City Responds to Public Outcry–Won’t Cut Trees–for Now
I just spoke with Cora Wright, and she confirmed that PARD will be meeting with Don Gardner next week. In addition, Ms. Wright will also make the recommendation that a public hearing be held prior to removal. It is my understanding that these trees have been monitored for months, with significant deterioration being identified with one of the trees that constitutes a hazard. The other tree will undergo canopy reduction, and will continue to be monitored.
We appreciate the concern… Continue reading
Two Heritage Trees Slated for Cutting!!
PARD has obtained a permit to remove the large pecan #18 by the SW corner of the BSP bath house, approved 9.2.11 , and a second permit to prune 40% of the canopy of the tree next to it, #19. Both of these permits, approved by the City Arborist office, are to address safety issues to the public that according to PARD can’t be addressed in any other manner. (See permits pasted below.)
Please, email Mayor Leffingwell, city council, Sara… Continue reading
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… Continue reading
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… Continue reading
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… Continue reading
Austin Heritage Tree Foundation – Twice Snubbed by City of Austin
It’s politics as usual, with PARD giving preferential treatment to TreeFolks, The Austin Parks Foundation and FBSP, which are taking the glory and excluding the rest of us who really care about the pool. The Austin Heritage Tree Foundation has adopted and is caring for all the trees at the pool and they are being unfairly ignored by the City of Austin. See these two notes from the founder of AHTF.
Sara,
Please, help me out with this issue. My… Continue reading
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… Continue reading
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… Continue reading
Joint Committee Meets at City Hall on High-impact Plans
Barton Springs Pool Ground Improvements
Parks & Recreation Board/Environmental Board Joint Committee to Meet Monday at City Hall, 301 West Second St, Austin TX
The Joint Committee will meet Monday, September 19 at 6:15 at City Hall, Room 1029.
There will be no presentation or scheduled discussion regarding the 60% grounds improvement project.. The plan was presented twice last month, and public input was received during both meetings. The Joint Committee approved the 60% plans. A concerned citizen… Continue reading
Barton Springs Weather
