Parks Committee Minutes 5/02/2018

1) Roundabout maintenance – see photos at https://flic.kr/s/aHsmjZPfvP

The guiding principal for each roundabout/median strip is to increase visibility of the device while maintaining a clear sigh line for oncoming vehicle and pedestrian traffic.

A single trunk trees surrounded by some type of low bushes and flowers or ground cover works well for most of them. Whenever possible, use native plants to reduce the need for maintenance, i.e. watering.

Action Item:

Almost all roundabouts show signs of damage from vehicles that came too close or plain ran over them. Individual tickets for each one will be submitted to 311 with a request to repair the curb and paint it with reflective paint.

It also helps to add large boulders or have reflective signs installed. Plants and a small tree on the median strip on Bouldin/Retama got decimated by someone moving a house. Since that most likely will happen again, we decided not to plant anything large in there – just low bushes and flowers, with the possible addition of some boulders.  The metal flowers at Mary and 2nd seem to be well received by neighbors; we might try to get other art work installed in other places.

Ronnie Dittmar reported that a neighbor adjacent to the Dawson/Retama Chicane requested it be removed and he thinks the City will do so.

2) N Dawson Maintenance

Cheryl will call for a workday in May – weeding and mulching. We can request mulch from PARD and can also make it available for roundabouts.

3) Grant for Mary Dawson Park

In order to apply for a grant that redevelops Mary Dawson – a border to the apartment complex, a bike/hike path leading from the West Bouldin Creek Greenbelt (WBCGB) entrance to Dawson Road, maybe a pick nick table – we need design plans and quotes.  I did not hear back from the Austin Parks Foundation about a request for their new landscaping/design services until yesterday; they will make a decision by June 1st. If APF does not come through, we’ll need to find another source for those services. Both Thom Parker and Nancy Crow offered help with that.

4) Adopt-A-Creek, Adopt-A-Park

Nicholas Dawson and Mary Dawson also caused a discussion about Adopt-A-Park and Adopt-A-Creek programs. Adopt-A-Park is run by PARD, Adopt-A-Creek by Keep Ausitn Beautiful (KAB). KAB recently offered an outside group a chance to adopt East Bouldin Creek in Nicholas Dawson Park. I contested that, since we have been taking care of the park and the creek for decades. The reason this is important is because it makes BCNA a stakeholder when City or development issues come up. We currently have Adopt-A-Park agreements for N. Dawson, the WBCGB and Ricky Guerrero. We also now have adopt-A-Creek agreements for N. Dawson and the WBCGB.

Action Item:

We need to seek an Adopt-A-park agreement for Mary Dawson  and the landlocked, undeveloped park by the PSW development; Melanie McNearney will get together with immediate neighbors and apply for an Adopt-A-Creek agreement for the East Bouldin Creek portion across from PSW.

5) West Bouldin Creek Greenbelt Trail Maintenance

After discussion, we decided against any mulching of trails; instead, we will continue widening them twice a year by removing encroaching plants. Per Matt Coldwell’s suggestion, we might have a “stomp” party to help in that effort, with refreshments to be served afterwards.

6) West Bouldin Creek Greenbelt Signage

A neighborhood teenager had selected installing signage at the WBCG  as his Eagle Project. The effort started almost two years ago and has not progressed, in spite of Matt stepping in and actively helping. The teenager will graduate this month, ending his engagement. If we have not seen any results by then, Matt will take the project over. It consists of: trail maps at both entrances; some directional posts where trails intersect; display with information about greenbelt features: native plants/wildlife plus the ephemeral spring.

Action Item: work on signage this year, with or without Eagle input

7) Ricky Guerrero Improvement Updates

Eric Radjef has followed up with City staff, asking for a progress report.