Greenspace: Laguna Gloria Laguna Gloria is a beloved District 10 outdoor space only a few miles from downtown. The grounds display contemporary sculpture from around the world along wooded trails. Laguna Gloria also hosts the historic Driscoll Villa, an outlet of Rosedale’s Spread & Co. cafe, a gift shop, and an art school which offers classes for trained artists and newcomers alike.
I encourage you to plan a family visit to Laguna Gloria this summer! Find hours and ticket info here.
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Speaking at NWACA Annual Meeting It was a pleasure to speak with constituents at the NWACA (Northwest Austin Civic Association) annual meeting on May 11. |
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Celebrating EMS Week I recognized the hardworking EMS medics, leaders, and administrative staff who provide lifesaving care in our community with a proclamation during EMS Week. |
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Wildfire Awareness Month We had a special guest at the May 18th Council meeting! Smokey Bear, and the Austin Fire Department joined me for a proclamation in honor of Wildfire Awareness Month. Learn more about Austin’s wildfire risk and the preparedness efforts I’ve championed together with the Wildfire Division in this recent piece from Bloomberg CityLab or in my last newsletter. |
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May Office Hours Great turnout at District 10 office hours last week. Thank you to 5280 Burger and Taphouse for hosting! |
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Summer Pool and Splash Pad Schedule In District 10, Deep Eddy remains open and other pools including Murchison, Ramsey, and Reed pools are scheduled to open for the season on June 5th. Find the full summer pool schedule here. |
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Zilker Shuttle The FREE Zilker Shuttle is back! To use it, park at One Texas Center (505 Barton Springs Rd.) and validate your parking ticket on the shuttle bus. Shuttles run every 20 minutes, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., every weekend through Labor Day. |
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Congrats to APD Cadet Class 147! Congrats to Austin Police Department’s 147th cadet class! Thank you for choosing to serve Austin. |
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Elevate Grant for Austin Creatives The Elevate Grant will offer $10,000 to $75,000 grants for arts organizations, individual artists, and creative businesses. Grant funds may be used for creative, administrative, and operational expenses incurred in producing creative activities and events for the public. Applications are open through June 27. |
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Thank you to St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church! Thank you to St. Matthew’s Church in my district for always being willing to step up and serve our community. St. Matthew’s hosted the NWACA annual meeting on May 11, and they have hosted several of my town halls. They are also hosting my congregation, Congregation Beth Israel, for worship while we renovate our spaces following damage due to arson.
St. Matthew’s is also in talks with the City to serve as an emergency supply and shelter area in District 10. Austin Homeland Security and Emergency Management is currently seeking other community centers to serve as emergency hubs. Email District10@AustinTexas.gov for more information.
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Kudos to the Highland Park Elementary Archery Team These fifth grade archers took home the national championship!
Photo from KXAN. |
