MONDAY: CapMetro votes on whether to suspend Dillo service.

TUESDAY: Travis County accepts $2.2 million in Federal stimulus money for energy efficiency and conservation and hears a presentation on the Onion Creek Greenbelt project.

TUESDAY: Austin Energy holds a public town hall meeting on our electricity generation mix through 2020.

TUESDAY: The joint Parks Board/Environmental Board subcommittee holds a public hearing on the Bull Creek Park Restoration Plan.

TUESDAY: The Sierra Club hosts a lecture on growing organic food locally by John Dromgoole of The Natural Gardener.

WEDNESDAY: The Austin Energy Generation Resource Planning Task Force meets.

WEDNESDAY: The Environmental Board renews the CLEAN AIR force contract.

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Monday, August 31

11:30am: Envision Central Texas Legislative Roundup Luncheon
A panel of legislators will discuss what happened at the Session, what didn’t, and what next steps need to be taken, especially as they relate to transportation and land use issues in Central Texas. Participating are Glenn Hegar, Kirk Watson, Jeff Wentworth, Valinda Bolton, Eddie Rodriguez, and Patrick Rose.
Location: Hyatt Regency Austin
http://www.envisioncentraltexas.org/

2:00pm: Capital Metro Board Work Session
Item #IV: Presentations on Accessibility improvements, FY 2010 budget, ethics training.
4:00pm: Capital Metro Board
Item #IV4: 2009 Service Change — Dillo Suspension
Item #IV6: Appoint Chris Riley to the Operations/Business Dev Committee
Item #II7: Authorize President/CEO to act on behalf of Cap Metro to terminate the CAMPO joint powers agreement
Item #VI: Metro Rail Startup update
Item #VI FY 2010 Budget update
Location: 2910 E Fifth St.
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/agenda/2009/downloads/campo_t_083109.pdf
http://www.capmetro.org/news/agenda4.asp

6:30pm: Parks/Environmental Board Joint Committee
Item #B: Public hearing on the Bull Creek District Park Restoration Plan. Staff’s plan is to require leashes on dogs, which is causing some controversy. The original problem is that dog owners not cleaning after their pets is causing high levels of pollution in the creek.
Location: MACC Auditorium
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/agenda/2009/downloads/parks_env_083109.pdf

7:00pm: Save Barton Creek Association Board Meeting
Location: Vinny’s Italian Cafe

Save Barton Creek Association

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Tuesday, September 1

9:00am: Travis County Commissioner’s Court
Item #2: Outdoor Burn Ban
Item #3: Accept $2.2 million in Federal stimulus money for an energy efficiency and conservation block grant.
Item #5: Receive briefing and discuss vision plan for the Onion Creek Greenway. The County received a $1 million grant from the TPWC for the first phase, which is the area south of the SH 130/SH71 intersection. The greenbelt will be a 21-mile strip along Onion Creek between IH 35 and the Colorado River. Voters approved $8.6 million in bond money to develop Onion Space parkland in a 2005 bond.
Item #6: Briefing/Action on County participation in City of Austin’s Comprehensive Planning Process.
Item #7: Consider/Action on fee increases for storm water management, wastewater fees, and park fees.
Item #25: Add the Nature Trail at Milton Reimers Ranch Project to the contract with American Youthworks for Parks services.
Item #37: Presentation/Action on proposed CAMPO bylaws changes.
Item #39: Briefing/Action on claims from Tecolote farms about water availability and related issues.
Item #A1: Consider/action on purchase contract from City of Austin for 79 acres of land off FM 969 for park purposes.
Item #A5: Extend the deadline for accepting applications for the vacant board seat on the CTRMA.
Location: Travis County Commissioner’s Courtroom
http://www.co.travis.tx.us/commissioners_court/agendas/voting_session_agenda.asp
http://www.co.travis.tx.us/commissioners_court/agendas/2009/09/backup/eagenda_packet_20090901.pdf

9:30am: Mechanical, Plumbing, and Solar Board
Item #4: Green building presentation 2009 International Energy Conservation Code
Item #5a: 2nd Public hearing for questions and comments regarding proposed adoption of 2009 uniform plumbing code
Location: City Hall, Council Chambers
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/agenda/2009/downloads/mechanical_090109.pdf

6:00pm: Zoning and Platting Commission
Item #C2: Cap’n Scrubby’s Carwash. 1.62 acres in the West Bull Creek watershed over the North Edwards Aquifer recharge zone. Zoning request is a change from SF2 to GR with a CO of 2,000 trips/day. Address is 11007 FM 2222.
Item #C3: Zilker Park Landfill Drainage Improvements Phase #2. Variance is to allow cut of up to 11 feet. The site is a former city landfill located just west of Mopac between Stratford Dr. and Lady Bird Lake. It has been experiencing erosion that exposes landfill materials. The City will build a vegetated concrete block channel through the site to allow flow to convey through the site while minimizing erosion.
Location: City Hall, Council Chambers
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/agenda/2009/downloads/zap_090109.pdf

6:00pm: Austin Energy Generation Plan Town Hall Meeting
Town Hall meeting on what Austin energy’s power mix should be through 2020.
Location: Town Lake Center
http://www.austinsmartenergy.com/

7:00pm: Sierra Club General Meeting
“Growing Organic Food Locally”, by John Dromgoole, owner, The Natural Gardener
Location: TSTA Auditorium, 12th/Lavaca
http://texas.sierraclub.org/austin/genmeetings.html

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Wednesday, September 2

3:00pm: Austin Generation Resource Planning Task Force
Item #3: Cyrus Reed presentation on generation planning
Item #4a: Presentation/discussion on questions posed by task force on cost and bill impact analysis of Austin Energy Resource and Climate Protection plan to 2020.
Location: City Hall, Room 1029
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/agenda/2009/downloads/generation_090209.pdf

6:00pm: Environmental Board
Item #3a: Water and Wastewater improvements for Tech Ridge area.
Item #3b: 3 year interlocal agreement with the CLEAN AIR Force of Central Texas for $90k/year. This is a public relations and coordinating organization dedicated to finding workable solutions for improving area air quality. Funding is for media buys on ozone action day, public education on air quality issues, new regulations, and ways individuals can help to reduce harmful emissions,
Item #4a: Staff presentation on Shady Hollow Fire Station wastewater service extension request.
Location: City Hall, Council Chambers
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/agenda/2009/downloads/eb_090209.pdf

6:30pm: Austin Parks Foundation Fundraising Roundtable
This round-table event will provide information about raising money under APF’s charitable umbrella and share some accomplishments of our partner groups. The majority of the time will be for group brainstorming and sharing what has and hasn’t worked in the past. Bring your fund raising conundrums and expect to leave with a list of possible actions that will get you the money you need to make your project happen.
Location: Carver Library, 1161 Angelina St.
http://www.austinparks.org/calendarofevents.php

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Thursday, September 3

11:30am: Concordia Speaker Series Luncheon
Three members of Concordia’s faculty discuss the realities of being an environmental steward.
Location: Concordia University, Bldg. A, 11400 Concordia University Dr.
http://www.concordia.edu

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Friday, September 4

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Saturday, September 5

9:00am-11:00am: Sounds of Silence Hike
A new form of communicating with nature without the communication! A silent hike for the nature lovers who desire to journal, photograph, or meditate along the trail. Our guides will lead through the trail but not interpret (describe) the usual talking points. After the starting point and presenting the safety and preserve features, you will be lead to resting points that allow you to enjoy the peace of scenic overviews, shady switch-back trails, and complete the hike at a glade.
Location: Balcones Canyonlands Preserve – Reicher Ranch
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/water/wildland/onlineregistration/ecowebevents.cfm

9:00am-12:30pm: Bear Creek Bends and Open Savannas
Explore one of the City of Austin’s water quality protection lands. Participants will be guided on a 3.25 mile hike through diverse terrain. The trip starts in a diverse oak savanna teaming with native grasses, and drops down to the banks of Bear Creek where the group will see limestone cliffs and huge creek bottom trees. Guides will talk about how the tract is managed and relate the unique geology and ecology of the area. This hike is mostly backcountry. A trail will not be followed.
Location: Tabor Water Quality Protection Land near FM 1626 and Bliss Spillar
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/water/wildland/onlineregistration/ecowebevents.cfm

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Sunday, September 6