Great Streets Program
Downtown Austin Rangers
In June 1996 the Rangers also received training in the following areas: 1) Customer
Service, from ACVB, 2) Sensitivity Training, from CARITAS, 3) First Aid training, from
EMS, and 4) CPR training, also from EMS.
The Rangers serve as eyes and ears
for APD and as goodwill ambassadors for the downtown Austin area. The Austin Downtown
Rangers dress in easily distinguishable uniforms and carry two-way communication equipment
to be in constant contact with Austin Police dispatch. The Rangers were trained by APD in
police patrol techniques. The Rangers are not peace officers, do not carry weapons, and do
not make arrests. They report situations requiring Police Officer attention to the Austin
Police dispatch office.
The Rangers are also trained by ACVB
in their ambassadorship responsibilities. The Downtown Rangers serve as guides for the
public; they are trained to answer questions about points of interest in downtown Austin.
They carry maps and other materials to guide guests of our city to their destinations.
The Austin Downtown Rangers program
assists both the Downtown Austin Alliance in implementing its Security Service Plan
element, and satisfy a current APD goal to increase the number of women and minorities in
its ranks. All of the Austin Downtown Rangers are City of Austin employees, funded by a
grant from the Downtown Austin Alliance.
The principal purpose of the Austin
Downtown Ranger program is security. Therefore, the Rangers are directly responsible to
the Supervisor of the Walking/Bicycle Beat in Downtown Austin. That Supervisor works
closely with the Executive Director of the Downtown Austin Alliance and the ACVB Director
to develop the deployment schedules and areas of security coverage throughout the year.
This coordination will be on a continuing basis to satisfy the security needs of downtown
Austin.
The Rangers integration into the
Downtown Security network has proven to be a slow and tedious process. The immediate role
of assuming the "goodwill ambassadors" duties was aided greatly by the training and
expertise provided by the Austin Convention and Visitor's Bureau (ACVB) staff. However,
the burden of training groups of four (4) or more new Rangers every quarter has occupied a
very large amount of time for the Supervisor and the two (2) Lead Rangers. A proposed
hourly salary increase was approved by the Executive Committee of the Downtown Austin
Alliance and became efffective in November 1996. This pay increase was designed to attract
more experienced, mature and stable Rangers to the program. The decrease from the present
twelve (12) Full Time Equivalent (FTE) positions to the proposed ten (10) FTE positions is
considered vital to staying with the approved FY 1996-97 Downtown Austin Alliance budget.
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First Tuesday Downtown
From July to December 1996 First Tuesday Downtown was a monthly "evening on the downtown"
showcasing Austin's unique, diverse, creative and thriving Downtown neighborhood. The
Alliance coordinated and produced the event that included theater, galleries, retailers,
and businesses which stayed open until 9 p.m. the first Tuesday of each month.
The Alliance plans to take a
break during Spring 1997, evaluate the program, consider quarterly alternatives, or other
arts events concurring with holidays or other set Downtown activities.
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Grafitti Removal
Since the City of Austin has assumed responsibility for graffiti removal in the public
right-of-way, the Downtown Austin Alliance has re-allocated its resources to private
property graffiti removal. The Downtown Austin Alliance has contracted with "Off the Wall"
Graffiti, Inc. for graffiti removal on private property within the Public Improvement
District. Only member parcels for which the Alliance has a signed release of liability are
included in this program.
All graffiti should be reported to
the City Graffiti Hotline: 473-4125.
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Litter Removal
The Downtown Austin Alliance has contracted with the City of Austin
Youth Corps to perform litter removal from sidewalks, curb, and gutters in the Downtown
Austin Public Improvement District. Litter is picked up between 7 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.,
Monday through Saturday and Sunday mornings. This service is in addition to the city's
regular maintenance program, and is not intended to replace them. Since May, 1996, the
Youth Corps picked up over 500 bags of trash a month in downtown.
The areas being cleaned falls within
the boundaries of the Downtown Austin Public Improvement District. Within that area, the
sidewalks will be cleaned from the private property line to the street curb except that
alcoves will also be cleaned (alley cleaning is not a part of this contract).
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top
Destination Downtown Arts and Entertainment Map
The Downtown Austin Alliance has produced the Destination Downtown Arts and
Entertainment Map in October 1995. The map shows off the many avenues of interest
Downtown offers, and promotes Downtown's arts industry. The map is available from the
Downtown Austin Alliance. Over 50,000 copies have been distributed since October 1995.
This map has been in demand by realty and title companies, Downtown commercial leasing
agents and managers, large Austin corporations (for inclusion in their employment
relocation packets), tourists, convention planners, and by many Austin arts
organizations.
The map shows around 90 restaurants,
50 performing arts venues, 42 visual arts venues, as well as museums, libraries, parks,
hotels and lodging, annual arts events, and University of Texas at Austin facilities. The
map also shows Downtown public transportation routes and off-street parking available to
the public, including State of Texas parking facilities.
The Alliance is scheduled to update
and reprint the map during its FY 1997-98.
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Downtown Parking Signs and Map
The Downtown Austin Alliance has produced the Downtown Parking Map. The map shows the
locations of publicly available off-street parking in Downtown, marked with signs provided
by the Alliance. The map shows lots and garages containing publicly available parking.
The parking facilities have posted signs provided by the Alliance. It is hoped that
uniform signage will aid the Downtown visitors searching for parking.
The map is available from the Downtown
Austin Alliance. An initial printing of 8,000 copies is being distributed to hotels,
rental cars agencies, Downtown offices and arts venues.
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Noontime Concerts
The
Downtown Austin Alliance and the Austin Federation of Musicians have co-sponsored two
years of free Tuesday noontime concerts at Regents Plaza, at 6th and Colorado. They are
held in Spring (April-June) and Fall (September-October).
The concerts have been held every
Tuesday each Spring and Fall since 1994. The Fall 1996 season will resume September 3, the
Tuesday following Labor Day. Types of music performed in the past include: 60's and
Motown, Cajun / Mexican, Urban Folk, Eclectic Bluegrass, Big Band Sound, Tejano /
Conjunto, Irish Harp, New Orleans Dixieland jazz, original Austin progressive country,
jazz, original soul and top 40 cover tunes, South American vocals and multi-instrumental,
and rock-a-billy with a horn section.
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Great Streets Program
The Downtown Austin Alliance, Inc. has established a Great Streets Program. This program
has as its mission the improvement of the physical design of Downtown streetscapes.
Funding for the Driskill corner in now
complete. The Alliance is working with the Department of Public Works and Transportation
and the Driskill on design development of the project. The Alliance is working with the
Texas Department of Transportation and the City of Austin on two projects that are
partially funded by ISTEA grants -- Trinity Street (6th St. to 12th St.), and Red River
Street (César Chávez to 12th St.)
At this time the focus of the program
is on the completion of existing projects.
Funding for projects selected as part
of the Great Streets program will come from a variety of sources. If parking meter
revenues in Downtown increase, the increase will be allocated to the Great Streets
program. Other sources of funding, both public and private, are being sought. Possible
sources include Capital Metro's Build Greater Austin program, the Historic Landmark
Commission's Bricks and Mortar fund, ISTEA, contributions from adjacent property owners.
Basic Data
- Project Contact: Dave Kreider, Assistant Director,
Planning, Environmental and Conservation Services Department, 499-6381
- Project
Manager: Charles Betts, Executive Director, Downtown Austin Alliance, 469-1766 / fax
477-7456,
Southwest Tower, 211 E. Seventh Street, Suite 100-L, Austin, TX 78701
Revised January 14, 1997
Back to the January 1997 Contents
