The Allandale Reporter

City Outreach

The following is a note posted to the Austin Neighborhoods Council listserve:

Yesterday, the City of Austin launched several new initiatives to continue our effort to expand outreach and interaction with all of our residents. This includes a new e-mail listserve system, City Manager updates and a City Twitter account. I encourage all of you to check them out, sign up, and encourage your neighbors to do so as well.

Over the coming months, we'll continue to refine these tools and introduce new ones, and I look forward to hearing your feedback as they evolve. See the link below for information and links to these new resources. Thanks!

http://www.cityofaustin.org/news/cnews.cfm?nwsid=1193

Doug Matthews, Chief Communications Director

City of Austin

Update on Great Northern Detention Pond Project

Here is a project update from Darryl Haba, project manager of the detention pond project:

To date we are approximately 50% complete with the project. We have completed the new maintenance road and associated retaining walls. We are about 50% complete with the new spillway using the stamp pattern selected by the Neighborhood. The retaining walls completed also have the patterns selected by the Neighborhood.

We will continue working at the spillway which will take another two to three weeks. The new sidewalk is also being constructed and the seating area we presented to the Neighborhood will be constructed off this new sidewalk.

We are on schedule to complete this project within it’s timeframe and enjoy the area residents walking by watching us construct the spillway.

Darryl Haba – City of Austin

Photos from today's parade on statesman.com

The Allandale parade made the front page of statesman.com. I am still uploading photos from today's parade however I encourage you to take a look at the photos posted to the statesman.com web site taken by staff photographer Ralph Berrera. Click here to view the photo gallery.

Allandale t-shirts

The Allandale Neighborhood Association will have a table set up at tomorrow's 4th of July Parade to sell Allandale t-shirts. The shirts cost $15. We have the following sizes: small, medium, large, xlarge, and 2xlarge. They are 100% Hanes combed cotton t-shirts.

Use of Tasers - Constable’s Notebook

By Constable Bruce Elfant

Much has been written and broadcast in recent weeks regarding an incident where a Precinct 3 deputy constable tasered a 72 year old woman during a traffic stop. Even though my office (Precinct 5) was not involved with this situation, I received hundreds of e-mails from Travis County residents and people around the nation who shared their opinions about this case and the general use of tasers by law enforcement officials.

July Austin City News

Balance the City’s budget – online

Try your hand at balancing the City’s 2010 budget with a special online application that replicates the popular tabletop exercise from June’s budget town halls.

The application lets users review a list of proposed budget savings or revenue enhancements, accept or decline the option and then submit a proposal. The goal is to generate $9.3 million in savings and balance the 2010 budget. Options are based on actual cost savings being considered by City management.

Proposals will be compiled in a report and reviewed by the City’s Budget Office and City Management.

A PDF report on FY10 Stakeholder Input is available now on the City of Austin Budget Web site.

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Take the Cap Metro Survey

ServicePlan 2020

Capital Metro is undertaking a comprehensive operational analysis to improve bus service to better meet the needs of the region. The resulting recommendations of ServicePlan 2020 will become a roadmap for growth over the next 10 years.

Major components of the study include an analysis of current system conditions, regional market research, and community involvement. Capital Metro and its consultant team are also working closely with two advisory committees representing technical and community stakeholder groups throughout the project. Learn more about ServicePlan 2020 on our project web site.

Community participation is vital to the success of ServicePlan 2020, and we want to hear from you! Take a quick survey and help us shape the future of Capital Metro's bus service. Stay tuned for information about community meetings and open houses-another opportunity to provide valuable feedback on existing services, unmet needs, and ultimately help determine future service plans.

The 5350 Burnet Rd Mixed Use Development

Tom Linehan

The development at 5350 Burnet Rd is quickly taking shape. It is the project under construction just south of Arby's, on Burnet Road, formerly the location of the Antique Mall.  The Antique Mall is now in the HEB Shopping Center, next to Hang Town Grill. The mixed-used development, called 5350 Burnet Rd, will be the first of its kind on Burnet Rd. It's not something area residents are accustomed to. The Allandale Neighborhood Association's unsuccessfully tried to have it scaled back to minimize impact on traffic flow in the area when it went before the city council in 2007. One of the concerns is traffic backing up for people driving north while residents and shoppers of the development wait to turn left into it.

4th of July Parade Preparations

Start getting ready for this year's Allandale 4th of July Parade. As always, residents are encouraged to show off. The following local dignitaries will be joining us: Senator Kirk Watson, Mayor Lee Leffingwell, Representative Elliott Naishtat, Commissionar Sarah Eckhardt, and Constable Bruce Elfant.

Decorate your preferred mode of transportation, whether that's yourself or your bicycle, tricycle, scooter, classic car, brand new cadillac, or whatever. The Allandale Neighborhood Association will be giving out awards for best car/truck, bike, tricycle, stroller, pet, walker-solo, walker-group, and wagon. Assemble at parade start at the intersection of White Rock and Bullard at 8:30. Red, white, and blue are this year's colors!

If you like Allandale...

Then say so! Vote for Allandale as the best neighborhood in austin360.com's poll. The poll closes at 11 p.m. Tuesday, June 16. Click here to cast your vote.