If you haven’t had a chance to attend recent BHNA meetings, take advantage of the concise meeting notes recorded by Secretary Debby Kalk to get up to speed on neighborhood happenings.
Now available for your reading pleasure are notes from the September 13 Executive Committee Meeting and the October 12 General Meeting.
Dear members:
BHNA neighborhood planning is underway!
Remember, we have been working all year to start our own community dialogues this fall (ahead of the official city process which will begin late next spring) so that we can take full advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. This is an opportunity, only exceeded by the Boston Red Sox in the World Series, to put into a legal document of considerable influence with the City our vision for the future of this community, and for the practical-minded like me, specific goals and projects we want to see accomplished. This could be sidewalks, lighting standards, beautification projects, maybe even a community pool. You decide! Just look at the opening pages of established Neighborhood Plans to see the full range of action items other Austin residents expect to come and have achieved from their own planning process. These are available at http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/zoning/adopted.htm. The Bouldin plan provides a good example of NP action items.
Last Monday, October 18, the graduate students from UT?s School of Architecture, Community and Regional Planning Program (CRP) conducted a Neighborhood Visioning / House Leader training. This event was very well-planned, helpful, and enjoyable. The students are exceeding my already high expectations in terms of their dedication, work, support and expertise. Please go to the website they created for this project, “Imagine Barton Hills,” and see the extraordinary work they have done and the valuable resources to support our full and informed dialogues, such as maps with the Save Our Springs (SOS) impervious cover restrictions. The website is located at https://webspace.utexas.edu/tirpakma/ImagineBartonHills/imagine.htm
I am also very grateful to those who are going to host the house dialogues in their homes; there are about 15 meetings scheduled from 7:00 to 8:30 pm over the dates of November 3-4, and November 8-10. I strongly encourage you to attend one of these meetings and make your voice heard. The hosts are inviting members and residents directly, but let me know if you haven’t been contacted and wish to participate.
Help us have an inclusive, non-partisan, respectful, and open dialogue about Barton Hills ? what we cherish, our hopes for the future, and the choices we face NOW! Believe me, I know we have a very special community and quality of life. But whether to stay as we are or to seek to enhance this quality requires thoughtful discussion and action by us.
Thank you for your participation.
Don Long
President
Barton Hills Neighborhood Association
Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District’s 2004 Water Conservation Awards Ceremony, 8/27/04.
BHNA members Derek Stuart and Glee Ingram (center) represent the Barton Hills Neighborhood Association, which received an “Innovation” award recognition. Craig Smith, BHNA member, far right, also attended the awards ceremony.
click picture for larger view
