Imagine Austin Community Forum
Two years ago, as Austin first embarked on its comprehensive planning process, Liveable City hosted Comp Plan 101, an educational forum for community leaders. Now, with that process nearing a close and a draft plan in hand, Liveable City once again provides the opportunity for community discussion and review.
The Imagine Austin Community Forum will focus on major plan components, recent revisions, keys to implementation, and any critical remaining issues to ensure the best possible comprehensive plan for our city. The evening features a panel discussion, with opportunity for significant audience participation, plus complimentary appetizers and a cash bar to enhance the lively discourse.
Once adopted by City Council, the Imagine Austin plan will set the direction for future development of our city – so it’s crucial that we get it right. Liveable City believes a successful plan will provide a blueprint for “Complete Communities,” neighborhoods where Austin residents can find schools, doctors, groceries, parks, and other necessities of daily life all within walking distance, a transit stop, or short drive from their homes. A strong comprehensive plan will be a vital tool in creating neighborhoods that are livable and affordable for all of Austin.
Liveable City Holiday Bash!!!
You’re invited to Liveable City’s annual Holiday Bash, Monday, December 5th, 5:30pm-7:30pm, at Malaga Tapas & Bar , relocated to the lively Second Street area just a few years ago – 440 West 2nd Street.
Catch up with old friends and meet new ones, sample luscious complimentary appetizers, or enjoy a nice glass of wine at the cash bar. Come enjoy this Spanish European haven tucked into one of the most popular and historical blocks of Austin, right down the street from City Hall.
The annual Holiday Bash is also a great time to join or renew your Liveable City membership, though we recommend taking care of this online before the party (gets you to the food and drink faster!).
Wanna Get Away? Come prepared to buy a raffle ticket for a free ride on Southwest Airlines. For those of you in the know, that’s 25,000 points ($625 value) which will take you and a friend to many exotic places in the US. It’s your choice where you go – Southwest points are like money in the bank! Raffle tickets available at the door only, one for $10 and three for $20. The Southwest Airlines raffle is limited to LC members.
Liveable City’s ready to celebrate. See you at Malaga on December 5th!
Mixer: Ride the Train from Black Star
Plug into the action with Liveable City’s “Monday Mixers” (back by popular demand!) featuring some of Austin’s best networking with experienced community leaders and professionals across many fields of interest that make a city liveable.
On Monday, October 24th, we’ll meet at the Black Star Coop Pub & Brewery, located at Crestview Station. After a brief presentation on Transit Oriented Developments – and a brew if you choose – we’ll all ride the Red Line to the MLK/Chestnut Commons’ stop. There, we’ll take short walking tour of the area’s “nonprofit village,” including current residents PeopleFund and Foundation Communities, as well as future building sites for Theatre Action Project and the Sustainable Food Center. Then it’s back on the train for a return ride to Crestview and Black Star. The rest of the evening’s up to you!
For nearly a decade, Liveable City has worked to advance issues that matter to Austin: affordable housing, strong public schools, improved transportation, a cleaner environment, a sustainable local economy and more.
Now you can learn about the crucial work ahead – and how you can help build a city with equity and opportunity for all. The future begins with a conversation – join Liveable City for our next Mixer on October 24th!
Highland Mall Redevelopment Mixer
Please save the date: September 26th at 5:30 to 7:00 pm for Liveable City’s Monday Night Mixer (venue to be determined), when Matt Whelan of RedLeaf Properties and Jim Adams and Jana McCann of McCann Adams Studio will discuss the public-private partnership emerging for the re-development and re-purposing of the 80-acre Highland Mall property.
As the sale of the last tract of the 80-acre property to ACC was finalized in August, the focus is now shifting to the master planning of this strategic infill property along the Airport Boulevard corridor. RedLeaf Properties will be responsible for orchestrating the development of potential private uses around the re-purposed educational facilities within the former anchor stores of Highland Mall. Come and share your thoughts about the future of this strategic Central Austin property.
Announcing our 2011 Vision Award Winners!
Buy Tickets ($30) and Sponsor LC Vision Awards!
Liveable City is honored to announce the winners of our 8th Annual Liveable Vision Awards, a yearly celebration recognizing the people, organizations, and efforts that make a positive difference in our community.
The Vision Awards recognize notable community-led initiatives, private sector accomplishments, and advocacy efforts that exemplify the “Five E’s of Sustainability.” Each “E” represents a crucial element of a livable community and each winner represents a significant contribution in that area. The 2011 Liveable Vision Award winners are:
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Economy: Austin Small Business Development Program www.ci.austin.tx.us/sbdp/default.htm
Engagement: Save Texas Schools www.savetxschools.org
Environment: Save our Spring Alliance www.sosalliance.org
Equity: The Equal Justice Center www.equaljusticecenter.org
Esthetics: Deep Eddy Mural Project www.deepeddymural.org
Please Join us Wednesday, September 21, at the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center, from 6pm to 8pm. The evening will feature a reception with delicious appetizers by Emily’s Catering, complimentary beverages, and – as always – the best conversation in town, as community leaders and fresh faces gather to recognize the 2011 recipients of these prestigious awards. Sarah Eckhardt, Travis Co. Commissioner, will provide her trademark wit as emcee.
Your generous sponsorship of the Vision Awards will support Liveable City’s independent policy research and issue-based advocacy on critical issues like affordable housing, health care, and education – and you’ll help celebrate some true local heroes in the bargain. Your support as a sponsor will mean a great deal to Liveable City, our honored Vision Award winners, and their many friends in the community. You can donate HERE or contact Heidi Gibbons, Membership/Outreach Coordinator by phone at 663-8865.
2011 Vision Awards Sponsorship and Tickets
Liveable City Visionary – $5,000
Invitation, Press, and event program recognition. Event, website, and e-newsletter recognition. Admission for ten, six one-year memberships/
Liveable City Leader – $2,500
Invitation, press release, and event program recognition. Event, website, and e-newsletter recognition. Admission for eight, four one-year memberships.
Liveable City Partner – $1,000
Invitation and event program recognition. Event, website, and e-newsletter recognition. Admission for six, four one-year memberships.
Liveable City Supporter – $500
Event, website, and e-newsletter recognition. Admission for four, two one-year memberships.
Liveable City Advocate – $250
Event and e-newsletter recognition. Admission for two, two one-year memberships.
Liveable City Friend – $100
Admission for two, one one-year membership.
Individual Tickets – $30
Admission for one.
Liveable City would like to thank the following sponsors:
Partner ($1,000)
The Austin Chronicle (in-kind)
Ann Kitchen & Mark Yznaga
KUT 90.5
Perry Lorenz
Susan Moffet & Nick Barbaro
SXSW Eco Conference
Southwest Strategies
Bruce Willenzik & Annie Harding
Supporter ($500)
Austin Community College District
Catellus Development Group
Liz Mueller & Michael Oden
Steven & Joan Clark
Texas Disposal Systems
Advocate ($250)
Capital Metro
Downtown Austin Alliance
Brian Donovan
Espey Consultants
Kevin & Adriane Foster
Go Local Austin
LES
McCann Adams Studio
Jill McRae
Momark Development
Leslie Pool & Will Grover
Robin Rather
Tom “Smitty” Smith & Karen Hadden
Friend ($100)
Book People
Suzee Brooks
Andy Brown
David Butts
Joaquin Castro, State Rep
Danette Chimente
Matt Curtis
DMA Companies
Ann Denkler
Libby & Lloyd Doggett, U.S. Representative
Catharine H. Echols
Sarah Eckhardt, Travis Co. Commissioner
Bruce Elfant, Travis Co. Constable
Greg Esparza
Friends of Deep Eddy
Shudde Fath
Frances Ferguson
Heidi Gibbons
Ann S. Graham
Sherri Greenberg & Cary Ferchill
Bryan H. Hale
Derek & Donna Howard, State Rep.
Leonard & Karen Huber, Travis Co. Commissioner
Dick Kallerman
Russell Korman Fine Jewelry & Watches
Emma L. Linn
Louis Malfaro
Laura Morrison, Austin City Council Member
Mary Ann Neely & Craig Smith
Elliott Naishtat, State Rep.
Eddie Rodriguez, State Rep.
Regina Rogoff
Theresa Ruffing & John Blinn
SOS Alliance
Ted Siff & Jannell Buchanan
Niyanta & Bill Spelman, Austin City Council Member
Vickie Tatum
Kay & Del Taebel
TexHealth Central Texas
Kathryne B. Tovo, Austin City Council Member
Elliot J. Trester & Barbara J. Wilson
Heather Way
Jim Walker
Wheatsville Co-Op
Whole Foods Market
Thank you all for you generous support!
Annual Liveable City Vision Awards
Buy Tickets ($30)
Sponsor LC Vision Awards
Please join us in recognizing Austin’s favorite hometown heroes at the Mexican American Cultural Center on September 21, 2011 from 6 to 8 pm for this year’s Liveable City Vision Awards.
Each of these individuals has been nominated and selected by you for their contributions to the community in one of the Five E’s of Sustainability – Economy, Engagement, Environment, Equity and Esthetics.
We look forward to celebrating their commitment to the long-term social, environmental, creative, and economic well being of the people of Austin. See you there!
Monday Mixers in May!
Plug Into Liveable City: Monday Mixers in May!
Do you care about keeping Austin livable for everyone? Now more than ever, we must take
an active role in shaping our city – and our future!
Plug into the action with Liveable City’s “Monday Mixers in May” featuring some of Austin’s
best networking with the Liveable City Board and members who are among Austin’s most
experienced community leaders and professionals across many fields of interest that make
a city liveable.
For nearly a decade, Liveable City has worked to advance issues that matter to Austin:
affordable housing, strong public schools, improved transportation, a cleaner environment,
a sustainable local economy and more.
Now you can learn about the crucial work ahead – and how you can help build a city with
equity and opportunity for all.
The future begins with a conversation. Join Liveable City on a Monday in May to start
turning talk into action!
Questions? Call Ann Kitchen 512.228.1645 or email annkitchen@austin.rr.com. To update
your membership or join Liveable City go to www.liveablecity.org.
Monday, May 2nd
Clive Bar, 609 Davis Street
5:30pm-7pm
Join Jim Adams AIA, LEED AP, McCann Adams Studios, and Liveable City Board members
at the Clive Bar in the heart of the new Rainey Street district. Near the Waller Creek
Development Project and part of the Downtown Austin Plan, this historic area is
experiencing an organic revolution with a mix of new high rises, residences, bars and
restaurants in historic old homes. Jim is overseeing development of the Downtown Austin
Plan and will update us on how this historic district fits into an overall vision for Austin
shared by Liveable City, creating liveable, walkable communities.
Monday, May 9th
Little City Expresso Bar & Café
916 Congress Avenue
5:30pm-7pm
Join Donna Taylor (Little City owner), Rebecca Melancon (Executive Director, AIBA)
and Liveable City Board members to say a reluctant farewell and thank you to Little
City. Rebecca will provide an update on the city’s comprehensive planning process from
the AIBA perspective and how the plan ties to the IBIZ districts and the larger role of
independent businesses in our city.
Little City is closing their doors on May 13th, after 18 years on Congress Avenue (a private
entity has purchased their building and will not be renewing their lease). Little City’s
Donna Taylor pioneered the sidewalk cafe concept in Austin, working with the city
council to change ordinances to allow tables and chairs to be placed on the sidewalks
along Congress Avenue. At the time they moved into a space left vacant by a victim of the
savings and loan crisis, there was a 40% occupancy rate along Congress Avenue. Little
City’s Donna Taylor – “We have enjoyed supporting and being a part of the local business
movement and the Austin community through providing jobs and opportunities to the
highly educated and motivated Austin workforce that is truly an Austin phenomenon”.
Monday, May 16th
Home of Kevin and Adriane Foster
2025 Emma Long Blvd.
5:30pm-7pm
Join LC Board Member Kevin Foster – anthropologist, recent National Science Foundation
Policy Fellow, and assistant professor in UT’s Department of African and African Diaspora
Studies – and his wife Adriane at their home in the new urbanist Mueller neighborhood
for a free-wheeling conversation about the future of public education in Austin.
Complimentary drinks and appetizers.
Monday, May 23rd
TBA
Save the Date & Call for Nominees!
2011 Liveable Vision Awards
Got a favorite hometown hero? Now’s your chance to let everyone know!
Liveable City invites its members to nominate outstanding local groups, businesses, or individuals for a 2011 Liveable City Vision Award.
Nominees should have contributed significantly to the community in one of the Five E’s of Sustainability – Economy, Engagement, Environment, Equity and Esthetics. The winners will be announced in March and honored at the annual Vision Awards party in September 2011, date TBD.
To make a nomination, please use the form below. Remember, you must be a current member of Liveable City to submit a nomination. Join or renew your membership.
Too often, those who do so much for our community go unrecognized. Please help us give them the honor they deserve by sending in a nomination by July 1st, 2011. Winners will be announced later this summer.
Then get ready to celebrate in September at the 2011 Liveable Vision Awards. See you there!
Thanks for a Great Party!
Thanks for a Great Party:
Liveable Holiday Bash @ Black Star!
The Liveable City Holiday Bash at Black Star Co-op Brew Pub kicked off the holiday season with warmth, wit and high good spirits. New and old friends caught up over Black Star’s frosty brews and luscious, locally-sourced appetizers – but as always in a Liveable crowd, talk was the star attraction. One guest summed up: “ It was a blast! We left hoarse and jazzed over the many fabulous conversations we had!”
As 2010 draws to a close, Liveable City wishes you a wonderful holiday season and a more Liveable New Year. Let’s continue moving the conversation forward on all the issues that matter to Austin in 2011!
And Special Thanks to….
Liveable City would like to thank Black Star Co-op and the following businesses, whose generous donations to our Holiday Silent Auction helped make Austin more liveable:
Armadillo Christmas Bazaar
Austin Duck Adventures
Ballet Austin
Blanton Museum of Art
BookPeople
Cosette Originals
Glazers Distributors
Eddie V’s Edgewater Grill
Esther’s Follies
Hand Feats by Roberts
Iron Works
Jeffrey’s Restaurant
Russell Korman Fine Jewelry & Watches
Little City
McReynolds Wines
Moonshine Patio Bar & Grill
Opal Divine’s Austin Grill
Ruby’s BBQ
Siena Ristorante
South Austin Fastframe & the Prickly Pear Galleries
Southwest Strategies
Stubbs Legendary Kitchen
Texas Rowing Center
Uchi and Uchiko
Z Tejas Grill
From all your friends at Liveable City…
Best Wishes for a More Liveable 2011 for All!
Liveable City Holiday Bash
Black Star Coop Pub & Brewery
http://www.blackstar.coop/
Mark your calendars now for Liveable City’s annual Holiday Bash, Monday, December 6th, 5:30pm-8pm. This year, we’ll be celebrating at the new Black Star Coop Pub & Brewery, located on the Red Line in Crestview Station at North Lamar & Airport Boulevard.
Catch up with old friends and meet new ones, sample luscious complimentary appetizers, or hoist a frosty beverage at the cash bar (Black Star’s all about the beer, but diehard oenophiles will still find a glass of the grape). Watch trains cruise by from your perch in Black Star’s modern glass interior and get a jump on your holiday shopping at our festive silent auction.
The annual Holiday Bash is also a great time to join or renew your Liveable City membership. As a member, you’ll be eligible to nominate folks for this spring’s 2011 Liveable Vision Awards. We’ll be kicking off the nominations with a special table at the Holiday Bash so please start thinking about those deserving local heroes now.
Black Star @ Crestview combines so many things we like: cooperative ventures, local business, public transit, mixed-use development…and oh yeah, beer! What more livable way to start the holiday season? Save the date and we’ll see you there on December 6th.
Austin Futures Fair
Live Music and a Special Performance from Austin’s Future from the New Movement Theatre
Free
What’s your big idea for Austin’s future?
Austin Futures Fair is a public idea gallery that harnesses the creative force of the community to imagine fantastic, provocative, and practical answers to a big question: What do we want Austin to be like in the future?
Austin Futures Fair will showcase installations and displays from artists and designers with public submissions of photos and stories of Austin’s future. Beyond a celebration of creativity, Austin Futures Fair will be an important opportunity for you to make an impact on Austin’s future by participating in the creation of the Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan.
The new City Plan will guide decisions how jobs, housing, our environment, schools, transportation, parks and more change over the next 30 years. The Plan is about making decisions today about what we want from Austin tomorrow. It will shape what kind of city we become.
You and other visitors to the Fair will be able to directly participate in the Plan by ranking four alternative “visions” developed by Imagine Austin process showing very different ways our city could grow over the next thirty years. Make sure your ideas are among the thousands that set the direction at Austin Futures Fair.
Sponsored by Liveable City and What is Austin? in collaboration w/ ILoveMikeLitt
Contribute today to support Liveable City’s work on the Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan
Join or Renew for 2011!
Liveable City Kicks Off Fall Membership Drive
Do you care about keeping Austin liveable for everyone? Now more than ever, we must take an active role in shaping and preserving the city that our children and grandchildren will inherit – a sustainable city with equity and opportunity for every member of our community.
Liveable City works to address Austin’s long-term social, environmental, and economic needs while educating and empowering residents to improve the quality of life for all. Dedicated to civic engagement, Liveable City examines public policy, develops best practices and provides strategy support to community building groups.
Liveable City’s project priorities include affordable housing, education, open government, independent local businesses, transportation, renewable energy, health care, and city and regional planning. Throughout the year, we work to ensure equitable opportunities for everyone across our diverse and growing community.
You can play an active role in this effort by member of Liveable City at a level that is meaningful for you.
Liveable City Board Resolution Regarding Water Conservation and Water Treatment Plant 4 (2009)
WHEREAS, Infrastructure investment, including water, utilities and transportation, is a key factor in Austin’s long-term economic and environmental sustainability; and
WHEREAS, The Austin Water Utility has estimated that the monthly water bills of residential customers will increase by 10 to 15 percent to pay for Water Treatment Plant 4; and
WHEREAS, Scientists at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and at major Texas universities have concluded that climate change will likely lead to significantly warmer temperatures in Central Texas and to greater rates of evaporation and decreases in stream flow in the tributaries that flow into the Colorado river upstream of the Highland Lakes; and
WHEREAS, The current drought, the worst in over half a century, has dropped water levels in the Highland Lakes to 44 percent of their capacity and has already triggered Stage 2 Watering Restrictions throughout Austin; and
WHEREAS, The population of the three county Austin/ Round Rock Metropolitan Statistical Area is projected to double again within the next twenty years, making efficient use of water and other resources vital; and
WHEREAS, The citizens of Austin have consistently expressed a commitment to protecting water resources, water conservation is the most cost-effective strategy to achieve this goal, and recent conservations efforts have met with greater than anticipated success, demonstrating the commitment of Austin residents; and
WHEREAS, Austin’s current average daily water use is estimated by the City of Austin to be 170 gallons per day (GPD) per person, a number far above the State of Texas recommended level of 140 GPD and the City does not yet have a plan to reach the State’s recommended level; and
WHEREAS, The City of San Antonio, through comprehensive conservation methods, has kept its overall water consumption at a constant level since 1987, even while doubling in population; it has already reduced water use to below 140 GPD, with the goal of 116 GPD, thus establishing that water conservation is cost-effective and achievable; and
WHEREAS, Austin has the potential and the resources to meet or exceed the water conservation standard set by San Antonio; and
WHEREAS, Austin is experiencing a recession and the debt savings
gained by delaying any further work on the proposed Water Treatment Plant 4 could amount to many millions of dollars in savings over the next several years; and
WHEREAS, There is every reason to be as fiscally conservative as possible until the national and local economy regain stability; and
WHEREAS, There is no immediate danger of running out of water if we delay the proposed investment in Water Treatment Plant 4, while continuing to explore viable, less costly alternatives; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Board of Livable City respectfully requests the Austin City Council to delay any further investment in Water Treatment Plant 4 until the issue can be appropriately considered under the current Comprehensive Planning process, which is required by the City Charter to address potable water, conservation and
environmental resources; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Austin City Council instead commit our city to the most comprehensive water conservation program in the nation, while continuing to explore viable, more cost-effective alternatives to WPT4 as it is currently designed to secure Austin’s clean water supply for the future.
Liveable City Board Resolution on Proposed Comprehensive Plan (2009)
WHEREAS, The Board of Liveable City strongly supports the development of a new comprehensive plan for Austin; and
WHEREAS, Many community leaders and residents are committed to creating this important planning tool for our city; and
WHEREAS, The Board of Liveable City recognizes and applauds the efforts of the Planning Commission and citizens for initiating this vital planning effort; and
WHEREAS, The successful development of a comprehensive plan depends on a number of critical factors, including broad community support, a top-tier planning
team that understands and appreciates community values, and sufficient funds to
develop and implement the plan in a timely fashion; and
WHEREAS, In this difficult economic climate, the city’s first responsibility must be to take the time and effort to ensure the full value of every discretionary dollar spent; and
WHEREAS, Many cities significantly engage the community before the formal comprehensive planning effort begins, recognizing that full community buy-in is key to ensuring the momentum needed for the success of such a project; and
WHEREAS, Five days is too brief a time for Austin residents to fully evaluate the
finalist firms to determine the best candidate to lead us in creating this
comprehensive plan that will guide our future as a city; and
WHEREAS, Liveable City believes the proposed comprehensive plan is critical to our future as a community and that Austin deserves the best possible chance of success in this endeavor; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Board of Liveable City calls on the Austin City Council to take the following actions to ensure that the public has adequate access to information and a reasonable time period to properly evaluate and comment on the finalist teams.
- Make publicly available the following information:
- Complete proposals by the three finalists as they were submitted to the city in their entirety;
- Scoring matrix used by city staff to evaluate finalist firms;
- Further information from the finalist firms as follows:
- A matrix of team members indicating:
- Each member’s name and relevant experience to the element of the plan to which he or she will be assigned, including housing, health and human services;
- Each member’s work, specific role, or advocacy in any local planning, development, or transportation project or organizations in the Austin metropolitan area, including a list of specific major projects;
- The specific elements of the plan each team member will work on including the approximate number of hours on the anticipated work;
- The deliverables each team member will have a role in producing.
- A matrix of team members indicating:
- Extend the period for public comment to 14 days after the above information is made publicly available.
- Require that, by the end of the 14-day period comment period, all questions submitted by the public to city staff in writing will be answered and posted on the city website; and be it further
RESOLVED, That in the event the finalists do not fully furnish the requested information or that further evaluation raises reasonable doubt about the finalists’ ability to bring this project to a successful conclusion, the Board of Liveable City urges the Austin City Council to move forward with the plan by initiating a pre-plan visioning effort and re-bidding the Comprehensive Plan proposal to increase the number and qualifications of potential respondents to address all plan elements; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That, in any case, Liveable City calls on the Austin City Council to take immediate steps to create a Community Task Force for the Comprehensive Plan consisting of members of the Planning Commission, City Staff, and a broad cross-section of community leaders representing all elements of the plan to begin public outreach and build the community infrastructure to guide and support this important effort.