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
Heritage Tree #18 Remove
I’m saddened that tree #18 was removed. However, removal of this tree was
expected, approved by the city arborist, the BSP Joint Committee and the
Urban Forestry board. This tree’s removal was also reviewed by the public
and by two independent certified arborists that were recruited by the public
in December. None of this make it easier to let this tree go. I understood
that this tree was to be removed on the 20th, and I was preparing a flyer
ready to let the public know, but the tree was removed last Thursday.
Significant pruning of the tree next to it, tree #19, hasn’t occurred yet,
but will occur soon. This work has also been reviewed by boards, and the
consensus from many arborists (city and independent) is that it’s necessary
because the canopy is unbalanced, and with tree #18 gone, tree #19 may see
stronger winds and the long branches may break. Forestry Manager Walter
Passmore has stated that he will be present during the pruning of this tree,
and that the work will be done by Forestry’s crew top leader, not by a
contractor. Walter has also committed to remove as little live green wood
as possible, whatever is needed to make the tree safe, but no more than
necessary.
There is a big open area now where tree #18 stood tall for more than a
century. Before there was a beautiful historical heritage tree that
provided shade and shelter to all, now there is a stump. This tree was 32
inches in diameter, a native pecan tree, and probably 125-150 years old.
This means that this tree started growing in 1,862 (ish). This tree was
witness to things that we didn’t. This tree was there when the first bath
house was built, when the bath house burned, and when the second bath house
was built. Humans usually talk of time by referring to the many major
events and wars they saw, the many technology changes. This tree was there
through all of these events and wars, through a large part of history,
quietly providing shade and shelter, cleaning the air, reducing stormwater
runoff, cooling the streets, and providing beauty to BSP.
This is the tree for which Forestry Walter Passmore obtained a removal
permit in August/September 2011 without letting the public know, and last
November, this brought back bad memories from the threatened 28 BSP heritage
trees in 2009. But, public support and a prompt response from PARD resolved
that issue. PARD didn’t remove the tree until its removal was discussed at
the BSP Joint Committee and the Urban Forestry board. The Joint Committee
asked Walter Passmore to discuss any future tree removals with the committee
before getting tree permits, and Walter made this his personal
responsibility and told the crowd that this lack of notification will not
occur again. Supposedly, a new process of BSP tree removal notification has
been established by PARD, and Walter will be briefing the UFB on this at
tonight’s meeting.
It was discussed at the last BSP Joint Committee meeting that tree #18 had
two cavities up high, that had fungus and a crack that went to the last
remaining branch, so there was a high possibility of this last branch
falling down and hurting someone. I asked at the Joint Committee meeting
and at the UFB meeting that this tree be kept as a tall snag, without any
branches, so that it could continue to provide shelter to wildlife.
Standing tall snags are a natural role for old dying trees. However, even
though tall snags are very beneficial, they do pose the danger of
potentially falling down. PARD decided to remove this tree and not leave it
as a tall snag because of the proximity to the bath house and 2 paths used
frequently by many people, because the tree would most likely had
re-sprouted causing a need to maintain it every 6 months, and because of the
aesthetics. The tree was in a prominent place in an important tourist
attraction. With all honesty, if I were in charge of BSP, I would have made
the same management decision. As a member of the public, I see a tall snag
as an asset for wildlife, but unfortunately, the location was too close to
the bath house, which is a prominent historical place.
In spite of removing the tree, PARD accommodated the needs of wildlife and
the natural cycle of dying trees, per the UFB’s recommendations, and also
satisfied the request from the BSP Joint committee to do comparison studies.
The UFB recommended that if the tree was removed, that the trunk be cut in
large sections and be left near the site to 1) provide shelter for wildlife,
2) give the carbon back to the soil once the trunk decomposes. The BSP
Joint Committee recommended that if the tree was removed, that there be a
comparison study done to determine the accuracy of the Davey Tree’s sonar
scans done in 2009. All of these were accomplished by PARD working with us,
the AHTF. We mutually agreed that the trunk be cut in 3 large pieces, and
these pieces be placed by the entrance to the greenbelt (by the trail).
These 3 pieces are to the west side of the trail, as you pass the bulletin
board. This tree will continue to provide shelter for wildlife and will
eventually decompose, enriching the soil. Patrick Brewer, UFB chair,
donated Bartlett Trees’ comparison evaluation. Bartlett took a sound wave
scan of the one section left at the stump, and resistometer readings of the
other 2 sections, to compare to the 3 sonar scans from the Davey Trees
report. They will write a report for the BSP Joint committee.
The AHTF will work with PARD on interpretative signage for the stump and the
remaining trunk sections by the greenbelt, to tell the story of this tree.
Children and adults could count the rings on the stump, and read about the
story of this tree. And another sign by the trail could show visitors where
those trunks came from and what role they are playing now. I find that this
makes loosing this tree a bit less painful, to know that this tree left
something important, that it is still benefiting wildlife and the soil, as
it should be, that people will read its story and remember that life is a
natural cycle, and we humans are better off imitating it. A historical tree
deserves a significant role when gone, and tree #18 has this.
The AHTF needs your support for the remaining trees to get the work that
they need, so that PARD doesn’t have to remove another historical heritage
tree at BSP. More on that later. And we need your help to mulch and water
these trees. Please, volunteer to help the trees.
Best,
Zoila
AHTF= Austin Heritage Tree Foundation
FOIA Requests Yield Info about “Grounds Improvement” Process
Art In Public Places Application for Barton Springs Pool, 2012
Payments to Design Firm Larsen, Burns & Smith, Inc
Recommendation for Design Firm Larson, Burns & Smith, LLC
These three hefty documents were provided in response to a public information request that was filed by Bill Bunch of the Save Our Springs Alliance seeking background information on the “Grounds Improvements” portion of the Barton Springs Pool upgrades included within the “short term” elements of the Barton Springs Pool Master Plan.
The requests were filed, based on concerns that the grounds improvements plans and contract for the consultant were developed without adequate inclusion of the Barton Springs Pool community and without opportunity for other consultants/landscape architects to bid on the work.
The scope set for this project completely ignores and does not mention the straight forward recommendation of the master plan that the south side should not have its simple and natural felling compromised.
It also does not guide the vendors to retain the natural beauty and functions nor does it represent the strong feelings of many to protect the springs and surrounds from development and pollution
The leadership of this effort seems to have misplaced the many requests and admonitions to not make the enhancements more important than the grounds themselves
There is no mention of maintenance in any of this.
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
Friday, Last Day for Public Comments on BSP Tree Care Plan
This is from Zoila Vega-Marchena of the Austin Heritage Tree Foundation.
Please, support the recommendation from AHTF for the Forestry BSP Tree Maintenance Plan, pasted below, by emailing Gary.Gregson@austintexas.gov and bspmasterplan@austintexas.gov. The deadline is today Friday 21st .
Don Garner and Patrick Brewer (Bartlett trees) agree with us that the trees in the south hill don’t need to be mulched, compost will do. Compost will allow people to lay down, sit down, use the area, while mulch won’t. I know that we ask people to mulch their trees all the time, and this request sounds strange. Mulch is good, but it is not the right thing for the south hill. Mulch as medium size pieces of wood that make it hard to lay down or sit on it. It will get spread out all over the south hill, washed out down the hill. It will be a mess, and it’s not needed by the trees.
Please, support us with this. The trees will get compacted by the 150 volunteers entering the south hill to do this work in 4 hrs. The south hill’s grass and soil will get eroded, unless done very carefully. Forestry staff needs to do this work instead of volunteers, to spread compost on these trees. There is no need to mulch and no need to have 150 volunteers entering the south hill area. The 150 volunteers could mulch the many heritage trees outside the fence by the playground, theater, etc.
The work planned outside the fence for Arbor Day is OK, except that it would be better if 1 inch of compost (not 0.5 inch) was applied and the mulch was spread 3 inches deep (not 4 inches deep). The work planned for the north hill is OK with some recommendations listed below.
Thanks!
Joint Committe Rolls Back Plans to Move Gate
At the Oct 17 meeting on site at Barton Springs Pool the Joint Committee (Parks, Forestry, Environmental boards) responded to public input and reversed their previous decision to move the South entry to the East side and to expand the parking lot to the south, paving it (with pervious or impervious material TBD) and increasing the size by about 40 spaces. This brings the plans for renovations of the south side back to 30% approval. Public input proposed alternatives to those drawn by landscape architect Brian Larson for the path leading from the existing entry to the pool that will be considered.
Robin Cravey Resigns from FBSP
This was on the bulletin board at the pool this morning.
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.
Barton Springs Weather
