CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS_ • MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS Special Called Council Meeting July 21, 1980 7:00 Ρ.Μ. Rosewood-Zaragosa Center 2800 Webberville Road The meeting was called to order with Mayor McClellan presiding. Roll Call: Present: Mayor McClellan, Councilmembers Cooke, Goodman, Himmelblau, Mullen, Trevino, Snell Absent: None Mayor McClellan stated that this was a Special Called Meeting for the purpose of conducting a public hearing on the Proposed 1980-1985 Capital Improvements Program. The Mayor said that this was the first of four scheduled public hearings on the proposed $591 million 1980-85 CIP. $306.5 million of the proposed CIP would go for general government projects, while $284.7 million would go for utility projects, including water and wastewater. The Planning Commission had recommended a three-year proposal on a bond package and the City Manager had proposed a one-year package. She then asked City Manager Davidson to introduce Budget Director Lee Thomson, who presented the following overview of the 1980-85 Capital Improvements Program. CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS July 21, 1980 CIP OVERVIEW I. Planning Commission and City Manager Review of 1980-85 CIP proposals centered on: ------compliance with master plan and established Council goals and policies; ------commitment to investment-oriented projects to minimize impact on operating budget; -----size of the program in relation to bonding authority and the City's ability to finance capital costs. The result of this Review is recommendation of a five-year CIP totaling $591,375,000. II. The five-year general government program totals $305.8 million. Most general government programs require new bond authority. Commission recommends a three-year bond program totaling $72.6 million. City Manager recommends a one-year bond program totaling $16.9 million. A. Planning Commission three-year general government program -----Public Works (58% of bond total): emphasizes street and drainage improvements to meet present and projected needs on the rapidly growing perimeter of the City and utilitizes developer cost participation to a greater extent. -----Airport (11% of bond total): includes improvements to cover requirements of the Airlines and anticipated passenger traffic. Recommend that projects which benefit the Airlines be funded by G.O. Bonds which are backed by a transfer of airport revenues to support the repayment of airport debt. -----Parks (17% of bond total): funds are included to implement program needs after defined and formulated in the PARD master plan. -----Public Health and Safety (7% of bond total): includes EMS station, fire station renovations, Health Center, hospital equipment. -----Municipal Facilities (4% of bond total): funds are provided for phasing in of construction on South Service Center and additional office space for the VES department. • CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS July 21, 1980 B. City Manager one-year bond program ($16.9 million) (based on addressing only essential needs without hindering future planning flexibility) -----Public Works ($13.8 million) -----VES office expansion (.2 million) -----traffic signals (.7 million) -----Health Center (1.3 million) -----EMS center and offices (.9 million) III. Utility requirements for 1980-85 total $284.8 million. The Commission recommends bond funding for the first three years of the program. ---$21.3 million for conventional non-nuclear Electric Improvements to maintain electric system capacity and reliability. ---$76.1 million for Water and Wastewater improvements. Included are funds for an analysis of Upper Williamson Creek Watershed and a new utility master plan. IV. The City Manager's one-year utility bond program totals $35.2 million. ---$6.7 million for conventional Electric improvements. ---$28.5 million for Water and Wastewater improvements. V. Other highlights of Planning Commission Recommendations: -----recommend funds for land acquisition for a new Northeast branch library and defer funds for any new branches until present Library operating needs are fully met; ---support purchase of 39 acre Storm tract; ---recommend new studies to support capital programs in Fire, Police, Hospital, and Library. Highlights of City Manager Recommendations: study of City space needs; economic study of convention complex; recommend special studies to base lone-term capital program (Water, Parks, Fire, Police, City facilities) CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS July 21, 1980 Ms. Thompson stated that some of the programs specifically targeted for east and northeast Austin included: 1. Montopolis Neighborhood Center 2. Rosewood Neighborhood Center - Funded Funded 3. Parks and Recreation Program 4. Givens District Park 5. Pan American Park Improvements 6. Northeast Recreation Center 7. Windsor Village Branch Library 8. Numerous Public Works Improvements Councilmember Snell asked about the status of the northeast fire station. Mr. Frank Rodriquez, Research and Budget Department, pointed out that the project was not included in the proposed CIP because it was already funded. Councilmember Snell asked what was in the package for Decker Lake. Mr. Ehrler stated that the following items were in the proposed CIP for Lake Long (Decker): 1. $50,000 1981-82 Recreational Vehicle Camping Facility 2. $40,000 1982-83 Docking Facilities 3. $100,000 1983-84 Renovate existing boat docks 4. $175,000 - 1984-85 Sewage Facility Councilmember Snell inquired about repairs in the lake area. Mr. Ehrler said that he was not sure to what extent the camping facility included road repair or not, but he thought that the road needed to be repaired. MS. MARY ALICE BROWN, member University Hills Homeowners' executive Committee, stated that a new branch library was needed to replace the Windsor Village Branch Library. She also hoped that full hours would be kept at the Library. She expressed concern over delays in park improvements for the area and felt that a large park was needed now in the northeast of the City. She urged the Council to support projects which had been promised in the past. MR. ROGER BAKER, Austinites for Public Transportation and Delwood Neighborhood Association, asked for more money for libraries. He also felt that more money should be spent on busses, and that it would be appropriate to include them in a bond package. MS. DIANE MORRIS, LBJ Neighborhood Association, asked the Council to move up work on the Northeast Park by clearing underbrush now and putting in a hike and bike trail. She asked that parking be placed along the perimeter of the long, narrow park. • CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS July 21, 1980 MS. JANEY LOCKWOOD, Delwood II Neighborhood Association, spoke in regard to CIP 81/60-03 (Delwood Area and Subdivision Drainage). She pointed out that the map in the proposed CIP located the project incorrectly and that it should have been at the intersection of Airport Boulevard and IH 35. She felt that the drainage problems were caused by airport development and that the City should pay more of the costs. Councilmember Snell thought that the drainage problem had been corrected. Mayor McClellan asked for a staff report on the drainage problem and what impact airport development had had on it, along with the City's responsibilities. An unidentified man said that he had moved into the subject area in 1950 and that there was no drainage problem at that time. As the airport developed, drainage problems increased. He felt that the City should take care of correcting the drainage. MR. CARL SIEGENTHALER, representing the Pecan Springs Integrated Neighborhood Association, agreed with the need for a Windsor Park Branch Library and wondered if the site had been chosen. He suggested that the location be tied to a community school location. He then inquired about the status of the extension of Springdale Road north. Mr. John German, Public Works Department Director, said that the project was being built by the Highway Department. Utilities were being cleared currently and all right-of-way had been acquired. Hopefully, by fall the Highway Department would let a contract for the project from Northeast Drive to US 183. Mr. Siegenthaler next asked about the status of lighted tennis courts at LBJ High School. Mr. Leonard Ehrler stated that he felt that the play at LBJ and that area did not warrant putting in lights at this time. He had recommended reallocating some funds to Dottie Jordan Park, Pharr Tennis Center and Givens Park. Councilmember Goodman asked if lights at the LBJ courts ever was a specific project in a bond proposal. Mr. Ehrler replied that it was part of an overall plan. Mr. Siegenthaler inquired about funds to finish the tennis courts in Bartholomew Park. Mr. Ehrler said that the project was not in the CIP, but he would check it out. CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS July 21, 1980 In closing, Mr. Siegenthaler asked the Council to keep an eye on the Seiders area for a possible northeast recreation center or a lifetime sports complex. Mayor McClellan stated that his suggestions would be looked into. MRS. RORY ARNOLD, LBJ Neighborhood Association, asked for more police patrols for the Northeast District Park. She requested that the proposed northeast recreation center be built in the Bluffs of University Hills area. She also asked about lighting at LBJ High School. MS. WILLIE MAE KIRK, member, Library Commission, asked that an area on Oak Springs between Webberville Road to Goodwin down to Tillery, back over to Oak Springs Drive and along the front of Oak Springs Library be cleared and cleaned. Mr. John German stated that the area was being proposed as a detention facility in relation to the Tom Miller Ditch and Boggy Creek improvements. Some cleaning and mowing had been done to do some survey for the planning of the detention facility. Eventually it would be dug out and some improvements made and would be easier to maintain once the detention facility was put in. Ms. Kirk asked for landscaping improvements for the entrance to the Givens Recreation Center. She also requested replacement of four doors at the Oak Springs Library which had locks on them were difficult to handle. Windows at the Library also were difficult to clean. Mayor McClellan asked the City Manager for a report on maintenance at Oak Springs Library, particularly the locks and windows. Regarding the Carver Branch Library, Ms. Kirk asked when the grass would be green and the sprinkler system in. Responding to Ms. Kirk's questions, Mr. David Earl Holt, Director of Libraries, said that public works was working on the locks at Oak Springs and that the basic irrigation system was in at Carver. Ms. Kirk also felt that Austin needed more neighborhood tennis courts throughout the City. Councilmember Snell pointed out that there was a bad drainage problem in Ms. Kirk's area which was causing erosion. He asked that the City take another look at the problem. City Manager Davidson said that a report would be prepared on the problem. CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS July 21, 1980 MR. MARCOS DE LEON, member, East Town Lake Citizens Neighborhood Association, spoke in regard to improvements for East Town Lake Park. Mr. Ehrler stated that about $25,000 was left for improvements to that park. A few irrigation problems needed to be completed to be sure that there was adequate turf in that area. PARD was trying to work with the neighborhood on the park. Mr. De Leon asked that the remaining money be used for picnic tables, drinking fountains and additional trees. Ms. Mary Alice Brown referred to the 1975 bond election and asked if the Pecan Springs wading pool had been eliminated from the CIP. Mr. Ehrler stated that it was never funded. Ms. Brown also asked why the design for the Walnut Creek Recreation Center were $100,000 while costs were only $50,000 to design the Northeast District Park Recreation Center. Mr. Ehrler stated that one was a metropolitan park and the other a district park. More buildings were involved in planning the metropolitan park center. Ms. Brown commented that the public hearing was not advertised properly and asked the Council to do more to see that hearings were advertised better. Mayor McClellan suggested that Ms. Arnold contact the Planning Department and the City Clerk's Office to be sure that they had the names of contact people in the neighborhood association. She also asked Mr. Ehrler to talk to the neighborhood association representatives tonight to be sure that they were informed of developments in the parks area. ADJOURNMENT The Council adjourned its meeting at 8:23 p.m. APPROVED Mayor ATTEST: Arace Monise City Clerk