Attached files:
District Stats
City of Austin Dist 4 map REV
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The redistricting for Constable Precinct 2 was voted and approved by the Commissioners. We got all 4 precincts as asked for, but do not have a timeline yet of when it will actually occur.
Thank you to those neighborhoods who made the long drive downtown!
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All,
I learned this week that the City of Austin is undertaking a transportation-oriented study of Burnet Rd from 2222 north to Mopac. A public input process may begin as early as September. I was told that the results of the study will be used as an input for the composition of a post-Comp Plan bond package.
The study will consider best use of all land within the public right-of-way. As described to me, everything is on the table for discussion – turn lanes, special lanes in support of buses, medians, bike lanes and sidewalks.
While it sounded as though land use would not be an official part of the study, it should be clear to anyone that land use and transportation are tightly interlinked.
As an aside, this makes it likely that Sustainable Neighborhoods will need to defer our project to plant sidewalk trees on Burnet, since there is no certainty whether they would still be in the right place after the study ends.
Please let me know if you hear of anything new concerning this project. I will do likewise. Cheers.
Steve
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City of Austin Notice of Public Hearing on property tax increase
The City of Austin will hold two public hearings on a proposal to increase total tax revenues from properties on the tax roll in the preceding tax year by 4.0 percent (percentage by which proposed tax rate exceeds lower of rollback tax rate or effective tax rate calculated under Chapter 26, Tax Code). Your individual taxes may increase at a greater or lesser rate, or even decrease, depending on the change in the taxable value of your property in relation to the change in taxable value of all other property and the tax rate that is adopted.
The first public hearing will be held on Thursday August 25, 2011 starting at 4:00 p.m. at City Council Chambers, 301 West 2nd Street, Austin, Texas 78701.
The second public hearing will be held on Thursday September 1, 2011 starting at 4:00 p.m. at City Council Chambers, 301 West 2nd Street, Austin, Texas 78701.
The members of the governing body voted on the proposal to consider the tax increase as follows:
FOR: Mayor Lee Leffingwell, Mayor Pro Tem Sheryl Cole, Council Member
Mike Martinez, Council Member Laura Morrison, Council Member Kathie Tovo, Council Member Chris Riley, and Council Member Bill Spelman
AGAINST: None
PRESENT and not voting: None
ABSENT: None
The average taxable value of a residence homestead in the City of Austin last year was $259,988 (average taxable value of a residence homestead in the taxing unit for the preceding tax year, disregarding residence homestead exemptions available only to disabled persons or persons 65 years of age or older). Based on last year s tax rate of $0.4571 (preceding year s adopted tax rate) per $100 of taxable value, the amount of taxes imposed last year on the average home was $1,188.41 (tax on average taxable value of a residence homestead in the taxing unit for the preceding tax year, disregarding residence homestead exemptions available only to disabled persons or persons 65 years of age or older).
The average taxable value of a residence homestead in the City of Austin this year is $256,989 (average taxable value of a residence homestead in the taxing unit for the current tax year, disregarding residence homestead exemptions available only to disabled persons or persons 65 years of age or older). If the governing body adopts the effective tax rate for this year of $0.4644 per $100 of taxable value, the amount of taxes imposed this year on the average home would be $1,193.46 (tax on average taxable value of a residence homestead in the taxing unit for the current tax year, disregarding residence homestead exemptions available only to disabled persons or persons 65 years of age or older).
If the governing body adopts the proposed tax rate of $0.4832 per $100 of taxable value, the amount of taxes imposed this year on the average home would be $1,241.77 (tax on the average taxable value of a residence homestead in the taxing unit for the current tax year, disregarding residence homestead exemptions available only to disabled persons or persons 65 years of age or older).
Members of the public are encouraged to attend the hearings and express their views.
Contact:
Budget Office, 512-974-2610
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The paper about Community participation is out now:
http://ecommons.txstate.edu/
you may remember this survey where a UT student asked community leaders how we though the city was doing in listening to us – the paper is very long, survey results start on page 70.
North Austin got the third highest number of responses! 20 people responded from area, out of a total of 128 responses.
I know its a long paper, but its interesting how the city pretty much failed on everything – there is little confidence in the city and its attempts to encourage citizen participation. Something North Austin has been saying for quite a while
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There is an individual who was seen following a woman’s daughter in the the Woodhaven area.
As we all know, criminals tend to move when they attract attention so here’s the info in case he decides to come to our area:
I met an APD officer at our house moments later. Officer Guillermo
Salinas with APD took our report, and assigned us a case number (11 227
0420). He had already entered the license plate number into his
computer en route, and asked me for a description of the driver. He
said I had described the owner of the white Ford van accurately, and
that he was someone who had 4 prior arrests – 3 for suspicious behavior
(beginning in 2008 I believe), and one in 2010 for exposing himself.
The officer indicated that this guy was “escalating”. He also mentioned
that he was probably on some job site, and was just looking for targets
on his way to work.
Needless to say, I think it is imperative that we get the description of
this guy out to the community, especially if there is a possibility of
him working in our area. Here is his description:
-White male
-Mid 50’s, with a distinctive, long, gray, sleek ponytail
-was wearing a t shirt
He drives a white Ford passenger van, no logos/printing on the van, it does have windows, and no tools, ladders, etc. License plate 68Z-CH7. Registered to a San Marcos resident whose description fits the one I gave APD of the driver. White male, but clearly had spent time in the sun, long gray pony-tail (hair seemed to be sleek in texture), mid 50s.
If anyone sees him, they just need to call 911. There is an open case. They can’t go after this guy since he didn’t touch my daughter, but he has priors and has been in prison. So don’t engage him.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 18, 2011
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jason Hill, 972-0145, cell 739-9792
Jill Mayfield, 972-0150; cell 585-0474
(Austin)-Beginning Tuesday, September 6, Austin Water will enact Stage 2 Mandatory Watering Restrictions due to the exceptional drought in Central Texas.
Stage 2 Watering Restrictions are in line with the City’s Drought Contingency Plan which states, in part, that the City Manager may order additional water restrictions when the combined lake storage levels of Lakes Travis and Buchanan reaches 900,000 acre-feet. It is anticipated that the trigger will be reached next week.
The City of Austin believes it is necessary to implement additional restrictions to help ensure adequate water supply during the drought. To ensure that both residential and commercial customers follow restrictions, Austin Water staff will begin stepped-up enforcement.
Violations of mandatory watering restrictions will result in an official warning followed by a citation if the violation is not corrected. Citations will be issued in Municipal Court with fines set during Stage 2 at $475.
Stage 2 Includes:
Watering allowed 1 day per week for all Austin Water customers
Hand-watering allowed anytime
No automatic-irrigation after 10 a.m. on designated watering day
Vehicle washing on designated day before 10 a.m.
No charity carwashes
No automatic fill valves for pools or ponds
No outdoor fountains except to provide aeration for aquatic life
No water to be served at restaurants unless requested
No washing of sidewalks, driveways, parking areas or other paved areas
To report water waste, residents should call 3-1-1. For more information on Stage 2 Restrictions and water conservation programs, visit WaterWiseAustin.org.
You may also remind your residents that they need to think about conservation for energy from November to March. Their usage during those months will help determine their bills for the rest of the year. I know November is a ways off, but its good to get people thinking about it now.
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Hello All:
Our next meeting is our most important so far. It will be NEXT MONDAY, Aug. 22, 6:30 pm at Austin Energy, at 721 Barton Springs Road.
Below is a proposed agenda for this meeting. Please send any comments or concerns, and, of course, we’ll vote to adopt the agenda once there.
Proposed Agenda
* Steve Bickerstaff on a Citizens Redistricting Process
* Presentations on Proposals (so far, I believe there will be 2 different proposals, and 10-1 and support for some at-large seats)
* Vote on Proposals
* Team Meetings (Publicity, Speakers, Petition & Fundraising)
Below are the proposed rules for voting that we will use at this meeting. These rules received consensus support at the last meeting.
Voting Rules:
1. One vote per organization.
2. One vote for community leaders, officials and those who bring expertise who have been participating with us.
3. Two-thirds super-majority required.
4. Must have been participating or had a presentation to their organization.
Please reply to this message if you plan to attend this meeting and vote for your organization or wish to vote as an individual and fit into Rule 2 above.
As always, call me with questions or concerns or reply to this message. Thank you!
Linda Curtis
Austinites for Geographic Representation
512-535-7208 home office
512-657-2089 cell
Please remember that they will accept votes from different organizations, but they want you to call and let them know why you feel you deserve a vote at this meeting
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Also, I did ask about a possible 78758/78757 district and this was the response I got:
Mary,
Attached is a PDF map of minority District 4 in North Central Austin. Also population stats for it and other minority maps.
Dist 4 encompasses most of North Austin Coalition of Neighborhoods boundaries. It is comprised of mostly zip codes 78758 and 78753 plus a small portion of 78757. District 4 meets Dept of Justice requirements as a minority opportunity district.
The trade off is as follows: the more of 78757 added to District 4 will require an equal removal of either 78758 and/or 78753 to offset the additions from 78757. This would also increase the Anglo population and decrease the Hispanic population percentages in District 4.
Issues such as this is why we want a citizens commission to draw the districts after the charter change election has approved geographic districts. It’s the only fair way to protect everyone ones interests and balance the needs of our diverse communities.
Stacy
[email protected]
The two attachments she sent are attached.
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Finally, NACN may have a tentative meeting with some major business leaders on Sept 8th regarding the North End Hotel District. Its very much up in the air at this point, but I’ve been meeting with a few people and trying to get the ball rolling from a business standpoint – I think business owners are going to be the ones most interested in this proposal.
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-Mary R
GWNA Coach
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