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Whispers
Wednesday, August 19, 2015 by Jo Clifton
They just keep coming
If there was doubt in anyone’s mind about Austin’s popularity among the traveling public, they should look no further than the latest report from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. ABIA announced that in July 2015, 1.165 million passengers passed through the airport. That’s an increase of 16 percent over last year’s record-setting July. Additionally, the airport set monthly records for June and May, with both months surpassing 1 million passengers. The airport has experienced passenger growth for 34 consecutive months and for 66 of the last 67 months, dating back to January 2010, according to ABIA. Total passenger traffic for January through July of this year was 6,759,214, up 10 percent, compared to January through July of 2014. While the number of passengers continues to grow rapidly, air cargo does not. According to the airport’s statistics, air cargo totaled 89,975,665 pounds, up 2 percent compared to January through July of 2014. International air cargo totaled 11,086,586 pounds, up 0.7 percent.
Wednesday, August 19, 2015 by Elizabeth Pagano
CPS Board applicants wanted
The Travis County Commissioners Court is seeking applicants for the Travis County Children’s Protective Services Board. There are five vacancies to be filled, and terms are for three years. According to a press release about the call for applicants, “The mission of the Travis County Children’s Protective Services Board (CPS) is to provide financial support for the special needs of children in the care of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, to educate the community about child abuse and neglect issues, and to support and provide a liaison between Travis County Children’s Protective Service workers and the public by increasing the community’s awareness of child welfare program policies and needs. The board is statutorily mandated to provide coordinated state and local public welfare services for children and their families and for the coordinated use of federal, state, and local funds for these services.” Qualified applicants are encouraged to apply by Sept. 11. An online application packet and more information about the positions can be found online here or by calling 512-854-4774.
Wednesday, August 19, 2015 by Tyler Whitson
Springdale Farm debate likely back at Council this week
Prior to taking their first stab at the long-running conflict over outdoor entertainment at Springdale Farm, several City Council members indicated in a work session Tuesday that they will likely deny a request to postpone Thursday’s public hearing and will also likely shorten public comment. “I think the public should know that, one, my sense is it’s not going to get postponed,” said Mayor Steve Adler. “Second, my sense is that we’ll limit debate.” Several other Council members noted that they are not in support of postponing the hearing, most vocally Council Member Pio Renteria. “This is an asset to my community, and I just can’t see why we’re still dragging these poor people through delays after delays after delays.” Jerry Rusthoven of the Planning and Zoning Department explained the current issue. “The postponement request is by the people who are in opposition to the farm. As I understand it, they’re requesting a postponement because their attorney, Mr. Bill Aleshire, has indicated that he would not be available to be here on Thursday,” he said. The hearing is regarding an appeal from the farm owners – who oppose postponement – for Council to overturn the Planning Commission’s June 9 denial of a conditional use permit that would allow “outdoor entertainment” on the property.
Tuesday, August 18, 2015 by Courtney Griffin
Eight AISD schools miss state mark
According to recently released Texas Education Agency reports, eight Austin Independent School District campuses are not up to state standards. The TEA gave Martin Middle School, Dobie Middle School, Mendez Middle School, Brooke Elementary School, Govalle Elementary School, Norman Elementary School, Rodriguez Elementary School and Widen Elementary School “Improvement Required” ratings based on campus performance in the 2014-15 school year. The state hands out only two ratings to campuses and districts, either “Improvement Required” or “Met Standard.” The annual report requires schools to meet state-set requirements in up to four categories to receive a “Met Standard” rating. The categories are largely based off student performance on the standardized State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) test, but the categories also measure the performance of different student demographic groups, year-to-year student progress by subject and student group, and post-secondary readiness. Due to the changes in the state assessment program last school year, for the 2015 report, a campus could meet a target measuring student performance or student progress while additionally meeting student demographic and post-secondary readiness standards and still receive a “Met Standard” rating. Schools with two years of “Improvement Required” ratings must develop a reform plan with the TEA. If the campus continues to fall short of state standards a third time, TEA’s education commission has the authority to install new leadership at the school or shut it down.
Tuesday, August 18, 2015 by Elizabeth Pagano
Water proposal remains in early stages
City Council Member Don Zimmerman floated a proposal to “immediately move Stage 2 to Stage 1 water restriction” last week, but a post on the City Council Message Board has failed to garner any responses so far. The resolution cites rains earlier this year as a reason to lessen restrictions. Earlier this year, Austin Water utility officials suggested adopting one-day-per-week watering schedules permanently, as is required under Stage 2.
Tuesday, August 18, 2015 by Elizabeth Pagano
AURA has thoughts about the Drag
Yesterday, Austinites for Urban Rail Action released a set of recommendations for the Guadalupe Corridor Improvement Program currently underway at the city. Those recommendations, which are embedded below, include suggestions to extend transit priority lanes from downtown and remove the wall between the UT Austin campus and the Drag. In a statement to the press, John Laycock said, “The Drag is one of the most important transit corridors in the city. Over a dozen bus routes use it, and more than 4,000 people board a bus on the Drag each day. … This corridor is the key to making transit work in the city, and transit riders make Guadalupe the place it is. It absolutely makes sense to extend the transit lanes from downtown in each direction onto Guadalupe.”
Tuesday, August 18, 2015 by Elizabeth Pagano
TEMPO project picks up the public art pace
This month, the city is launching its 2015 TEMPO exhibit, which will consist of 10 temporary installations in several local parks and city facilities. The installations will pop up starting this month and end in January 2016. A kickoff party to celebrate the exhibition will take place this Saturday, Aug. 22, in Boggy Creek Greenbelt Park at 10:00 a.m. The party is free and open to the public. A map of the installation and more information about all 10 pieces is available on the city’s website, here.
Monday, August 17, 2015 by Nora Ankrum
Parks Department announces burn ban
Due to drought conditions and the threat of wildfire, the Austin Parks and Recreation Department has issued a burn ban in all city parks, greenbelts and preserves. The ban prohibits open fires and grilling, including the use of wood- and charcoal-burning barbecue pits, grills and smokers; however, propane stoves are allowed in designated picnic areas. Park rangers and Austin Police Department officers will be actively enforcing the burn ban as well as the smoking ban within city parks. A violation can draw a fine of between $300 and $500. According to an announcement from the city, the Parks and Recreation Department “will lift the ban as soon as conditions allow.”
Monday, August 17, 2015 by Nora Ankrum
Cartographers welcome, not required, for waterfront Walk and Draw
The city of Austin is hosting two Walk and Draw events this month, the first in a series of interactive public gatherings that will ultimately produce a “crowdsourced Field Guide to the South Central Waterfront,” according to an announcement from the city. The project is part of the South Central Waterfront Initiative, a project to develop a guiding framework over the next 20 years for development of a 97-acre stretch of land near downtown, on the south shore of Lady Bird Lake. Led by artist Ann Armstrong of Austin’s Atlas, Walk and Draw participants will be describing, through their own words and images, the South Central Waterfront area, block by block. The events will be held Aug. 27 at 6:30 p.m. and Aug. 29 at 10 a.m. at the Statesman Bat Observation Center under the Congress Bridge. Participants’ work will later be compiled to produce a single waterfront map to be displayed at an upcoming charrette.
Monday, August 17, 2015 by Nora Ankrum
Austin B-cycle introduces low-income memberships
Bike-sharing organization Austin B-cycle is launching a new program, the Austin Bike Share Equity Project, that will make 400 B-cycle memberships available at a discount to low-income Austinites. The annual memberships, available for $5 to Austin residents who make an annual income of $25,000 or less, are made possible by a competitive $50,000 grant from the Better Bike Share Partnership and a $10,000 grant from the Downtown Austin Alliance. B-cycle is also adding three new bike-share stations in low-income areas, thanks to matching grants from the Austin Housing Authority and Foundation Communities. According to an announcement from Austin B-cycle Executive Director Elliott McFadden, “the program is designed to increase the usage of bike share among low-income populations as a low cost, reliable transportation solution.” To celebrate the launch, Austin B-cycle representatives will be joined by Mayor Steve Adler and others this morning, at 9:30 a.m., for a ceremony at Santa Rita Courts, 2406 E. Second St. The location is both home to one of the new bike stations and, according to McFadden’s announcement, “the oldest public housing community in the U.S.”
Friday, August 14, 2015 by Elizabeth Pagano
CodeNEXT invites you
The city’s CodeNEXT team would like Austinites to know what is going on. A press release notes that the group is currently taking on a number of “technical tasks,” including translating the Imagine Austin comprehensive plan into comprehensive code. Those who want to know more are invited to an Aug. 18 meetup at Scholz Garden at 7 p.m. If that doesn’t work, the city is also taking CodeNEXT on the road. People interested in hearing a presentation in September can sign up for the CodeNEXT Road Show here.
Friday, August 14, 2015 by Nora Ankrum
In case you’re wondering about “rough proportionality”
The city is hosting two information sessions for the development community regarding a new, state-mandated policy called “rough proportionality” that is being implemented by the Development Services and Transportation departments. According to an announcement from Development Services, the policy is a “way to verify that transportation improvements required of developers during the application process are appropriate and fair.” The announcement also says that the city is considering “potential Code amendments to clarify policies related to this process.” More details are available here, as well as at the information sessions, which are scheduled for Aug. 19 and Aug. 31, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at One Texas Center, 505 Barton Springs Road, Ste. 500.