[AustinEcoNetwork] This Week in the Environment: April 14-20

[Brandi M Clark]

From: Kedron Jerome Touvell [mailto:me at kedrontouvell.com] 

Hi y'all, as a small part of my job as Communications Director for the
Save Barton Creek Association, I compile a weekly list of
environmental events, meetings, and forums in the Austin area for our
membership to be aware of.  Generally, the focus is on environmental,
transportation, and land use policy in the context of governmental
meetings, but I try to include everything.  I thought it might be
useful to share this information with a wider audience, so I'm posting
it to this list.  Please let me know if you find it helpful and
whether or not I should continue.

regards,

Kedron Touvell
Save Barton Creek Association

starred (***) items indicate items discussed in a recent SBCA meeting

=======================
Monday, April 14

9:00am: CAMPO Transit working group
CANCELLED this week and next.  Makes you wonder how they're going to
make it in time for the November election.
http://www.campotexas.org

3:00pm: Austin City Council Land Use and Transportation Committee
Item #4: Discussion on Rail Planning
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/agenda/2008/lut_041408.htm

5:30pm: Tejano Democrats City Council Candidate Forum
Location: County Commissioner Room

6:00pm: Central Austin Parks and Recreation Long-Range Plans
Central Austinites can participate in an update of the
Parks & Rec's long-term plans.
Location: O Henry Middle School Cafeteria, 2610 W 10th
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/parks/events.htm

7:00pm: Save Barton Creek Association
Terrace Pud?
Barton Springs Pool "Master Plan"?
Location: Vinny's on Barton Springs Road

7:00pm: Austin Organic Gardeners Meeting
covers topics ranging from soil biology to compost.
Location: Zilker Botanical Garden, 2220 Barton Springs Rd.
http://www.austinorganicgardeners.org

=======================
Tuesday, April 15

9:00am: Travis County Commission, weekly meeting
no burn ban item this week!!!
Item #4: Approve contract for solar + aluminum screens
Item #5: dispose of surplus equipment through Dell's recycling program
Item #10: Waterford on Lake Travis Plat (10 lots)
Item #11: Belvedere Phase III Plat (26 lots)
Item #12: Comanche Canyon Plat exemption (condominium)
Item #26: Latest briefing on County downtown campus
Location: Travis County Building, 314 W. 11th St., Commissioners Courtroom
http://www.co.travis.tx.us/commissioners_court/agendas/voting_session_agenda
.asp

9:00am-5:00pm: APA Meet and Confer Negotiations
Public safety spending for the next 5 years to be negotiated today and
tomorrow
Location: Learning and Research Center, Room 5, 2800 Spirit of Texas Dr.
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/events/city_calendar.cfm?action=EventDetail&event
_id=23553

6:00pm: Zoning and Platting Commission
***Item #3: WTP #4 variances
Item #9: Upzoning 7700/7704 Latta Dr., in BSZ from DR to SF3
Item #11: White Stone Church applying for IC variance, but they're not
in the BSZ (they're at 620 just north of 71)
Item #12: Environmental Variance in the Onion Creek Watershed (CWQZ):
8" raw water line, construct driveway on slopes greater than 15%
Item #13: Concordia Campus Variance: exceed 4' cut/fill limits (Bull
Creek Watershed)
Item #19: Helms Subdivision, variance to develop within CWQZ (Lake
Austin Watershed) -- EB conditions
Item #30-33: Staff Disapproval: Avana phase 1 final plat in BSZ (Bear
Creek Watershed)
Location: City Hall, Council Chambers
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/agenda/2008/zap_041508.htm

6:00pm: Balcones Preserves Trail Master Plan Meeting
Perhaps a certain city council candidate should attend this one?
Background, History, Group's purpose, next steps
Location: Waller Creek Center -- Room 105
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/agenda/2008/balcones_041508.htm

6:00pm: CapMetro Paratransit Service Change Public Hearing
This one may get ugly.
Location: Criss Cole Rehabilitation Center, 4800 N. Lamar
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/agenda/2008/downloads/capmetro_paratransit_041508
.pdf

6:00pm: Planning Commission, Codes + Ordinances Sub
Item #B1: Revisions to the Tree Preservation ordinance
Item #B2: The Signs and Billboard ordinance that got postponed last week
Item #B3: McMansion amendments update
Item #B4: CURE overlay in the DMZ district
Location: City Hall, Room 2016
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/agenda/2008/pc_co_041508.htm

6:00pm: RMMAPIAC
This is the advisory commission for the Mueller plan.  It's mostly
just status updates
Location: Waller Creek Center, 625 E 10th St., Room 105
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/agenda/2008/mueller_041508.htm

6:30pm: Resource Management Commission
Item #4a: Presentation from Accuwater's Dan Keelan
Item #7a: Discussion on Solar Rebate REC Agreement
***Item #7b: Water Conservation Plans and Progress
Location: City Hall, Room 1101
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/agenda/2008/rmc_041508.htm

7:00pm: Introduction to Nudism
This should be fun.  Meeting of the Hill County Nudists.
Location: Mr. Natural, 2414 S. Lamar
http://www.hillcountrynudists.com

7:00pm: Native Plant Society Meeting
Take a walk around Wild Basin's Trails before this meeting of Austin's
NPS chapter. Bring food to share.
Location: Wild Basin Wilderness meeting room, 805 Capital of TX Hwy.
http://www.npsot.org

=======================
Wednesday, April 16

7:45am: Design Commission Urban Open Space Subcommittee
Item #2: Urban Open Space Monograph
Location: Schlotsky's, 218 S. Lamar
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/agenda/2008/design_urban_041608.htm

9:00am-5:00pm: APA Meet and Confer Negotiations
Public safety spending for the next 5 years to be negotiated today
Location: Learning and Research Center, Room 5, 2800 Spirit of Texas Dr.
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/events/city_calendar.cfm?action=EventDetail&event
_id=23554

4:00pm-8:00pm: Austin Farmer's Market
Buy local, organic
Location: The Triangle, 46th and Lamar
http://www.austinfarmersmarket.org

5:30pm: Downtown Commission
Item #4: Lower Shoal Creek at Seaholm, Green
***Item #6: Waterfront Overlay Task Force
Item #7: Capital Metro 'Dillo Task Force Recommendations
Item #8: Pedestrian Safety Committee Report
Item #10 Downtown Austin Plan Status Report
Location: City Hall, Boards & Commissions Room
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/agenda/2008/downtown_041608.htm

5:30pm: Austin Arts City Council Forum
Location: Nuevo Leon

5:30pm: Leave No Trace Camping Presentation
The staff of Whole Earth Provisions will teach you how to camp without
stepping all over Mother Earth.
Location: Yarborough Branch of the Austin Public Library, 2200 Hancock
http://www.cityofaustin.org

6:00pm: Environmental Board
Item  #4a: Groundwater issues in West Campus
***Item #4b: Briefing on E&S Controls by Mike Kelly
Item #5: reports on SH45, E&S Controls and BS Master Plan
Item #6: BCCP Citizens Advisory and Tree Task Force updates
Location: City Hall, Council Chambers
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/agenda/2008/eb_041608.htm

6:00pm: Planning Commission, Neighborhood Planning Subcommittee
Item #B2: VMU and shallow lots
Location: City Hall, Room 2016
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/agenda/2008/pc_np_041608.htm

6:00pm: Water and Wastewater Commission
Item #C: Director's briefing
***Item #F: WTP #4 Variances
Location: Waller Creek Center, Room 104
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/agenda/2008/water_041608.htm

6:30pm: Urban Forestry Board
Item #5: Presentation by UT grad students (about what?)
Item #6: Staff Reports
Item #7: Review progress towards completing Urban Forest Management Plan
Item #7b: Recommend to add another Environmental Review Inspector to WPDR
Location: Parks and Recreation Board Room, 200 S. Lamar Blvd.
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/agenda/2008/forestry_041608.htm

6:30pm: Keep Austin Blue City Council Forum
Location: Mother Egan's

=======================
Thursday, April 17

10:00am: No Austin City Council Meeting

11:45am: RECA City Council Forum
We're Not Invited
Location: Four Seasons Hotel

6:00pm: Waller Creek Citizen Advisory Committee
Item #3: TIF update
Item #4: Tunnel Design Update
Item #5: Master Plan Update
Item #6: Interim Development Guidelines
Location: City Hall, Boards & Commissions Room
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/agenda/2008/waller_041708.htm

6:00pm: Screening of "Kilwatt Ours"
"Kilowatt Ours" is an inspirational and enlivening film that
demonstrates how easy it is to conserve energy as well as the many
ways each of us can become part of the renewable energy revolution.
The film reveals the connection between personal choices and energy
use.
Fundraiser for Clean Water Action and CLEAN.  $5 suggested
Location: Ruta Maya, 3601 S. Congress

6:30pm: Bicycle Advisory Council
Location: One Texas Center

7:00pm: League Of Women Voters Council Forum
On Channel 6
Location: City Hall, Council Chambers

=======================
Friday, April 18


=======================
Saturday, April 19

9:00am-6:00pm: Early Earth Day Festivities
Living Green Festival brought to you by the Austin Farmer's Market and
other green orgs (were we not asked to sponsor? -- HCA and Sierra Club
are sponsors).  A lot of it looks kid-focused, but there will be an
expo with the latest in green technology (they promise algae CO2
sequestration).  Come to think of it, we should have a booth at this
thing (SOS does).  Next year, I guess.
Location: Republic Square Park
http://www.austinearthday.com/

9:00am: Design Commission Retreat
Item #2: Discussion on the expansion of application of the Urban
Design Guidelines to TODs, Activity Centers and other nodes of density
Location: Austin City Hall, Room 1027
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/agenda/2008/design_041908s.htm

9:00am-1:00pm: Slaughter Creek Trail Building
Hosted by the Austin Ridge Riders Mountain Bike Club.
Location: 9901 Camp Ben McCullough Rd.
http://www.keepaustinbeautiful.org/node/201

9:00am-1:00pm: Arroyo Revegetation
Plant grass starts in an arroyo to prevent erosion and to filter water
when the wash is flowing.
Location: J-17, just south of Slaughter and Brodie.
http://www.keepaustinbeautiful.org/node/210

9:00am-12:00pm: Build a Butterfly Garden
Help build a butterfly garden at a little known pocket park in South
Austin.  Other projects will include litter pickup and trimming trees.
Location: SW corner of Emerald Wood and South 1st
http://www.keepaustinbeautiful.org/node/213

9:00am-1:00pm: Austin Farmer's Market
Buy local, organic
Location: Republic Square Park
http://www.austinfarmersmarket.org

9:30am-1:00pm: Sunset Valley Farmer's Market
Buy local, organic
Location: Toney Burger Center
http://www.sunsetvalleyfarmersmarket.org

10:30am: Green Gardening
Learn about the green craze of xeriscaping from John Gleason. If it's
good enough for the Howson landscaping project, it's good enough for
your yard.
Location: Howson Branch of the Austin Public Library, 2500 Exposition
http://www.cityofaustin.org

=======================
Sunday, April 20

9:00am-1:00pm: Slaughter Creek Trail Building
Hosted by the Austin Ridge Riders Mountain Bike Club.
Location: 9901 Camp Ben McCullough Rd.
http://www.keepaustinbeautiful.org/node/202

=======================

Ongoing

New EPA Ground-level Ozone Requirements
Campo is accepting comments on their 8 hour Ozone program
http://www.campotexas.org/pdfs/8-hour_Ozone_Flex_Program.pdf

Austin Car Share
Get rid of your car, but have access to one if you need it.
http://www.austincarshare.org

Barton Springs Audio Tour
Take a self-guided tour of Austin's favorite swimming hole. All you
have to do is download the audio files and map from the Save Our
Springs Alliance website, and off you go.
http://www.sosalliance.org

Adopt a Cap-Metro Stop
You or your organization can adopt one of the stops along Cap Metro's
bus lines. In exchange for helping keep your stop tidy, Cap Metro will
let you spruce it up (Keep Austin Beautiful will even provide
landscaping tools) to reflect the personality of your neighborhood.
369-7759. alissa.schram at capmetro.org

Host a Creek Cleanup
Is the creek you love filled with beer cans and six-pack rings? All
you have to do is gather some friends to clean it up, and Keep Austin
Beautiful and Watershed Protection and
Development Review will give you all the guidance and materials you need.
http://www.keepaustinbeautiful.org