March 2003

With more requests from the public for online access to the Community Registry and At Your Doorstep, the Public Information Office is adding tools and services to make it even easier for your neighborhood association to stay informed about City news.

Visit www.cityofaustin.org/neighbor/ to update information about your neighborhood association or register a neighborhood association with the City.

At Your Doorstep is available on Austin City Connection. Visit www.cityofaustin.org/doorstep/ for current and past issues of the community newsletter.

If you no longer would like to receive a printed copy of At Your Doorstep, please e-mail Rebecca.Giello@ci.austin.tx.us or call (512) 974-3045 and request the online subscription.

At Your Doorstep Departments

Environs | Health Check | Neighbor to Neighbor | Safe & Sane | Zone In

Barton Springs public forum March 27

The City of Austin will host a Barton Springs public forum at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 27, at the Lester E. Palmer Events Center, 900 Barton Springs Road, Meeting Rooms 1-5. The forum serves to provide information to the public about the tests and status of Barton Springs and answer community members' questions.

Independent tests last month conducted on Barton Springs pool and Town Lake, which feeds Barton Springs, have all preliminarily shown that there is no health risk posed by swimming in the pool and that the lake is not contaminated with certain chemicals.

Visit www.cityofaustin.org /news/2003/2003bartonsprings.htm for additional information about test results.

Neighbor to Neighbor

Voting just got a lot easier with eSlate

Voters will enjoy the ease and efficiency of the eSlate system at all voting sites. Early voting is from April 16 – 29. Election Day is May 3.

There are a few things to look out for when using eSlate. When voting, remember to:

• Use the "select" wheel to make selections.
• Press "enter" to record your selections.
• Read the "summary page" closely. It's your way of making sure everything is correct.
• Press "cast ballot" when everything is correct.
• You're not done until you see the waving American flag.

For more information, call (512) 238-VOTE (8683) or visit www.VoteTravisVote.org. eSlate is a trademark of Hart InterCivic Inc.

Filing under way for Mayor, Council positions

Members of the community interested in running for the Austin City Council have until March 19 to file.

The Mayor's post and Council Places 2, 5 and 6 will be on the May 3 ballot. Terms are three years. All candidates will be elected at-large. Those who declare for a certain Place still are elected by voters citywide.

To file, candidates go to the City Clerk's Office at the Municipal Building, 124 W. Eighth St. Candidate information may also be obtained from the City's Web site at www.cityofaustin.org/election.

The deadline to register is 5 p.m. March 19. The Clerk's Office is open from 7:45 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Monday-Friday, but will stay open until 5 p.m. on March 19.

To qualify to serve on the City Council, a person must be:

• At least 18 years old.
• A resident of Austin for at least six months.
• A resident of the State of Texas for at least 12 months.

To check the candidate list or for more information about the filing process, visit www.cityofaustin.org/election or call Rosemary Ybarra, City Clerk's Office, (512) 974-2210.

Election calendar

City all-hazards plan available for community review

The City of Austin Office of Emergency Management invites the public to view the draft all-hazards Mitigation Action Plan after incorporating community input from an online survey and at a number of public meetings October and November 2002.

The plan assesses the hazards in Austin, potential losses from a disaster and ideas for lessening future damages from these hazards. It is designed to be a tool for the City of Austin to use when planning projects and to meet the newest Federal Emergency Management Agency requirements for future disaster recovery funds.

The draft plan can be viewed for public comment at www.cityofaustin.org/disasterready/mitplan.htm. The files are in PDF format which require the Adobe Acrobat Reader. You can download the reader for free at www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep.html.

To view the plan on paper, call (512) 370-8800 to make an appointment at the Office of Emergency Management, 124 W. Eighth St., Room 207. For more information, contact Amber Johnson, Office of Emergency Management, (512) 370-8869.

Community gardeners prepare for spring

Sunshine Community Gardens, a project of Sustainable Food Center, is having a community garden plant sale from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, March 8. The six-acre site, 4814 Sunshine Drive, is just northwest of the intersection of 45th Street and Lamar Boulevard and is one of the largest community gardens in the United States.

The plant sale will offer organically grown vegetables, herbs and flower seedlings in many unusual and tough heirloom varieties not often found at area nurseries. Festivities will include live music, organic gardening workshops and other vendors.

The event raises funds for Sunshine Community Gardens, which offers garden space to hundreds of Austinites who may not have the opportunity to garden otherwise.

Sunshine Community Gardens needs all the help it can get for the one-day sale March 8. Check out the sale, and bring the family. Volunteers who would like to work the day may call (512) 458-9504 or (512) 217-6955 or e-mail colleendieter@hotmail.com.

Police to offer Spanish-speaking Citizens Police Academy session

The Austin Police Department is taking applications for its first Spanish-speaking Citizens Police Academy session Saturday, March 29.

The session will be from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Cornerstone Church, 1101 Reinli St. The deadline for submitting an application is Friday, March 14.

This session of the Citizens Police Academy is designed to give the public a working knowledge of the Austin Police Department in a Spanish-speaking format.

Anyone who lives or works in Austin may apply to the Citizens Police Academy, which was established in 1987 and has graduated more than 1,400 participants from 49 classes. Individuals interested in the first Spanish-speaking session may call (512) 974-6202 for information and an application.

City hosts fifth annual NeighborFest

If you would like to get educated about what City services are available to you and your neighborhood, don't miss the NeighborFest 2003 Saturday, April 26.

The event is from 9 a.m. to noon at the Austin Community College Riverside Campus, 1020 Grove Blvd., and provides residents with a wide variety of information about the services the City of Austin offers. This is a family event with scheduled activities for youth.

For additional information about the event contact Edie Merla, (512) 974-3173.

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Safe & Sane

Volunteers needed to help prepare community for disaster

The City of Austin Office of Emergency Management and the citizens of Austin need additional volunteers to prepare the community for a disaster.

Volunteers will receive training about disaster preparedness, emergency management and the hazards Austin most likely faces. The first training sessions will be Tuesday evenings March 25 – April 13.

Being a Disaster Ready Austin community volunteer is an excellent opportunity for Austinites to play an important role in helping safeguard the community. Whether man-made as the terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington, D.C., or caused by natural events such as Tropical Storm Allison, government – both national and local – recognizes the need for the involvement of all members of a community to prepare, respond and recover from major emergencies and disasters.

Preparedness is the best defense against disaster losses. Volunteers will help prepare the community before a disaster by assisting with preparedness activities, speaking to groups and other educational projects. During a disaster, communication is crucial. Some volunteers will be needed in the Emergency Operations Center in during a disaster to help answer hotlines or relay information.

Others will be needed in the community, wherever help is requested. For example, providing extra support at an emergency shelter or checking on residents of affected neighborhoods is a common request. After a disaster, the Office of Emergency Management may need help with damage assessments and with victim recovery assistance.

Volunteer requirements include:

• Must be 18 years or older.
• Attend a personal interview.
• Have 20 hours of basic training.
• Submit to a background check at the Austin Police Department.
• Commit to four hours of volunteer time a month, with the possibility of more during a disaster.

Mileage reimbursement and some supplemental insurance are provided while on duty. Optional advanced training opportunities will be available.

For more information, call Valli Wasp at (512) 370-8863, or e-mail valli.wasp@ci.austin.tx.us. Additional information about the volunteer program is available at www.cityofaustin.org/oem.

How to become a volunteer

Visit www.cityofaustin.org/oem or call (512) 974-0450 for an application form. Complete and return the application to City of Austin Office of Emergency Management, P.O. Box 1088, Austin, Texas 78767- 1088.

When your application is received, a Disaster Ready Austin representative will contact you to schedule a screening interview. Core training is required upon acceptance in the program.

Volunteer training kicks off in March

The first volunteer training class for Disaster Ready Austin volunteers is from 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, March 25. The session will cover policies that apply to volunteers, available benefits such as mileage reimbursements and City-issued uniforms and equipment.

The session will also give volunteers an overview of the primary activities of emergency management and how the City of Austin Office of Emergency Management uses these to accomplish its mission of preserving life and property from the effects of major emergencies and disasters.

Law enforcement agencies begin warrant roundup

Law enforcement agencies from Austin, Bastrop, Burnet, Bee Cave, Cedar Park, Comal County Sheriff's Office, Georgetown, Killeen, Kyle, Lago Vista, Leander, Manor, Marble Falls, New Braunfels, Pflugerville, Round Rock and San Antonio, along with the Travis County Constables' Offices Precincts 1 through 4 and the Williamson County Constable's Office Precinct 4, combined forces to arrest persons with outstanding arrest warrants beginning March 1.

Arrests will focus on residents with warrants in all of the participating jurisdictions. More than 150,000 notices were mailed to persons with warrants active against them in the jurisdictions. Although the concentration is on Class C charges, which include traffic violations, misdemeanors or City ordinance offenses, higher charge warrants will also be served.

Affected persons may voluntarily make fine payments by:

1. Going to one of the three Municipal Court locations in Austin:

• Downtown, 700 E. Seventh St., 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Friday.

• North Austin, 12425 Lamplight Village, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

• South Austin, 5700 Manchaca Road, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

2. Mailing payment to the City of Austin Municipal Court, P. O. Box 2135, Austin, TX 78768- 2135. Include driver license number and ticket or case number on check to ensure proper application. NOTE: Warrants remain active and defendants are subject to arrest until payment is received and posted by Municipal Court.

3. Using the 24-hour drop box at the Municipal Court Building, 700 E. Seventh St. Include driver license number and ticket or case number on check to ensure proper application.

4. Paying by credit card over the telephone by calling (512) 974-4640 Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. American Express, MasterCard, VISA and Discover accepted.

5. Using Western Union Fine Payment Service - Call (512) 974-4581 for information.

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Health Check

Smallpox vaccinations for local public health and health care workers

The Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department will begin the first phase of smallpox vaccinations—of certain public health system and local hospital personnel—the first week of March.

The vaccinations of those public health workers who would be called on to investigate and control a smallpox outbreak and hospital personnel who would diagnose and treat smallpox cases are part of a national program to prepare for an intentional bioterrorism act using the smallpox virus. All of those receiving the vaccine are volunteers.

Health and Human Services Department nurses who have been specially trained to administer the smallpox vaccine will vaccinate other members of public health response teams as well as those health care workers designated by local hospitals as members of hospital response teams. While this group of nurses is prepared to vaccinate up to 500 persons by the end of March, the total number of those vaccinated is expected to be somewhat less than that figure. The exact number will not be known until Phase One is complete.

For more information, contact Bob Flocke, Public Information Manager, Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department, (512) 972-6166.

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Environs

Agreement allows Austin to stock sterile carp in Lake Austin

The City of Austin, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, and Sensible Management of Aquatic Resources Team and the Matagorda Bay Foundation have reached an amicable agreement that allowed 1,600 sterile Asian grass carp to be placed in Lake Austin last month. This is one component of an integrated plan to control hydrilla, an exotic weed.

By withdrawing the request for a temporary restraining order, the Sensible Management of Aquatic Resources Team and the Matagorda Bay Foundation will be allowed to have a representative observe the vegetation surveys of Lake Austin by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

Representatives from the City of Austin, the Lower Colorado River Authority and Friends of Lake Austin will also participate in these surveys that will determine if additional carp or other methods are needed for hydrilla control. As part of the agreement, there will be a trial on the merits before May to determine if the permit process by Texas Parks and Wildlife was followed correctly, and the City of Austin retains its right to recover any damages from the suit.

"We are very pleased with this agreement," said Nancy Matchus, an attorney for the City of Austin. "The City can now stock Lake Austin with 1,600 sterile carp according to the integrated plan. The hydrilla growth has been reduced by the lowering of the lake and last summer's flooding, so the carp can have a greater effect in controlling this noxious weed."

The Lake Austin Hydrilla Management Plan developed by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the City of Austin, the Lower Colorado River Authority, and Friends of Lake Austin integrates several different strategies such as drawing down the lake, stocking hydrilla-eating sterile Asian grass carp, introducing additional hydrilla flies, and reducing the surface growth by harvesting or possibly a limited use of herbicides.

The City of Austin's Watershed Protection and Development Review Department stocked Lake Austin with the 1,600 sterile carp through a permit approved by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. After the carp are released into the lake, hydrilla growth will be monitored to determine further actions. For more information, contact Lynne Lightsey, (512) 974-3538, Watershed Protection & Development Review Department.

What is hydrilla?

Hydrilla is a non-native aquatic plant that is spreading rapidly in many Texas water bodies. This fast growing plant is native to Africa, Australia, and parts of Asia but was introduced to Florida in 1960 via the aquarium trade.

It is now well established in the southern states, as well as in 85 Texas reservoirs. To learn more about hydrilla including the concern it poses to the community, visit www.cityofaustin.org/watershed/hydrilla.htm.

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Zone In

The following zoning cases are tentatively scheduled for the March 20 City Council Agenda.

C14-03-0020 – Taqueria Arandas No. 5 (Daniel Camarena), by LOC Consultants (Sergio Lozano-Sanchez), 2510 S. First St. From SF-3 to CS. (East Bouldin Creek). City Staff: Annick Beaudet, (512) 974-2975.

C14-03-0021 – (Clayton Cooper), by (Clayton Cooper), East 38th ½ St. From LO to SF-4. (Boggy Creek). City Staff: Glenn Rhoades, (512) 974-2775.

C14-03-0022 – (Owner), by City of Austin Neighborhood Planning (Wendy Walsh), 4525 S. IH 35 service road northbound. From GR-NP to GR. (Williamson Creek). City Staff: Wendy Walsh, (512) 974-7719.

C14-03-0023 – (Owner), by City of Austin Neighborhood Planning (Wendy Walsh), Directors Boulevard at Freidrich Lane. From LI-NP to LI-NP. (Williamson Creek). City Staff: Wendy Walsh, (512) 974-7719.

C14-03-0024 – (Owner), by City of Austin Neighborhood Planning (Wendy Walsh), Freidrich Lane. From LI-NP to LI-NP. (Williamson Creek). City Staff: Wendy Walsh, (512) 974-7719.

C14-03-0025 – (Owner), by City of Austin Neighborhood Planning (Wendy Walsh), 2024 E. St. Elmo Road. From LI-NP to LI-NP. (Williamson Creek). City Staff: Wendy Walsh, (512) 974-7719.

C14-03-0026 – (Owner), by City of Austin Neighborhood Planning (Wendy Walsh), 4401 E. St. Elmo Road. From LI-CO, SF-2, LI-NP, GO to SF-2, LI, GO. (Williamson Creek). City Staff: Wendy Walsh, (512) 974-7719.

C14-03-0028 – (Owner), by City of Austin Neighborhood Planning (Wendy Walsh), Nuckols Crossing Road. From LR-NP to LR. (Williamson Creek). City Staff: Wendy Walsh, (512) 974-7719.

C14-03-0030 – (Owner), by City of Austin Neighborhood Planning (Wendy Walsh), 3100 Caven Road. From LI-NP to LI. (Williamson Creek). City Staff: Wendy Walsh, (512) 974-7719.

C14-03-0031 – (Owner), by City of Austin Neighborhood Planning (Wendy Walsh), East Ben White Boulevard. From LI-NP. (Carson Creek). City Staff: Wendy Walsh, (512) 974-7719.

C14-03-0032 – (Owner), by City of Austin Neighborhood Planning (Wendy Walsh), East Ben White Boulevard. From CS-NP, LI-NP to CS-NP, LI-NP. (Carson Creek). City Staff: Wendy Walsh, (512) 974-7719.

C14-03-0033 – (Owner), by City of Austin Neighborhood Planning (Wendy Walsh), Comsouth. From CS-NP, LI-NP. (Carson Creek). City Staff: Wendy Walsh, (512) 974-7719.

C14-03-0034 – (Owner), by City of Austin Neighborhood Planning (Wendy Walsh), East Ben White Boulevard. From CS-NP. (Carson Creek). City Staff: Wendy Walsh, (512) 974-7719.

C14-03-0035 – (Owner), by City of Austin Neighborhood Planning (Wendy Walsh), East Ben White Boulevard. From CH-NP, P-NP, CS-MU-NP, CS-MU-CO-NP, LI-CO-NP . (Carson Creek). City Staff: Wendy Walsh, (512) 974-7719.

C14-03-0036 – (Owner), by City of Austin Neighborhood Planning (Wendy Walsh), Burleson Road at South U.S. Hwy. 183. From LI-CO-NP, LI-PDA-NP, RR-CO-NP . (Carson Creek). City Staff: Wendy Walsh, (512) 974-7719.

C14-03-0037 – (Owner), by City of Austin Neighborhood Planning (Wendy Walsh), Smith School Road at Burleson Road. From LI-PDA. (Onion Creek). City Staff: Wendy Walsh, (512) 974-7719.

C14-03-0038 – (Owner), by City of Austin Neighborhood Planning (Wendy Walsh), Riverside Drive at U.S. 183 South. From LI-NP, RR-NP, CS-CO-NP, CS-NP. (Carson Creek). City Staff: Wendy Walsh, (512) 974-7719.

C14-03-0039 – (Owner), by City of Austin Neighborhood Planning (Wendy Walsh), Burleson Road. From CS-NP, LI-NP, IP-NP, RR-NP, LI-CO-NP. (Onion Creek). City Staff: Wendy Walsh, (512) 974-7719.

C14-03-0040 – (Owner), by City of Austin Neighborhood Planning (Wendy Walsh), Burleson Road. From IP-CO-NP. (Onion Creek). City Staff: Wendy Walsh, (512) 974-7719.

C14-03-0041 – (Charles & Judy Gentry), by Cedarline Properties, LLC (Sayed Nicolas), 7600 N. Lamar Blvd. From CS to CS-1. (Waller Creek). City Staff: Glenn Rhoades, (512) 974-2775.

The following zoning cases are tentatively scheduled for the March 27 City Council Agenda.

C14-03-0044 – O'Brien Animal Transport (Kevin O'Brien), by O'Brien Animal Transport (Kevin O'Brien), 6016 Old Fredericksburg Road. From SF-2 to LO. (Barton Creek). City Staff: Wendy Walsh, (512) 974-7719.

C14-03-0009 – (Efrain & Maria Moreno), by Altius Design Group Inc. (Ramon Duran), 11201 Plains Trail. From NO to SF-3, LR and GR. (Little Walnut Creek). City Staff: Glenn Rhoades, (512) 974-2775.

C14-03-0042 – (Sanford Hurwitz), by Cannon West Income Partners Inc. (Brad Greenblum), 2005 W. Koening Lane. From SF-3 to LO. (Shoal Creek). City Staff: Glenn Rhoades, (512) 974-2775.

The following zoning cases are tentatively scheduled for the March 11 Planning Commission Agenda.

C14-03-0045 – Parmer Spectrum East, L.P. (John Sommons), by (Michele Haussman), Spectrum Drive. From GR to CS. (Lake Creek). City Staff: Sherri Gager, (512) 974-3057.

C14-03-0046 – (Max Kuykendall), by (Duane Hutson), 13945 N. U.S. 183. From DR to GR. (Lake Creek). City Staff: Sherri Gager, (512) 974-3057.

C14-03-0047 – Speedy Stop Food Stores, Ltd. (Carlton Labeff), by (Sarah Crocker), 3208 E. Texas 71 at FM 973 South. From I-RR to GR. (Onion Creek). City Staff: Wendy Walsh, (512) 974-7719.