Tull’s focus and expertise is on building controls to treat runoff rather than toxicology. He noted that the City started to sample sediments in Town Lake in 1991, using various grants to fund establishment of an index and initiation of best management practices, and has sampled regularly ever since. Because of the endangered Barton Creek salamander, US Fish and Wildlife requested additional testing.

The substances of concern for Barton Creek are polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH’s), which typically run off many surfaces, including cars and asphalt parking lots, into waterways. High concentrations of dangerous PAH’s have been found in Waller Creek near the University of Texas and in lower Barton Creek.

The City believes that recent sustained flooding has removed fine sediments and dangerous concentrations of PAH’s from Barton Creek, as no samples with higher PAH concentrations than are recommended by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality have been found since November 2000. The City will be continuing to test samples, including samples taken from the creek tributary just behind Park Place Apartments.

Tull concluded by identifying ways neighbors can help protect Barton Creek water quality:

• Don’t dispose of fuel oil, lubricants, etc. except in approved ways.
• Don’t use asphalt, which contains PAH’s, to control runoff.
• Report illegal dumping to the Environmental Hotline: 974-2550.
• Maintain vehicles properly. Don’t wash them in a location where water runs off into the creek.
• Don’t seal driveways with products using PAH’s.
• Properly dispose of cigarette butts, which contain PAH’s.

(Note: additional information about the City’s work to protect Barton Springs salamander is available at: http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/salamander/default.htm)

• A large part of our recent tax increase is going to a big bond issue, much of which will support work on SH 130. Travis County depends almost entirely on property taxes; however, it offers homestead exemptions and additional exemptions for the over-65 and the disabled.
• If elected, in her coming term Moore expects to succeed in forming a Regional Mobility Authority, to sponsor a resolution for the county to enter a commuter rail district, and to finish forming the Balcones Canyonland Preserve.

Gerald Daugherty, Republican nominee, had been invited to speak but did not attend the meeting.

President—Robin McKeever
Vice President—Mark Gentle
Recording Secretary—Debby Kalk
Treasurer—Derek Stuart
Corresponding Secretary—Lance Hickman-Schreiner
ANC Representative—Peter Hess

The following committee members reported on work underway

Debby Kalk, Safe Routes to School Grant Application Committee—This team, which also includes Glee Ingram, Jennifer Stuart, and Sharon Slagle, is preparing an application for funding through TxDOT of additional sidewalks, crossing signs, and sidewalk ramps to improve pedestrian safety near Barton Hills Elementary School and neighborhood locations where school buses pick up middle school and high school students. The application must be submitted via the elementary school to the City by October 31st, and it goes to TxDOT by December 6th. Plans are for a TxDOT decision on funding in January 2003 and a year-long implementation following the decision.

The City has supported the team’s effort by providing vehicular traffic counts on 10/09/02 for the following locations:

• Barton Skyway at Westhill—3,018 vehicles
• Barton Hills Drive at Hollow Creek—2,453 vehicles
• Homedale around the elementary school—245 vehicles
• Robert E. Lee south of Barton Hills Drive—2,121 vehicles

The team also surveyed families of the 322 students at Barton Hills Elementary, learning that 82% of the students are driven to school, but approximately 37% of those students would walk or ride bicycles if safe routes were provided.

The membership unanimously adopted a motion to support this effort.

Glee Ingram, Barton Creek Cleanup—BHNA will support the REI Service Project, which is soliciting 150 volunteers for a Barton Creek Greenbelt cleanup and trail repair on November 2nd. Interested parties should preregister by calling 343-5550.

Glee also proposed that BHNA adopt the Gus Fruh and Homedale greenbelt entries, forming a BHNA core group of greenbelt guardians that would be trained by the City to keep an eye on the areas. Members adopted a motion that Glee and an Executive Committee member will meet with City staff and develop a proposal for the next BHNA General Meeting.

Barton Hills Neighborhood Handbook—Reporting for Craig Smith, Robin indicated that the handbook is nearly done and is expected to be posted on www.bhna.net in January 2003. Jennifer Stuart is working with a small team to put together a Welcome Packet for newcomers to the neighborhood, and the packet will include this handbook.

Sadie McRae invited interested parties to join the Barton Hills Garden Club. More information is available from Sadie at 442-2286.

Robin reported that the Barton Springs Road project is expected to be complete by the end of November if rain doesn’t delay work.

Mark Gentle solicited feedback on the Austin City Limits Festival held in Zilker Park in late September. The event closed the park and included ~45,000 attendees on Saturday and ~30,000 on Sunday. Members present had positive comments on the City’s handling of crowds. Mark will represent BHNA at a post-event evaluation hosted by the City soon.

Robin agreed to follow up with the City and report back to the membership on plans to repair the sidewalk between Sunken Gardens and Robert E. Lee that is falling into the creek.

Mark suggested that BHNA invite Jesus Olivarez of the City of Austin to attend a meeting to discuss designs, recently funded, for improving pedestrian access within Zilker Park.

Robin extended thanks to Howie Richey for his work on the October BHNA newsletter.

Nan Clayton distributed a brochure with instructions on the new electronic voting machines.