Free Stuff! Manna from Heaven! Santa Clause in Spring! Neighbors who missed out on the April meeting of the Hyde Park Neighborhood Association lost a chance to be showered, literally, with the City of Austin's largess. These fun and informative meetings are held the first Monday of each month at 7 p.m. in the Methodist Church on Speedway; all area residents are invited.
HPNA Co-presidents Bob Breeze and Gary Penn presided over an unusually crowded agenda which began with meeting in the sanctuary and having a round of introductions.
The meeting began with an update by City of Austin police officer Brent
Dupre. Brent is APD's designate to the Hyde Park community and had mixed
news to share. Several local burglaries have been solved and things have been
relatively quiet this year. Brent wants to keep it that way and is
encouraging neighbors to get involved in a neighborhood watch program. Anyone
in the area wishing to learn more can contact Brent and the APD at 974-5340 or
explore the Department's website at
www.ci.austin.tx.us. Concerned residents searching for this year's
additions to the traffic calming effort can expect to be disappointed. There
are none. The City has declared no budget this year for this perennial item of
concern. A great new service was announced however, and was very much in
keeping with the theme of the evening. Free Home Security Inspections are now
available through the Department! As well as bringing peace of mind, these
inspections can also result in a tidy little reduction in the cost of a home
owner or tenant's insurance. Brent then fielded some questions about the
handling of noise complaints. Apparently some neighbors and Austin businesses
are offering area residents a chance to hear some free loud music; an offer
none too well received by those preferring a good night's rest. Sleepy
Austinites on both sides of the issue can expect to hear more on this subject.
The City of Austin may be too broke to slow the flow of traffic this year,
but its commitment to slowing the flow of water use was on display at this
month's meeting. Dan Strub, a Water Conservation Specialist for the
City of Austin, might as well have come down the chimney, so loaded was he
with free water saving devices and good advice. The City, Southern Union Gas,
and Austin Energy are the proud sponsors of an aggressive program to conserve
our world's most precious resource and Dan is their eloquent evangelist.
The Water Conservation Program is giving away an array of water saving items
and offering sizable rebates on others.
Calling all neighbors in north Hyde Park and "The Heights". Co-president Bob Breeze and Planning Chairwoman Karen McGraw announced that discussions to formalize this area's inclusion in Hyde Park are underway. Long a part of the Hyde Park Neighborhood Association, this area is now the focus of a policy document to officialize that status within the City's neighborhood maps. All residents in the area are urged to call Bruce Nadig at 452-0781 and take an active part in the planning of the community.
Karen McGraw also gave a quick update on the much debated Villas project on Guadalupe. The construction of the apartments, targeted to accommodate the UT student population, is being protested by several of the Neighborhoods bordering Hyde Park. Karen was joined by the project's consultant, Mike McHone. Mr. McHone was cross-examined by neighbors on issues of the building's density and the availability of parking. Of particular concern to some at the meeting was the fact that student populations tend to crowd spaces well beyond their intended density and most students own cars. This building, if approved, is already MF4: dense. Neighbors did not receive an answer as to where the resulting spill over might park. (Since the meeting, the City council gave it's final vote approving construction of the Villas.)
Concerned resident Doris Coward announced to the association that the City Council has scheduled the appeal of the conditional use permit allowing Sammy's House to operate it's daycare for children with special needs for April the 18th. She was joined by Debbie Volker who made a motion requesting the Hyde Park Neighborhood Association support a repeal of the permit. The motion passed. Anyone wishing to learn more may contact Doris or Debbie at 453-2476.
Neighbors dogs leaving you little presents? A motion was made to purchase a new batch of the "Pick Up After Your Dog" signs once so popular in Hyde Park. These little collectors items will soon be available once more through the association. Donations are being sought to cover the cost of the purchase.
Co President adjourned the meeting and neighbors returned to their homes.
Some of them carrying free stuff.
-- Glen Coleman, Secretary
glen@kdi.com