06 Jul Central Texas Environmental Policy Events for July 6-12, 2009
Central Texas Environmental Policy Events for July 6-12, 2009
What is this? For those interested in environmental policy at the local level, this post enumerates all of this week’s meetings having an effect on environmental policy. Please attend as many as you can and help move the green agenda forward!
Highlights:
TUESDAY: The Austin City Council will hold a practice City Council
Meeting. Let’s all show up and heckle!
TUESDAY: ZAP hears an application extension appeal case for a proposed TXI gravel pit mining operation along the Colorado River just downstream of Hornsby Bend and hears an environmental variance request needed for the City to proceed on the construction of WTP #4.
WEDNESDAY: The Solid Waste Advisory Commission has its usually packed schedule, taking up a discussion on the selection of the new SWS director, the creation of a Solid Waste Management Master Plan and an update on zero waste priorities.
WEDNESDAY: The Water and Wastewater Commission will hear a request for Austin to become a joint-owner in the Brushy Creek Regional Wastewater System and create a Public Private Partnership with the Hill Country Conservancy to plan and implement the Walk for a Day Trail.
THURSDAY: The BS/EACD meets to discuss the latest status and planned measures of the drought as well as the latest developments in the Jeremiah Ventures TCEQ contested-case.
FRIDAY: The COA will hold a budget town hall targeted towards teenagers.
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Monday, July 6
12:00pm: Center for Environmental Research Lecture
Kevin Anderson lectures on “Hornsby Bend and the Colorado: CER River Research and Monitoring”. The Colorado River flows for 3 miles around the Hornsby Bend facility site and is the focus of research and monitoring by scientists and volunteers coordinated by the CER. The riparian and aquatic ecosystems at Hornsby Bend are biologically diverse in spite of the impacts of overgrazing and urbanization, and for 10 years we have monitored the recovery of the bottomland forest and wetlands. This presentation will detail what we know about the Colorado River and the riparian ecosystem at Hornsby Bend and what we hope to learn in the next ten years.
Location: Waller Center, Room 105
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/water/downloads/cereventsupdatejuly2009.pdf
7:00pm: Save Barton Creek Association Board Meeting
Location: Vinny’s Italian Cafe
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Tuesday, July 7
9:00am: Travis County Commissioner’s Court
no backup available this week
Item #3: Outdoor Burn Ban
Item #6: Buy a tractor to use for a CAPCOG project to implement food waste composting at the Del Valle Correctional Facility.
Item #8: Consider/action on a proposed extension of the current fee schedule for participating in the BCCP – Shared Vision.
Item #13: Consider/action on request from the HHS and Veterans dept. to implement an anticipated weatherization program funded by stimulus money.
Item #29: Legislative update.
Location: Travis County Commissioner’s Courtroom
http://www.co.travis.tx.us/commissioners_court/agendas/voting_session_agenda.asp
1:30pm: “Mock” City Council Meeting
The new City Council will conduct a practice city council meeting. I think they need a “mock” public hearing to get the full effect.
Location: City Hall, Council Chambers
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/events/city_calendar.cfm?action=EventDetail&event_id=39374
6:00pm: Zoning and Platting Commission
Item #11: TXI gravel pit permit application extension. This is a 732 acre site along the Colorado River and Elm Creek. TXI wants to build a conveyor belt to transfer mining resources to be trucked away. The site is along the Colorado river just downstream of Hornsby Bend.
Item #15: Environmental variance to allow development within the WQTZ for WTP #4.
Item #17: Eastwood Preliminary plan, a massive proposed development of 2318 lots on 667.5 acres near FM 973/Blake-Manor Road in Southeast Austin. Looks like a standard SF suburban development.
Item #24: Bridges of Bear Creek, a 61 lot subdivision on 13.2 acres in the BSZ (Bear Creek). The request is for final plat approval. The site is located at the SE corner of Brodie Ln. and Frate Barker.
Location: City Hall, Council Chambers
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/agenda/2009/downloads/zap_070709.pdf
6:30pm: Sierra Club Annual Picnic
Bring a tasty dish to share and enjoy the company of the Sierra Club folks in the attractive, tree-shaded picnic area of the Zilker Rock garden picnic area.
Location: Zilker Rock Garden
http://texas.sierraclub.org/austin/genmeetings.html
6:30pm: Central West Austin Combined NPA Land-use meeting #25
Future land use of remaining properties in Central West Austin
Location: Austin State School NEOS building, 2203 W 35th St.
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/zoning/central_west_austin.htm
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Wednesday, July 8
11:30am: Waller Creek Citizen Advisory Committee Implementation Subcommittee
Item #2: Discussion on publicly owned land
Item #3: discussion on subcommittee funding
Location: One Texas Center, Room 10A
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/agenda/2009/downloads/waller_impl_070809.pdf
3:00pm-7:00pm: Austin Farmer’s Market
Buy local, organic
Location: The Triangle, 46th and Lamar
http://www.austinfarmersmarket.org
6:00pm: Water and Wastewater Commission
Item #E16: $897k for improvements to Buick Hollow Rd. needed to build and operate WTP #4.
Item #E17: $1.8 million for West Campus Waterline Improvements. Not sure if this is related to the drainage problems that emerged after the construction of multiple condo projects with large underground parking decks.
Item #E21: Authorize the City Manager to negotiate/execute purchase of the COA ‘s share of the Brushy Creek Regional Wastewater System from the LCRA, to contract with the Brazos River Authority to operate it, and to contract with the cities of Round Rock, Leander, and Cedar park on ownership, administration, and governance.
Item #E22: Recommend an addition of $13 million to the FY 2008-2009 budget to purchase the above share.
Item #E23: Authorize negotiation/execution of a memorandum of agreement with HCC for a public-private partnership to govern the planning and implementation of the Walk For a Day trail.
Item #I1: Proposed budget for FY 2010
Item #I2: Staff update on Balcones Canyonlands Preserves and Water Quality Lands
Location: Waller Creek Center, Room 104
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/agenda/2009/downloads/water_070809.pdf
6:00pm: West Bouldin Greenbelt Stakeholders Meeting
The BNCA Parks Committee has been working since the summer of 2007 with the City of Austin’s Parks and Recreation and Watershed Protection Departments to develop a long term plan for the use and maintenance of the 54 acre West Bouldin Greenbelt. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center has conducted an environmental assessment of 7 acres of the greenbelt, adjacent to S 6th St. and North of Gibson. LBJWFC will present their recommended plan to the community.
Location: Elks Lodge, 700 Dawson Rd.
http://www.austinparks.org/calendarofevents.php
6:30pm: Solid Waste Advisory Commission
Item #3b: Plastic bag resolution
Item #4: Discussion on selection of the new Solid Waste Services Director
Item #5c: Staff briefing/action on the integrated solid waste management Master Plan
Item #5e: update on zero waste priorities
Item #5f: solid waste services FY 10 Budget
Item #5c: Discussion/action related to the contested-case hearing for Jeremiah Ventures
Location: City Hall, Council Chambers
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/agenda/2009/downloads/swac_070809.pdf
7:00pm: Oil Awareness Group
Come learn how permaculture can change your life and the direction this country is going by moving to renewable energy and local- and self-reliance
Location: Hyde Park Presbytarian Church, 3913 Ave B.
http://www.oilawareness.meetup.com
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Thursday, July 9
Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District
Item #3b3: Update on aquifer conditions and status of drought indicators
Item #3c4: Update on a feasibility study for a desalinization plant at the TDS site
Item #3c5: Coordination with the COA concerning drought conditions and measures
Item #4a: Discussion/action related to considering a cap and trade permit program.
Item #4b: Discussion/action related to a drought management PR campaign
Item #4d: Discussion/action on providing financial in-kind support to producing a geologic/hydrogeologic atlas of the Trinity aquifer.
Item #5a: Discussion/action related to comments received on the proposed creation of a new drought stage (emergency status, less than 10cfs flow at Barton Springs)
Item #5c: Discussion/action on the Jeremiah Ventures contested-case proceeding at TCEQ.
Location: 1131 Regal Rd.
http://www.bseacd.org/graphics/BSEACD_Board_Meeting_Agenda_7_9_09.pdf
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Friday, July 10
11:30am: City of Austin Budget Town Hall
City Manager Marc Ott is hosting local teenagers at a town hall meeting on the city’s 2010 Budget. The meeting is open to all teenage participants and will include participants in the City of Austin’s summer camp program and employees from City libraries.
Location: Mexican American Cultural Center
http://www.cityofaustin.org/budget
http://www.cityofaustin.org/news/2009/teen_town_hall_2009.htm
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Saturday, July 11
7:00am-4:00pm: Monthly Bird Count at Hornsby Bend
This program is very important in monitoring the health of the ecosystem and contributing to the cumulative scientific record of the area.
Location: Hornsby Bend
http://www.hornsbybend.org
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
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Sunday, July 12
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