Brummett, Elizabeth From: Sent: To: Subject: Jan Slagter Friday, April 23, 2021 4:37 PM PAZ Preservation 1816, W 11th Street historic case number PR-21-046417 *** External Email ‐ Exercise Caution *** Good morning Ms Brummett, Firstly I would like to thank you for your time and for the information you gave me about the redevelopment of the above property. Please disregard the form I mailed in giving my support to the project, this was before I’d seen the actual plans. I was given to believe from Mr Carillo the contractor that it was just a single family dwelling, with pool and garage, it’s obviously a lot more. I have no issue with the current small home on the lot being demolished and a larger home being built, my concern is with 3 two story building being squeezed on to a long thin lot. Looking at the plans I have to say my first thought was it looked like a compound not a home. One of the many joys of living in historic Clarksville is the wide variety of smaller to medium sized homes, with trees and gardens. I would hate to see us lose this with the building of much larger homes. Please lets not repeat the Mcmasions of Tarrytown. Thank you for letting me have my say. Janice Slagter 1809 Waterston Ave 78703 Sent from my iPad CAUTION: This email was received at the City of Austin, from an EXTERNAL source. Please use caution when clicking links or opening attachments. If you believe this to be a malicious and/or phishing email, please forward this email to cybersecurity@austintexas.gov. 1 Brummett, Elizabeth From: Sent: To: Subject: M A Sunday, April 25, 2021 10:37 AM PAZ Preservation 1816 W. 11th Street Clarksville Follow Up Flag: Flag Status: Follow up Flagged *** External Email - Exercise Caution *** Dear Preservation Board, I have reviewed the plans for this project in my neighborhood. I think this current design is going to take away from the character and history of Clarksville. Not one portion of the build pays homage to Clarksville or its architectural history. The plans appear to be just another modern farm house on a million dollar lot. The size and design change the quaint inviting characteristics of Clarksville which is stark contrast to the house of one of the founding families of this neighborhood which stood for over 50 years in that …
Brummett, Elizabeth From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Melanie Martinez Saturday, April 24, 2021 11:06 PM Featherston, Witt; Tollett, Blake - BC; Koch, Kevin - BC; Little, Kelly - BC; Heimsath, Ben - BC; bc- Caroline.Wright@austin.texas.gov; McWhorter, Trey - BC; Valenzuela, Sarah - BC; Myers, Terri - BC PAZ Preservation; Bertron, Cara; Sadowsky, Steve GF-2021-046344 507 LELAND STREET Follow Up Flag: Flag Status: Follow up Flagged *** External Email - Exercise Caution *** Dear Commissioners, I am writing to oppose the demolition of 507 Leland Street, Case GF‐2021‐046344. As a long‐time resident of Travis Heights‐Fairview Park I have worked for more than a decade to help our neighborhood achieve our National Register District designation, so it is heartbreaking to see so many contributing properties in good condition, like this one, being demolished just as we are finally achieving our goal. While this house may not rise to the status of a landmark, it is still important to the district's overall historic character and identity. It is the collection, including these working‐class homes, that tell a story about Travis Heights and Austin. This house could certainly be remodeled to increase the square footage while still retaining its historic facade. Should the owner want to use it as a rental property, they could potentially receive tax credits as a benefit of being within the historic district. I hope the commission can persuade the owner to preserve the facade of this home, at the very least, and to help us preserve our historic neighborhood. Sincerely, Melanie Martinez 1214 Newning Ave. CAUTION: This email was received at the City of Austin, from an EXTERNAL source. Please use caution when clicking links or opening attachments. If you believe this to be a malicious and/or phishing email, please forward this email to cybersecurity@austintexas.gov. 1
Brummett, Elizabeth From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Melanie Martinez Saturday, April 24, 2021 3:57 PM Featherston, Witt; Tollett, Blake - BC; Koch, Kevin - BC; Little, Kelly - BC; Heimsath, Ben - BC; bc- Caroline.Wright@austin.texas.gov; McWhorter, Trey - BC; Myers, Terri - BC Bertron, Cara; Sadowsky, Steve; PAZ Preservation HR-2021-0441041807 BRACKENRIDGE STREET--opposed Follow Up Flag: Flag Status: Follow up Flagged *** External Email - Exercise Caution *** Dear Commissioners, I am a resident of the soon‐to‐be‐official Travis Heights‐Fairview Park National Register District, and a volunteer with neighborhood's Preservation Committee. However, I am not writing on behalf of that group, but as a long‐time resident. I am opposed to the demolition of 1807 Brackenridge, based on its value as a contributing property to our historic district, and as a representative property of so many of our historical residents. This is the beauty of our historic neighborhood‐‐it was economically diverse. The vast majority of our contributing structures were the homes of working people. If we keep demolishing every home that doesn't meet the high bar of being the residence of a person of note and deemed to lack community value, there won't be a historic neighborhood at all one day. I am sad that there is so little hope for preserving this home, which is in good condition and would make a wonderful home as it is, or with an addition and updates. (If kept as a rental property, it might even qualify for tax credits for rehabilitation, thanks to our National Register district designation.) This is a fairly visible location on the edge of our district. However, the character of the new build (old demolition) next door, combined with this one, will further degrade the defining, historic character of this block as people enter the neighborhood. I have been to too many meetings where we are told to create a local historic district if we want to save these homes that are obviously the core of our historic character, but can't qualify as landmarks. We are using all the tools available without that Local District designation. We need help, so I appreciate anything this commission can offer to help us preserve our South Austin story. Sincerely, Melanie Martinez CAUTION: This email was received at the City of Austin, from an EXTERNAL source. Please use caution when clicking links or opening attachments. If you believe this to be a malicious and/or phishing …
Brummett, Elizabeth From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: bob gee Monday, April 26, 2021 12:45 PM Featherston, Witt; Tollett, Blake - BC; Koch, Kevin - BC; Little, Kelly - BC; Heimsath, Ben - BC; bc- Caroline.Wright@austin.texas.gov; McWhorter, Trey - BC; Valenzuela, Sarah - BC; Myers, Terri - BC PAZ Preservation; Bertron, Cara; Sadowsky, Steve D.9. HR -2021- 044104 – 1807 Brackenridge St. Follow Up Flag: Flag Status: Follow up Flagged Dear commissioners, *** External Email - Exercise Caution *** I'm writing to oppose the demolition of 1807 Brackenridge St. This house appears to be in fine condition, as noted in the agenda backup, and is an excellent, extant example of Craftsman architecture in Travis Heights. I can attest to the possibilities of working with the original structure to create more space as opposed to tearing down. I am the owner of a home of similar style and vintage in the neighborhood and added a master suite, laundry and office to the rear of the house in 2016, while preserving the architectural integrity of the original house. The home was part of the 2019 Preservation Austin Craftsman home tour. As we face what feels like an inexorable tide of housing demolitions ‐‐ one occurred next door to me last year ‐‐ and we feel the historic character of our neighborhood slipping away, I know we have few tools at our disposal to keep the bulldozers at bay. But, as commissioners, you do have the power of persuasion. Please urge the owner of 1807 Brackenridge to consider preserving the original home and building a rear addition. Thank you, Bob Gee 302 Terrace Drive CAUTION: This email was received at the City of Austin, from an EXTERNAL source. Please use caution when clicking links or opening attachments. If you believe this to be a malicious and/or phishing email, please forward this email to cybersecurity@austintexas.gov. 1
LIBRARY COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION 20210426-5b: Support for Austin Public Library Proposed Budget for FY22 Seconded By: Chair Dabbert Date: April 26, 2021 Subject: Support for Austin Public Library Proposed Budget for FY22 Motioned By: Commissioner Hanna Recommendation Support for Austin Public Library Proposed Budget for FY22 Description of Recommendation to Council Requesting that the Austin City Council approve the proposed Austin Public Library budget of $60,190,266 for FY2022, an increase of 2.25% or $1,321,890 from FY21, including an increase to the materials budget by 3.5% or $206,368. Rationale: “Libraries are a cornerstone of democracy—where information is free and equally available to everyone. People tend to take that for granted, and they don’t realize what is at stake when that is put at risk.” ― Carla Hayden, 14th Librarian of Congress During an unprecedented year, including COVID-19 pandemic related shutdowns and a city-wide weeklong freeze, APL continued to serve the citizens of Austin by providing online access to digital materials and by providing access to conventional format books and materials by providing curbside service at 11 of its 20 branches. APL also continues to provide innovative programming. In the past year, April 2020 – March 2021, APL hosted 1325 virtual programs with 37,430 attendees. 2020’s APL Virtual Summer Reading Program saw a 39% increase in APL Summer Reading site views with nearly 10,000 individual views between June – August. Recently, in an effort to address the ongoing digital divide, the APL coordinated a widespread device loan program in partnership with community organizations and area school districts. Through individual donations, funding from commissions and boards, the CARES Act and operational funds, APL loaned laptops and hotspots to the Housing Authority of the City of Austin (HACA), Foundation Communities, South Asian’s International Volunteer Association of Austin (SAIVA), and City Departments to support families, individuals, and especially older adults who are isolated and lack access to online information and resources. This effort was driven by a clear need observed in the community, further amplified by COVID-19. In addition, APL staff recently made 209 calls to customers over the age of 65 who haven’t visited the library since the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020. APL wanted to let customers 1 of 2 know that the library is open for curbside and answer questions about connecting to the virtual collection. APL also continues to provide staff development training to support the ability of all employees …
MUNICIPAL CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES Monday, April 26, 2021 REGULAR MEETING Monday, April 26, 2021 MUNICIPAL CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION MINUTES The Municipal Civil Service Commission convened in a regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, April 26, 2021 via videoconferencing. Chair Peréz-Wiseley called the Commission meeting to order at 9:03 a.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Teresa Peréz-Wiseley, Chair Melissa Rogers, Vice-Chair Rebecca Eisenbrey Erika Kane Commissioners Absent: Pamela Lancaster Staff in Attendance: Matthew Chustz, Municipal Civil Service Administrator April Shaw, Municipal Civil Service Coordinator Michael Sullivan, Civil Service Coordinator Mecia Griffin, Civil Service Coordinator Brent Waters, Civil Service Intern Crystal Contreras, HRIS Support 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES March 22, 2021. a. Approve the minutes from the Municipal Civil Service Commission regular meeting on The minutes of the March 22, 2021 regular meeting were approved on Vice-Chair Rogers’ motion, Commissioner Kane’s second, on a vote of 4-0. a. Conduct a hearing on the appeal filed by Michael Girod regarding their Denial of Promotion from the Public Works Department. A hearing was conducted on the appeal filed by Michael Girod regarding their Denial of Promotion from the Public Works Department. 2. HEARING 1 MUNICIPAL CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES Monday, April 26, 2021 b. Deliberate in open or closed session, pursuant to 551.074 of the Texas Government Code (personnel exception), regarding the appeal of Michael Girod regarding their Denial of Promotion from the Public Works Department. Chair Peréz-Wiseley recessed the Municipal Civil Service Commission meeting to go to closed session at 5:38 p.m. The Commission deliberated in closed session on the appeal filed by Michael Girod regarding their Denial of Promotion from the Public Works Department. Closed session ended and Chair Peréz-Wiseley called the Municipal Civil Service Commission meeting back to order at 6:20 p.m. c. Possible action and decision on the appeal filed by Michael Girod regarding their Denial of Promotion from the Public Works Department. The motion to grant Michael Girod’s appeal, place him in the position at issue and award him any lost pay or benefits from the date the individual was placed in the position was approved on Commissioner Eisenbrey’s motion, Vice-Chair Rogers’ second, on a vote of 4-0. 3. OLD BUSINESS a. Discussion and possible action on the Municipal Civil Service Commission recommendation to City Council (Recommendation 20191108-04B) regarding the review of granted denial of promotion and discharge appeals. b. Discussion and review of the Municipal Civil Service Rules …
