One - Sound Off on The  Urban Rail 'Recommendation'
 
The regional transportation body CAMPO  has made a recommendation for Austin's first urban rail line. The recommendation  is for phase one priority alignment to connect downtown to the Mueller  Development and passes through the UT Campus on San Jacinto Street in front of  DKR Stadium. 

This connection makes no sense. North Lamar is one of the six busiest
bus routes in the city, and serves 1 out of 5 Austinites. Sending the rail out
to Mueller, instead of laying the rail where the need (and where it will support
the North Corridor plan) does make sense.

We're not the only ones that think that way. This week, The Daily Texan
published an editorial supporting a UT Student Government resolution calling for consideration of a Guadalupe and North Lamar urban rail alignment. The
resolution was passed unanimously on Tuesday night: 

http://bit.ly/dailytexan-rail 

That's right - 50,000 students are saying North Lamar is where they
need the rail to run. It's time for Capital Metro and CAMPO to get a clue.  

Capital Metro is still soliciting input on the Project
Connect plan, and its rail recommendation to Mueller, but time is running out.
Please help North Austin and UT by weighing in:

http://ideas.capmetro.org/discussions/project-connect-regional-transit-system-vision/topics/what-questions-do-you-have-regarding-the-project-connect-vision

Tell them we want our tax dollars to go to North Lamar - where the
population and the need is!
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Two - Educate Yourself of the AISD Bonds, then VOTE!

Early voting starts this week and we have lots of info on the AISD  Bonds on our website:

http://www.lovenorthaustin.com/voting-infolinks.html
 
Remember  - Good Neighbors  Vote!!!
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Three  - Help Us Build Strong Neighborhoods and Strong Schools 

We made the news!

impactnews.com/articles/north-austin%.2%(0%)9s-inaugural-garden-tour-raises-funds-for-school-beautification/ 

What will ten dollars buy you?

 -Beautification/garden projects at 3 North Austin Schools this
fall.
 -Support of the only event that is for North Austin.
 -Support of Entreprenuers & Local Artists in North Austin. This
first year, we are starting small with a garden tour, but next year we will be expanding it to be a studio and garden tour. 
-The knowledge that you've sent a clear message to City Hall that yes,
North Austin does care about our city and we support our schools.

More info:

https://www.facebook.com/NxnaGardenTour
 
Garden Tour – June 1
Garden Talks & Photography Exhibit – June 2

Tickets are $10 and can be purchased:
 
https://nxna.ticketbud.com/nxnagardentour
 
When  the ticket is purchased, you will be given the locations of 3 starting gardens  where you can get your map. Proceeds from the tickets and sponsorships go to Austin Voices and will be used by the North Austin Community School Alliance for  gardens and beautification of North Austin Schools!
 
http://www.lovenorthaustin.com/2013-garden-tour.html

Next meeting for the garden tour is May 4th, at the YMCA on Rundberg -
10-11:30. We rneed help in some last minute organizing and volunterring for the day of the tour,

As part of Capital Metro's commitment to be a transparent and fiscally
responsible organization, we are reviewing our fare structure in an effort to
create a simplified, equitable and sustainable system.

 So that we can explore various options, we have asked an outside expert to
evaluate our fare structure and make recommendations. The findings of this fare
study will be made public at the May 20 meeting of the Capital Metro board of
directors.

 We are seeking your feedback, and invite you to get involved in the review
process at any one of the following public meetings. Or, you can share your
thoughts via an online discussion forum:
 
http://ideas.capmetro.org/discussions/fare-study/topics/what-do-you-lik
 e-about-capital-metros-fares
at ideas.capmetro.org

 April 29 (Noon) - Online open house. Register online

 April 29 (5:30 - 7 p.m.) - North Village Library, 2505 Steck Ave.
Served by routes 3, 325

April 30 (12 noon - 1 p.m.) - Transit Store, 323 Congress Ave. Served
bydowntown routes
 
May 2 (6 - 7:30 p.m.) - ACC South Campus, 1820 W Stassney Ln. Served
by routes 3, 103, 311

 For more information, visit http://www.capmetro.org/farechange/
or email: feedback@capmetro.org
 

As you may have heard or read in the media over the last several months, the
regional transportation body CAMPO has made a recommendation for Austin's first
urban rail line in its plan, PROJECT CONNECT. The phase one priority alignment
connects downtown to the Mueller Development and passes through the UT Campus on
San Jacinto Street in front of DKR Stadium.


Earlier this month, Kyle Keahey of the firm HNTB was hired as the new urban
rail lead. He will be the point person between the public and the three
agencies, the City of Austin, Capital Metro, and Lone Star Rail, to coordinate
the management of the urban rail program. His first task is to assess the
current recommendation and identify any gaps in the process, including public
participation. 

At the same time, several grassroots initiatives are underway by new and
established groups citywide. These groups have either called into question the
Mueller alignment recommendation, or have decried the lack of transparency, the lack of data to support the current recommendation, and the lack of public
involvement in the current planning process. 

This week, The Daily Texan published an editorial supporting a UT Student
Government resolution calling for consideration of a Guadalupe and North
Lamar urban rail alignment. 
http://bit.ly/dailytexan-rail 
 
UT Student Government is the official voice of 52,000 students. Their
resolution was passed unanimously on Tuesday night. 

On Thursday, the City Council passed a modified Interlocal tri-party
agreement for the management of the urban rail program. This agreement began as  a 20-page draft containing multiple references and maps for the Mueller  alignment, but was amended over the last two weeks to be 10 pages and route-agnostic. Even though there is great urgency to present a plan to the
voters next year, policymakers from all three all agencies have gone on record
that all routes are still on the table, including Guadalupe and North Lamar. The
new rail lead has been given no limitations in that regard and is free to look
at all alignments. 

The next few weeks are a pivotal time in the light rail process. Capital
Metro is still soliciting input on the Project Connect plan, and its rail
recommendation to Mueller. If you would like to weigh-in on this important
matter, NOW WOULD BE A GOOD TIME. A public input portal can be found here: http://bit.ly/capmetro-rail 

-Scott Morris

Improving Austin Streams: Walnut Creek, Waller Creek, Taylor Slough South and Spicewood Tributary of Shoal Creek

You can find info on Improving Austin Streams  at their web site: http://www.utexas.edu/law/centers/cppdr/services/tmdl.php

A powerpoint of why this is so important to our city is downloadable here:

ftp://ftp.ci.austin.tx.us/wre/TMDL/NACN%20Meeting%2004_16.ppt

Lifeprint Next Generation Child Safety Event

Pediatric Dental Professionals

9015 Mountain Ridge Drive, Suite 320

Austin, TX 78759

Saturday, April 20, 2013

10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

There is no cost for children participating in this event.  Each child’s parent will receive free FBI Certified Biometric Palm Prints,  FBI Certified Biometric 10 Digit Fingerprints, a full-color digital photograph of your child, and a Child Safety Journal which provides law enforcement the vital information about your child should they go missing.

There is NO Data Basing. After each child goes through the line, parents will be handed a Child Safety CD (which contains the Biometric Palm & Finger Prints, digital photo, and Child Safety Journal). The only record of the visit is handed to you to take home. Every child fingerprinted will get ice cream!           

If you have any questions regarding this event contact Brooke Watts at 512-346-9771 or visit www.PediatricDentalProfessionals.com or www.lifeprintevent.com.

COME GET DEPUTIZED TO REGISTER PEOPLE TO VOTE!

Bruce Elfant, Travis County Tax Assessor Collector-Voter Registrar
will be deputizing folks to do voter registration.  Only one Saturday training
is required.

Where: First Unitarian Universalist Church of Austin
4700 Grover Avenue

**Grover dead-ends at the church. Park  in the south side parking lot and follow signs to the office. Each week, someone  will be at the office to show you where to go.

WHEN:
April 20, 2013 -  10A
April 27, 2013 - 10A
May    4, 2013 - 10A
May 11, 2013  - 10A

Should last about an hour, depending on Q&A's

PLEASE  CHOOSE THE SATURDAY WHEN YOU CAN ATTEND AND SIGN UP SO THAT MR. ELFANT CAN BRING  PLENTY OF PACKETS!

SIGN UP BY PROVIDING THE INFORMATION BELOW AND
EMAIL TO:  volunteerdep.registrartraining@gmail.com

Sign Up Form:
Saturday you choose to attend:  ____________
Name:   __________________________
Email address:  _______________________
Phone  #:  ___________________
(asking this info so that we can contact you if there
is new information on the classes)

Meet Holbrook - one of the many friendly residents of North Austin you will  find on the  NxNA Garden Tour!

Tickets are $10 and can be bought online at: nxna.ticketbud.com/nxnagardentour



We have designated 3 of the gardens on the tour as our  'start' gardens. People can print their ticket, take it to one of these 3 gardens, and get their map.

Please buy your tickets in advance so we can ensure there will be enough maps!

April Newsletter is Online: Click Here
May Newsletter is Online: Click Here

On the one-year anniversary of his death, the Austin Police Department will rename its North Substation to the Jaime Padron Substation and unveil a memorial garden on Saturday, April 6, 2013.

Senior Police Officer Jaime Padron was shot and killed by a suspect on April 6, 2012 at a Walmart on IH-35. Two Walmart employees tackled the suspect, held him down and used Officer Padron's radio to notify dispatchers of the shooting. Responding units arrived to take the suspect into custody; he was subsequently charged with Capital Murder.

Jaime Padron Substation Dedication and Memorial Garden Unveiling
Saturday, April 6, 2013
10 a.m.
APD North Substation
12425 Lamplight Village Ave.

Itinerary for the event:

10 a.m.  Memorial Garden Unveiling

10:20 a.m.  APD Pipe and Drum/Presentation of the Colors

10:30 a.m.  Benediction by Pastor Rick Randall

10:35 a.m.  Dedication Ceremony to include remarks by Mayor Lee Leffingwell, members of the Austin City Council, City Manager Marc Ott, Police Chief Art Acevedo and a Padron family member. Commander Mark Spangler will serve as emcee.

10:50 a.m.  Plaque Unveiling/Pipe and Drum Corps music

We would like your feedback as we explore developing a Travis County open
data website. An open data site, such as the one run by the City of Austin,
increases the ability of the public to easily find, download, and use government
datasets.

 http://www.traviscountytx.gov/feedback/open_data_form.asp
 
Help us by suggesting information you would like for us to publish. We appreciate your feedback!