Sunday, August 27, 2017

Future Meeting dates Sept 2017 to Aug 2018

3rd Monday of the Month
September 18th
October 16th
November 20th
December 18th
January 15th
February 19th
March 19th
April 16th
May 21st
June 18th
July 16th

Friday, August 25, 2017

EMLK Contact Team Yearly Review



I took over as the president of the EMLK Planning Contact team about 1 year ago . At that time I created a mind map for myself which I have updated. I have documented most of our actions here (link) and all our documents can be found here - many of the google drive files and folders are public
  •  Priority # 1: increase membership and make people aware of the contact team and its job
        • Attached is the latest membership list (link). (need phone numbers from Dr. Murphy)
        • I have also invited Susan Tingley and Jon Hagar to join the contact team - this will make our team 12 members representing almost the entire EMLK region.
        • We have not been successful in the east of 183 region. It is still not represented so Jon's membership is very important (he is in Cavalier Park)
        • I have also requested representative from Yellow Bike Project - Joel is our current representative.
  • Priority #2: Identify few projects which will make the contact team more relevant.
        • We have identified about 5 to 6 projects as a part of the East MLK - they are all very relevant to our region especially the parks and the trail through the hike and bike trail.
        • In Hogpen area we are working sidewalks and connectivity to Springdale Park, community garden etc (link). I wish we can have more projects in other neighborhoods which we can support. 
        • In SANA the La Loma trail work is progressing slowly. Here are the city documents of design 
        • Little Walnut Creek park has opened up with signs - now we have to get funding to develop plans and improve it. (here is the city request for rezoning)
        • We have had some success at least to make the city understand how underserved this entire EMLK region is. I am hopeful that in 2018 budget we will see some changes.
  • Priority  #3: Identify the CIP projects for each of the planning regions
        • Last year in 2016 we identified 15 projects - 5 from each region. It was rejected by the city because we were about 1 week late in submission. This is funny because city could not open a park in our region for 15 years. I brought it to the notice of the mayor and council member. If we pay taxes and get no benefits then things will have to change. 
        • Please see the attached link to the CIPs - we need to update this list and send it out by october (link)
  • Priority #4: Focus around the code next for the changes to East MLK region.
        • The revised map is coming out in the next month (Sept 15) I believe then we have to together visit this issues with city to understand what happens to the existing overlays which is destroying much parts of EMLK region.
  • Priority #5: Participate and mediate in development discussions in the EMLK region.
        • Most developments have bypassed us because of the overlays which provides enormous development opportunities (with 65% or more impervious coverage) without building any or minimal infrastructure. As a planning contact team this is one of our primary duties. (I have requested our council member multiple times to address this issue (link)
        • Flooding is a real problem from run-offs and 950 acres of land was converted to high density build-up without any infrastructure (link) . Please see the presentation from COA watershed department (link 1link 2)
        • The challenges with individual houses (like Mark Jackson's property) have not been addressed adequately.  
  • Priority #6: Fix meeting dates and venue
        • I have done a very poor job on this. I am now proposing the following future dates. I am sending another email on the dates and venue shortly.
  • Priority #7: Improve Communication and provide multiple channels of communication
        • We are communicating through email. (which is least efficient)
        • I also have a blog (link) where we store all information regarding meetings.
        • We have a shared google Drive (link)
        • We have used www.change.org to get support for the EMLK Hike and Bike Trail (link)
        • We are using next-door as often as possible
        • The current google-group cannot be administered due to technical reason so I am trying to create a new google group.(link)
        • Since now we have better representation from the neighborhood association so I am hoping our information will be distributed through the various NAs.
            ​Please sign the change.org (link) if you agree that we need the EMLK hike and Bike trail. ​

            Work in Hogpen Area - east of Webberville Road - Susan Tingley

            SIDEWALKS  We are requesting completion of sidewalks on one side of the street along Delano from Hudson to Fort Branch, Eleanor from Fort Branch to Hudson, new sidewalk on Hudson from Delano to Eleanor, and repair of sidewalk along Eleanor from Hudson to the end of Eleanor.  Please see 2 attachments, one showing existing sidewalks, and one showing proposed.  Charlie Duncan is making another map showing sidewalks plus the proposed Community Garden and connection trail/bridge.  Contact Susan Tingley 919 656-2576 or susantinglee@gmail.com.  I have taken some leadership on this, so please contact me regarding sidewalks.  We were hoping that existing funds are available for this project without it being a Partnership Project. 

            COMMUNITY GARDEN    There is a very new group working on a proposed Partnership Project to create a Community Garden at the cul-de-sac on Eleanor.  There is city property there because of a 25 year flood plain.  It is a beautiful site!  Please see attached photos.  Larry Henson919 270-4691 larrywhenson@gmail.com and Hunter Feagin hfeagin03@gmail.com are the contacts for this project.  We have learned that the city is doing a feasibility study for a hike-bike bridge connection between neighborhoods that would allow an entirely different neighborhood (SANA) to participate in the garden, should it be done.  We are very excited and supportive of this project.    

            SPRINGDALE PARK CONNECTION TO LINCOLN GARDENS / HOG PEN NEIGHBORHOOD     Springdale Park is now quite inaccessible to our neighborhood.  We see a strong need for a connective hike/bike bridge to be built to provide access to this park.  The City of Austin EMLK Combined Neighborhood Plan lists many improvements needed to this park, including this access.  There are two city owned properties that could connect from Fort Branch Blvd to the Park so there is a choice available.  Right now the Fort Branch Creek banks are steep and cliff-like making a bridge necessary.  Pinaki Ghosh pinaki@utexas.edu and Susan Tingley susantinglee@gmail.com are contacts for this project.  Please see the attachment entitled "InkedSidewalk Request Plan" that shows the two possible bridge connections in purple.

            RED BLUFFS    Our brand new nature preserve, just voted upon by city council, will be wonderful access to nature, hiking, natural history, neighborhood connectivity, and needed open space in east Austin.  We are so proud to be a part of its development.  It currently needs trail development and ideally an connection to the Little Walnut Creek Bike Trail.  Contact people include Pete Riveraatxdrywallandpainting@yahoo.com and Ali Ronder alironder@gmail.com.
              
            BIKE / HIKE CONNECTION BETWEEN LOTT AVE AND ELEANOR AT COMMUNITY GARDENS     While at an EMLK contact team meeting on June 20, we learned that the city was doing a study on a possible connection between two east Austin neighborhoods that now have no connectivity.  That is a hike-bike bridge connection between Lott Ave and the dead-end cul-de-sac at the south end of Eleanor St.  This was wonderful news.   Not only would it provide for neighborhood transportation and connectivity, it would provide strong access to a Community Garden now being planned at the cul-de-sac at Eleanor St.  We are extremely  supportive of this proposal and would welcome information on it and would like to champion it.  We do not have a leader on this yet, although you can communicate with myself or the Hog Pen Neighborhood Association or the SANA.