=CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS Special Meeting August 03, 1977 7:00 Ρ.Μ. Rosewood-Zaragosa Center The meeting was called to order with Mayor McClellan presiding. Roll Call: Present: Mayor McClellan, Mayor Pro Tem Snell, Councilmembers Absent: Cooke, Goodman, Mullen, Trevino Councilmember Himmelblau Mayor McClellan stated that this was a Special Called Meeting for the purpose of hearing the 1977-1982 Capital Improvements Program, specifically to discuss the east area of the City. Boundaries for the area were East Martin Luther King Boulevard on the north, Oltorf on the south, IH 35 on the west and City limit line on the east. Jorge Carrasco, Capital Budget Officer, reviewed the proposed CIP projects which would benefit east Austin directly. Those benefits would total $38.4 million as follows: $ 4.5 million $11.5 million $13.9 million $ 116,000 $ 1.7 million $ 1.1 million $ 792,000 $ 4.8 million electric utility improvements water and wastewater projects public works improvements 2 EMS stations public health 3 human resources centers Carver branch library (already funded) parks and recreation improvements PETE REYES, Chairman, Metz Recreation Board, requested that $130,000 be made available for the Metz Recreation Center. CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS August 3, 1977 WYLIE JORDAN, Chairman, Parks Board, preferred a high-level bridge (Barton Skyway Bridge) over a ground-level thoroughfare through Zilker Park. Mr. Jordan then discussed the following projects: 77/75-01 Mr. Jordan supported the 8th Street Pedestrian Mall (Century Plaza), which would cover one block between the new Central Library and the Bremond Block. Parks and Recreation Master Plan The Parks Board recommended that funding for the proposed Master Plan be reinstated into the CIP. The item had been deleted by the Planning Commission. The cost would be $150,000 if done by a consultant, but could be done in-house for about $75,000. 73/86-46 Originally the Board had recommended $1 million for the Walnut Creek Park development in 1979-80 as well as the $400,000 for the olympic pool which will begin during 1978-79. He asked that those figures be reinstated. 75/86-14 The Board strongly supported the expanded acquisition of neighborhood playgrounds throughout the City. Neighborhood tennis courts and recreational facilities were also endorsed. 76/86-08 The Board strongly endorsed the proposed Northwest Park Swimming Pool It was chosen as the first because it was the most heavily used pool Cover. at present. 75/864485-45 The Board had approved the consultant's plan and recommended that construction be started. 77/86-12 The Parks and Recreation Department originally had recommended 8 courts. Parks Board recommended 16 courts for a tournament tennis center. Mr. Jordan felt that at least 8 courts were necessary as a start and that more would be requested in the future. Mayor McClellan stated that the tennis community had recommended that 4 more courts be added to Pharr Center now and 4 more later, then place 4 courts somewhere south, rather than build the Pleasant Valley Tennis Center. Mr. Jordan felt that the Pleasant Valley site would be the most desirable location, both for tennis and other recreational facilities. Metz Recreation Center Mr. Jordan felt that the City should reapply for HCD funds for the Center and not use bond money to build the Center. He agreed with Mr. Reyes as to the need for the Center. CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS August 3, 1977 Hancock Golf Course In response to Mayor Pro Tem Snell's question, Mr. Jordan stated that the Parks Board had not made a recommendation regarding the golf course. It was felt that there had been insufficient input from the golfing community at this time. By the time the Council considered the operating budget at its September 1st, 1977, public hearing, it was hoped that sufficient input would be available for the Board to make a recommendation regarding the closing of Hancock and an increase in golf fees. Soccer Fields ROSEMARY KAUFFMAN, Fields Commissioner, Austin Women's Soccer League, who also represented other soccer players, stated that the Planning Commission had allocated $10,000 for soccer fields during recent hearings. She had learned today that the City Manager had recommended against the $10,000. The preferred location would be Pleasant Valley, and if Hancock Golf Course closed, then that location was also desirable for soccer fields. Currently, there were 4 fields at Zilker in use. Pease Park had been used at one time, but the Parks and Recreation Department was rebuilding the field and has asked that the players not use it for now. City Manager Davidson stated that he had removed the item from the CIP because he felt that some other commitments had been made previously that should be carried out before undertaking some other new additions, such as soccer fields. Jack Robinson stated that a Pleasant Valley site could be prepared out of the operating budget and should be ready for use next year. Metz Recreation Center REGINA BONETELLO, Board Member, Metz Recreation Center, spoke in support of improving the Center. Facilities for Blacks DELLA GREEN asked what was being planned for Blacks in the one-mile strip on either side of East Martin Luther King Boulevard from I.H. 35 eastward. She felt that present recreational facilities were not close enough to the people for easy accessibility. She was also concerned about the lack of other facilities. City Manager Davidson stated that in the case of parks, a complete report had been prepared for the Council as to where the existing parks were, the ones acquired and developed in the past few years, and the proposed CIP contained facilities which were projected. He suggested that Ms. Green meet with Mr. Carrasco to look at maps of existing and proposed facilities. If she wanted to suggest something different, then she could communicate further with the Council. Metz Recreation Center ZEKE UBALLE, Director, El Centro Chicano and a member of the Metz Recreation Center Advisory Board, spoke in support of improvements for the Metz Recreation Center. CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS August 3, 1977 Traffic Signalization Montopolis Area BILL MILLER, Montopolis Advisory Committee, requested that traffic signals be installed at the intersection of East 7th Street, Airport Boulevard and Ed Bluestein Boulevard and at the intersection of Ponca Street and Felix Avenue. In response to Councilman Trevino's question, Joe Ternus stated that the Montopolis Bridge was a state-maintained facility. He did not believe that the design of the intersection in question would lend itself to traffic signalization, but if it would, then it would have to be approved by the State Department of Highways and Public Transportation. State approval would not be needed for the other intersection. Metz Recreation Center ROBERT ELLIOTT, a member of the Metz Recreation Center Advisory Board, spoke in favor of expanding Metz Center. SAM HERNANDEZ, representing the East First Street Neighborhood Resource Center Advisory Board, endorsed the recommendations for the Metz Recreation Center. Mr. Hernandez also stated that PETE RIVERA, who worked at the East First Street Neighborhood Center, had sent a letter to Dick Martin requesting improvements at Govalle Park. The letter was dated April 1, 1977, and no response had been received. City Manager Davidson stated that Jack Robinson had understood that there had been a meeting with someone and that all of the information had been provided in answer to the letter. If there had been no answer, then an answer would be obtained and copies of the response would be given to the Council. 78/62-11 BRIAN DUDLEY, speaking in regard to MoPac Boulevard Impact Projects, asked what the City's position was on noise barriers and what had the previously allocated $100,000 been expended for. Mr. Ternus stated that $70,000 had been spent for the environmental design study. Funds were in the proposed CIP for City projects only. Projects which were joint City-State projects depended upon availability of Federal funds. The specific type of noise abatement had not been determined. The consultant had recommended one type of retaining wall, but Mr. Ternus felt that more extensive study was necessary from a design standpoint. The State had indicated a willingness to pursue such a study. He also felt that the project was primarily a State and Federal funding, not a City funding. City Manager Davidson stated that Mr. Dudley was incorrect when he said that the MoPac Study was federally funded and that the $100,000 was to go for some capital improvements. United Youth Organizations of East Austin LAWRENCE BRITTON, representing the United Youth Organization of East Austin, appeared before the Council to request funds for athletics in East Austin as follows: Football Basketball Baseball Kickball - 480 plus boys, ages 8-13 120 boys, ages 8-12 2 teams 180 plus girls The budget would be about $30,000, with about one-third being paid by the participants. CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS- August 3, 1977 Park Ranger at Givens Park WILLIE KIRK appeared before the Council to request a Park Ranger for Givens Park. Some unpleasant incidents had occurred at the Park and were still happening. Methadone Center Relocation MRS. KIRK also requested that the Methadone Center located at Rosewood and Thompson Streets either be relocated or patrolled to prevent loitering. House Demolitions MRS. KIRK stated that she had requested through the Building Standards Commission the demolition of some houses in the area bounded by Hargrave Street, Airport Boulevard, Oak Springs Drive and Rosewood Avenue, but had seen no action. She also asked that the Blackshear Project be completed and that other East Austin projects which had been started be completed. Mayor McClellan stated that the various problems would be looked into. Street Reopening SAMUEL OWENS, who said he represented people in the area of 8th Street and Northwestern, asked what had happened to the funds which were allocated to reopen Webberville Road. He also asked why the street was closed in the first place. Councilmember Trevino stated that the street was closed in early 1975 by Council action and that last year he had requested reopening the street. Some time was needed to relocate utilities. Money for the relocations had just been appropriated a few monthsaago. Mr. Ternus stated that it would be three to 7-8 months before the street would be reopened. It was closed initially as part of an overall plan presented through the Urban Renewal Agency, Planning Commission and City Council to improve traffic safety on 7th Street and the railroad crossing at Webberville Road. Tennis Courts - South Austin JANE MCFARLAND, Co-chairperson, South Austin Tennis Association, appeared before the Council to request tennis facilities for South Austin. Presently, there are 55 City-operated tennis courts in 21 locations north of Town Lake, while there are 8 courts in 4 locations in South Austin. She would prefer courts in far South Austin, but would accept the Pleasant Valley Road location over the expansion of the Pharr Center. She also requested the expediting of courts which were proposed at Barton Hills and Garrison Park, as well as the building of the Houston School Playground. Nuckols Crossing Road Fire Station MRS. McFARLAND also asked about the timetable for building the Nuckols Crossing Road Fire Station. Chief Kirkham stated that the project was in the current budget. He expected to advertise for bids by mid-September. CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS August 3, 1977 Tennis Courts Pan American Center JOSE ALVAREZ, a member of the Pan American Recreation Center Board, appeared before the Council to request that the construction of two tennis courts be included in FY 77-78 funding for the Center. Pan American Center Improvements BOB PERKINS, a Pan American Recreation Center Board member, requested that $5,000 be allocated to replace windows at the Center. The windows presented a potential safety problem, were not energy efficient and wooden supports were rotting. City Manager Davidson stated that the request would be presented in option form so that the Council could adopt it if they so desired. ADJOURNMENT The Council adjourned at 9:07 p.m. ATTEST: Pran Monse City Clerk APPRE Mayor