YOF AUSTIN City Council Frank C.Cooksey Mayor FOUNDED 1939 Austin City Council MINUTES For SPECIAL CALLED MEETING - 1984-90 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM AND 1984 BOND PROGRAM 7:30 PM - JUNE 27. 1984 Council Chambers, 307 West Second Street, Austin, Texas Memorandum To: i John Treviño, Jr. Mayor Pro Tem Council Members Mark Rose Smoot Carl-Mitchell Sally Shipman George Humphrey Charles E. Urdy Jorge Carrasco City Manager Elden Aldridge City Clerk Mayor Ron Mullen called the Special Called Meeting to order at 7:50 PM, noting the absence of Councilmember Rose. Mayor Mullen stated that the purpose of the meeting was to have a public hearing on the 1984-90 CIP and 1984 bond program. Peck Young, representing the Electric Utilities Commission, said that, after a review of the recommendations made by the City Manager, the Commission had voted 5 to 2, 1 abstention, 1 absence, to recommend to the City Council full funding of the transmission plan as recommended by the EUC and the Planning Commission and of the Resource Recovery Plan. This would increase the funding level from $123.8 million, as recommended by the City Manager, to $326.8 million, which expenditure Mr. Young defended with specifics. Ada Anderson, trustee of Laguna Gloria, supported the inclusion in the bond issue funding for the downtown museum. She cited a number of the programs currently offered by Laguna Gloria and the need for more space closer to town. Charles Hanesh said that a Texas sesquicentennial cyclorama nural, similar to one in the Dall Fine Arts Center in Rapid City, South Dakota, would be an excellent project for the city and the state and a drawing card for the convention center. He connected It with the Laguna Gloria downtown museum. Ian Englis, president of Johnson Creek Neighborhood Conervation Association, expressed appreciation of funding of the Johnson Creek bypass. He wished, however, to restore the funding to the original 1984 fiscal year as recommended by the Planning Commission. He said that the project was completely ready and Chat the Johnson Creek situation remained an emergency one. Council Memo Page 2 June 27, 1984 : A letter from Barbara Wang, president of the West Austin Neighborhood Group, was read in which the strong support of the Johnson Creek bypass was expressed. Dan Bullock, member of the Laguna Gloria Museum, said that the museum had pledged to raise a minimum of $3 million in endowment funds for funding ongoing operating costs of the museum. He encouraged the inclusion of Laguna Gloria's funds on the bond issue and assured the Council that the members of the museum would come up with the operating funds. Alan Taniguchi spoke for the downtown Laguna Gloria museum and spoke of the importance of a publicly-funded museum as opposed to a privately-owned museum. Maury Coats, chairman of the Austin Arts Commission, recommended the concept of support for the Laguna Gloria Art Museum in the CIP program. He stressed that the present location of the museum was a matter of a bequest and that a downtown museum would be a great benefit to the community. Rebecca Levy, president of the Board of Laguna Gloria Art Museum, cited the tremendous response to Laguna Gloria programs at First Federal downtown and the need for children to have a place like the museum. Ed Resnicek, representing the University Hills Optimists Club, asked for help in replacing the lighting system at the fields at 7112 Northcrest, as well as other maintenance items for the area. Jim Matthews, resident of Highland Park West area, part of Precinct 237, asked that the proposal relative to the widening of RM 2222 be taken off the bond issue as incomplete and inacceptable, even to city staff. He asked that the staff work with the neighborhood in designing the change. Mayor Mullen suggested, and Mr. Brecher agreed, that it would be a good idea for Mr. Matthews to meet with Mr. Brecher. He noted that the city was in a double bind in that a detailed plan was costly and might ty wa be disapproved by the neighborhood and the staff. Mr. Matthews said that he feared that the item would be passed without any input from the community. Mayor Mullen insisted that he meet with staff and come back to the Council with recommendations. Councilmember Shipman said that she had presented a list of questions to the Public Works Department earlier in the week including the question of whether RM 2222 was in the roadway plan. She also stated that the neighborhood needed to be aware of the recent report by the Urban Transportation Department relative to the 7 MUDs on 620. Mayor Mullen commented on this but declined Council Memo Page 3 June 27, 1984 3 to allow Mr. Matthews to respond.. Dan Larner, member of the Senior Activity Center Board and Retirees Coordinating Board, suggested that Mr. Matthews' comments were of intense interest to many present and that there should be a separate meeting on the subject. Mayor Mullen said that if the subject was not in the roadway plan, it would be possible to make a meeting on the subject. Mr. Larner discussed the history and difficulties of the Senior Activity Center. He said that the major problem was the lack of parking and wondered where the allocation in the CIP for parking had gone. Doug Morris, president of University Hills Optimist Club, asked that the improvements to the ball fields be funded. Bill May, chairman of the Retiree Coordinating Board, requested more parking for the Senior Activity Center and cited the numbers of people who visit the center which is far in excess of the number of parking spaces. : T. Galliard, member of the Senior Citizens Center and president of the Advisory Board, asked that the monies for the enlargement of the parking area be replaced as recommended by the Planning Commission. Tom O'Meara, representing the Oak Hill Business and Professional Association, stated that the projects listed on p. 214 for the EMS Station and on p. 250 for the library will not meet the deadline required for start after annexation unless funds for these projects are included in the 1984 bond program. Nick Brown, past president of the Balcones Civic Association, asked that Item 73/62-32 on p. 61, the broadening of Spicewood Springs Road between Mesa and Loop 360 to six lanes, be moved up to the 1984 time frame and become a four-lane project. Peg Treadwell, member of the Advisory Board of the Austin Recreation Center, cited the great expense of time in making the list of priorities for the ARC and the fact that the objectives of the bond issue fitted the needs of the ARC. She said that because of changes, there is now not enough money to do the floor, make a fine arts center, and other things that are necessities. Councilmember Shipman brought Ms. Treadwell up to date on the events of the preceding evening in which the City Manager advised that the center had one million dollars which had not yet been spent. The City Manager confirmed that there was indeed $1.6 million that would take care of the repairs. The proposal for the additional money for parking improvements, etc. has not been funded. Council Memo Page 4 June 27, 1984 Ms. Treadwell repeated that with the changes, the fundamentals will not be covered by the $1.6 million. Bill Wittenberg, chairman of the Spicewood Springs Road Committee of the Balcones Civic Association, supported the moving back into the 1984 budget the widening of the road but said that four lanes was more appropriate to the neighborhood and cited two extensive city studies supporting that contention. He also pointed out that the extension of Spicewood Springs on the other side of Loop 360 would be four-lane and that it was not logical to make 1.6 miles of the road six lanes. : Mayor Mullen asked for figures on the west-flowing traffic as opposed to the east-flowing traffic. Mr. Wittenberg said that the Hart Study, as the only traffic study available, does not break down the traffic. Mayor Mullen asked about a comparison with the traffic on 183. Mr. Wittenberg said that Spicewood Springs should supplement the major arterials, not become one. Mr. Brecher said that his department was taking another look at the road and its needs and that it would be finished shortly. A citizen spoke for the West Austin Youth athletic program. Не is the president elect and expressed concern about relocating the fields particularly considering the size of the fields, over two million square feet, and the cost of real estate. He urged the City Council to keep the tenants of the First Street area informed. Wayne Brown, coach with Pony Colt Program, supported the importance of the parks for all parts of the population and urged the Council not to place pavement ahead of the youth. Mayor Mullen said they would look for alternatives. Mayor Pro Tem said he also played ball at that field. John Emerson, chairman of the Austin Tennis Advisory Board, asked for money in the CIP for the rehabilitation of Caswell Tennis Center which leaks, needs new re-wiring of the electrical system, and general renovation. He noted that Caswell accommodated more players and made more money than any of the other tennis centers. He stated that there will be a large increase in the demand for tennis courts. In response to Councilmember Shipman's inquiry, the City Manager said that he would look into fixing the roof at Caswell. Bob Lovejoy, representing the Austin Softball Association, requested that the Council reinsert the request for a four-field replacement at the Council Memo Page 5 June 27, 1984 Cray complex into the CIP. He cited the need for more fields because of Austin's growth. He gave the Council a handout decribing the needs. Mayor Mullen asked how many people who use the facilities live outside the city limits. Mr. Lovejoy said that they do have rosters but do not know how many people live outside the city limits or how many work in the city but live outside the city limits. Mayor Mullen was concerned that people who do not pay for city electricty may be using the parks. Mr. Lovejoy said that he did live inside the city limits but was still waiting for his sewer line. Mr. Lovejoy said that the need was to get the traffic and the lights out of the neighborhoods and into a complex. Dick Frisbee, member of the Advisory Board of the Austin Recreation Center, urged that the needs of the ARC outside of the original needs be considered because the adult population will continue to grow and the ARC is an inner-city facility with an already very large following. There is also a need for the money to be available when matching grant applications are made. Will Dibrell, co-chairman of the Old West Austin Neighborhood Association, expressed concern about the First and Third Street corridor project being on the bond issue without more specific details and opportunity for discussion. Councilmember Spaeth said that the matter went into the CIP last year and that no action has been taken. He said that there is no final plan but there is a preferred plan and that the public hearing process wil be undertaken before it goes on the bond ballot. John Chitwood, více president of the Austin Recreation Center Advisory Board and president of the Hancock Recreation Center. Council, urged reinstatement of money recommended by staff to provide additional space to the Northwest Recreation Center. He cited the considerable increase in cost that made the amount of money allocated for ARC no longer adequate to pay for the basic needs. Roberta Crenshaw, former chairman of the Parks Board, spoke against the First Street improvements. She cited the lengthy planning that went into the Town Lake area parkland and the fact that nearly 20 years ago, it was recommended that there be no direct access from the proposed Mopac onto First Street. Mayor Mullen said that public input on whether or not this item should be on the bond issue was needed. Ms. Crenshaw suggested that there were alternatives to the First Street corridor and Mayor Mullen suggested that she submit them. } Council Memo Page 6 June 27, 1985 Ms. Crenshaw said that she would hire an engineer to make an alternative plan. Mayor Mullen said that he favored the east-west corridor. Councilmember Shipman cited Ms. Crenshaw's lengthy and admirable service to Austin and its parks over the past nearly thirty years. Dale Ritson, representing the Wooten Neighborhood Association, expressed concern about the flow of traffic through the neighborhood while Hwy. 183 is being improved and therefore supported the CIP monies intended to improve other streets that might accept some of this traffic. Ray Chevada, member of the Austin Golf Association, cited the fact that the city owns only 9 holes for a population of 350,000 and leases three other courses and those leases are in jeopardy. He suggested a 54-hole golf course at Dekker Lake. The City Manager stated that the Jimmy Clay course would be back in operation early in the fall and that MUNY was being reassessed. He felt optimistic about the chances of golf in Austin. Mayor Mullen said that he and Councilmember Shipman had met with UT personnel about keeping the MUNY. Dick Madden with the Wooten Area Neighborhood Association expressed the feelings of the neighborhood relative to various proposed bond issues. He asked for further development of the land next to the Wooten School. Mayor Mullen said that these things would probably be line items on the bond issue. Sally Witliff objected to the First-Third Street corridor's being included in the bond package, especially since the current work on First Street is still going on. She cited the fact that those who will be most impacted by the as yet inspecific changes have not been made aware that this is on the bond issue. Mayor Mullen stated that Ms. Witliff was badly misinformed about the proposal and that no proposal had been put forward that would take any parkland. Ms. Witliff stated that the plan as it was represented in the media showed the parkand as being inaccessible to the public. Mayor Mullen said that people don't understand the proposal and that 38 acres of parkland would be added by the project. Joel Harper of the Wooten Area Neighborhood Association expresssed basic agreement with the 1984-90 CIF package, especially the expansion of 7 Council Memo Page 7 June 27, 1984 > of Fire Station #8 and sidewalk improvements around Wooten Park and to Anderson Lane, and others. Harold Brumley spoke of the relocation of tennis facilities and asked that the price of land be included in the bond issue. Richard Klingner, president North Oaks Neighborhood Association, expressed support for the current bond package, especially projects involving parks and roadways. Judy Walker, representing the Northwest Oaks Neighborhood Association, supported the improvements to Hwy. 183 but questioned whether the amount of money was adequate to meet state requirements and the removal of McNeil Road from the budget. Mayor Mullen stated that as this is a long-term program, the current funding is sufficient. Ms. Walker suggested that the funding for the First-Third street. corridor might be moved over to the Hwy. 183 budget in order to be prepared to meet state requirements. Richard Ridings, in response to Mrs. Shipman's question, said that they had asked the state how much money would be needed over the next three years. He said that the Mopac overpass at 360 had already been approved and that the level of funding was sufficient for the next three years. He enumerated the uses of the funding. Councilmember Shipman expressed concern about the time lapse before. seeing any improvements at Burnet and 183 and 620 and 183 and urged some action immediately to relieve those congested areas. Mr. Ridings stated that the 183/Burnet Road interchange would be one of the first projects let and that the city's share in this construction would be funded by this bond election. He delineated the interdependence of the Mopac/Burnet/183 projects. Councilmember Shipman requested specific estimates of the amount. of the city's financial participation in the 183/Burnet Road project required by the state so that that amount could be placed on the bond issue... Mr. Ridings said that he could provide the figures but that rising costs might preclude never having to address the problem in a bond election again. He said that he would get the figures in writing from the Highway Commission. Raymond Kobachic, member of Reformed Wooten Park Neighborhood Association, advised the Council of how the 183 project would affect the area relative to motorists using the neighborhood for shortcuts during construction. Mayor Mullen adjourned the meeting at 10:05 P.M.