At Your Doorstep, May 2004

At Your Doorstep Departments

Web Wise

City provides election information online

Visit the Austin City Connection Election Web site, www.cityofaustin.org/election/, for information about Election Day.

The City of Austin's Special Municipal Election will be part of the May 15, 2004 Joint General and Special Elections.

The public will have the opportunity to vote on Proposition No. 1. The proposition reads, "Adoption of the state law applicable to firefighters that establishes collective bargaining if a majority of the affected employees favor representation by an employees association, preserves the prohibition against strikes and lockouts, and provides penalties for strikes and lockouts."

The public also will be asked to vote on the Countywide Hospital District for Travis County. The proposition reads "The creation of a hospital district and the levy of a tax not to exceed twenty-five cents ($.25) on each one hundred dollars ($100.00) of the taxable value of property taxable by the district.

Visit www.cityofaustin.org/election/ for up-to-date information including early voting returns.

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Neighbor to Neighbor

City opens Resource Center for the Homeless

City and community leaders celebrated recently the grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Austin Resource Center for the Homeless (ARCH).

ARCH is a multi-purpose facility designed to meet the needs of many segments of the homeless population. The facility, at Seventh and Neches streets, is a 26,820 square feet structure designed and built with environmentally sensitive features.

"The ARCH is a one-stop shop providing homeless persons with all their needs," said Mayor Will Wynn. "It allows the clients to focus on their ultimate goal of independence."

The City of Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department will plan and coordinate services for the homeless as well as contractual oversight of the ARCH. The Health and Human Services Department also will provide public health education and screenings for clients on-site.

"We are very pleased to open the facility to provide a comprehensive range of services for the homeless and assist individuals to achieve self-sufficiency and their full potential," says David Lurie, Director of the City's Health and Human Services Department

The City of Austin's commitment to achieving the goals of the community's Comprehensive Plan was demonstrated through the development and implementation of the Homeless Self-Sufficiency and Responsibility Initiative, approved by the Austin City Council in April 1998. The groundbreaking for the ARCH took place in August 2002.

The ARCH facility consists of several components including a day resource center; a health clinic; and for homeless men, a 100-bed shelter with dining area. Up to 250 men may utilize the shelter during extreme weather.

The Day Resource Center is open to all homeless persons and provides basic services including showers, telephone/mail/messaging, laundry facilities and computer access. The second floor includes a restroom facility with showers, office space for agencies to provide services such as mental health care and employment services, a room for art classes, and a clothing closet.

Operated by the City's Community Care Services Department, the ARCH Health Clinic provides direct care services and closely coordinates the care of patients with MHMR psychiatrists and substance abuse staff who will be co-located within the facility.

The Communicable Disease Unit of the City's Health and Human Services Department also provides services. Homeless families, adults and youth will have access to acute care, wellness/prevention care and public health screenings.

Co-located service providers include:
• Legal Aid for the Homeless, which provides legal services to homeless individuals.
• ATCMHMR's ACCESS program, which provides assessment, case management and medication followup to mentally ill homeless individuals.
• Caritas ReEntry, which provides housing and long-term case management for chronically homeless people.
• Goodwill Industries, which provides job readiness, placement and support services.
• The Crime Prevention Institute, which will have a case manager on-site four hours per week, to meet with clients who are both homeless and ex-offenders.

In addition to the new amenities offered by the ARCH, clients may also use on-site services including the ID Program, the SACK lunch program and the Clothing Closet.

The building implements a sophisticated 13,000-gallon rainwater collection system including an above ground manifold tank system. The tanks, which also act as solar shading for the interior, are more economical to build than a conventional reinforced concrete below grade tank.

Other sustainable features include a photovoltaic system, solar hot water system and the extensive use of recycled and renewal materials. A rigorous recycling program during construction, reduction in the use of PVC products and the use of building products including straw ceiling panels and crushed glass are a few of the many other sustainable features.

The total project cost is estimated at $8.1 million, which was funded primarily with both grants and loans from the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

For more information, contact Bob Corona, Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services, (512) 972-5002; or e-mail bob.corona@ci.austin.tx.us.

Input wanted about downtown events, mid-week market

Downtown parks are great gathering places, and so are farmers' markets. The public is encouraged to provide input on ways to enhance downtown meeting places to make the work week culturally rich.

The survey also asks about the potential of a weekday Farmers' Market. To provide feedback, visit http://johngreek.com/survey. The Sustainable Food Center is the facilitator of the survey.

The Austin Farmers' Market is at Republic Square Park, Fourth and Guadalupe streets, every Saturday March 20-Dec. 18. Hours of operation are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information, visit www.austinfarmersmarket.org.

Neighborhood Ambassador Program aids Austin Farmers' Market

The Austin Farmers' Market, a project of the nonprofit Sustainable Food Center, needs volunteers to join the new Neighborhood Ambassador Program. The neighborhood ambassadors will be a key part of the grassroots marketing strategy that promotes the market through local contacts and word of mouth.

What does it mean to be an Ambassador?
Ambassadors will work with organizations within their neighborhood to get the word out about the downtown Austin Farmers' Market. Promotional efforts may include a mid- week market soon.

Ambassador efforts could mean participating in neighborhood association meetings, posting flyers on community bulletin boards and attending other neighborhood gatherings.

Benefits of being an ambassador include free Market merchandise and recognition in Austin Farmers' Market public information including the Market's e-newsletter.

Take the opportunity to help the Market and get to know your neighbors at the same time!

The Sustainable Food Center will provide Ambassadors with training, posters, yard signs, press releases and other marketing support. The training will be from 6 - 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 27, at the Sustainable Food Center.

For more information including directions to the center, contact suzanne@sustainablefoodcenter.org. Volunteers will need to provide a name, phone number, and ZIP code.

Smoke-free Mondays continue at live music venues

Smoke-Free Mondays, a pilot project established as part of the Austin City Council approval of a new smoking ordinance, continues through July at participating live music venues. The smoking ordinance goes into effect June 1, 2004.

Revenue data from Smoke-Free Mondays potentially will allow City staff to evaluate the economic effect of smoke-free operation of live music venues in Austin.

"Music venues are a business. These businesses are willing to test the market of providing a non-smoking environment," said Council Member Betty Dunkerley, who advocated the idea of Smoke-Free Mondays. "I hope everyone supports those participating."

These are some of the venues in the downtown area that met the criteria for the project.

All offer live music at least three nights a week and collect a cover charge at least two nights per week.

Venues that have participated in the past include:

For more information, contact Bob Corona, Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department, (512) 972-5002; or e-mail bob.corona@ci.austin.tx.us.

More about the smoking ordinance

Effective June 1, 2004, the new Smoking Ordinance, approved by the Austin City Council on Oct. 30, 2003, will change the regulation of smoking in public places.

A bar or restaurant must have a City permit starting May 1 to allow smoking. The new ordinance retains some of the exceptions established in the earlier 1994 Ordinance and largely eliminates indoor tobacco smoking in the workplace except within the permitted establishments.

Questions about the Smoking Ordinance may be directed to the Environmental and Consumer Health Unit of the Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department at (512) 972-5600 or e-mailed to echu.service@ci.austin.tx.us.

The ordinance also implements a pilot smoke-free live music program beginning in February 2004 that calls for music venues to be smoke-free the first Monday of each month for six months.

For more information about the Smoking Ordinance, visit www.cityofaustin.org/news/2003/smoking_taskforce.htm.

City plans for Sixth Annual NeighborFest

City of Austin Neighborhood Housing and Community Development representatives will be on hand at this year's NeighborFest to provide Austin residents with a wide variety of information about the services offered in Austin.

The event will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 15, 2004, at Barbara Jordan Elementary, 6711 Johnny Morris Road.

Brief on-site workshops will be conducted during the event including one on weatherization and another on home-buyer education.

Sponsorships are still available for NeighborFest for either financial and/or logistical assistance for the event or in-kind donations. Sponsors will be provided a booth at the event.

For more information, contact Edie Merla at (512) 974-3173 or e-mail edie.merla@ci.austin.tx.us.

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Big Ideas

'Punniest' time of year at O.Henry Museum

Because of circumstances beyond the pale, the 27th Annual O.Henry Museum Pun-Off World Championships will be once again in Austin Saturday, May 15, 2004.

Hotel construction near the O.Henry Museum resulted in relocation to Wooldridge Square, an historic, downtown park, 900 Guadalupe St. The park features a gazebo and plenty of grassy shade for "hillside" seating. Free parking is available on the street within a reasonable walking distance. Food and drink will be available.

Spaces are open for 32 competitive punslingers in two different categories of competition. Many will be left out standing in their fields as they attempt to harvest this year's bumper crop of corn. Up for grabs will be the title of "Punniest of Show."

This freestyle competition for punsters with prepared material allows 90 seconds for creative have-wits from every crook and nanny to stuff their struts. Later bushel come to shove as another corny crop of 32 contestants face off in the "High-Lies & Low-Puns" competition. These punsters are paired up and pared down by battling in wordplay on a given a topic with strict time limits.

Contest registration and admission are free. MoPac and the Blue Suburbans will provide live music at noon. The competitions will be from 1 to 5 p.m. The Friends of O.Henry will host a book sale at the event. Refreshment and souvenir proceeds will support educational projects at the museum.

Word butchers and prospective pundits who wish to jest for a wordy cause are invited to call or visit the museum.

Sponsors of the Annual O.Henry Pun-Off World Championship include the City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department, the Friends of the O.Henry Museum and Punsters United Nearly Yearly.

If you are itching for more inflammation, contact (512) 472-1903 or visit www.ohenryfriends.org. The Pun-Off Web site is at www.punpunpun.com.

City offers programs to help neighborhood beautification efforts

With summer approaching, many neighborhood associations may be seeking outdoor opportunities to help beautify their community. The City offers a perfect solution.

With the Neighborhood Assistance Program, neighbors can work together to help clean up their neighborhoods and rid the alleys and vacant lots of unsightly litter and debris.

In order to offer all neighborhoods this opportunity, neighborhoods will be limited to one Neighborhood Assistance Program cleanup per 12-month period. Solid Waste Services representatives will work with neighborhood associations to coordinate and define an area that requires cleanup and will schedule a date and drop-off location for the collected material. City representatives also are available to speak at neighborhood group meetings.

For more information about the Neighborhood Assistance Program, call (512) 974- 4325. You may request information online at www.cityofaustin.org/connect/email_swspio.htm.

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Environs

USGS study determines PAH concentrations in parking lot runoffs

Sampling of urban creeks by the City of Austin raised concerns about polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in sediment in Austin-area creeks. A recent study by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) identified parking lot seal-coating as a possible source.

The U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the City of Austin conducted the study to determine if concentrations of PAHs in runoff were from different types of parking lot surfaces. During Aug. 12 - Oct. 6 last year, the USGS and City of Austin sampled runoff from four test plots (three newly sealed and one unsealed) and 13 parking lots in use around Austin.

The surfaces investigated were coal-tar-emulsion-sealed, asphalt-emulsion-sealed, unsealed asphalt and unsealed concrete. PAH concentrations were analyzed from samples of particles and water in the runoff and from scrapings of the lot surfaces. Concentrations of total PAH in the particles in runoff from coal-tar-sealed parking lots were higher than those from asphalt-sealed lots and much higher than those from unsealed asphalt and concrete lots.

Concentrations in particles washed from the newly sealed test plots were similar to those from the parking lots in use with the same type of surface. Concentrations of PAHs in all samples from parking lots (except for one sample from an unsealed asphalt lot) exceeded the "probable effect" concentration of 22,800 mg/kg.

The USGS serves the nation by providing reliable scientific information to describe and understand the earth; minimize loss of life and property from natural disasters; manage water, biological, energy, and mineral resources; and enhance and protect our quality of life.

For more information about the study and agency, contact Dee Lurry, U.S. Department of the Interior/U.S. Geological Survey, (512) 927-3571; or Nancy McClintock, City of Austin Watershed Protection and Development Review, (512) 974-2652.

Regular garbage collection Memorial Day

In need of City information, visit the Austin City Connection, www.cityofaustin.org, to get the latest on City services, including recycling programs and holiday garbage collection schedules.

Memorial Day, May 31, will not result in collection schedule changes. The following holidays in 2004 will result in a change to the collection schedule:

Summer watering awareness: Remember to conserve

Spring rains have reduced the need for lawn watering so far this year. But as summer draws near, water use traditionally rises dramatically due to outdoor lawn watering.

City officials encourage Austin Water Utility customers to begin conserving water now by implementing efficient irrigation practices to prepare landscapes to survive the hot and dry summers typical in Austin.

"If all customers resist watering their lawns after a rain and carefully follow a schedule of watering no more often than every five days, they will save on their water bills and make their landscaping better able to withstand tough summer conditions," said Tony Gregg, Water Conservation Manager.

May 1 marked the traditional beginning of the summer watering season with both voluntary and mandatory provisions:

• All customers are encouraged to follow the every five-day watering calendar included in the April water bills. Equally important is to only apply the amount of water needed to replace evaporation and transpiration since the last rain or irrigation. In summer months, no more than one-half inch of water every fifth day is recommended. Visit www.cityofaustin.org/watercon for more information including the five-day watering calendar.
• Commercial customers may not operate automatic irrigation systems between the hours of 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. Residential customers also benefit from avoiding irrigation during those hours since as much as one-half of water is lost to evaporation when irrigation takes place mid-day.
• Water is a valuable resource. Wasting it is prohibited at all times of the year for all customers. Fines may be issued for water waste violations including:
(1)Failing to repair a controllable leak, including a broken sprinkler head, a leaking valve, leaking or broken pipes, or a leaking faucet.
(2) Operating a permanently installed irrigation system with a broken head, or a head that is spraying over a street or parking lot because it is out of adjustment; or a head that is misting due to high pressure.
(3) During irrigation, allowing water to run down the street a distance of 50 feet or greater.
(4) During irrigation, allowing water to pond to a depth greater than 1/4 of an inch.

For more information on conservation programs that can help residential and commercial customers save water and money, or to report water waste, call (512) 974-2199 or visit www.cityofaustin.org/watercon.

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Safe & Sane

Communications system goes 'live' at combined emergency center

The first of a three-phase implementation of the new VisiCAD Emergency Dispatch System (CAD) for Austin and Travis County Emergency agencies was implemented last month at the new Combined Transportation, Emergency, and Communications Center (CTECC).

This transition of the CAD system, the joint City of Austin/Travis County/State of Texas interagency communication center, and the Austin/Travis County Regional Radio System is the culmination of eight years of development work in revolutionizing the capabilities of Austin area city/county emergency responders and regional/state traffic managers.

Austin/Travis County Emergency Medical Services, the Austin Fire Department and Aviation Public Safety went "live" on the new VisiCAD System April 19. The Travis County Sheriff's Office and Austin Police Department will follow in the next two phases of the CAD system implementation this month.

These systems represent a quantum leap in interagency operations for this region and are already serving as a national model for bringing multiple city, county, and state agencies under a common operational umbrella.

The Emergency Incident Dispatch System ? commonly referred to by public safety agencies as the CAD system ? has a number of advanced capabilities previously unavailable. Advanced features include:

• Automatic Vehicle Location
  Emergency Response Units (Paramedic Ambulances, Public Safety Helicopters, Fire Apparatus and Law Enforcement Vehicles) use GPS equipment to track and automatically report their positions to the Communications Center

• Street Network based unit recommendation
  Street speed limits and closures will now be used to recommend the fastest resources available to respond to a 9-1-1 request for assistance.

• Intelligent Transportation System Integration
  The second phase of this system, to be implemented by the end of the year, will integrate real-time traffic speed measurements from the Texas Department of Transportation's Intelligent Traffic Management System. This integration will give the Communications Center the ability to account for traffic slowdowns such as rush hour, construction, or traffic accidents on area highways in recommending response units as those events are occurring.

• Mobile Mapping in Response Units
  Mobile Data Computers in the emergency vehicles display a computerized real-time map of the vehicle's location in comparison to the 9-1-1 request for service address. This computerized map immediately provides a recommended route from the responder's location to the 9-1-1 incident location, to minimize the vehicle's response time.

• Austin-Regional Radio System Provides a common radio communications platform for area government agencies to talk with each other.

This level of inter-governmental cooperation and joint operations serves as a model for other cities nationally, especially in its inception and development prior to the terrorist events of Sept. 11, 2001.

For more information, contact Warren Hassinger, Public Information Officer, Austin/Travis County Emergency Medical Services, (512) 972-7205.

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Kid Stuff

Kick summer off with visit to Barton Springs Pool

There's a kid in all of us when it comes to having fun at Austin's Barton Springs Pool. Known as Austin's Crown Jewel, the pool lies within Zilker Park's 358 acres. Three acres in size, the pool is fed from underground springs and is on average 68 degrees year-round.

Barton Springs is the fourth largest natural springs in the state and exists as a result of a landshift that created the Balcones Fault.

Make this summer one you won't forget with regular visits to the pool. Take a dip in Barton Springs Pool's chilly 68 degrees water with a religious zeal. Those who plunge down under the diving board to look at the main spring, which pumps an average of 27 million gallons of water a day, say that the pulsating action reminds them of a steady heartbeat.

Swim tickets and passes are available at all municipal pools and at Barton Springs during normal operation hours. For summer passes, a current wallet-sized photo of each pass holder must be provided at the time of purchase.

Passes will be ready at the pool of purchase within 48 hours. There is a summer pass replacement fee of $5. All tickets and passes are non-refundable.

Rates for visitors are:

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Zone In

The following zoning cases are tentatively scheduled for the June 1 Planning Commission Agenda and the Aug. 5 Austin City Council Agenda.

C14-84-092 (RCA) - Rosewood Congregation (Cliff Neal), by Austin Civil Engineering (Andy Dodson), 6200 Bolm Road. City Staff: Wendy Walsh, (512) 974-7719.

C14-04-0061 - (Charles & Martha Ribelin; Tom & Lucia Francis; Frank Ribelin), by Thrower Design (Ron Thrower), FM 2222 Road. (West Bull Creek). City Staff: Sherri Gager, (512) 974-3057.

C14-04-0062 - (Homayoon Kavoussi), by (Mehryar Kavoussi), 615 Radam Lane. From SF-3 to LR-CO. (West Bouldin Creek). City Staff: Wendy Walsh, (512) 974-7719.

C14-04-0063 - International Bank of Commerce (Dennis Nixon), by Urban Design (Laura Toups), FM 2222. From GO-CO to GR. (West Bull Creek). City Staff: Glenn Rhoades, (512) 974-2775.

C14-04-0064 - Episcopal Theological Seminary, by City of Austin (Glenn Rhoades), 606 Rathervue Place. From MF-2-CO to GO-MU-CO. (Waller Creek). City Staff: Glenn Rhoades, (512) 974-2775.