Allandale Beautification

2008 Allandale Neighborhood Garage Sales set for May 2nd

Annual Allandale Neighborhood Garage Sales will be held Saturday, May 2, 8:00 am to 2:00 PM

Spend a day strolling the neighborhood, greeting neighbors, and maybe bag a bargain while you’re at it.

The sale includes the entire neighborhood.

Advertising will be in the Austin American Statesman, online, and posted flyers.

Suggestions:

Join with a couple neighbors – it will draw more traffic

Put signs and or balloons on major cross streets or intersections to lead people to your sale

Keep signs simple – use arrows to direct drivers

Contact coordinator by April 28^th for more info to be listed on the online map. Email: garagesale08 at fitmom daht info no spam   or call 750-8902

Flood Control Press Conference on Silverway

Just back from the flood control presentation on Silverway.  The press conference and information session will be broadcast on Channel 6.  over the next several days. Several TV  stations  were also there, so watch Channel 8 and keye for coverage.

The flood monitoring system checks the level and volume of flow hourly.  As levels increase, it sets off an alarm triggering more  intensive monitoring.  The information is provided to the National Weather Service, and the city of Austin  --- who issue weather alerts through local media.

The US Geological Survey reps pointed out that during the recent rains, the level of Shoal Creek went from 2.1 feet to 5.5 ft in 20 minutes. This was a result of 1 inch of rainfall!

City Meeting regarding Coyotes 4/14

Randy Farrar, Wildlife Damage Management Biologist, Texas Cooperative Extension - Wildlife Services, will be presenting a program on Suburban Coyotes and discussing the problems in our neighborhood.

This will be a great opportunity to find out what the city is doing and how we can help this growing situation. Look for an article in this weekend's Statesman for more info.

When: Monday, April 14, 2008 7:00 PM-9:00 PM
Where: Northwest Recreation Center, 2913 Northland Drive

Austin American Statesman Article
http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/local/coyotes.html

Supporting Documents:

URBAN COYOTE (WILDLIFE SERVICES FACTSHEET).pdf)
Download urban_coyote_wildlife_services_factsheet.pdf

(See attached file: COYOTE ATTACKS_AN INCREASING SUBURBAN PROBLEM.doc)
Download coyote_attacks_an_increasing_suburban_problem.doc

(See attached file: TCE MANAGING SUBURBAN COYOTES.pdf)
Download tce_managing_suburban_coyotes.pdf

It's My Park Day 2008 - Going Green

This year It's My Park Day is going green.  The Austin Parks Foundation is changing a lot of little details of the event to reduce waste.

They want to encourage everyone to bike, walk or share a ride. 

Bring your own water bottle. There will be plenty of water, just no bottled water this year.

Volunteers can sign up online: http://www.austinparks.org/itsmypark.html

- Linnea

Agencies Team up on Flood Monitoring Equipment

What: Display of flood management equipment
When: Information session: Friday, March 21, 2008 - 9:30 - 10:30 AM; News Conference: 10:30 AM
Where:  Pedestrian Bridge on Silverway, on the west side of the creek.

From Watershed protection:

"I'm hoping you can help me spread the word to residents in your neighborhood about a small event we're hosting on Friday, March 21, at 9:30 a.m. at the pedestrian bridge on Silverway Drive, on the west side of the creek. The City of Austin together with the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and the National Weather Service will be holding a brief news conference about the installation of 10 new flood gauges and how they will help the City prepare better for floods.

"For this news conference, the USGS is preparing an impressive display of their stream monitoring equipment including a monitoring boat, a field truck and a model gauge. They will also have a laptop to show people how to look up real-time data from individual gauges on their web site. We thought that residents from the neighborhood might be interested in walking down and seeing the equipment and talking to the USGS representatives between 9:30 and 10:30 a.m., when the news conference starts.

"We should have all the equipment removed by noon.

Ed note: The Watershed department mailed courtesy notices to the residents along Silverway today. (3/12)

If you have any questions about this event, contact:

Public Information Specialist Senior
City of Austin
Watershed Protection and Development Review Department
512-974-2799 (phone)
512-802-7456 (pager)
Stephanie.lott@ci.austin.tx.us

14TH Annual Rosedale Ride

The Rosedale Ride is an annual bike ride benefiting Rosedale School, the Austin Independent School District's only school for children with multiple disabilities. The Rosedale Foundation has raised over $300,000 for Rosedale School since 1999.

Open to cyclists of all abilities, the ride offers different courses to suit anyone. This year the Rosedale Ride has four courses to choose from: a Kid’s Fun Ride; or courses of 20+, 42+ or 62+ miles. The ride begins and ends at Samsung, winding through the gently rolling countryside east of Austin.

The 2008 Rosedale Ride is Saturday, March 29th, and is followed by entertainment, food vendors, silent auction and more...

More information and registration here: http://www.rosedaleride.org/ride/index.html

Register here: http://www.bikereg.com/events/register.asp?eventid=5553

Packet Pickup & In-Person Registration

Rosedale School on Thursday, March 27th between 4:00 PM and 8:00 PM or Friday, March 28th between noon and 8:00 PM at Rosedale School. This is not only a great way to learn more about the School, but it is also a good opportunity to check out the array of goodies available in the Silent Auction.

Directions to Rosedale School: http://preview.tinyurl.com/2pz2au

Day of ride: Register on the morning of the Ride, starting at 7 AM. Be sure to allow time for the 8:30 AM start

For more information contact:

Angela English, LPC, LMFT
Accessibility and Disability Rights Coordinator
Texas Governor's Committee on People with Disabilities
512-463-5741

website: governor.state.tx.us/disabilities

ADA Listserve: listserv.tamu.edu/archives/texadac-l.html

Soil Testing of Ponds Provides Reassurance

In response to neighbor concerns, the COA Watershed Protection and Review Department have provided the following update on soil testing of the ponds at the Great Northern Location:

"The Watershed Protection and Development Review Department periodically tests the soil and sediment in a representative sampling of water quality ponds. The purpose of the testing is to determine whether the sediment can be disposed of at a regular landfill or if it needs special handling. This program began last year, and all the samples showed that the sediment did not require any special handling. Similar tests in the past have given the same, reassuring results."

"Although neighbors should not be worried about living or walking near water quality ponds, pets should not be allowed to swim in them, including the one on Great Northern Boulevard. Water quality ponds are designed to capture pollutants and are not safe for swimming. In fact, dogs in Austin have been infested by Heterobilharzia Americana, a fairly common parasite that lives in stagnant surface water. This parasite infects  dogs and raccoons rather than humans. A good rule of thumb is not to let your dog swim in water that you wouldn’t swim in yourself. "

It's My Park Day 2008 - Registration is open

It’s My Park Day will be April 12th, 2008. Allandale was one of the first neighborhoods to participate in It’s My Park Day, and the tradition continues this year.

We need volunteers to act as site contacts on the day of the event. The site contact is the central location for the volunteers at each clean up, they sign in volunteers, hand out t-shirts, and distribute snacks and water. They do need to be at least 18 years old, and available on April 12th from 9:00-11:30 am. They do not need to trim brush, pick up trash etc.

The site contact is really an ambassador for Allandale, it is a great way to meet neighbors.

Please help me in encouraging participation. These events build awareness of our parks and their value to our community.

Volunteers can sign up online: http://www.austinparks.org/itsmypark.html

Official information

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It's My Park Day! with Austin Parks Foundation

April 12, 2008 09:00 AM until 11:00 AM

Meet at either the corner of Shoal Creek and 2222 or at the Great Northern Detention pond to get started http://www.austinparksfoundation.org

Join your neighbors to clean-up the North Shoal Creek Greenbelt and Great Northern Hike n'Bike Trail. Volunteers will remove trash and debris, trim branches, and help to fix damage from heavy rains.

Everyone is welcome. Great for Groups!

All ages welcome. Wear Sturdy shoes and remember the terrain is uneven. Due to ongoing coyote activity, leave your small dogs at home.

Difficulty: Easy. Please contact organizer if you can help with trimming branches and debris.

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10K Loop through Allandale

A measured 10K loop through Allandale is now available on MapMyfittness:

COA Answers more questions about detention pond

Stephanie Lott, of COA Watershed Protection, provided an update to the information we have on the detention pond project.  (For complete details, see the previous posts.)

"Below is some information about the purpose of the project, graffiti and the recreational aspects of the site that you requested. We’ve seen a number of specific ideas and comments both on these issues and others that have the potential for enhancing the project. They need further research, and we are working with our engineers to see if any of them can be incorporated into the project to the extent that our budget allows and without conflicting with the flood control purpose of the project.

Reason for the Great Northern Detention Pond Project

"With this project, we are bringing the site into compliance with the State of Texas dam safety standards. Most of the improvements are intended to protect those living around the dam and downstream of it, as far as White Rock Drive, from the potential failure of the dam in the probable maximum flood. The probable maximum flood is four times larger than the Memorial Day Flood. While unlikely, such a flood is possible. There have been three in or near Central Texas in the past century. The failure of the dam in this type of storm would be a disaster, causing sudden and severe flooding in many homes in the Allandale neighborhood. This project will ensure the integrity of the dam structure during such a storm.

"The improvements, including the concrete wall and spillway, will also help prevent damage to the dam during lesser, but still very large storms. Any time a dam is overtopped, meaning there is more water coming in than it can hold, there is the potential for erosion and damage to the structure of the dam. This dam is currently in good condition, but it will overtop in a severe storm, one that has between a 4 and 10 percent chance of occurring in any given year. The proposed wall will direct the overflow into the spillway. The concrete spillway will protect the embankment from damage.

"Graffiti

"We realize there are concerns about graffiti and were already planning to use an “anti-graffiti” coating on the concrete. We are currently gathering more information about the effectiveness of this product, which we will relay to the neighborhood as soon as possible. You’ve indicated that some of the neighbors have suggested using plants as a screen for the wall to help prevent graffiti. Unfortunately, this is not possible since the plants would have the potential to damage the structure of the dam.

"Preservation of the Recreational Aspects of the Area

"After the project is complete, the neighbors are welcome to use the area as they are currently using it.

• It will remain a leash-free area.
• The existing sidewalks will remain, and a new one will be added.
• We will have to remove the current bench area, since it’s in a problematic location at the top of the spillway. However, we are willing to put in a replacement bench area. Several people at the meeting on Monday, February 4, 2008, mentioned that they would prefer several smaller benches than one large bench area, and we are exploring this option.

"We are not planning to add amenities that are not already there, although we are looking into whether there is anything that we can do to improve parking on the east side of Great Northern. "

Please post your votes and comments to the "Vote!" post on this blog.  I will be providing ALL feedback to the city next week.

The deadline for comments is February 12th.  Do not delay in sending your concerns to me, or posting them to the blog.  It is imperative that the neighborhood submit their issue by this date for any amendments to be considered!