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Whispers
Friday, March 1, 2019 by Elizabeth Pagano
Groups sue over MoPac project
The Center for Biological Diversity and the Save Our Springs Alliance are suing the Texas Department of Transportation and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, claiming the MoPac Intersections Project threatens the Austin blind salamander and the Barton Springs salamander, both endangered species. According to a press release from the Center for Biological Diversity, “The conservation groups recently learned that the MoPac Intersections Project has exposed at least 21 underground caves, sink holes and other karst features that provide habitat for the endangered salamanders. There is a high risk that construction will pollute the two species’ habitat by introducing silt and pollutants to the subsurface. The project is being built across the environmentally sensitive Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone in southwest Austin.” The notice of the intent to sue, filed yesterday, is embedded below. Construction on the project started in January 2018.
Friday, March 1, 2019 by Tai Moses
Asian American center issues call for artists
The Asian American Resource Center is seeking artists for its 2020 exhibit season. Both emerging and established artists of all disciplines are encouraged to apply. AARC aims to showcase the work of Asian American Pacific Islander artists who celebrate their community and their heritage through their artwork. The multiple exhibit spaces include a ballroom, a lobby, display cases, and exhibit halls with a view of the garden. The deadline to submit is April 28. There is no fee to submit an exhibit proposal. For submission instructions and information, visit aarc.submittable.com.
Friday, March 1, 2019 by Jessi Devenyns
Austin buyout program cited as exemplary method for increasing flood resilience
In the wake of Hurricane Harvey, the Nature Conservancy’s Texas chapter and Texas A&M University recently released a study that offers a new model for flood reduction – an innovative approach already being implemented in Austin’s Williamson Creek Central Greenway. Called “clustered buyouts,” the idea is to encourage voluntary buyouts of flood-prone properties within cities through lump property acquisition. Pam Kearfott of the Watershed Protection Department told the Austin Monitor that in the 13 years she has been working for the city, flood-reduction buyout programs have always been conducted in this manner. However, the buyout in the Williamson Creek Central Greenway has been coordinated directly with the land management office and the Nature Conservancy to create a community-led “visioning plan” for the buyout area that will include usable greenbelt space while developing a safely floodable plane. Lily Verdone, one of the lead researchers on the study and the director of Freshwater and Marine Programs for the Nature Conservancy Texas, explained that this link has allowed the Conservancy to observe the effects of clustered buyouts in a local setting. Kearfott told the Monitor that before any buyouts occur, the watershed department works to mitigate flooding issues through structural engineering like widening creek beds or creating detention ponds. However, there are cases when Mother Nature is stronger, at which point, like the new study shows, “maybe it’s better to take the houses away from the water.”
Thursday, February 28, 2019 by Ryan Thornton
Funds could be running out for public defender office
Time is running out for the Indigent Legal Services work group to obtain a Texas Indigent Defense Commission grant this year. In order to take full advantage of the available funding to be used for a public defender office, the group would need to submit its letter of intent to apply for the grant by March 11. To be considered, however, the letter needs signatures of Travis County criminal court judges and the approval of the Commissioners Court. Unfortunately, it doesn’t appear that the judges will be willing to sign the letter at this point, unless the ILS group can create a compelling outline of how it will use the funds. The group has been working steadily to develop its plan since late December but has not had time to spell out the details yet. County Judge Sarah Eckhardt told the court last week that it should be possible to move forward even if the county did not receive the grant money this year, but the consequences of that situation were unclear. Roger Jefferies of Justice Planning clarified Tuesday that the result could mean less money available for the project. Unless the county submits an application this year, Jefferies said TIDC has indicated some of that money will probably go toward formula grants to be distributed across the state. Eckhardt said the county is “tap dancing as fast as we can” trying to develop the letter of intent to get the approval of all necessary parties. The ILS group needs to get the signatures before the court’s March 5 voting session for final approval.
Thursday, February 28, 2019 by Chad Swiatecki
Austin, learn about your health here
Austin residents will have access to a broad range of online learning modules intended to improve community health, thanks to a new partnership between the Dell Medical School at the University of Texas and the medical education platform OnlineMedEd. The Discovering Value-Based Health Care modules were developed by medical school faculty and students and are organized around the concept of value-cased care, or health care geared toward positive patient outcomes instead of charging for total services and procedures provided to a patient. The new model is expected to help lower health care costs by eliminating wasteful and unnecessary procedures, but has not been widely adopted by established internal medicine programs across the country. The medical school’s Texas Health CoLab innovation hub took the lead in creating and deploying the modules for wide public consumption.
Thursday, February 28, 2019 by Tai Moses
Help shape the city’s 2020 budget
You’ve got plenty of opinions about how this city should be run, don’t you? Well, here’s your chance to share your views and ideas. Austin city commissions are hosting a 2020 budget community forums, and you’re invited. Help shape goals for the city’s commissions and make recommendations on city services. The city wants to hear your voice. RSVP on Facebook: www.bit.ly/2Ezw1dG. Details are on the flyer.
Thursday, February 28, 2019 by Jessi Devenyns
Communication between HLC and TCAD comes under fire
Jim Christianson, a former Historic Landmark Commission member with a 22-year tenure, came to warn the commission that “handing out historic zonings like cupcakes” would devalue the tax abatements those with the designation receive in the eyes of City Council. Christianson was referring to properties where modern additions or improvements had been made, like the old Spaghetti Warehouse, which was converted into a bar and given a third story. He argued that the new level should not be given a tax abatement, but there’s no way for the Travis Central Appraisal District to separate the addition out from the structure for taxing purposes. This shortcoming, he explained, allows properties to unfairly increase their values while still benefiting from historic zoning tax abatement. Commissioner Terri Myers pointed out that a number of Austin landmarks have non-historic additions and the commission tries, when possible, to remove historic zoning from the parcel that has become modernized. Christianson was also concerned about communication between the commission and TCAD, insinuating that it was the commission’s responsibility to alert the offices to historic zoning changes. However, Commissioner Alex Papavasiliou said that “the appraisal district is aware of building permits” where historic zoning is noted because they are public record. Steve Sadowsky, the city’s historic preservation officer, confirmed that city staffers do not communicate any changes in certificates of appropriateness because building permits, not certificates, trigger an appraisal. However, he said he will take Christianson’s suggestions and see what changes can be made in the flow of information “so that they’re more aware.”
Wednesday, February 27, 2019 by Tai Moses
Barton Springs spring cleaning
It’s that time of year already – Barton Springs Pool is closing for its annual spring cleaning and restoration. The popular spring-fed swimming pool will be closed, and access to the dog beach will be limited, from March 4-15 while Parks and Rec staff remove gravel from the pool to restore its natural depth. Beginning Monday, March 4, Deep Eddy Pool at 401 Deep Eddy Drive will open at 6 a.m. to accommodate the early birds who can’t live without their morning dip.
Wednesday, February 27, 2019 by Tai Moses
The future of (paying for) parking is here
If you’ve ever scrounged for change to feed a meter or paid for half a day at a lot when you only needed an hour, you’ll appreciate Austin Transportation’s sleek, upgraded parking app. Park ATX allows Austinites to pay for parking at more than 10,000 parking spots around the city and pay only for the time that you use. Park ATX is available for free on Apple and Android devices. With the launch of the new app, the city has expanded to more than 500 parking zones. Street parkers should check out the new zone numbers, which are on new Park ATX signage throughout the city.
Tuesday, February 26, 2019 by Ryan Thornton
Cap Metro names Rosa Parks Boardroom in honor of relationship between civil rights and transit
In response to a suggestion by Travis County Commissioner and Capital Metro Board of Directors member Jeff Travillion during the board’s last meeting on Jan. 25, the agency voted Monday to rename its boardroom after civil rights activist Rosa Parks. CEO Randy Clarke suggested the name dedication as a way to follow Travillion’s lead in honoring African-American history with transit. Clarke said the American Public Transportation Association’s main conference hall in Washington, D.C., is named after Parks, who in Clarke’s words, “fundamentally changed our industry forever.” Capital Metro has installed a large wooden plaque outside of the boardroom with biographical information about Parks. The plaque features her words, “I believe we are here on the planet Earth to live, grow up, and do what we can to make this world a better place for all to enjoy freedom.” Travillion said the designation of the Rosa Parks Boardroom is an excellent step, and he had also spoken about the need to connect the transit community to Austin’s history. With this in mind, the resolution also honors Mrs. Howellen Bunton Taylor, who was arrested in Austin for refusing to move to the back of a bus as a protest in November 1955, prior to Park’s famous protest in Montgomery, Alabama.
Tuesday, February 26, 2019 by Jo Clifton
Recycled Reads not going away
Supporters of Recycled Reads, the quirky used bookstore at 5335 Burnet Road that offers mahjong and knitting and serves as a gathering place for the community, will be happy to hear that city staff has withdrawn an item to sublease most of the space to Austin Creative Reuse. Staff has postponed the item twice, including last week, after getting pushback from members of Council as well as the community. Library department spokeswoman Rachel Nguyen said one reason the item was not moving forward was because the Yarborough Branch Library on Hancock Drive, which is close to Recycled Reads, would be closing for renovations on March 1 for about 11 months. Nguyen also acknowledged that there was negative feedback from the community about the plan to eliminate Recycled Reads in 2022. That negative feedback is most likely at the top of the list of City Manager Spencer Cronk’s concerns. Council Member Leslie Pool told the Austin Monitor on Monday, “I appreciate the recognition of the important role that Recycled Reads plays in our community. People from all parts of town meet up there regularly. It’s a real community gathering place. I’m glad that we will continue the lease.” Pool said Cronk told her Friday afternoon that he would be pulling the item from the March 7 agenda and that it would not be coming back.
Tuesday, February 26, 2019 by Tai Moses
What do scooters and plastic bags have in common?
It’s easy to tell that Common Ground for Texans loves lively conversation. Just take the Austin nonprofit group’s latest topic for public discussion: “Scooters, Plastic Bags, Development: What’s the Right Amount of Regulation?” Who could resist diving into that? From the seemingly unregulated proliferation of electric scooters to the plastic bag ban to the land development code, the overarching theme of how much regulation is the right amount is bound to get people engaged and talking – hopefully in a civil manner. This free community event will feature two City Council members on opposite sides of the scooter question – District 10’s Alison Alter and District 6’s Jimmy Flannigan – and takes place Saturday, March 2, from 2-4 p.m. at Old Quarry Branch Library, 7051 Village Center.