Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2008, isn’t just a chance to vote in the most exciting presidential election in our lifetimes. Austin voters also will decide on two proposed Charter amendments. This week is your final chance to register and ensure your ballot is counted on election day.

Oct. 6 is the last day to register to vote. To get information about registering to vote, visit the Texas Secretary of State’s Web site.

Two charter amendments will be on the Austin ballot this year:

• Proposed changes to the City Auditor’s appointment and term of office. If approved, the City Council will appoint a City Auditor to a five-year term. (Ballot language)
• A citizen initiative to prohibit the City from providing financial incentives as part of future or certain existing development agreements for projects that include one or more retail uses.(Ballot language)

There’s still time to register to vote in this election, so don’t hesitate. Register to vote today.

As part of the FY 2009 budget, Austin Public Library branches will be closed on Thursday or Friday of each week. Funds saved from these one-day closures will be reallocated to the library system’s custodial, security, maintenance and materials budgets.

All locations except the Faulk Central Library will close one day a week on the least busy day with one nearby library open when the other is closed. This will ensure that no area of the City is without library service. The days selected for closing are the least busy times for that location, minimizing the service impact on library customers.

For additional information or hours of operation call (512) 974-7400 or visit www.cityofaustin.org/library.

Austin is considering a proposal for the Boardwalk Trail at Lady Bird Lake, which would extend the Lady Bird Lake hike and bike trail more than one mile from the east side of the Austin American-Statesman building to Lakeshore Park. Currently, pedestrians, runners and bikers are forced to use the Riverside Drive sidewalk over Interstate 35.

Right now there are two ways for Austinites to get involved.

• Take the Boardwalk trail survey online.

Attend an open house session on the project:

• 6:30 – 8 p.m. Wednesday, October 1, 2008, at One Texas Center, Room 325, 505 Barton Springs Road
• 6 – 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, October 8, 2008, at Parks and Recreation Department, Board Room, 200 S. Lamar

If you have any questions about the proposed project, you can contact David Kim Taylor, Project Manager, at 512-974-7132.

National Night Out celebrates 25 years

Neighborhoods throughout Austin are invited to join with thousands of communities nationwide on Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2008, to participate in the 25th Annual National Night Out. APD officers, EMS and fire fighters will join City Council Members and other City officials in attending neighborhood parties throughout Austin.

National Night Out is a great opportunity for citizens, law enforcement and other public safety officials to join forces. Events are planned to promote crime prevention and drug prevention awareness and to strengthen the police - community partnership.

For more information about participating, visit Austin Police Department's National Night Out page.

Provide input about the future of the East Riverside Corridor

Let the City know what you think is appropriate for the E. Riverside Corridor now and in the future by taking an online questionnaire and Visual Preferences Survey. The online survey will be available until Oct. 20, 2008.

There are 100 questions, and the survey will take approximately 20-30 minutes to complete. To complete the online survey, see the links for English and Spanish versions at the top of the East Riverside Corridor Plan page.

The preliminary project area includes properties within 1,000 feet of Riverside Drive from Interstate 35 to Texas 71/Ben White Boulevard. Riverside Drive is an important commercial corridor and traffic artery, with great potential to become a gateway into the city and a destination in its own right.

The master planning process will explore opportunities to bring future development along East Riverside Drive in line with the goals of the neighborhoods' residents and businesses. It will establish a long-term vision, plan and implementation strategy for the corridor, including specific recommendations for land use, urban design, transportation, and infrastructure improvements.

Look for public meetings to be scheduled on this important topic through March 2009.

Police host Community Symposium

Austinites are invited to the 2008 Austin Police Department Community Symposium. Morning sessions include prominent public safety figures including Chief Art Acevedo, and Sheriff Greg Hamilton, while afternoon break out sessions focus on the future of transportation in Austin, highway enforcement, home security and personal safety, the problem of hate groups in America and more. The final session is hosted by City Manager Marc Ott.

The event is Wednesday, Oct 29, 2008, at the Hilton Austin Airport Hotel Space is limited, and there is a $20 registration fee. For more information contact Jimmy Butler at 974-6262.

Millennium Youth Entertainment Complex 10 year anniversary survey

The Millennium Youth Entertainment Complex is approaching its tenth year of operation, and it’s time to check in with Austin to find out how well the facility is meeting Austin’s needs. A quick survey allows Austin residents to provide feedback on the complex’s services and activities.

The Austin Parks and Recreation Department will host a Millennium Youth Entertainment Complex Special Youth Session on 11 a.m. -12:30 p.m., Oct. 4, 2008, at Virginia L. Brown Gym, at 7500 Blessing Ave. This session will provide Austin youth a forum to discuss how they use the complex.

The facility features a 154-seat theater, 16 bowling lanes, roller skating rink, video arcade and a food court. The facility is at 1156 Hargrave St., in the heart of East Austin. The community’s vision for this facility is to provide an affordable, safe, fun and healthy environment for youth and families, for years to come.