Great news, Friends! Mayor Lee Leffingwell, joined by Council Members Chris Riley, Mike Martinez and Laura Morrison, just held a press conference announcing that at long last, the work on the bypass tunnel is done and Barton Springs will reopen this Saturday, March 30 at 5:00 am! See you there this weekend!
Planning Commission Denies Approval of Grounds Improvements
Tuesday night, the full Planning Commission voted to deny City staff’s recommendation for the variances and SOS amendments necessary to complete the Grounds Improvements. Only two commissioners, Chair Dave Anderson and Commissioner Myron Smith, did not join the motion to deny and spoke against it. FBSP is very disappointed with their action of the Commission.
They did not reject the plans because they don’t support the Grounds Improvements – in fact, they discussed how necessary almost all of the projects are to control erosion, improve water quality, improve accessibility, and care for the trees and lawn.
However, they had reservations about the expansion of the parking lot, and wanted to see more options from City staff that did not expand, or even reduced the parking lot size and impervious cover, and increased bike parking even more than the current 40 spaces. They also did not support the ADA path to the historic marker.
In effect, the Commission denied their approval, and put at risk four years of work on the plan, in order to send a message to City staff that they were serious in their objections to a few aspects of the plan.
What’s next? This does not stop the Grounds Improvements – they will go to the City Council on March 7, where the Council will likely set the public hearing on them for March 28. All other Boards and Commissions have approved the plans, so this is only one rejection, but it is an important commission, and the could be used as a way to derail the entire project.
That’s why we will need you more than ever in the next month! We will need members and supporters to call, send emails, and attend the Council meetings in support of the plans. Please stay tuned for alerts and updates from us. Like our Facebook page, if you haven’t already. And please email the City Council, and let them know you support the Grounds Improvements, and plan to attend the City Council meeting on March 28.
We can’t let this setback put a stop to our years of hard work on this project, and these vital improvements to our beloved pool!
Environmental Board Approves Grounds Improvements!
THANK YOU to everyone who emailed the Environmental Board and came to the meeting last night! After extensive presentations from staff to answer questions posed at the last meeting, the Board approved the amendments and variances necessary to do the improvement work at the pool, with a few directions to staff (for example, not to increase impervious cover).
Please join us at the Planning Commission next Tuesday, then it will be on to the City Council on March 28! Stay tuned…
July’s Draw-down Pool Cleaning
Cleaners far and wide, let me be the first to thank all of you who came out to July’s cleaning. It was a special day for all, as we did one of four draw-downs per year of the springs. This is when the city staff opens up the flood gates and lets the pool drain for most of the day. This process reveals numerous beaches and rocks that we all love to clean up and wade through. A big portion of the day was spent in waist deep silt pulling weeds.
Pool managers told us that we got more done in one day than usually gets done in a couple of months. So thank you Benchmark, Tucker Construction and all you other volunteers that came out and got muddy pulling weeds, sweeping rocks, scrubbing railings and getting extreme sunburns! I have heard from numerous sources that the pool looks wonderful after the draw-down, so give yourselves a big pat on the back and smile knowing that your hard work paid off.
See you all next month, September 6th, for the chance to do it all over again. Draw-down not included.
Sincerely,
Thomas Schiefer
FBSP Service Chair
President’s Report
Thanks for the Memories
by Robin Cravey
Recently, I resigned as president of Friends of Barton Springs Pool. This marks a turning point for me, and for FBSP. The work goes on.
I launched FBSP almost six years ago to rescue the pool from neglect. Devoting all my spare time and a good part of my work week to the pool was not in my personal plans, but I saw the need and I answered. While sometimes frustrating, the work was tremendously enjoyable. I made a lot of friends, learned a lot about the pool, got in the water a lot, and met with interesting people in some of the finest beer joints in town.
I took a sabbatical from FBSP in 2008 to run for office. That was even more intense. Steve Barnick served as president during that period, and he is now my ideal for what an ex-president of FBSP should be.
My personal pattern, through the years, has been to move from thought to action, thought to action. The past six years have given me a pretty strong dose of action, and I’m more than ready for some contemplation. Besides, my family is more than ready for me to give them some of the attention they deserve.
A friend once asked me how long I would stay as president, and I said: until FBSP is strong enough that I can set it free. It’s time. The Friends is well-established.
Our board is filled with strong and effective leaders who know how to get things done. We have built up a strong tradition of stewardship and voluntarism. We’ve developed a profound understanding of the springs and the pool. I look forward to watching the board take the organization to the next level.
The Master Plan projects continue their slow progress, and while many may give their input, the Friends bring a consistency, preparedness, and positive can-do attitude that keeps things moving. When some can see only problems, the Friends keep our calm and our eye on the goal. We have a vision bright and clear.
The work is important. Those who came before us harnessed this wonder of nature for our enjoyment. Yet it is a dynamic place. Nature is powerful, and our puny man-made structures require constant maintenance. Moreover, the facilities surrounding this place ought to be of a beauty to complement the natural inspiration.
It’s up to us to carry on the work. Each of us can do our part. Our part is not just to enjoy this wonderful place. We can’t simply be heirs of the past. We must also be benefactors of the future.
For most of the past six years, I’ve done my part as well as I could. Now, I’m stepping aside. Other members of the board are stepping up, and others are moving up to the board. I’m proud to see that. We always need new energy. To those of you who hear the call, please answer.
Continue reading “President’s Report”
City of Austin Seeks New Permit for Salamanders at Barton Springs Pool
The City of Austin must have an approved permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) in order to operate and use Barton Springs Pool. The permit was first issued in 1998 for a fifteen year term, after the FWS listed the Barton Springs Salamander as an endangered species. The permit allows for the “incidental take” of salamanders, meaning some minor or incidental harassment, threat, or loss to these spring dwelling amphibians can occur. The permit specifies allowable pool operations, maintenance, cleaning, and water management – ensuring all practices can minimize or eliminate threats.
The permit expires in 2013 and the city is seeking a replacement permit of twenty years duration that will also addresses the likely listing of the Austin Blind Salamander. In the permitting process, the City seeks input from the public on any permit changes, concerns, or other issues that are important and germane. Already, the Friends of Barton Springs Pool have offered testimony at briefings discussed before the Austin Environmental Board and Parks/Recreation Board. The city expects to have a public input meeting and open house at the pool in October, 2011.
The special conditions and requirements and prohibitions in the permit are very significant, in that the permit controls and restricts pool cleaning and maintenance techniques that are allowable in or near salamander habitat. In addition to day-to-day routines, short and long term projects for repair and restoration near salamander habitat are identified in the Barton Springs Pool Master Plan. The Friends are discussing these issues with the City staff, seeking a future permit that offers the flexibility to allow for effective pool cleaning and to avoid conflicts with the upcoming Master Plan projects. For example, the plan identifies restoration activities for Eliza Springs, Sunken Gardens, and their spring outlets flowing into Barton Creek. The Friends trust that the City and FWS can establish conditions and procedures that protect and enhance the salamander habitat, promote their populations, and yet still allow for continued use of the pool by the recreating public.
Please join us to participate in this comment period. Provide your thoughts. Attend the open house. Read more information that the Watershed Protection Department has posted at the following link:
www.cityofaustin.org/watershed/salamander_guidelines
By Tom Weber
Advocacy Director, FBSP