First, let's thank Eleanor McKinney, chair of the CodeNEXT Committee for the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) Austin section for forwarding a resolution (which was passed unanimously by the Environmental Board) and asks that the "City of Austin adopt an ecological systems based approach to CodeNEXT to develop a code that requires and incentivizes the integration of green infrastructure into the compact and connected environments the new code will seek to encourage." 

The resolution is not yet council backed. If you communicate with current or potential candidates you might let them know what you value. 

Second, the Code Approach Alternatives document (with three options) will be released by the consultants of Opticos on September 2nd and then on September 4th there is a community stakeholder event from 6:00pm – 8:30pm at the UT Thompson Conference Center. This is the time to get involved people! Mark your calendars!This will lead to Council consideration and a vote on the plan in October.

You can just show up but if you want to read up before this event then check out the CodeNEXT website:

• Listening to the Community Report
• Code Diagnosis
• Community Character Manual
• plus various community viewpoints and issue papers.

You can also submit your viewpoint here!>>
If you are interested in the direction of this plan then share your views with council and candidates as the next council will have a chance to review and modify whatever is adopted by the current council.

FYI – I wrote a blog about the most recent Land Development Code Advisory Group meeting that covers some of the real tensions as well as misconceptions about the CodeNEXT development process. Read it here>>
 

For the first time ever, my husband Scott and I will be on the stage at the same time, giving a talk at the Renewable Energy Roundup and Sustainable Living Expo in Belton, TX. The subject of our session is families, and how they can live more sustainably. We're still debating a catchy title if you want to send me ideas. Make plans for you and your family, co-workers, and eco-compadres to get up to Belton for all or part of this educational and entertaining three-day event September 26-28. More info>>

Its official. The filing deadline for candidates to toss their hat into the ring for the upcoming council and mayoral elections has passed and there are a whopping 78 people running!That may sound a bit overwhelming, but don't worry. Over here at the Austin EcoNetwork we will be working hard to keep you as informed as possible with updates on candidate forums, endorsement meetings and major election issues. But before we can even get started, it's important that you know which district you are in. You can figure that out here>> and then stay tuned for lots of good information in the weeks and months to come!
 

Didn't we just promise you more election news? Well here it is. The Austin Environmental Democrats hosted an endorsement meeting this week for the city council candidates from Districts 1,2, and 3. According to AED bylaws, candidates must receive at least 60 percent of the vote in order to receive an endorsement. The only person to achieve this from any of the three districts was Delia Garza from District 2, who had no opposing candidates in attendance and pulled 96.7 percent of the vote. Throughout her presentation to AED, Garza emphasized her desire to be an advocate for working class families and identified flooding as the number one environmental issue in her district.Learn more about Garza and even listen to a recording of her speaking at the AED meeting on Amy Stansbury's blog, here>>. Next week when we'll be posting blogs about the AED candidate forums for Districts 1 and 3 as well.