YOFAU FOUNDED 1839 Austin City Council MINUTES For March 10, 1982 - 5:30 Ρ.Μ. - SPECIAL CALLED MEETING PUBLIC HEARING - BOAT RACES Council Chambers, 301 West Second Street, Austin, Texas Memorandum To: City Council Carole Keeton McClellan Mayor John Treviño, Jr. Mayor Pro Tem Council Members Larry Deuser Roger Duncan Richard Goodman Ron Mullen Charles E. Urdy Nicholas M. Meiszer City Manager Grace Monroe City Clerk Mayor McClellan called to order the Special Called Meeting of the Council to consider the question of approving Motor Boat Races on Town Lake between Lamar Boulevard and MoPac Boulevard, August 6, 7,8, 1982. for the 1982 Austin Aqua Festival. The Mayor noted the absence of Councilmember Duncan.who is 111. She said he has requested the vote be held until tomorrow and asked that an emergency item be placed on the March 11, 1982 agenda for a vote at 1:30 p.m. Rusty Tally, Aqua Fest Commodore discussed the proposed races and said testing has been done by the Southern Drag Boat Association, Races will be safe for the boaters and for the audience. The hike and bike trail will be closed for the event, only. He discussed the control of traffic and said there should not be any particular impact on the environment. Mayor McClellan asked him to speak to the Aqua Fest intent to have boat races for one weekend only. Mr. Tally said that is their Intent. He said the location is the one they want and will not move back to Festival Beach. Guymon Phillips, Assistant City Manager, presented the report of departments which will be affected. Discussion followed concerning the street closures, etc. Mayor McClellan asked what the recommendation of the Parks Board is. Mr. Leonard Ehrler, Parks and Recreation Director told her when the boat races were discussed, 12 members were present and the vote was 11-1 in favor of the races. Danny Reed, Aqua Fest, said one race is needed to off set the costs incurred in the Aqua Fest, He said he is a landscape architect and will promote the preservation of the environment. Larry Gooch, representing concerned residents of West Austin, said they oppose boat races but will support the increase to $2.00 for Skipper pins. Council Memo 2 March 10, 1982 Jack Macy, who organizes the Fest Nights, discussed the income from those nights, but said more income is needed to cover the cost of the nights. He said all the people of Austin enjoy Fest Nights. Steve Johns, Concerned Citizens of West Austin, showed slides of the area and said it is the wrong location. James Sundra, 607 Bouldin, said the races would bring too much noise too close to their houses. the races. John D. Simpson, 1st president of Aqua Fest, asked Council's support for Marcel Rocha, said the Mexican-American people are trying to get all cultures together to enjoy life together. He is in favor of the boat races. Richard Grauvois, Zilker Park Neighborhood Association, said he took a poll and 70% of the people on both sides of the proposed site do not want the races. Ernest Johnson loves boat races and wants them back. Conrad Fath does not like boat races on Town Lake. John Hennenberger, who lives two blocks from the site, is opposed to the races. Glenna Balch, said boat races break the rules of their community. Bill Harris, who said the Aqua Fest is self funded, asked for approval. Donna Carter, who lives on 9th Street, says the races would be too noisy.. Vickie Highsaw, who lives 15 miles north of the site, said she venienced by the noise of IH 35 and it should be closed so she can sleep. an illustration of the many inconveniences to people throughout the City. the boat races. is incon- This was She favors Sarah Penn Harris opposes the races because of the sensitive areas involved. Bobby Johnson said the boat races are needed to subsidize the Aqua Fest. Charles A. Burton said the lake should be utilized. Tedd Guise, student at Anderson High, said it seems that the boat races are essential to Aqua Fest. An unidentified woman wants the races. Frances Martinez, Guadalupe Neighborhood Association, opposes the races. Council Memo 3 March 10, 1982 Walt Bronstead, 1721 Norris Drive, does not want the lake transformed into a drag strip. Michael Mayfield said he lives near the airport where the sound impacts him every day. Theresa Holden, president, Bouldin Creek Neighborhood Association, said they bear the burden of Aqua Fest with the Fest Nights. They do not want races. Mr. Rendon, East Town Lake Citizens, said the boat races start trouble. Jim Poague, said the races are an asset to Austin. Landy Wetzel said the minority should not rule what the majority wants. Josephine Huntly said the noise is too much and presented a petition of 680 names of people who are against the races. Dick Stanford said the races are too noisy and unsafe. He is a member of Save Barton Creek Neighborhood Association. Russ Carroll favors the races. Bill Hoferd, president, 1982 Aqua Fest, said the citizens have the right to have races one weekend a year. Shudde Fath, Zilker Park Neighborhood Association, is against the races. Mr. Martino, Brown Berets, said they are totally against the races and threatened bad things happening if they are allowed. : Mike Nixon, member of Aqua Fest said they do not receive funding for the Fest from the Chamber of Commerce. He said they cannot do anything about the noise but they can control the rest of the aspects involved. the races. Paul Hernandez spoke against the races and said he does not want tourism. Wayne Gronquist, South River City Citizens, opposes the races. Carmen Velasquez, Central East Austin Neighborhood Association, opposes Burt Kormack is against the races. James Boyd said he would really enjoy attending the races. Mike Holder told the audience that free things are available for the Aqua Fest because of the paying things such as the boat races. Ruth Guard, 1108 West 9th, said the races are too noisy. Mel Barry, Austin Aqua Festival, spoke in favor of the races. ( Council Memo 4 March 10, 1982 Dorothy Richter, Hyde Park resident, opposes the boat races on Town Lake. Jack Vieger is for the races. He said the question should be put to the voters. held. Joe Voncias, Brown Beret, threatened what would happen if the races are Rusty Tally gave the summation for the Aqua Fest. He said he has visited the neighborhoods and will work with them concerning any problems. Motion The Council, on Councilmember Mullen's motion, Councilmember Deuser's second, closed the public hearing. (6-0 Vote, Councilmember Duncan absent.) ADJOURNMENT The Council adjourned at 8:30 p.m.