At Your Doorstep June 2003

At Your Doorstep Departments

Neighbor to Neighbor

Garbage collection starts earlier

The earlier morning start allows Solid Waste Services trucks to get to the beginning point of their routes and off major roads in advance of rush hour traffic. It also allows routes to be completed before evening rush hour begins.

The earlier start time will reduce the amount of time trucks sit in traffic reducing fuel costs, unproductive time and air emissions. It may also reduce heat-related injuries for employees since more work can be completed during cooler morning hours.

Visit www.austinrecycles.com for additional information or call (512) 494-9400.

Airline officials prepare for summer travelers

Travelers

• Arrive early. Airlines serving Austin recommend arriving 90 minutes before airline departure. This is especially important for peak travel times, which are 6 to 9 a.m. and 4 to 8 p.m.
• Dress smart. Travelers should wear less metal accessories and pack smart. Be aware of carry-on restrictions for luggage and banned items.
• Park near the gate. Airport officials re-opened more than 200 spaces? the closest to the terminal?that were temporarily closed due to heightening alert status. These spaces are in the parking garage on the ramp leading to the lower level parking area and the first three spaces in each row on each level.

Greeters

Meeting someone at the airport can be busy during summer months. Airport officials are encouraging meeters and greeters to park in the parking garage. Parking in the garage 31- 60 minutes is $2. Each additional hour is $2 up to a daily maximum charge of $18.

Other parking rates for on-airport parking include:

• $6 flat, daily rate in the Economy Lots ? Lots B-G.
• $9 flat, daily rate in Close-in Surface Parking (Lot A). A flat rate charge means customers pay a single, set amount for any time of parking within a 24-hour period.

Passengers should be prepared to present a government-issued ID, such as a driver license at the ticket counter. Before leaving for the airport, travelers and greeters should call the airline directly to check the status of a flight or visit www.abia.org.

All checked bags are subject to inspection and may be opened. Passengers are asked not to lock luggage. Locked bags may have to be forcibly opened. Cable or zip ties are recommended for securing luggage. Any luggage opened by Transportation Security Administration screeners will be resealed and a notice of inspection placed inside the luggage.

Passengers are prohibited from carrying knives, scissors with pointed tips, pepper spray and other such items. For a comprehensive list of banned and permitted items in carry-on baggage, visit travel tips.

For real-time parking information or other airport information 24 hours a day, call (512) 530-ABIA (2242) or visit www.abia.org.

Austin Symphony offers free Sunday concerts at Wooldridge Park

The Austin Symphony will return with its second summer of free ensemble Sunday concerts at dusk, around 7:30 p.m., June 1 through Aug. 17, at Wooldridge Park, Ninth and Guadalupe streets.

The free concerts are a gift to the community from the Hartman Foundation and are presented to the Austin community as a "thank you" for its generous support. Each Sunday, a different ensemble will be featured under the gazebo, performing arrangements by composers from Mozart to Ellington to Rodgers and Hammerstein.

The public is encouraged to bring a picnic dinner and blanket and make it a family affair.

The music and atmosphere will reflect a simpler time when performances of familiar classics in town centers were commonplace. As the sun begins to set, music will fill Wooldridge Park and will last about an hour.

Below is the summer schedule:

All programs, artists and dates are subject to change. For more information, visit the Austin Symphony Office, 11th and Red River, or call (512) 476-6064. Information is also available online, www.austinsymphony.org.

Concert sponsors are The Hartman Foundation and Time Warner Cable/News 8 Austin.

Skies over Town Lake to light up on July 4

The Austin Symphony will be under the apt baton of ASO Music Director Peter Bay. The free event will feature patriotic music and the popular 1812 Overture?the latter punctuated by 75 mm howitzer cannons, courtesy of Texas National Guard Salute Battery, and spectacular fireworks over Town Lake.

The stage for the celebration will be at the northeast triangle of Zilker Park, Lou Neff Point. The Austin Symphony Orchestra will begin performing at 8:30 p.m., and fireworks will begin at approximately 9:30 p.m.

The public is encouraged to come early, bring a picnic and claim a grassy spot to enjoy the music of the Austin Symphony Orchestra and fireworks show. Concessions will be available.

The H-E-B Austin Symphony July 4th Concert and Fireworks is sure to be the biggest and best ever over Town Lake, with shells reaching as far as one mile high.

Visit www.austinsymphony.org for more information. The Symphony Box Office is at 11th and Red River streets and is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The public may also call (512) 476-6064 for information about the event.

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Health Check

It's bat season in Austin, and the furry night fliers will be with us until the fall.

Although bats are fascinating animals, they are also high risk for spreading rabies. If you find an injured, sick or dead bat, please do not touch it and call Austin/Travis County Animal Control, (512) 972-6060. If possible, cover the bat with a coffee can or similar container to prevent its escape and to prevent children or animals from coming in contact with it.

One of the primary concerns if a person has contact with a bat is the possibility of exposure to rabies. Bats have been increasingly implicated as wildlife carriers of rabies. In 2000, 12 bats evaluated from Travis County tested positive for rabies. For 2001 and 2002, the number of bats tested positive for rabies was 21 and 25 respectively.

It is especially important to educate children about avoiding contact with bats. Because your pets can come into contact with bats, it's critical that they be appropriately vaccinated against rabies. Please see your veterinarian for more information on the appropriate vaccination schedule for your pet.

Scenarios that may indicate a reasonable probability of exposure to rabies include:

• Child touches a live or dead bat.
• Adult touches a bat without seeing the part of the body they touched.
• Bat flies into a person and touches bare skin.
• Person steps on a bat with bare feet.
• Person awakens to find a bat in the same room.
• Bat is found near an infant or toddler.
Person puts their hand in firewood, brush, a crevice or a dark space (i.e. a closet), experiences pain, then sees a bat.

Contact Austin/Travis County Animal Control immediately to have a trained officer sent to capture the bat and to arrange for immediate submission of the bat for rabies testing.

For more information about bats and rabies, visit http://www.tdh.state.tx.us/zoonosis/diseases/RABIES/rabies.asp or www.batconservation.org.

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Big Ideas

Help shape public policy: Volunteer for a board or commission

The City of Austin has more than 50 active boards and commissions composed of citizens appointed by the City Council, offering the public numerous opportunities to shape and influence public policy in Austin.

The City has specialized vacancies on the following boards:

• Bond Oversight Committee: Members review the implementation of the City Manager's plans relating to the issuance of bonds or those projects approved by the voters of the City. This committee meets on an as-needed basis. Volunteers are needed with transportation expertise and public safety expertise.
• Building and Fire Code Board of Appeals: Members review appeals of building official's decisions regarding interpretation of the Building and Fire Code and recommend amendments to the Building and Fire Code to the City Council. There are two vacancies on this board, one for a member with experience in fire prevention and fire suppression activities and one at-large member. The board meets at 1:30 p.m. the last Wednesday of the month when needed at One Texas Center, 505 Barton Springs Road.
• Building and Standards Commission: Members hear cases about alleged violations of the City's housing and dangerous building ordinances. Members meet at 6:30 p.m. on the fourth Wednesday of the month. Meeting locations vary.
• MBE/WBE Advisory Committee: The MBE/WBE Advisory Committee reviews the City Manager's report, recommends changes to the ordinance, regulations, rules and program operations and performs other functions described in the City Code. Vacancies include the need for a member from a Minority Chamber, a Non-Certified Contractor and an Owner of a Certified WBE/MBE. Meetings are at 4100 Ed Bluestein Blvd. Contact the staff liaison at (512) 974-7619 for meeting date and time.
• The Medical Assistance Program and Rural Medical Assistance Program Joint Advisory Board ? Board members advise the director of the Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department about citizen concerns regarding the Medical Assistance Program. The board has openings for a physician, a user of the program and an at-large commissioner. Meetings are at 6 p.m. on the third Wednesday of the month at 1111 E. Cesar Chavez St.

To serve on a City board or commission, the following is required:

• File an annual financial disclosure, unless specifically exempted.
• Take an oath of office.
• Regularly attend meetings and adhere to the attendance policy of the board or commission.
• Be a resident in the City of Austin, unless specifically exempted by ordinance.
• Members cannot be a registered lobbyist or an employee of a registered lobbyist. The Code requires public officials be independent, impartial and responsible to the public.

Participating on a board or commission offers citizens an extraordinary opportunity to participate in a City's governmental affairs and help shape or influence public policy in many areas.

Service on a board or commission can be a time commitment of a few hours a month to a few hours a week, depending upon the board.

Applications for appointment are submitted to the Office of the City Clerk for consideration by Council Members.

An application may be obtained by contacting the Boards and Commissions Coordinator, Julia Lee, at (512) 974-2497 or by visiting the City's Web site, www.cityofaustin.org/cityclerk/boards.htm.

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Environs

Recycle computers for a cleaner environment

City officials encourage the public to help preserve a healthy environment and recycle computers rather than putting computers in the trash.

Old computers may contain lead and other hazardous materials which can harm the environment and the public's health. Computers contain metals and plastics which can be recycled, which will help preserve natural resources, reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gases, and save valuable space in Texas landfills.

The City of Austin Solid Waste Services Department is partnering with private recyclers to help educate the public about this important message. Private recyclers may charge a minimum fee to properly dispose of computer equipment.

Contact the computer recyclers listed to the right to inquire about dropping off computer equipment for proper handling and to find out about any applicable fees.

For more information, contact Tony Davee, City of Austin Solid Waste Services Department, (512) 974-4345, or e-mail tony.davee@ci.austin.tx.us.

Computer recyclers
Randy Weiss
Axcess Technologies
113 Industrial Blvd.,
Building A-1
Austin, Texas 78745
(512) 441-1100

Perce Collins
Computers for Kids
2928 Manor Road
Austin, Texas 78722
(512) 294-1158

Garland Luedecke
CTG Environmental
P.O. Box 200151
Austin, Texas 78720-0151
(512) 657-5681

Rick Culleton
Discount Electronics
1738 W. Anderson Lane
Austin, Texas 78757
(512) 459-0026

Ecology Action
(until June 15, 2003)
707 E. Ninth St.
Austin, Texas 78701
(512) 322-0000

Travis County parks cleanup celebrates 18 years

Keep Austin Beautiful needs volunteers Saturday, June 14, to help clean up the nine Lower Colorado River Authority/Travis County Parks that surround Lake Travis.

The clean-up event is from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, June 14, at the Travis County Satellite 2 Community Room. Registration will begin at 8 a.m. Parks targeted for the event are Pace Bend, Sandy Creek, Arkansas Bend, Cypress Creek, Bob Wentz at Windy Point, Hippie Hollow, Mansfield Dam, Mansfield Dam Overlook and Low Water Crossing.

Clean-up sponsors include the Lower Colorado River Authority, Travis County Parks, Keep Austin Beautiful and Austin Outdoor Gear and Guidance.

Satellite 2 is east of FM 620 near Mansfield Dam. Volunteers will be sent to assigned parks after receiving supplies and a free T-shirt. A free lunch will follow the cleanup as well as door prize drawings, which include a kayak!

For more information or to register for the event, contact Emily Walter, Keep Austin Beautiful, at (512) 974-2533 or e-mail emily.walter@ci.austin.tx.us.

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Money Wise

City program makes owning a home easy

What is a Mortgage Credit Certificate?

What are the benefits of a Mortgage Credit Certificate?

• Qualified homebuyers have up to $2,000 per year as added expendable cash.
• The tax credits are a direct reduction of taxes to be paid.
• A reduction in taxes is taken into consideration when qualifying for a mortgage loan.
• The tax credit is available to you every year as long as you own your home.

How do I participate?

Don't miss your chance to make homeownership a reality for you and your family. Call the Austin Housing Finance Corporation at (512) 476-3863 for a list of participating lenders or visit www.cityofaustin.org/ahfc for more information.

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Kid Stuff

Austin Symphony summer program helps kids discover the magic of art

A kaleidoscope of sounds, colors, people and experiences awaits Austin kids this summer at Symphony Square, 1101 Red River St., from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Wednesdays, June 4-July 30.

Parents and children are invited to join the Austin Symphony to discover the magic of the arts at Children's Day Art Park, a summer program that features local musicians, dancers, storytellers, magicians, mimes and crafts people.

Your child can visit the Instrumental Petting Zoo to see, touch and play the instruments. They'll also see a Ballet Folklorico, hear live music, follow a real pied piper along the Lemonade Trail to the Magic Oak Tree for stories as well as participate in craft projects at the Art Tent.

During the morning festivities, members of the Austin Symphony Orchestra stroll the Square to visit with the children about their instruments and play favorite tunes. Performances begin at 10 a.m.

The following is the Children's Day Art Park summer schedule:

Admission to Children's Day Art Park is 50 cents a child. Adults are free when accompanied by a child. The public is encouraged to pack a sack lunch and picnic on the banks of Waller Creek.

For more information, call the Austin Symphony at (512) 476-6064. Sponsors include Target, 3M, Foley's, Blue Bell Creameries and City of Austin/Austin Arts Commission.

Library kicks off summer reading program

This year Austin Public Library is offering reading activities, games and special events for youth of all ages. Each year the Austin Public Library provides programs and activities for thousands of youth throughout the summer. The 2003 program theme is "Mission Possible: Spy a Book!" The eight-week program will begin Monday, June 2, and will end Saturday, July 26.

For a second year Austin Public Library is providing a program just for teens ages 11 to 16?"Get a Clue: Read!" The youth will have an opportunity to win cool prizes through drawings at the Faulk Central Library and branch libraries.

The primary purpose of the programs is to encourage youth to maintain and improve reading skills during the summer months when school is not in session. Children and young adults are encouraged to visit the John Henry Faulk Central Library or any one of 20 neighborhood branch libraries and register for the program. Incentives will be awarded for reaching and completing program goals. Children who do not read may take part by being read to.

The Austin Public Library Youth Services mascot Echo the Bat presents hundreds of special event programs for Austin youth during June and July. Each branch library will host a special event one day a week. The Faulk Central Library will offer special events on Saturdays and a few locations will offer Sunday programs.

Visit www.cityofaustin.org/libary for a complete event listing or call the Events Hotline at (512) 974-7302. Storytimes will be offered, as well as puppet shows, animal shows, magic shows and safety presentations.

All Library youth services are free, including the Youth Star Card for Kids and Wired for Youth computer centers for youth ages 8 to 18.

Sponsors of the 2003 Summer Reading Program include The Friends of the Austin Public Library, The Austin Public Library Foundation, Austin Energy, H-E-B, Cinemark Theatres, Austin American-Statesman and the Texas State Library.

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Safe & Sane

Dry summers require extra precaution

The summer of 2003 is expected to be a very dry one, which brings the possibility of grass and brush fires.

The City of Austin Fire Department responded to 71 such calls during the month of April, compared to 21 in April last year. City officials remind Austinites that good fire safety habits can help prevent accidental outdoor fires.

The Austin Fire Department offers the following guidelines for a safer summer:

• Don't throw cigarette or cigar butts on the ground or out of a vehicle. Dispose of them properly, and make sure they are completely extinguished.
• A permanent burn ban exists in the City of Austin; do not burn trash, leaves or brush.
• Keep a 30-foot "safety zone" surrounding the home clear of brush and cedar, especially for those living in a woodland area. Grass should be cut short in this area as well. For homes that are on a steep slope, the safety zone should be increased accordingly.
• Stack firewood at least 15 feet and uphill from the home.
• Rake leaves, cut off dead limbs and twigs and mow grass regularly. Cut tree limbs within 15 feet of the ground and remove dead branches that extend over the roof.
• Don't park cars, trucks, or recreational vehicles on dry grass or shrubs. Exhaust systems on vehicles can reach a temperature of more than 1,000 degrees. It only takes about 500 degrees to start a brush fire in the summer.
• Use an approved spark arrester on all internal combustion engine- powered equipment. This special muffler helps ensure that sparks generated by off-road vehicles, chainsaws and other equipment don't start wildfires. Check and replace spark arresters periodically.
• Maintain outdoor equipment in good working order.
• Emphasize to children the dangers of playing with fire. Many grass fires are started by children who have no idea how quickly flames can grow and spread, especially in dry weather conditions. Besides being a dangerous hobby for kids, fire play can be expensive for the parents who can be held financially liable for fire damages caused by their children.
• Homeowners who barbecue should maintain a 10-foot area free of brush and shrubbery around grills and propane tanks. Non-flammable screens should be placed over the grill. Never leave a grill unattended. After use, place grill ashes in a metal bucket and soak in water.
• Keep a shovel, bucket of water, fire extinguisher or other fire suppression tools on hand.

Equipment use is a major cause of brush fires in Texas. Each year, people using welders, grinders, chainsaws, weed eaters, lawn mowers, bulldozers, off-road vehicles and other vehicles and equipment that generate sparks start hundreds of fires.

Grass and brush is now so dry that fires can easily ignite and spread. If Austin continues to lack rainfall, conditions will only get worse.

Take necessary safety precautions to help ensure a safe summer for yourself, family and neighbors.