WANG will host our 2022 Annual Meeting, Board Election and Social on

Saturday, November 5th 11:30 AM at the Tarrytown Neighborhood Park,

2106 Tower Dr, Austin, TX 78703.

All neighbors are invited to attend. Lunch and beverages will be provided with membership sign up or renewal!

by Holly Reed, President

Fall is finally in the air, and I don’t know a single neighbor who isn’t glad to bid farewell to the record breaking heat of Summer 2022. I’m always so grateful each year, to see our neighborhood welcoming fall. Pumpkin patches spring up in front of churches, stores, and markets. Homes and schools are decorated and (eventually)leaves start to change color. And then of course, there’s the wonderful cool air that allows us to get outdoors more: to walk, run, ride bikes, play tennis, golf, garden, and visit our beautiful parks and trails. To all our neighbors, new and old, I’d like to say congratulations! We made it through another hot summer in Austin, Texas.

Fall is also a time for gratitude and giving thanks. Living in this current version of Austin, with so many challenges and growing pains, it’s hard not to become cynical. The traffic , overcrowding, demolition, construction, environmental threats, rises in cost of living and crime can make one forget to appreciate and enjoy the wonderful things we still do have in Austin and our neighborhood. I believe they are worth fighting for. So WANG continues to work diligently with our City boards, commissions and council to encourage policy that allows our neighborhood area to grow appropriately, without losing all of its character, livability, history and treasured green space.

During January and February, WANG participated in meetings with Austin Transportation Department staff, as well as Cap Metro and Project Connect representatives, in an effort to understand and give input on the Austin Strategic Mobility Plan Street Network Amendments. We were successful in guiding some of the changes, and preventing others, to align with our neighborhood street dimensions, adjacent neighbor property, geography and uses. WANG also gave input to the City’s Housing and Planning Department and City Council, in efforts to recommend appropriate zoning changes for the Brackenridge Tract, as negotiations with the University of Texas and City of Austin regarding future development of the tract continues. We continue to work with the Muny Conservancy and Save Historic Muny District, to find a solution for the permanent preservation of the Historic Lions Municipal Golf Course. We have sent stake holder input to the Planning Commission and City Council on the Vertical Mixed Use Ordinance changes, the proposed changes to the City’s Compatibility code, Council Redistricting, Parkland Dedication Ordinance, and City Budget. WANG has strongly supported more City funding for parks, preservation of the urban forest, City staff at parks and pools, and safety for our community. And most recently WANG has engaged with the City’s Historic Landmark Commission, Preservation Austin, City Staff and neighbors in a strong effort to preserve historic homes and sites in our neighborhood.

When, at times, it all seems like a losing battle, I am inspired by the longtime efforts of West Austin Neighborhood Group members who have persevered and succeeded in preserving and improving our treasured neighborhood. Each of our board members has stories to tell about their work for the neighborhood and the City! I hope you will join me in thanking them, and all our neighbors who take the time to work on behalf of our community. And we encourage neighbors to join our efforts! Here’s your chance!

WANG will be hosting our Annual Meeting, Election and Social gathering on Saturday, November 5that the Tarrytown Neighborhood Park,2106 Tower Drive. Bring your family and join us from11:30 AM to 1:30 PM! Lunch will be provided by Cow Bells Burger Truck. You’ll have the opportunity to meet your Neighborhood Association, hear from your Council Member, ask questions and hear announcements and neighborhood updates. Best of all you can become a member of WANG! All neighbors who live in the WANG area are welcome.

Neighbors fromWest Austin Neighborhood Group,Northwest Austin CivicAssociation,Highland Park West / BalconesArea Neighborhood Association,Pemberton Heights, Bryker Woods, Shepherd Mountain, Montevista Condo,Greenshores, Courtyard, Glenlake, Jester, Canyon Creek, River Place, Lake AustinCollective, and more are invited to attend the virtual forum.

Please register in advance for this meeting:

https://tinyurl.com/zoomformayor

After registering you will receive an email with the zoom link. Election Information:

Please VOTE! Early voting in Austin runs Oct. 24–Nov.4, and Election Day is Nov. 8, 2022Voting Information and Polling Locations:

https://countyclerk.traviscountytx.gov/departments/elections/

The following Municipal Offices will be on the ballot for November:

Mayor, Council Districts 1,3,5,8, 9

Additionally, there are three Austin Bonds on the November Ballot:

Austin ISD: $2.44 billion

Austin Community College: $770 million

City of Austin Affordable Housing Bond: $350 million.

The AISD Bond will affect several schools in the WANG area, including O’Henry Middle School and Austin High School. At our September WANG board meeting, Lynn Boswell, AISD Trustee District 5, shared the following information about the bond and our area schools:

At O. Henry Middle School, the bond proposal includes $61million for a Phase 1 modernization of the campus, which was built in 1953. Work will include the creation of new, modernized spaces that will reduce maintenance costs and support student programs. The proposal also includes safety improvements for the campus ,and repairs to HVAC systems and other needs in the section of the campus that will not be modernized with this bond.

At Austin High, the bond proposal includes $40 million for safety and security, fine arts, athletics and major repairs. The plan includes a turf field with bleachers, lights, and a scoreboard. Every high school will see a similar project. The bond also includes safety improvements for the Austin High campus, repairs to HVAC and other systems. and improvements for the Fine Arts spaces.

Casis Elementary was fully modernized with the 2017 AISD Bond. So rather than seeing a project in the 2022 bond proposal, the Casis community celebrated the school's grand opening last week.

The full bond package is $2.44 billion, broken into three proposals. The smaller packages include one for stand-alone athletics facilities at Burger and Nelson Fields, and improvements to AISD technology. Every campus that does not have a secure entry area has funding for that in this bond package, and every campus that has systems like HVAC and roofing that are currently broken or expected to break down in the near future is included, as well.

If the bond is approved by voters on November 8, the Interest and Sinking Tax rate will increase by 1 cent-the equivalent of$100 per year for a home valued at$1,000,000. The trustees will be voting in late September to reduce our Maintenance and Operations tax rate by 6.5 cents.

Information on the full AISD 2022 Bond can be found at: https://bond.austinschools.org

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George W. Brackenridge

between George W. Brackenridge and Lions Municipal Golf Course?

George W. Brackenridge (GWB) had NO IDEA that he was buying up land for a Municipal Golf Course when he began acquiring tracts of land outside the City Limits of the young city of Austin, Capital of the State of Texas …. in the late 1880’s.

Austin citizens were beginning to realize that being alongside the Colorado River had its

drawbacks — i.e. FLOODS - AND it was not easy to get access to water and “power” …..

needed for the growth of the young city.

In the late 1880’s, Alexander Woodridge, proposed building an Austin Dam -

to create power for Industry and Growth….

As a banker and businessman from San Antonio, TX, GWB had business interests in Austin and had been appointed to the University of Texas Board of Regents in 1886. He supported the building of the Dam - by acquiring several hundred acres and donating to the City of Austin - about 20 acres of land adjacent to the Colorado, to serve as the location of a power plant - in connection with the DAM.

Construction on the dam began in Nov. 1890, and it was dedicated in May, 1893, creating

“Lake McDonald” and making way for the Ben Hur Riverboat, providing entertainment

for its passengers.

But GWB had already donated his acreage to UT in 1909…. and the Regents really didn’t

know what to do with it…..

What about those 500 acres that GW Brackenridge had acquired??? AHAAA! Why not move

the UT campus out there? The “40 acres” really wasn’t enough for a growing University…

And to sweeten the deal, he tried to get the Pease family to join and contribute another 500?

But GWB had already donated his acreage to UT in 1909…. and the Regents really didn’t know what to do with it…..

The Regents did know that GWB had donated parkland to San Antonio - and had placed restrictions on it such that if the restrictions were ignored, the land would revert to — UT!

Before GWB died in Dec. 1920 he had become a GOLFER, and had agreed that San Antonio could turn a portion of Brackenridge Park into a Golf Course that opened Sept. 17, 1916.

In Austin, the Founders Lions Club was chartered January 18, 1916. On April 15, 1924, three members of the club, A. W. Griffith, Johnnie Tobin, and Frank Rowe, “came before the Board with a proposition to lease a portion of the Brackenridge tract for the purpose of establishing a municipal golf links. After discussion on the Board, on motion of Mr. Jones, voted in favor of the lease, subject to the approval of the Attorney General; for a consideration of sixty dollars a year (which is an increase over the present income) and the beautifying of the grounds and the upkeep of the fences, with the understanding that trees are not to be cut, only underbrush cleared off, and no concessions allowed on the grounds. The Chairman of the Board was empowered to execute the lease.”

Then for May 28, 1924 the Board of Regents Minutes included : “MUNICIPAL GOLF LINKS.

On the motion of Dr. Wooten, seconded by Mr. Storey; the Board authorizes the Chairman of the Board to sign the lease contract with the Lions Club of Austin for a municipal golf links on the Brackenridge tract, after carefully examining the contract and finding it satisfactory.”

Thus the Lions Municipal Golf Course was constructed on about 150 acres of the Brackenridge Tract — Nine holes were completed and opened to the public on October 31, 1924….

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By Bill Oakey, WANG Member

and Blog Writer for AustinAffordability.com

The hearing process for Austin Energy's rate case has concluded. Now the City Electric Utility Commission will make a recommendation, and the City Council will make their decision early next month.

This rate proposal is wrong-headed for several reasons. It penalizes those who conserve and use less electricity. And it would lower bills for the biggest users. That flies in the face of Austin’s commitment for meeting climate change goals. The worst part of the plan would raise the monthly service charge from $10.00 to $25.00. And shrink the number of rate tiers from five to three.

Why is Austin Energy doing this? Well, they bluntly say that they are not selling enough electricity. To quote their Vice-President for Finance, “Our rate design is not as efficient as our customers.” The new rate plan would fix that problem, at the expense of low-to-moderate income customers, and of course, the environment. But then it gets worse.

Austin Energy wants to change the buyback program for solar customers. The plan would change the Value of Solar formula into a variable rate. That takes away the peace of mind and the financial planning ability that customers need, if they want to install solar panels. For commercial customers, comes this statement, buried deep in Austin Energy's final rate filing brief:

“Some staff expressed concern over Austin Energy’s Value of Solar (VOS) pricing scheme, stating the current VOS structure is unsustainable, if commercial customers continue to adopt on-site solar and reduce their peak demand charges.”

To sum it up, my research indicates that Austin Energy and many other utilities have lost sight of something very important. Selling less electricity from carbon-based power plants should be viewed as a blessing, not a curse. Our current rate design has delivered on its promise.

So, we should ask the City Council not to “fix it,” when it isn’t broken. Instead, they need to work with Austin Energy to develop a modern, forward-looking business model that does not discourage conservation.

In addition to that issue, Austin Energy’s own charts show that they used 2020 and 2021 data to illustrate the falling revenues and increasing expenditures. But those years had lower sales because of the winter storm and the pandemic.

Let’s ask the City Council to keep our successful rate design, continue moving forward with conservation and turn down Austin Energy's rate proposal.

Organized 1973......"To preserve our neighborhood and protect it from deterioration"

• President: Holly Reed President@westaustinng.com
  
• Secretary: Cathy Kyle Secretary@westaustinng.com
• Assistant Secretary: Blake Tollett AsstSecretary@westaustinng.com
• Treasurer: George Edwards Treasurer@westaustinng.com
• Past President: Cathy Kyle PastPresident@westaustinng.com

All Current Members (click on name to send email)

• Holly Reed ............................member since 2015 (President)
• Cathy Kyle ............................member since 2010 (Secretary)
• Blake Tollett .........................member since 1994 (Asst Secretary)
• George Edwards ..................member since 2004 (Treasurer)
• Mary Arnold .........................member since 2006 (Muny Tract)
• Michael Cannatti .................member since 1999 (CWANPCT)
  
• Joseph M Bennett ...............member since 2001 (Membership/E-Newsletter)
• Craig Lill ...............................member since 2017
  
• Joyce Basciano ...................member since 1999
• Bob Hamilton........................member since 2020
• Sarah Hawthorne Cain.........member since 2020 (Advertising)
• Heidi Gibbons.......................member since 2020 (ANC Liason)

Openings for 3 more board members.....

Honorary Committee Members

• Honorary Mayor Steve Adler
• Honorary Alison Alter
• Honorary Kathie Tovo

This report contains the past year’s noticed requests to the Board of Adjustment (BoA) for variances from the City’s Land Development Code (LDC) and other noticed land use change requests, such as zoning/rezoning, Conditional Use Permits (CUPs) or resubdivision, that after review and deliberation by the Board of Directors (BoD) were voted on to be either opposed by WANG or not opposed with/with out conditions.

Board of Adjustment

C15-2020-0038

1409 Possum Trot

Owner: Braden Crockett

Applicant: Jim Wittliff

The applicant is requesting a variance from the LDC setback requirements to decrease the minimum rear yard setback from 10 feet required to 5 feet requested in order to maintain an existing duplex in an SF-3-NP zoning district.

C15-2020-0038

1409 Possum Trot

Applicant: Jim Wittliff

Owner: Amir Kalantari

Re-notification

The applicant is requesting a variance from the Land Development Code from setback requirements to decrease the minimum rear yard setback from 10 get (required) to 5 feet (requested) in order to maintain an existing duplex in a SF-3-NP zoning district.

NOTE: This is a re-notification of a matter we have discussed previously and did not oppose. The property was built in 1942 as a duplex and a single-family residence on the same lot. The property was annexed by the City of Austin in 1946. The new property owner wants to plat the property as two lots, the duplex on one lot and the single-family residence on the other, in order to bring the property into conformance with the existing SF-3 zoning district that does not allow three residential units on a single lot.

BOARD’S DECISION: July 11, 2022 The public hearing was closed by Madam Chair Jessica Cohen, Board member Michael Von Ohlen motions to approve with condition that this variance only applies to the existing duplex structure located at 1409 Possum Trot, if structure is demolished the variance is rescinded; Board member Melissa Hawthorne seconds on a 11-0 vote; GRANTED WITH CONDITION THAT THIS VARIANCE ONLY APPLIES TO THE EXISTING DUPLEX STRUCTURE LOCATED AT 1409 POSSUM TROT, IF STRUCTURE IS DEMOLISHED THE VARIANCE IS RESCINDED.

C15-2022-0048

2500 Spring Lane

Applicant: Rodney Bennett

Owner: William & Diana Patterson

The applicant is requesting a variance from the Land Development Code section dealing with fences as accessory uses in order to exceed the average height of 6 feet or a maximum of 7 feet (required) for a solid fence along the property line in order to construct a 10 foot (requested) tall masonry wall along Bowman Avenue in an SF-3-NP zoning district. The current homeowner was granted a solid fence variance in 2010 from 6 feet to 8 feet.

From the 2010 WANG Annual Newsletter:

C15-2010-0034

2500 Spring Lane

Applicant: Diane & Bill Patterson

The applicant had requested a variance to increase the maximum height of a solid fence requirement of the LDC from 6 feet in height to 8 feet in height (along Bowman Avenue) in order to maintain a fence for a single-family residence in an SF-3 zoning district. The LDC states that a solid fence constructed along a property line may not exceed an average height of six feet or a maximum height of seven feet.

The location of this property across the street from the rear of Tarrytown Shopping Center presented a hardship we recognized, and the applicant agreed to lower the fence height as it approached Spring Lane so as to facilitate traffic. The BoA granted the variance in 2010.

The WANG ExComm voted to not oppose the new request to add an additional 2 feet to the current fence height of 8 feet.

BOARD’S DECISION: BOA MEETING JULY 11, 2022 POSTPONED TO AUGUST 8, 2022 BY APPLICANT; Aug 8, 2022 The public hearing was closed by Madam Chair Jessica Cohen, Board member Melissa Hawthorne motions to approve with condition that this is tied only to the area highlighted (on Bowman Ave.) as shown in the advance packet drawing Item-7/3, only side of the shopping center; Board member Barbara Mcarthur

second on 9-0 vote; GRANTED WITH CONDITION THAT THIS IS TIED ONLY TO THE AREA HIGHLIGHTED (ON BOWMAN AVE.) AS SHOWN IN THE ADVANCE PACKET DRAWING ITEM-7/3, ONLY SIDE OF THE SHOPPING CENTER.

Blake Tollett, WANG

3701 Bonnie Road 78703

West Austin Neighborhood Group

BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING MINUTES

Monday, September 12, 2022

These are the minutes of the meeting of the West Austin Neighborhood Group Board of Directors held Monday, September 12, 2022, at 6:00 p.m., at the Clubhouse of the Lions Municipal Golf Course.

I. Call to Order

The meeting was called to order at 6:10 p.m. by President Holly Reed. Board members in attendance were Holly Reed, Cathy Kyle, Joyce Basciano, Bob Hamilton, Heidi Gibbons, Sarah Cain, Mary Arnold, Joe Bennett; George Edwards; Mike Cannatti.

Not present: Blake Tollett; Craig Lill.

II. Neighbor Communications/Announcements

• Lynn Boswell, AISD Trustee, gave an informational presentation about the upcoming AISD School Bond seeking an expenditure of $42 billion. The bond package includes improvements to O Henry MS and to Austin High. Because the State is requiring school districts to reduce their overall tax rate, the proposed bond represents an overall $0.055 tax decrease. The bond is broken out in 3 propositions, one of which addresses school security; for example, the bond will end open plan schools. Every school will have a security lobby as a welcoming space before visitors are admitted into main building where students are located. The bond package includes an equity forward package, but there are a lot of benefits for our neighborhood. With the bond, AISD hopes to increase enrollment; we are losing students in large numbers, especially on the east side of Austin.
• Cathy reported that WANG’s Facebook page has been taken over by random marketers. Mike Cannatti offered to contact Happy Harris to get access to the page to better monitor postings.

III. Land Matters

• 2406 Sweetbrush (Brian Mills)—The architect for the project to inform the board about proposed improvements/expansion to the property. The current homeowners purchased the house in 2019. The owners have not submitted any permit applications to the City. The plans proposed adding a 2-car garage and a guest suite—there is no current garage on the ½ acre lot. The lot has a 70’ front setback. Initially, the architects had a consultation with the City to find out what the setbacks are and what constraints might be applied. Accordingly previously approved permits from 2014 and 2015, the City approved a 15’ setback along Matthews. More recently, the City has informed them that the side variance along Matthews is 25’ because this is a thru-lot. The owners want to preserve the existing trees. They do not plan to rent out the guest suite. They will submit a variance request to allow a 15’ setback from Matthews and 10’ from the other side of the property on Sweetbrush. There is no set date for a hearing before the Board of Adjustment. For the purposes of a variance, the hardships are the topography and existing heritage trees. There was no report of conversations with their neighbors about the proposed variance. The proposed garage will be placed on the existing driveway, so there will be no impact on impervious cover.
• 2202 Scenic Drive – Planning Commission 9/27/2022. WANG has already submitted a letter to the PC supporting the historic landmark designation.
• Joyce informed us of proposed amendments to the Land Development Code related to the environmental code dealing with resolution by council to change drainage requirements. The proposal goes before the Planning Commission on 9/13/2022 and to Council on 9/20/22. The proposal is voluminous and there has not been much time to review, but it appears to be a way to impose CodeNext’s Transition Zones without formally changing the LDC and without any notice or protest right. The proposal will change what can be done on SF3 zoned lots.

IV. Transportation

• We discussed taking a formal position on Project Connect.
• It was noted that the speed limit on 35th St. has been reduced to 30 mph.

V. Membership

• Board members were encouraged to solicit new membership.
• We have received $1375 from the sale of ACL tickets.

V. Newsletter

• Articles need to be in by the end of the month for the print newsletter.
• We need to solicit ads for our next newsletter.
• We have 3 day ACL passes for sale.
• We will ask Juliette Madere to write article for newsletter about the adopt-a-median program.

VI. ANC report

• Heidi Gibbons reported that Bill Bunch of SOS (Save Our Springs) Alliance spoke to ANC about the City moving forward to expand the convention center. He is concerned that the Convention Center generates 3% of hotel occupancy but is getting 75% of the hotel occupancy tax funds. He suggests that we need to divert that revenue strain to local music, parks, cultural, tourism, local restaurants – those earning that really create that revenue. During board discussion of the ANC report, Mike Cannatti noted that Bunch is advancing a position that is not allowed under state law since the City already allocates all the hotel tax funding to arts and music and historic preservation that is allowed under a state law caps for such expenditures. Cannatti also explained that the proposed convention center expansion would generate more money to go through the funding cap to cultural arts and historical preservation. The vast majority of environmental groups and parks groups support the expansion, and it has been approved by city voters. The intention behind supporting the convention center expansion is to increase revenue for the city’s historic and cultural amenities and to improve the way the convention center functions.
• A Fire Dept. representative discussed the fire hazard.

IX. Treasurer’s report: George Edwards

Checking $ 12,043.50

July 4th $ 508.06

Oak Wilt $ 1,211.46

TOTAL $ 13,763.02

X. Old business

• The Annual Meeting will be held Nov 5 11:30 AM at Tarrytown Park. We will contact Lola’s Food Truck to provide food (Holiday House menu).
• The Board approved a $500 donation to Preservation Austin, which has been very supportive of WANG and have been responsive to our contacts with them.
• There will be a Joint Neighborhood Assoc Mayoral Candidate Forum 10/19/2022
• Save Historic Muny—The board is meeting Thursday, 9/22 @ 3 pm at Muny. They have not received any update from City or UT. The City has presented something to UT, but was not well-received. SHMD has not been included in any communications between the City and UT.
• Muny Conservancy—The Forever Green Toournament was held 9/9. There was a great turnout with 48 teams. The Conservancy is planning another Imagine Muny fundraiser for 2/19/23.
• ANC has proposed a resolution regarding public participation and access to City Council meetings. Please read and vote online. Mike Cannatti is concerned that some of the language of the proposal is too vague.

XI. New Business

• Next meeting: 10/17 at 6 pm at Lions Municipal Golf Court Clubhouse.

• Adjournment: President Reed adjourned the meeting at 8:38 pm.

By Mike Cannatti,

WANG Board of Directors

Having lost the services of three great public servants over the past few years, the West Austin Neighborhood Group has some big shoes to fill on our board. To underscore the talents we seek to fill on the board, we briefly reprise their contributions and talents of August W. Harris III, Haidar Khazen, and Brady Pedneau, and we thank them for service to our neighborhood.

August W. Harris III – The name sounds so formal and official, but everyone who knows him calls him by his aptly named moniker, “Happy.” Hap has been a fixture in our neighborhood for his entire life. Raised in Bryker Woods in the “Happy Hollow” area, Happy attended local schools and demonstrated his nascent leadership skills at Austin High as an athlete and student leader. WANG was fortunate to have Happy join our board in 2004 where he served as Secretary and President over the years, bringing a wide range of experience and wisdom to our deliberations. Uniquely active in the business community and neighborhood causes, Happy brought expertise in many areas, including historic preservation, transportation, finance, nonprofit governance, and more. Over the years, he worked on all of the major neighborhood issues, including creating the Residential Compatibility Standards, preserving the Austin State Supported Living Center, formulating WANG’s Brackenridge Tract Position Statement, securing grants for our neighborhood parks, advocating for our Neighborhood Plan, supporting the Waterfront Overlay on Lady Bird Lake, guiding neighbors through the traffic calming and parking permit requirements, and wisely directing WANG’s public engagement with city officials. And that’s all before 2010! Having had the great fortune and pleasure of working with Happy on every possible neighborhood issue, we are grateful for his community service and leadership to our neighborhood, and we wish him the VERY best in his future endeavors because we know it will only redound to our collective benefit.

Haidar Khazen – Upon joining WANG’s board in 2010, Haidar became our “technical director,” drawing on his business experience as a CTO to help WANG improve its website and manage its newsletter communications. On occasions, Haider has taken leave to work on his house in Lebanon, and it’s certainly been interesting to hear his perspective on life. Luckily for us, Haidar dramatically upgraded our www.westaustinng.org website from the earlier, clunkier design, and we are immensely grateful for his saintly patience with getting the newsletter content collected in some semblance of a timely (?) fashion. With over a decade of service to the neighborhood, Haidar’s shoes will be hard to fill, but we hope to find a new board member with similar skills and interests in making our communications work better for the neighborhood.

Brady Pedneau – One of our youngest and newest board members, Brady has provided an exceptional example of a young person engaging in community service. When he joined WANG’s board in 2019, he was an electrical engineering student at UT, so this was almost certainly a “first” in having a student as a board member. In a few short years, Brady was actively engaged with our board meetings while his career progressed as an engineer at Samsung, and then as a law student at UT before recently taking a law job in Dallas. On top of everything else, Brady also served on the Neighborhood Plan Contact Team. While it is most unusual to find young people willing to volunteer their time with a neighborhood association, we have certainly benefited from having Brady’s perspective as a young Austinite, student, renter, and emerging professional, and we would be delighted to find another “Brady” for our board.

If you are interested in serving on the West Austin Neighborhood Group Board of Directors or on one of our committees, please send an email to president@westaustinng.com!

by Mayor Pro-Tem Alison Alter

Mayor Pro-Tem Alison Alter is a small business owner, a former professor, a community connector, and an environmental advocate. She is honored to represent District 10 and the City of Austin.

Mayor Pro-Tem Alter’s priorities include managing growth responsibly, protecting open and green spaces, addressing transportation challenges, promoting transparent and effective government, investing in our children, and fostering civic engagement. Read Mayor Pro-Tem Alter's full biography.

District 10 main phone line - 512-978-2110

Email district10@austintexas.gov to contact Mayor Pro-Tem Alter's office.

Mayor Pro-Tem Alter's term of Office is January, 2017 to January, 2025.

Mayor Pro Tem

Council Member, District 10

Contact your City Council Representatives:

(click on name to send email)

• Mayor: Steve Adler 512-978-2100
  
• District 1: Natasha Harper Madison 512-978-2101
  
• District 2: Vanessa Fuentes 512-978-2102
  
• District 3: Sabino Renteria 512-978-2103
  
• District 4: Jose "Chito" Vela 512-978-2104
  
• District 5: Ann Kitchen 512-978-2105
  
• District 6: Mackenzie Kelly 512-978-2106
  
• District 7: Leslie Pool 512-978-2107
  
• District 8: Paige Ellis 512-978-2108
  
• District 9: Kathie Tovo 512-978-2109
  
• District 10: Alison Alter 512-978-2110

CLICK ON THESE LINKS BELOW TO NEIGHBORHOOD INFO

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by Wizzie Brown, BCE

If you’ve been outside lately, you have most likely noticed the giant mosquitoes that seem to want to pick people up and carry them off. With recent weather conditions, floodwater mosquitoes have emerged in large numbers.

Floodwater mosquitoes lay their eggs above the water line in ponds, ditches, pastures, or other places where water collects. The eggs can remain in dry areas and when these areas are flooded the eggs hatch, leading to swarms of hungry mosquitoes. These mosquitoes are larger than mosquitoes we are used to around our homes and can swarm in high numbers.

While floodwater mosquitoes won’t last forever, other mosquitoes called container breeding mosquitoes emerge when floodwaters begin to recede. Many of these species are ones that we are used to seeing around our homes.

While floodwater mosquitoes species can be difficult to predict and manage, as they can fly up to 5 miles for a blood meal, container breeding mosquito problems can be reduced. Eliminate all sources of standing water. Containers such as watering cans, buckets and bottles can turn into mosquito breeding grounds. Water should be drained from birdbaths, gutters, flowerpots and pet dishes at least once a week. Children’s wading pools should be emptied of water at least once a week and stored so they cannot collect water when not in use. Tree holes should be filled in with sand, mortar, expanding foam, or drained after each rain. Leaky faucets and pipes located outside should be repaired. Fill in low lying areas in the lawn with topsoil or sand or install a French drain.

Areas that cannot be drained, such as ponds or large rain collection systems, can be stocked with mosquito fish that eat mosquito larvae. Dunks can also be used in these areas. Dunks are a small, donut-shaped product that contains Bacillus thuringiensis var. israeliensis. The donut disrupts the life cycle of the mosquito and is non-toxic to humans, amphibians and fish.

When outside, wear loose-fitting, light colored clothing with long sleeves & long pants. Repellants containing active ingredients such as DEET, Picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus can be effective to keep mosquitoes from biting when activities cannot be rescheduled.

For more information or help with identification, contact Wizzie Brown, Texas AgriLife Extension Service Program Specialist at 512.854.9600.

Check out my blog at www.urban-ipm.blogspot.com

Wizzie Brown, BCE

ebrown@ag.tamu.edu

512-854-9600

My Blogs: http://urban-ipm.blogspot.com/

https://agrilife.org/urban-ipm/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UrbanIPM/

Instagram: urbanipm, Twitter: @UrbanIPM

This work is supported by Crops Protection and Pest Management Competitive Grants Program [grant no. 2017-70006-27188 /project accession no. 1013905 from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

Click on the link City Stage photo above

(Austin Center for Events)

for more info of everything happening around Austin !!!!

Join the West Austin Neighborhood Group

on the First Tuesday of every month

STAY INFORMED on local topics and issues that

effect you and the Neighborhood!

• · The City of Austin Land Development Code Rewrite
• · The Brackenridge Tract Development
• · Transportation – Austin Metro
• · Lion’s Municipal Golf Course
• · Redbud Trail Bridge Project
• · Mayfield Park & Preserve
• · The Austin State School
• · Deep Eddy Pool & Park
• · Neighborhood Parks
• · Walsh Landing
• · Camp Mabry
• · District 10
• · And more…

Fire......................................................911

Ambulance (EMS) .............................911

Police Dept.......................512-975-5000

Casis Elementary School.............512-414-2062

Austin High School.......................512-414-2505

O.Henry Middle School...............512-414-3229

Texas Gas Service.............................1-800-700-2443

Grande Communications...................512-220-4600

AT&T (new service)...........................1-800-464-7928

Time Warner Cable (Cust. Svc)...........512-485-5555

Austin/Travis Hazardous Waste.........512-974-4343