08 Jun Central Texas Environmental Policy Events for June 8-14, 2009
This is a weekly feature listing upcoming meetings, events, and items of concern to environmental activists.
Highlights (Details after the fold):
MONDAY: SH 45 SW will be taken up by CAMPO, though there is no action expected. There will be citizens comments from the environmental community. CAMPO will also enter into some interlocal agreements with the TTI and the San Antonio COG for transportation and air quality studies and possibly approve stimulus funding items.
TUESDAY: The Parks Board will host a discussion on the department’s proposed budget reductions.
WEDNESDAY: The Urban Forestry Board will host a discussion on the department’s proposed budget reductions.
WEDNESDAY: The Solid Waste Advisory Commission holds its first meeting since its director was reassigned, taking up departmental organizational assessment, a plastic bag resolution, and updates on the MRF, Master Plan, Greenstar Contract, and the dept. budget.
WEDNESDAY: The Water and Wastewater Commission applies for $53 million
in stimulus funding for various wastewater projects and hears a presentation from Daryl Slusher on water conservation.
WEDNESDAY: COA holds a public forum on the budget and citizens’ priorities.
THURSDAY: The City Council considers funding the Solid Waste Master Plan for $1.5 million, creates the industry-requested Generation Resource Planning Task Force to fight against expensive clean energy projects, hears a presentation on proposed amendments to the tree regulations, hears 3rd reading of the Waterfront Overlay ordinance changes, and passes the 2009 Bicycle Plan Update.
THURSDAY: The Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District meets
THURSDAY: West Bouldin Creek Greenbelt stakeholders meet to develop a
long-term plan for use and maintenance of the greenbelt.
SATURDAY: Free rainwater harvesting seminar
SATURDAY: Free hike and lecture in Barton Creek protected bird habitat
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Monday, June 8
4:00pm: CAMPO Work Session
Item #1: Discuss options for distributing $29.1 million in stimulus funding
5:00pm: CAMPO Transportation Policy Board
Item #1b: Bastrop and Caldwell Counties are joining CAMPO
Item #3: Presentation from the SH 45 SW committee and discussion of next steps.
Item #4: Citizens Comments
Item #6: Interlocal Agreement with the Texas Transportation Institute
for Forecasting Bicycle and Pedestrian Usage and Researching Data
Collection Equipment
Item #7: Interlocal Agreement with the Texas Transportation Institute
for assistance with Air Quality Emissions Analyses
Item #8: Consider authorizing the Executive Director to negotiate and
enter into a sole source contract with the Eastern Research Group for
Refinements to the Greenhouse Gas Analysis
Item #9: Consider authorizing the Executive Director to negotiate and
enter into an Interlocal Agreement with the Alamo Area Council of
Governments (AACOG) to add AACOG funding to the CAMPO air quality
outreach contract and provide outreach services to the AACOG area
Item #10: Consider approving stimulus fund projects and amending them
into the FY 2008-2011 TIP.
Location: UT Thompson Conference Center, Room 2.102
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/agenda/2009/downloads/campo_trans_060809ws.pdf
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/agenda/2009/downloads/campo_trans_060809.pdf
7:00pm: Conserve Energy and Save Money Seminar
In the midst of a dry summer and an economic downturn, the Austin
Public Library offers a series of Green Living talks presented by
Austin Energy — the folks who know Austin, its climate and its energy
situation best. Learn ways to conserve energy and water as well as
save money. These talks are free and open to the public.
Location: Terrazas Branch Library, 1105 Cesar Chavez
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/library/news/nr20090512b.htm
7:00pm: Save Barton Creek Association Board Meeting
Location: This week we will adjourn to the CAMPO meeting
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Tuesday, June 9
9:00am: Travis County Commissioner’s Court
Item #17: Consider a policy to reimburse emissions repair facilities
for repairs made to low-income vehicles even if the repairs don’t
result in a passing test.
Item #A1: Consider granting alternate staff the authority to sign
contractual and closing documents for floodplain property buyouts.
Location: Travis County Commissioner’s Courtroom
http://www.co.travis.tx.us/commissioners_court/agendas/voting_session_agenda.asp
http://www.co.travis.tx.us/commissioners_court/agendas/2009/04/backup/eAgenda_Packet_20090609.pdf
5:00pm: Austin Airport Advisory Commission
the usual briefings
Location: 2716 Spirit of Texas Dr.
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/agenda/2009/downloads/airport_060909.pdf
6:00pm: Planning Commission
Item #4: South Shore PUD (Riverside area)
Item #6: Annexation of 6.68 acres of Westlake Hills into WCID #10.
This will provide COA wholesale water to 4 new SF properties, with
septic for wastewater. These tracts are located next to Stratford Dr.
No word on whether this is an early manifestation of the plan to annex
the remainder of Westlake into WCID #10 to lessen the load on
groundwater pumping.
Item #11: Winkley Loma Vista Final Plan, 5 lots on 7.67 acres in the
BS Contributing Zone (Williamson Creek).
Location: City Hall, Council Chambers
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/agenda/2009/downloads/planning_060909.pdf
6:00pm: Robert Mueller Municipal Airport Plan Implementation Advisory Commission
Item #8: Mueller development update
Item #9: Work Plan updates
Location: Waller Creek Center, Room 105
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/agenda/2009/downloads/mueller_060909.pdf
6:30pm: Parks and Recreation Board Special
Discussion regarding proposed FY 2009-2010 budget reductions
Location: 200 S Lamar
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/agenda/2009/downloads/pard_060909s.pdf
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Wednesday, June 10
11:30am: Waller Creek Citizen Advisory Committee Implementation Subcommittee
Item #2: presentation of Publicly owned land
Item #3: Long-term implementation committee organization
Location: One Texas Center, Conference Room 10a
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/agenda/2009/downloads/waller_impl_061009.pdf
3:00pm-7:00pm: Austin Farmer’s Market
Buy local, organic
Location: The Triangle, 46th and Lamar
http://www.austinfarmersmarket.org
6:00pm: Urban Forestry Board Special
Item #3a: Budget reduction presentation
Location: 200 S Lamar
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/agenda/2009/downloads/forestry_061009s.pdf
6:00pm: Water and Wastewater Commission
Item #8: Annexation of 6.68 acres of Westlake Hills into WCID #10.
Item #10: Accept grant funding from the Bureau of Reclamation for the
Direct-Install Toilet Replacement Program and the Subsurface Leak
Detection Program to include City matching funds in an amount not to
exceed $4.7 million.
Item #11: Apply for $53 million in stimulus funding from the TWDB for
capital funding for the implementation of wastewater projects that are
in the Austin Water Utility’s 5-year Capital Improvement Program.
Item #12: Budget subcommittee report
Item #14: Presentation on water conservation and reclaimed water
Location: Waller Creek Center, Room 104
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/water/wwcommission/calendar.cfm?EventName=Commission%20Meeting&EventID=97&CurntDate=06/10/2009&Action=ShowEvent
6:30pm: COA Budget Town Hall Meeting
The city will hold a public hearing to gather input for necessary
budget reductions for the next fiscal year.
Location: Northwest Recreation Center, 2913 Northland Dr.
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/agenda/2009/downloads/budget_town_hall_061009.pdf
6:30pm: Solid Waste Advisory Commission
Item #3: Organizational Assessment of SWS Currently in Progress. With
the director being reassigned, it will be interesting to see what
comes next.
Item #4c: Plastic bag resolution
Item #5a: MRF update
Item #5b: Master Plan update
Item #5c: Greenstar contract update
Item #5d: Solid Waste Services budget
Location: CIty Hall, Council Chambers
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/agenda/2009/downloads/swac_061009.pdf
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Thursday, June 11
10:00am: Austin City Council
Item #3: $100k solar rebate
Item #4: Accept $3 million in grant funding from the Bureau of
Reclamation for the direct-install toilet replacement program and the
subsurface leak detection program. City match of $4.7 million max.
Item #7-8: $260k in Airport noise mitigation buyouts
Item #10: $2 million in sidewalk and ADA ramp improvements from the
2000 bond fund.
Item #12: $1.5 million for the Solid Waste Management master plan
Item #32: Make ordinance changes to prepare for new modernized parking
pay systems.
Item #39: Create the Austin Generation Resource Planning Task Force.
This is the task force that industrial customers demanded when Council
approved the Solar PV contract and they complained about higher rates.
Item #40: Declare transparency a core value in the design and
execution of the new City website.
10:30am
Item #48: Briefing on the FY 2009-2010 budget development process.
2:00pm
Item #52: Presentation on proposed amendments to tree regulations.
Item #53: Briefing on the proposed Whisper Valley/Indian Hills
Development agreement. This is a huge 2,340 acre greenfield
development adjacent to SH 130.
6:00pm
Item #74: 3rd hearing of the Waterfront Overlay District
Item #75: Public hearing and action on the Bike Plan. This was
already heard at the last meeting, but could not be approved due to a
technicality. This should be passed without much ado.
Location: City Hall, Council Chambers
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/council_meetings/public_meeting_agenda.cfm?meetingid=174
6:00pm: Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District
Agenda pending
Location: 1124 Regal Row
http://www.bseacd.org
6:00pm: West Bouldin Creek Greenbelt Stakeholders Meeting
The BNCA Parks Committee has been working since the summer of 2007
with the City of Austin’s Parks and Recreation and Watershed
Protection Departments to develop a long term plan for the use and
maintenance of the 54 acre West Bouldin Greenbelt. Lady Bird Johnson
Wildflower Center has conducted an environmental assessment of 7 acres
of the greenbelt, adjacent to S 6th St. and North of Gibson. LBJWFC
and Watershed Protection will present their assessment and some of the
potential design and land management options to address the ecological
problems they identified at the site. They are looking for public
feedback on the potential options for the park.
Location: Becker Elementary School Cafeteria, 906 W Milton
http://www.austinparks.org/calendarofevents.php
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Friday, June 12
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Saturday, June 13
8:00am-10:00am: Balcones Canyonlands Preserve Hike and Lecture Series
Enjoy this special opportunity to learn about management techniques,
including prescribed fire and brush management, employed by the Nature
Conservancy on this 4,083 acre preserve dedicated to the BCP. The
Nature Conservancy has managed the Barton Creek Habitat Preserve
(BCHP) since it was acquired in 1994. Their land management strategies
enhance habitat for endangered golden-cheeked warblers and
black-capped vireos. Four miles of Barton Creek also flow within its
boundaries, allowing a significant section of this locally famous
creek to be conserved for future generations. Interestingly, the creek
continued to flow during the summer of 2006 despite extreme drought
conditions; illustrating the important connection between wildlands
and the waterways they can help sustain.
Location: RSVP for details
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/water/wildland/onlineregistration/ecowebevents.cfm
9:00am-12:00pm: Rainwater Harvesting Seminar
Free educational seminar by the Travis County Master Gardeners on
Rainwater Harvesting
Location: River Place Country Club, 4207 River Place Blvd.
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/events/city_calendar.cfm?action=EventDetail&event_id=36169
9:00am-1:00pm: Austin Farmer’s Market
Buy local, organic.
Location: Republic Square Park
http://www.austinfarmersmarket.org
9:30am-1:00pm: Sunset Valley Farmer’s Market
Buy local, organic
Location: Toney Burger Center
http://www.sunsetvalleyfarmersmarket.org
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Sunday, June 14
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