Update on Short-term Projects at Monday Feb 6 Meeting
[ February 6, 2012; 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm. ]
- Click on image to see larger diagram of revised south path for Barton Springs Pool
Barton Springs Pool Short Term Improvement Projects
The Austin Parks and Recreation Aquatic Division will present an update on the Barton Springs Pool Short Term Improvement Projects. This meeting will cover updates on the following items: Water Line Backflow Preventers, Bypass Culvert Repair and Inlet Grate Project, Interpretive Plan, Hydrodynamic Flow Modeling Study, Pilot Study for Creek Flow, Sunken Gardens Improvements, Tree Care, Assessment and Grounds Improvements, Habitat Conservation Plan and Short-term Improvement Projects Report at the Parks and Recreation Board / Environmental Board Joint Committee meeting, Monday, February 6, 2011, 6:15 p.m., Zilker Botanical Gardens – Auditorium 2220 Barton Springs Road.
The public is encouraged to attend and provide input.
Proposed Revision to South Path
There is a new rendering of the proposed access path from the south gate to the pool deck as part of the General Grounds Improvements project for Barton Springs. Previous designs steered clear of the area behind the diving board to avoid the critical root zone of a tree in that area. The tree has since been removed, so the trail has been realigned and the ADA accessible trail and the trail with steps were combined as much as feasible.
This new trail layout will be presented at the February 6th Joint Committee (Environmental Board / Parks and Recreation Board) meeting. The meeting will be at the Zilker Botanical Gardens Auditorium (2220 Barton Springs Rd.) and will begin at 6:00 p.m.
-Gary
Gary Gregson, Project Coordinator
Austin Parks and Recreation
919 West 28½ St.
Austin, TX 78705
(512) 974-9475
January and February Meetings Announced
[ January 31, 2012; 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm. 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm. February 6, 2012; 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm. 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm. ] Due to City holidays on the third Mondays of January and February (MLK Day and Presidents’ Day, respectively), both Joint Committee meetings have been combined and rescheduled to take place on February 6th. Please know that the February 6th meeting will take place at 6:00 p.m. and it will be held at the Zilker Botanical Gardens Auditorium located at 2220 Barton Springs Rd. In the next few weeks I will be sending out the agenda and backup materials for this meeting. If you have any questions, please contact me.
Thank you,
Sharon Knotts
Austin Parks and Recreation Department
Office of Assistant Director, Kimberly McNeeley
(512) 974-9491
sharon.knotts@austintexas.gov
Gary Gregson, Project Coordinator, Austin Parks and Recreation says:
At this point, the 90% submittal for the General Grounds project and some proposed tree work by PARD Forestry are all I’m aware that will be on the agenda.
We are also working to get the General Grounds project on the January agenda for the Design Commission. I believe that meeting is scheduled for January 31.
We have also spoken with Alyson Magee about getting on the City’s Historic Landmark Commission agenda in February, but that has not been confirmed. We will be requesting a certificate of appropriateness from them.
Briefings on Barton Springs Pool General Grounds Improvements Project
[ December 6, 2011; 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. December 7, 2011; 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. ] Courtesy briefings on the 60% design submittal of the Barton Springs Pool General Grounds Improvements project are scheduled for the full Parks and Recreation Board on Tuesday, December 6th, at the Mexican American Cultural Center, and the full Environmental Board on Wednesday, December 7th, at City Hall.
The Parks and Recreation Board agenda can be downloaded here: http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/cityclerk/boards_commissions/meetings/39_1.htm; and the Environmental Board agenda can be downloaded here: http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/cityclerk/boards_commissions/meetings/28_1.htm.
After the project has been submitted for permitting (likely January or February), the project will go back to each board with a request for a recommendation to Council.
Also, please be aware that the City of Austin is in the process of transitioning to a new website format. Because of this, we are currently unable to post information to the Barton Springs Pool Master Plan website. We anticipate being able to post to the new system by the end of December.
If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact me.
Regards,
Gary
Gary Gregson
Project Coordinator
Austin Parks and Recreation
919 West 28½ St.
Austin, TX 78705
Office (512) 974-9475
Mobile (512) 426-8252
Open House – Salamander Conservation Measures
[ October 18, 2011; 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. ] The first draft of the new conservation measures to be included in the new City of Austin Habitat Conservation Plan for the Barton Springs Salamander and the Austin Blind Salamander have just been posted on the City’s webpage:
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/watershed/salamander_guidelines.htm
You can review the draft measures on our website, which describe how the City will manage salamander habitat and mitigate for harm to the salamander. Please send us your feedback or questions to salamander@austintexas.gov. It’s critical that we have the first draft of the Habitat Conservation Plan completed and ready to submit to the US Fish and Wildlife Service by January 2012 to have the permit renewed in time and keep Barton Springs open for swimming.
Please visit our website to learn more about the process for renewing the City’s federal endangered species permit.
Also please mark your calendars and join us at Barton Springs in the Splash Exhibit from 5-8 pm on Tuesday, October 18, 2011, for a free open house. Interact with City staff and learn about the conservation activities the City is planning for the next 20 years.
If you have any questions or comments, please email us at salamander@austintexas.gov
Sincerely,
Chris Herrington, PE
City of Austin
Watershed Protection Department
__._,_.___
Joint Committee to Consider Cancelling Proposed Move of Back Gate
[ October 17, 2011; 5:00 pm to 6:30 pm. ] The members of the Joint Subcommittee will meet at the south entrance of Barton Springs Pool to consider cancelling the proposed move of that back gate from its present location a distance appx 450 feet to the east toward the down stream dam. The public is welcome and encouraged to attend the meeting at the South gate, Monday October 17, 2011, 5 pm.
The agenda and full-sized backup material for the October 17th Joint Committee Meeting is available at the following link:
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/parks/bartonspringsmp.htm
Should you have any questions please feel free to contact Gary Gregson (974-9475 / Gary.Gregson@austintexas.gov).
This is the agenda:
PARKS & RECREATION BOARD & ENVIRONMENTAL BOARD JOINT COMMITTEE OCTOBER 17, 2011 – 5:30 PM BARTON SPRINGS POOL BEGINNING AT SOUTH GATE/ENDING AT SPLASH! EXHIBIT 2101 BARTON SPRINGS ROAD (located in Zilker Park) AUSTIN, TEXAS 78704
CURRENT COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Linda H. Guerrero, Chair Jerome Perales, Co-Chair Jennifer Walker Carol Lee
A. CALL TO ORDER B. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Mary Gay Maxwell Mary Ann Neely Thomas Wilcox (Resource)
AGENDA
1. Approve the minutes of the Joint Committee regular meeting of September 19, 2011.
C. CITIZEN COMMUNICATION
The first 10 speakers signed up prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda.
D. BRIEFS (Briefs are informational items only, no public comment will be taken) 1. None
E. BUSINESS(DiscussionandPossibleAction)
1. Grounds Improvements (South Gate Options) …… Brian Larson, Larson, Burns and Smith
Here are images of the proposed plans for an Eastern entry, Southern Entry and the parking lot:
Click on an image to see a larger version.
2. Tree Treatment Plan …………………………………………………………………… Emily King, PARDF.
Download the PDF to see full-sized plans
Tree Treatment Plan Proposed for Barton Springs Pool Oct 2011
FUTURE ITEMS FROM JOINT COMMITTEE MEMBERS
G. ADJOURNMENT
The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. Meeting locations are planned with wheelchair access. If requiring Sign Language Interpreters or alternative formats, please give notice at least 4 days before the meeting date. Please call Tom Nelson at the Parks and Recreation Department, at 974-9337, for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711.
For more information on the Joint Committee, please contact Tom Nelson at tom.nelson@ci.austin.tx.us or by phone at 974-9337.
Agenda Items:
1) Consideration/discussion of the following options for improving access to the south side of Barton Springs:
_______
Proposed Tree Treatment Project
Proposed Tree Treatment Project for Barton Springs PoolObjective
Improve tree health by improving soil health. Improve soil health by decreasing soil compaction, increasing organic matter, buffering soil from traffic, and all the many other benefits provided by composting and mulch. Balance site uses with both recreational needs and tree needs.
Scope of Work
Apply half an inch of organic compost followed by 4 inches of mulch to designated areas within the critical root zones of approximately 30 trees in the Barton Springs area of Zilker Park. See map for treatment area.
Implementation
Scope of work to be implemented over the course of 3 work days with the assistance of volunteers and staff.
Work Day 1: Saturday October 29th
City of Austin Arbor Day event to be held in vicinity, work day to accompany celebration.
Approximately 35 cubic yards of compost Approximately 290 cubic yards of mulch
Work Day 2: TBD (dates to be posted to Austin Parks and Recreation events calendar) Approximately 25 cubic yards of compost
Approximately 190 cubic yards of mulch
Work Day 3: TBD (dates to be posted to Austin Parks and Recreation events calendar) Approximately 55 cubic yards of compost
Approximately 420 cubic yards of mulch
The Parks and Recreation Department will purchase compost and mulch, and schedule deliveries of materials to the site.
Staff will additionally install materials on sloped areas prior to work days 2 & 3 to prevent compost and mulch runoff.
Volunteer recruitment and volunteer team leaders are needed. 2 Proposed Tree Treatment Project for Barton Springs Pool
Volunteer Information
For more details about the workdays and to register to participate volunteers may visit: https://www.volgistics.com/ex/portal.dll/ap?AP=749764290
For more information about volunteering please email pardpartnerships@austintexas.gov or call the Volunteer Program Office at 974-6770
Public Comment / Input
Email comments, suggestions, or questions regarding this plan to bspmasterplan@austintexas.gov
This plan is to be posted at Barton Springs Pool for review.
Staff to be present at the pool for discussion of plan on: o October 12th Pool Maintenance meeting from 10:00am – 11:00am o October 13th Pool Cleaning Day from 10:00am – 12:00pm o October 20th Pool Cleaning Day from 10:00am – 12:00pm
This plan will be presented to the: o Parks and Recreation Board / Environmental Board Joint Committee at the October
17th meeting located at Barton Springs Pool beginning at 5:30pm o Urban Forestry Board at the October 26th meeting located at City Hall beginning at
6:30pm
Comments received by Friday October 21st will be reviewed and considered for incorporation.
3
Proposed Tree Treatment Project for Barton Springs Pool
Citizens Speak to Grounds Improvement Plans
[ October 17, 2011; 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm. ] At the Monday, Sept 19th meeting in City Hall of the Joint Committee (PARD, Forestry and Environmental Board), the citizen communication portion was attended by about 20 people, more than 10 of whom spoke or gave their time to others. All spoke to the “grounds improvement” presentations.
Some of the key points made were:
- Continue with projects that everyone agrees on but put a hold on others, especially the south lawn area: moving the south gate; the 6ft wide sidewalk across the south lawn; the ADA path as is currently designed.
- The back gate area parking lot plan is not functional or practical.
- Even though there have been many public process meetings the general feel of the speakers was that there was not enough outreach and available information to the public in the process so far. Including Eliza Springs and snack bar in the scope of the front gate project. No one could answer how, who or where the “scope” originated.
- The Joint Committee was reminded of the successes we had over the past few years, when the public process lead to collaboration on the trees and bypass tunnel issues by stakeholders . The committee recognized that public input yielded good results before and so, they requested an onsite meeting on October 17, 5 pm to review not moving the gate to the east, the distance of the ADA path, and the dirt parking lot. (Date/time to be confirmed)
- 27 trees were saved from the plan to remove them that was proposed in the Barton Springs Pool Master plan and supported by the Friends of Barton Springs Pool
- Repairs for the bypass tunnel were estimated at $4 million before redesign, $2.4M after redesign–that’s $1.6 Million less, saved to the tax payers, because of public input. The $2.6 million that the bypass tunnel will cost now does NOT include the engineering costs paid to the first contractor, whose design will not be used. The redesign involved the Watershed Director hiring a second contractor to re-do the plan done by the first contractor, all initiated by public input and an independent review by Wateshed engineers. The result is a much improved plan that will not damage the pool. Many citizens continued to address the boards and the BSP Joint Committee to the point of bringing the issue to the attention of Watershed Director, who formed a special group with her engineers, based on the citizens input, to review the bypass tunnel project. This independent review caused the hiring of a second contractor who designed a plan that will cost $2.4M. Those citizens did that in spite of the continuous opposition from FBSP, which all the while, kept on trying to push the $4M plan forward. These numbers are construction costs estimates. The total cost of the bypass tunnel will probably be higher once you include that the original design was not used, but the first contractor was paid for his design. But, no matter what, the total cost comparison remains the same: The total cost will be $2.4M + X, vs. $4M + X before.
- South lawn area is a passive recreation area and it is important to keep it that way – all great parks have great lawn.
The Joint Committee recognized that public input yielded good results before and so, they requested an onsite meeting to review moving the gate to the east, the length of the ADA path and the dirt parking lot.
The committee talked about having an on-site meeting on the same day as the regular mtg – Oct 17th at 5pm – - but that is not yet confirmed. It will most likely be at the back gate on Oct. 17th at 5pm.
The Introduction of Arts in Public Places Artist portion was postponed.
POOL TO CLOSE 2 1/2 MONTHS in 2012
A presentation was given on Bypass Culvert Repair and Inlet Grate Projects by Johnnie Price. Construction will begin in 2012 and will be in 3 phases. Inlet Grate Construction will begin Feb 2012 and the Bypass Repair will begin Oct. 2012 assuming Fish allows them to do that because of the drought (since the original start up date was put back because if the drought). Pool will be closed during phases 2 and 3 for 2 ½ months of the 5 month project.
There was a short update on Urban Forestry Program’s Tree Treatment Plan.
Mary Gay Maxwell suggested everyone read the short term projects document that will address some of the speakers concerns view it here: http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/parks/downloads/shorttrm.pdf. It was also made available at the meeting.
Open House – New Habitat Conservation Plan
[ October 18, 2011; 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. ] The City of Austin is in the process of renewing our 10(a)(1)(B) permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to allow for “incidental take” of the endangered Barton Springs Salamander. The current permit expires in 2013. The City must complete a new Habitat Conservation Plan by the end of 2011 to stay on schedule with the permit renewal and ensure continuous operation of Barton Springs.
The City is hosting an open house event at Barton Springs in the Splash Exhibit on Tuesday, October 18, 2011, from 5 to 8 pm. This free, come-and-go public event is an opportunity for anyone to learn more about the new Habitat Conservation Plan and provide feedback directly to City staff. Please share this informational flyer, which will be posted at multiple locations at Barton Springs, with anyone else who might be interested in attending: http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/watershed/downloads/bss_meeting_flyer.pdf
You may email any questions about the permit renewal process to salamander@austintexas.gov. You may also visit our website for more information on the renewal process, http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/watershed/salamander_guidelines.htm. A draft of the conservation measures to be included in the new Habitat Conservation Plan will be available from this website in early October.
Sincerely,
Chris Herrington, PE
City of Austin
Watershed Protection Department
Please Attend Monthly Pool Maintenance Meetings
[ September 14, 2011; 10:00 am to 11:00 am. October 12, 2011; 10:00 am to 11:00 am. November 9, 2011; 10:00 am to 11:00 am. ] Barton Springs Pool Maintenance meeting is held on the second Wednesday of each month, 10:00 until 11:00 a.m., at Barton Springs Pool
The public is encourage to attend the Barton Springs Pool Maintenance meeting to discuss maintenance practices at pool, between public and staff. These take place at the pool, near the guard office. Ask a guard where the management is who is leading the discussion. Please bring suggestions for improvements.
Please Attend the BSP Joint Committee Meeting
[ September 19, 2011; 6:15 pm to 8:30 pm. October 17, 2011; 6:15 pm to 8:30 pm. November 21, 2011; 6:15 pm to 8:30 pm. ] BSP Joint Committee (Parks and Recreation Dept, Environmental Board, and Forestry) is to be held the third Monday of every month at 6:15 pm. At these meetings, it makes important decisions regarding our beloved pool, trees and grounds. These are the meetings where the Master Plan projects are discussed, and where staff updates the committee and the public of the approved Master Plan Short term projects.
This note was added recently to the BSP Master Plan web site. Meeting notifications and previous presentations are posted in this web site, which is at the following link:
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/parks/bartonspringsmp.htm
Location:
301 W 2nd St
Austin, TX 78701
And details about this meeting may be found at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bartonsprings/message/5061
You must be a member (it’s free to join and easy to unsubscribe) of this yahoogroup to access the message.
Barton Springs Weather
