At Your Doorstep July 2003

At Your Doorstep Departments

Big Ideas

Water conservation drives home programs: Win a Honda Civic hybrid

Conserving water in Austin has always been important - especially in the summer when water usage nearly doubles to more than 200 million gallons per day.

The reasons to conserve water are to save money, save water, and help reduce peak demand on the City of Austin's water treatment and delivery system. But this summer, residents will be able to add another reason to conserve. First Texas Honda donated a 2004 Honda Civic hybrid to be given to a City of Austin Water Conservation Program participant early next year.

Several water conservation programs are available for participation including a free toilet replacement program; a toilet rebate program; rebates on front-loading washing machines; irrigation system audits and rebates; rainbarrel purchases and rebates; WaterWise landscaping rebates; rainwater collection system rebates and attendance at a free WaterWise Seminar.

Information on each of these water conservation programs and information about the car giveaway is available on the Austin City Connection, www.cityofaustin.org/watercon. You also may contact the Water Conservation staff at (512) 974-2199 or visit staff at the Water Conservation office, 625 E. 10th St., Suite 615.

To be eligible to register for the Honda Civic hybrid, you must have participated in a water conservation program between June 1, 2003, and Dec. 31, 2003. Registration forms are provided after completion of one or more of the Water Conservation programs. The forms will either be given to you in person, mailed to you, or may be picked up at 625 E. 10th St., Suite 615. Registration forms will not be mailed to participants after Dec. 1.

Registration forms must be dropped off at First Texas Honda, 1301 W. Koenig Lane. The deadline to submit a registration form to First Texas Honda is Jan. 5, 2004.

The City of Austin continues to provide easy ways to help residents save water. Visit, www.cityofaustin.org/watercon to get the latest information on the City of Austin's effort to help residents and businesses conserve water.

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Comings & Goings

Mayor Will Wynn

With former Mayor Gus Garcia's retirement, Will Wynn was sworn June 16 as Austin's 53rd mayor. More information about Mayor Will Wynn and his staff is available on the Austin City Connection, www.cityofaustin.org/council/wynn.htm.

Council Member Brewster McCracken, Place 5

Will Wynn's vacated Place 5 seat went to Brewster McCracken who won the City Council runoff election June 7. Additional information about Council Member Brewster McCracken and his staff is available at www.cityofaustin.org/council/mccracken.htm.

Council Members Raul Alvarez, Place 2, and Danny Thomas, Place 6, also were sworn in June 16 to second three-year terms on the Austin City Council.

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Neighbor to Neighbor

Keep pets safe July 4

While many look forward to July 4th parades, picnics and fireworks to celebrate America's independence, pets often do not.

Town Lake Animal Center, Austin's animal shelter, sees an increase in population each year around July 4-5. The cause? The booms, bangs, clatters and pops of Independence Day fireworks!

"We have to remember that animals don't relate to the noise and lights of fireworks the way we do," says Dr. Kim Barry, Animal Behaviorist for Town Lake Animal Center. "They are alarmed and traumatized, and many will panic and bolt when fireworks are set off in the neighborhood. The large fireworks ignited for public displays in our parks can even cause panic, injury and loss in pets many miles away because of the deep, resonating 'booms' they create."

Town Lake Animal Center recommends that pet owners be extra vigilant around the holiday.

• Make sure pets are leashed whenever you go out with them so that unexpected noises won't cause them to run off.
• Do not allow pets outside by themselves.
• Be sure your pets are inside the house or at least the garage, preferably with a comfortable, secure hiding place and toys or chews available as a distraction.
• Preferably, keep pets inside the house on July 4. Even pets that have handled the noise and commotion well in the past may have completely different reactions each year.

Owners should ensure that their pet has a current City of Austin registration tag, so that if it does get loose, animal control officers can trace its owner. Pets that are registered with the City can get a free ride home without being processed through Town Lake Animal Center.

If your dog or cat gets lost, be sure and contact Austin/Travis County Animal Services, (512) 972-4738.

Chew treats needed for shelter animals

Town Lake Animal Center needs rawhide bones and chews to help keep the more than 300 dogs in its care calm and safe July 4.

The shelter is on the north shore of Town Lake in very close proximity to the City's largest Fourth of July fireworks display. The noise and lights of the fireworks can cause a great deal of stress for the dogs at the shelter. Shelter managers are putting out the call for rawhide chew treats and toys.

Natural rawhide treats of all shapes and sizes are needed and can be dropped off at the Town Lake Animal Center during business hours: 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Town Lake Animal Center, 1156 W. Cesar Chavez St., is between MoPac Expressway and Lamar Boulevard.

For more information, contact Town Lake Animal Center, (512) 972-4738.

Public asked to prioritize library services

Join the Austin Public Library Commission at 6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 11, at Town Lake Center, 721 Barton Springs Road, on the first floor to discuss the library budget and library service priorities for 2004 as well as future budget planning.

You may also provide input by filling out the Austin Public Library "How are We Doing" Suggestion Card at any of the 21 library locations. Your comments will be forwarded to the Library Commission

The purpose of the Library Commission is to act as an advisory board to the City Council, the City Manager and the Library about issues related to the establishment and operation of the Austin Public Library.

Library Commission meetings are at 6:30 p.m. on the fourth Monday of each month, except for August and December.

For more information call (512) 974-7400 or visit the Web site at www.cityofaustin.org/library.

Library needs volunteers

The Austin Public Library is expanding programs and needs volunteers to help with a wide range of duties.

Austin Public Library
Volunteer Coordinator
P.O. Box 2287
Austin, TX 78768-2287

Volunteers can assist in the following ways:

• Help out with the annual book sale. Volunteers can sign up now to help in the fall. Contact Sharon Edwards, Volunteer Coordinator, at (512) 974- 7443 or e-mail Sharon.Edwards@ci.austin.tx.us.
• Serve on the Friends Board of Directors. Contact Kim Lindros at (512) 250-0105 or e-mail kimlindros@austin.rr.com.
• Become a member of the Friends. Visit the Web site at www.austinlibrary.org or pick up a Friends brochure at the Faulk Central Library or at your local branch library.

Austin Energy fuel charge increases, still among lowest in state

Austin Energy will increase its fuel charge for the first time in almost two years because of higher natural gas prices that have almost doubled from last year and because of the prolonged outage of Unit 1 of the South Texas Project. Austin owns 16 percent of the project.

Fuel is a separate charge on electric bills. It is a dollar-for-dollar pass through to each customer for the fuel needed to generate the electricity used. Austin Energy's base electric rates will not change and have not increased since 1994.

To soften the impact of the additional fuel costs and to collect as much of the additional cost as possible during winter months when electric usage is lower? the necessary fuel charge increase will be implemented in phases: July 1, 2003; Nov. 1, 2003; and Jan. 1, 2004. Step one will be reflected in utility bills received beginning July 1, 2003.

For residential customers, the current fuel charge of 1.774 cents/kilowatt-hour (kWh) will increase to 2.004 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh)?about a 3-4 percent increase in electric bills. The average residential customer uses about 1,188 kWh per month during summer months. At that usage, a typical residential electric bill this July (with the higher fuel charge) will be $101.37 compared to $98.64 last July?a $2.73 increase.

The second step of the increase on Nov. 1, 2003, will increase utility bills on average by another 3-5 percent (Residential to 2.265 cents/kWh; large commercial to 2.198 cents/kWh). The final step on Jan. 1, 2004, will depend on the level of natural gas prices but is currently projected to increase utility bills by another 5-10 percent (Residential to 2.796 cents/kWh; large commercial to 2.712 cents/kWh).

All three steps together, once implemented by Jan. 1, 2004, will increase utility bills by about 13-16 percent for residential customers and 14-21 percent for large commercial customers. Even after a three-step increase by Jan. 1, 2004, Austin Energy's fuel charge will still be among the lowest in the State.

City Parks and Recreation celebrates 75th anniversary

Last month marked the City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department's 75th anniversary.

In June 1928, Superintendent of Recreation James A. Garrison submitted his first Monthly Report to City Manager Adam R. Johnson. The report stated, "The Recreation Division was created during the spring of 1928, and was financed by a special appropriation out of the General Fund of the City in amount of $2,500, which took care of the salary of the superintendent of this department."

The report marked the beginning of the Austin Parks and Recreation Department. A special event has been scheduled for each month of the anniversary year to highlight department programs and services.

In honor of the anniversary, an exhibit of historic photographs are on display at the Austin History Center, 810 Guadalupe St., in July, National Parks and Recreation Month, and August.

Today, the Parks and Recreation Department oversees more than 27,748 acres of land containing 191 parks, 9,114 acres of preserves, and 3,394 acres of creeks and canyon. The department maintains more than 74 miles of hike-and-bike trails; 40 miles of lake patrol; 172 athletic fields; and 90 playscapes.

Other facilities include 17 recreation centers; three senior activity centers; a garden center; a nature and science center; an art center; two party houses; four museums, six amphitheaters; six golf courses; 108 tennis courts; 47 swimming pools; and two beach-front facilities.

For more about the history of the City's Parks and Recreation Department, visit www.cityofaustin.org/parks/history.htm.

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Health Check

Summer shot roundup

Parents, are your children up-to-date on their immunizations?

Free or low-cost immunizations are widely available for school-age children this summer in the Austin area during the "Summer Shot Round-Up."

Several community entities are working together to reach as many Austin kids as possible, including the City of Austin Fire Department, the Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department, the SETON Health Network and the Austin Independent School District.

All students who have had their diphtheria toxoids (td) booster shot deferred over the past two years because of a decrease in available serum must now get this shot to attend school in August.

All children entering school for the first time must be fully immunized. Immunizations protect against harmful and sometimes fatal diseases such as measles, pertussis (whooping cough), mumps, rubella, diphtheria, tetanus and hepatitis-B.

A variety of providers, locations, dates and times are offered for these free or low-cost immunizations.

To make this shot more convenient for members of the community, some Austin fire stations will be designated as immunization locations on Saturdays in July and August. For specific locations as well as dates and times for all shot opportunities, call 2-1-1 or visit www.summershotroundup.com.

Avoid the last-minute lines; immunize your child before the back-to-school rush!

Causes of heat injuries

Summer in Central Texas often means the danger of heat-related injuries.

According to the Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department, high temperatures combined with high humidity, can cause serious injury, illness and even death.

In 2002, 38 Texans died from heat-related causes. While anyone can suffer the deadly effects of heat, people most at risk of death in extremely hot weather are the elderly, the very young, the sick and those without access to air conditioning. Those exposed to high temparatures become steadily weakened as the skin's natural cooling system? perspiration?works overtime. When your body is unable to cool itself through perspiration and if fluids are not amply replaced, you can die.

Profuse sweating, muscle cramps, weakness, dizziness, nausea, weak but rapid pulse and headaches are symptoms of heat exhaustion ? an early stage of heat illness. People with these symptoms, which are related to dehydration and the accompanying rise in internal body temperature, should seek shade or air conditioning and drink plenty of water.

If efforts to cool a person with heat exhaustion fail, heat stroke ? a medical emergency that can lead to disability or death ? can follow. Symptoms of heat stroke are extremely high body temperature, red or dry skin, failure to perspire, rapid pulse, confusion and unconsciousness. Immediate help is critical for victims of heat stroke.

Some simple guidelines can prevent most heat-related illnesses.

• Staying in air conditioning and drinking plenty of water are the most efficient ways to combat heat.
• If you do not have air conditioning, shade windows if possible and use fans to create cross ventilation.
• In prolonged high temperatures and high humidity, aim fans out the window to blow hot air out.
• Spend time each day in air-conditioned environments such as libraries, shopping malls and other public places.

Keep an eye on children playing outdoors on very hot days because they can become dehydrated very quickly. Give them plenty of fluids, especially water, and dress them in light, loose clothing.

Tips to avoid heat injuries

Taking simple precautions can save your life.

• Drink plenty of fluids. Avoid alcoholic beverages or beverages with caffeine, which cause the body to lose water. Avoid drinks with excess sugar, which can impede water absorption.
• Never leave a person or an animal in a closed, parked vehicle during hot weather, even for a short time.
• Plan any strenuous outdoor activity for early or late in the day.
• Take frequent breaks when working or exercising outside.
• Wear light, loose-fitting clothes.
• Stay in air conditioning as much as possible.
• Eat frequent light, balanced meals.
• Check frequently on people who are elderly, ill or disabled.
• Check with a doctor or pharmacist before using medications such as diuretics and antihistamines if you're going to spend time in the sun or be exposed to high temperatures for any length of time.
• At first signs of heat illness ? profuse sweating, dizziness, nausea, headaches, muscle cramps ? move to a cooler place, rest and begin drinking fluids. If these measures do not lessen your symptoms, seek immediate medical help.

Pets need special attention during hot weather as well. Provide outdoor pets with shade and plenty of water. Never enclose animals in cars or in unventilated buildings.

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Environs

Central Texas leaders work to reduce harmful air pollutants

The CLEAN AIR Force of Central Texas announced in June the completion of the first milestone under the Early Action Compact (EAC), a proactive agreement by local elected officials to adopt and implement a Clean Air Action Plan to address air quality problems in Central Texas.

The milestone consisted of the formal submission of a draft list of ozone reduction strategies to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and the Environmental Protection Agency.

"Under the EAC, not only do Central Texans receive the benefit of cleaner air sooner, but we also have the flexibility in how we get there," said Mike Heiligenstein, Chair of the CLEAN AIR Force and a Williamson County Commissioner. He emphasized that measures to reduce ozone included in the Clear Air Action Plan will go beyond local government operations and will likely affect activities of the general public. "Ozone is a regional problem so we need regional public input as we move forward," added Heiligenstein.

The Central Texas region has exceeded the health-based ozone standard beginning in 1999, and last week, TCEQ preliminarily designated Travis County as in nonattainment for ozone under the Clean Air Act. Ground-level ozone, the most prevalent air pollutant in Texas, affects Central Texans in two major ways: it poses dangers to our health, especially to children and seniors, and it could result in regulations that would restrict our behaviors and cost our region money.

In anticipation of the nonattainment designation, the CLEAN AIR Force has been working for the past five months with regional residents, elected officials and businesses to develop potential strategies to reduce the release of nitrogen oxides and Volatile Organic Compounds into our air. These are the two main components of ground-level ozone, which, at high levels, can be harmful to human health.

The draft list of reduction strategies is based on the four major sources of ozone-forming emissions:

• On-road sources including cars, trucks and buses.
• Non-road sources such as construction and landscaping equipment.
• Point sources including power plants and manufacturing facilities.
• Area sources. These include dry cleaners, gasoline stations and print shops.

The draft list must now go through photochemical modeling, which is a series of complex computer simulations used to predict ozone formation. This process will determine which strategies have a measurably positive effect on regional emission levels, in addition to being both cost-effective and enforceable. The final set of control measures will be completed by March 31, 2004, and must be implemented in Central Texas by Dec. 31, 2005.

The public may participate in public meetings, speaker presentations and response cards available in both English and Spanish. Central Texans can comment on the emission reduction strategies to help determine the final list by visiting the Web site www.cleanairforce.org.

The CLEAN AIR Force of Central Texas is comprised of business leaders, governments, academia, elected officials, environmental groups, and community leaders throughout Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, Travis and Williamson counties. The focus of the organization's efforts is to coordinate and conduct air quality planning and education activities in Central Texas and to advise responsible government entities on air quality issues.

For additional information about the CLEAN AIR Force, its Clean Air Solutions project or questions on air quality in Central Texas, please visit the CLEAN AIR Force Web site, www.cleanairforce.org, or contact Deanna Altenhoff, Executive Director of the CLEAN AIR Force, at (512) 916-6057 or by e-mail, Altenhoff.caf@capco.state.tx.us.

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Safe & Sane

Police implement K-9 radiation detection program

The Austin Police Department and the Greater Austin Crime Commission launched a new program to continue the fight in the war on terror.

Law enforcement began using police canines and high tech equipment to detect radiation sources last month.

The new equipment allows police K-9s to detect sources of radiation in areas difficult or impossible places for humans to search.

The superior mobility and access of police K-9s make area searches more rapid and thorough than previously possible. Highly sensitive radiation detection equipment specifically chosen for K-9 use was adapted locally by Senior Officer Jim Minton of the Austin Police Department in partnership with Signature Science.

APD is the first law enforcement agency in the nation to implement a K-9 radiation detection program using this equipment.

The APD Search and Rescue K-9 team and the Bomb Squad K-9 teams are now equipped with 15-ounce portable radiation detectors that attach to the dogs' harnesses. The K-9s are able to search for radiation sources in and around motor vehicles, in high volume pedestrian traffic areas such as airports or in the rubble of collapsed structures.

The APD K-9 Radiation Detection Program is part of APD's mission to increase homeland defense and will enhance the department's ability to locate and respond to incidents involving the threat of radiological or nuclear weapons.

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Kid Stuff

Splash Party Movie Nights have been a popular family destination for years. Deep Eddy Pool, 401 Deep Eddy Drive, is west of the MoPac Expressway on Town Lake.

The pool admission fee is $2 for adults and 50 cents for children. Movies begin at dusk. Following is a schedule of events for July and August:

July 5 "Stuart Little II."
July 12 "My Big Fat Greek Wedding."
July 19 "Harry Potter: The Sorcerer's Stone."
July 26 "Scooby Doo."
Aug. 2 "Wild Thornberries."
Aug. 9 "Harry Potter 2: The Chamber of Secrets."

For more information, call the City of Austin Parks and Recreation at (512) 472-8546.

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Speedway

The following speed limit cases are tentatively scheduled for the July 17 City Council agenda:

• 45 mph for Howard Lane from Burnet Road (F.M. 1325) to 2,250 feet west of Burnet Road (F.M. 1325) and 50 mph from 2,250 feet west of Burnet Road (F.M. 1325) to McNeil Drive/Merrilltown Road (City limit line).

• 35 mph for Spicewood Springs Road between Loop 1 West Service Road and 1,539 feet west of Mesa Drive.

• 50 mph for Wilson Parke Avenue between R.M. 620 and Vista Parke Drive, and 45 miles per hour between Vista Parke Drive and Muir Parke Pass.

• 45 mph for East William Cannon Drive from South Pleasant Valley Road to McKinney Falls Parkway.

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Zone In

The following zoning cases are tentatively scheduled for the Aug. 31 City Council Agenda.

C14-03-0084 - MGC Engineering (Sam Mikhail), by (Jim Bennett), 4801 S. Congress Ave. From CS to MF-4. (Williamson Creek). City Staff: Wendy Walsh, (512) 947-7719.

C14-03-0085 - (James Creighton), by (James Creighton), 813 West 11th St. From LO to GO. (Shoal Creek). City Staff: Glenn Rhoades, (512) 974-2775.