by Holly Reed

February is Black History Month, and we are honored and privileged to have a nationally recognized Civil Rights Landmark in our West Austin Neighborhood Group area. The Lions Municipal Golf Course (MUNY) was the first public golf course in the southern United States to become integrated. And this was a peaceful integration, that occurred without violence, and without litigation.

In late 1950, two Black children who were caddies at MUNY decided to play golf in defiance of Jim Crow laws. They were detained while city officials deliberated, and then released after Mayor Taylor Glass said to “let them play.” Following the courageous act of these children, Black citizens from all over Texas came to Lions Municipal to play golf. It was the first and only public golf course where they could play in 1950. Heavyweight champion Joe Louis heard about the integration of MUNY and came to the course repeatedly, as he advocated for equal rights to public places by playing golf on courses all over the nation.

Austin has a dark history of racial segregation. Schools and businesses were not completely integrated until well after the 1964 Civil Rights Act went into effect. The University of Texas did not integrate its athletic program until 1969. And Austin continued to be racially divided geographically, with Black residents having been forced to move to East Austin by the 1928 city master plan. There were very few places, if any, in West Austin where Black citizens felt safe, let alone welcome, in the 1950s and 60s. Clarksville, as a former Freedman Community and primarily Black neighborhood, was one. And MUNY became another. This rare bridge between two separated communities encouraged people to meet and recreate in a public place. And MUNY continues to be a bridge between Austin’s historically separated communities.

In 2009 Lions Municipal Golf Course was given a Texas Historical Marker and in 2016 was listed on the National Register of Historic Places for its role in Civil Rights history, in honor of the young Black children who bravely integrated the course. This year MUNY turns 100, established by the Austin Founder Lions Club and opened as Austin’s first public golf course in 1924.

One would think that a place of such significant Civil Rights history, and a beloved public green space, would be revered and preserved forever. But MUNY is in danger of being closed and commercially developed by the landowner, the University of Texas. Since 1973, the West Austin Neighborhood Group has opposed this proposition, along with thousands of citizens of all demographics from neighborhoods all over Austin and the nation. The fight to SAVE MUNY has been going on for over 50 years, and continues to this day.

On January 18th, during Martin Luther King Jr. week, the National President of the NAACP Derrick Johnson, Texas State NAACP Chair Gary Bledsoe, and Austin NAACP Chapter President Nelson Linder joined the Muny Conservancy for a press conference at Lions Municipal Golf Course. Leaders from Austin’s Black Community attended along with members of WANG, District 10 Council Member Alison Alter, and Board Members of the Save Historic Muny District. All stood in solidarity for the preservation of all 141 acres and 18 holes of this historic golf course.

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NAACP President Derrick Johnson summed up the importance of

preserving MUNY’s Black History:

“This golf course is significant. It’s significant for African Americans because it demonstrates the journey through which we have come…History will tell us what we should do or shouldn’t do for the future.”

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We ask our neighbors to please join us in speaking up for the preservation of MUNY in honor of its Civil Rights History. Help us preserve this rare and beautiful public place that allowed all people to play golf, regardless of race or income.

Contact the University of Texas and let them know that you support saving Muny!

Click on links below for related articles and videos on Muny

Watch video about the NAACP and Muny Conservancy Press Conference....click below

Multiple news stations and media covered the event, including the

Austin American Statesman, with an article by Kirk Bohls:

L to R: Austin Chapter NAACP President Nelson Linder, Bishop James Dixon, WANG Board Member Mary Arnold, State NAACP Chair Gary Bledsoe, Save Historic Muny District Board Member Volma Overton III, Muny Conservancy Board Member Volma Overton Jr., NAACP National President Derrick Johnson and District 10 Council Member Alison Alter at MUNY

L to R: Council Member Alison Alter, Nelson Linder (NAACP), Gary Bledsoe (NAACP), James Dixon NAACP), Ken Tiemann (Chair, Save Historic Muny District), Brian Grieg (SHMD), Derrick Johnson (NAACP), Mary Arnold, (WANG, SHMD),Volma Overton Jr. (Muny Conservancy), Ed Clements (Muny Conservancy), Volma Overton III (SHMD), Bill Miller (Muny Conservancy), Carl Richie, Jr (Muny Conservancy), Noel Bridges (Muny Conservancy), Steve Wiener (Muny Conservancy) at Lions Municipal Golf Course

by Community Not Commodity

The H.O.M.E. Ordinance – Land Development Code Amendments to Single Family Zoning

What Passed? and What Is Coming?

Land Code Changes Passed in 2023 (“H.O.M.E” Phase 1)

More Dwelling Units on Single-Family Lots
Three dwelling units per lot are now authorized in single-family districts SF-1, SF-2, and SF-3. An 11,500 square foot lot zoned SF-2 or SF-3 can now have six units without a zoning change, with a re-subdivision into two lots. If you don’t know your property’s current zoning designation, you can find it by entering your address here.

More Cars on Your Street
If more than one unit is being built on the lot it can be 15 feet from the street, with up to four parking spaces in the front yard. Mayor Watson’s council eliminated minimum parking requirements earlier in 2023, so all other parking may be on the street.

More Short-Term Rentals (STRs)
For a duplex or two-unit build, one unit can be used as an STR. For three units, there are no restrictions on short-term rentals.

Loss of “McMansion” Protections
Floor area ratio (FAR) regulates the cumulative size of structures on a site, and Phase 1 of “H.O.M.E” increases FAR as additional units are added. If all or part of an existing dwelling unit is preserved, the new units are exempted from the limits. The previous “McMansion” rules, limited FAR to .4, meaning a 4,000-square-foot house was allowed on a 10,000 square foot lot. Under Phase 1 of “H.O.M.E.”, a landowner or developer can build 10,000 square feet of units on a 10,000-square-foot lot if the existing unit is preserved.

Loss of Occupancy Limits
Local housing occupancy limits are removed, overriding previous rules limiting occupants to four unrelated people or fewer.

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Land Code Changes Proposed for 2024 (“H.O.M.E” Phase 2)

Reduction in Minimum Lot Sizes
Having established the right to build three units per lot in Phase 1, the city council plans to reduce minimum lot sizes from 5,750 feet in SF-2 and SF-3 zones during Phase 2. It also plans to reduce the 10,000-square-foot-lot limit in SF-1 to a much smaller size (perhaps as small as 2,500 square feet) and allow existing single-family lots to be subdivided into multiple lots. According to the council’s Housing and Planning Committee, the planned ordinance will “adjust setbacks, height, and impervious cover for single-family zoning to allow more units on smaller lots.” After lot subdivision, the net effect will be as many as nine or more units on existing lots depending on current size.

Extreme Changes to Compatibility Standards
The city plans to reduce compatibility standards to only regulate building height for the first 75 linear feet from a single family home.

Save Muny Update

Lions Municipal Golf Course is 100 years old this year and events are being planned for the celebration of Muny’s Centennial. 1924 – 2024!

March 24th, 2024 – Imagine Muny III

The Muny Conservancy fundraiser at ACL Live, 6:00 PM – 11:30 PM

Reception, Dinner, Live Music and Auction to raise funds for the preservation and restoration of the course.

May 3, 2024 – Huston Tillotson Alumni Annual Golf Tournament

Held at Lions Muny in honor of Marvin Douglas and Dr. General Marshall who helped to integrate the golf course.

May 9th – 19th Hole Party

5 PM at the American Legion Building / Charles Johnson House benefitting the Muny Conservancy

May 10th – Forever Green Tournament and Party

Lions Municipal Golf Course

October 3rd – Muny Centennial Celebration & Lions Club Tournament

More information at www.savemuny.com

Please participate in celebrating the 100th Anniversary of Lions Municipal by sending in your reasons to Save Muny to themunyconservancy.com/contactus

How can I help save Muny? Visit https://themunyconservancy.com/help

Early voting for the March 5th primary begins Tuesday, February 20, and ends Friday, March 1. There are two early voting locations in the WANG area or close by: Westminster Presbyterian Church on Exposition (just south of 35th St.) and the Austin Recreation Center, 1301 Shoal Creek Blvd., just east of N. Lamar. Early Voting hours are 7 a .m. - 7 p.m. Monday - Saturday and Sunday noon - 6 p.m.

The purpose of the primary elections are for each party to select the nominees for the general election in November. You can only vote in one party's primary election but you do not have to vote for the same candidate or party in the succeeding general election. The League of Women Voters Austin Area has an annual Voters Guide, with each candidate asked the same questions, that can be found in the latest "Austin Chronicle" or go to: https://lwvaustin.org/#gsc.tab=0.

C20-2023-044

Case Manager: Paul Books <paul.books@austintexas.gov> 512-974-3173

Proposed Amendment: Amend City Code Title 25 to create a new zoning district that provides development related incentives including, but not limited to, additional height to create community benefits including affordable housing.

The proposed amendments are scheduled to be heard by the Planning Commission on 13 February 2024 in City Council Chambers beginning at 6pm. The proposed amendments are scheduled to be heard by the City Council on 29 February 2024 n City Council Chambers beginning at 10am.

In 2006, City Council adopted Ordinance No. 20060331-068, creating the Vertical Mixed Use Overlay (VMU Overlay) and standards for Vertical Mixed Use Buildings (VMU Building). The standards exempted VMU Buildings from certain site development regulations and reduced minimum off-street parking requirements in exchange for community benefits, including affordable housing. In 2007, Ordinance No. 20070215-071 instituted an opt-in process that allowed areas within adopted neighborhood plans to incorporate properties into the VMU overlay. In 2013, Ordinance No. 20130606-088, made significant amendments to Subchapter E, including to the standards for VMU Buildings. This included site design standards applicable to sites adjacent to SF-5 or more restrictive zoning districts.

In 2021, amendments to the City’s vertical mixed use density bonus program, including the creation of a second-tier bonus program commonly referred to as VMU2, were initiated through City Council Resolution No. 20211118-052. The Resolution directed staff to process code amendments to allow for an additional 30’ in height beyond the base zone standards for developments participating in the new tier of the density bonus program and propose affordability requirements for such developments. In June of 2022, City Council adopted Ordinance No. 20220609-080, implementing the code amendments initiated through the 2021 Council resolution.

The proposed code amendments will create a new combining district for an affordable housing bonus program that is similar to the City’s existing vertical mixed use program and that:

1. Is available city-wide;
2. Serves the following households and requires a minimum number of on-site affordable units:
   1. For rental units:
      1. 10% of units set-aside affordable to 50% Median Family Income (MFI); or
      2. 12% of units set-aside affordable to 60% MFI; or
   2. 12% of ownership units set-aside affordable to 80% MFI; and
3. Allows a development that provides on-site affordable units to be eligible for 30 feet of additional height, up to 90 feet in total height.

By separate ordinance, procedural provisions necessary to implement the density bonus program will be added to Chapter 25-1 of the Land Development Code, including:

1. Requirement for a pre-application conference with the Housing Department
2. Defining a certification process by the Housing Department
3. Provisions for simultaneous availability of units, similar unit size/location, prohibiting income source discrimination, and limitations on short-term rentals.
4. Requirements for redevelopment of existing multifamily properties and tenant protections
5. Creating a penalty for non-compliance

• Feb. 13, 2024: To be reviewed by the Planning Commission
• Feb. 29, 2024: To be considered by City Council

Paul Books, Planning Department, Paul.Books@austintexas.gov

Joi Harden, Planning Department, Joi.Harden@austintexas.gov

by Council Member Alison Alter

Dear Neighbors,

Last week marked a long-awaited milestone: two years after Council approved a settlement for sexual assault survivors whose cases were mishandled by the Austin Police Department (APD), Austin’s public safety leaders delivered a public apology. For many reasons, the event was emotional, offering a space to remember our failures, to recommit to real systemic change, and to celebrate the bravery of the women who told their stories in pursuit of justice. I encourage you to bear witness yourself and view the apology here.

On Tuesday, what moved me the most were the survivors’ expressions of real hope that the apology marked the end of a chapter and their belief that as a city we were finally poised to transform our failures into positive change.

Since 2018, I have had the honor and privilege to work alongside these women to improve Austin’s sexual assault response system. Each year we have used every tool available to better deliver healing and justice to survivors. I am proud that together we have made significant progress in the way our City invests in and discusses our response to sexual assault. Building on the settlement requirements and the 100+ recommendations identified in an evaluation of Austin’s sexual assault investigation process that I commissioned in 2019, we are developing a national model for best practices, known as the Collective Sex Crimes Response Model (CSCRM) project. This innovative and collaborative process is led by survivors, advocates, and APD leadership together, ensuring that everyone who needs to be at the table participates fully. Since taking over her role, Interim Police Chief Robin Henderson has demonstrated a commitment to transparency, accountability, and action which I appreciate. I invite you to read more about these changes in this op-ed I co-authored in the Austin American-Statesman.

Recent events have underscored that we have more work ahead to make our systems more survivor-focused. We at the City of Austin must acknowledge that the trust we are rebuilding is fragile and we must remember our mistakes. Thus, I am pleased that the re-appointment of a police leader who oversaw many of the challenges that led to the lawsuits did not proceed as originally planned. I strongly believe that even as we celebrate our forward movement, we must redouble our commitment to improving our sexual assault response.

If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence, please know that you are not alone and help is available. The SAFE Alliance offers free exams, mental health services, and legal guidance, whether or not you wish to make a report.

In the remainder of this letter, you will find updates on a joint Fire/EMS Station coming to the Canyon Creek area, summer camp and lifeguard hiring opportunities, and more.

Regards,

Alison Alter

Council Member, District 10

Texas leafcutting ants, Atta texana, are fascinating ants native to Texas, Louisiana, and parts of Mexico. Leafcutting ants create large, extensive colonies, often with multiple mounds clustered in a single area. Mounds are volcano or crater-shaped with a centralized opening and may be mistaken for fire ant mounds, but fire ant mounds do NOT have a centralized opening.

Usually, worker ants of this species, who forage for food, are the most commonly seen leafcutting ants, but in spring it is possible to see reproductive ants, or swarmers. Workers are relatively large ants, reddish-brown in color with three pairs of spines on the thorax and one pair of spines on the back of the head. Workers come in various sizes but can be up to ½ an inch long. Reproductives look similar to worker ants but are much larger in size, with female swarmers being over an inch long. Mated queens have a special area within their mouth to carry fungal spores used to create a fungus garden in the newly founded nest.

Leafcutting ants typically forage when temperatures are cooler, such as at night or in the morning. They can sometimes cause complete defoliation of plants or small trees overnight. These ants remove leaves and buds from plants in the landscape which they chew and get some nutrition from sap, but mainly place chewed leaves in an underground garden within their colony and use it as a base to grow fungus that they eat. Leafcutting ants tend a particular species of fungus and weed out any other fungus from their garden.

Colonies may exist for years and can exceed over two million ants. It is not unusual for a single colony to cover an acre of land. Colonies are usually found in well drained, sandy or loamy soils and are more common in Central to East Texas than other parts of the state.

Unfortunately, leafcutting ants can be difficult to manage, and almost impossible to eradicate completely. Prized plants can be temporarily protected by using spray adhesives around the base of the plant, but adhesives need to be refreshed often when dirt or debris accumulates. Temporary protection can also be provided to prized plants by utilizing contact insecticidal sprays or dusts labeled for “ants”. These insecticidal products can also be used along foraging trails and openings where the ants go into the ground. If mounds are present, Amdro Ant Block, which is the only product labeled for use against leafcutting ants, can be broadcast with a hand-held spreader in the mound area. You do not want to use ant bait and residual dusts and sprays in the same area as pesticidal dusts and sprays can contaminate bait and cause the ants not to pick it up.

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Organized 1973......"To preserve our neighborhood and protect it from deterioration"

Board of Directors

• President: Holly Reed President@westaustinng.com
  
• Secretary: Cathy Kyle Secretary@westaustinng.com
• Assistant Secretary: Blake Tollett AsstSecretary@westaustinng.com
• Treasurer: George Edwards Treasurer@westaustinng.com
• Past President: Cathy Kyle PastPresident@westaustinng.com

All Current Members (click on name to send email)

• Holly Reed ............................member since 2015 (President)
• Cathy Kyle ............................member since 2010 (Secretary)
• Blake Tollett .........................member since 1994 (Asst Secretary)
• George Edwards ..................member since 2004 (Treasurer)
• Mary Arnold .........................member since 2006 (Muny Tract)
• Michael Cannatti .................member since 1999 (CWANPCT)
  
• Joseph M Bennett ...............member since 2001 (Membership/E-Newsletter)
• Craig Lill ...............................member since 2017
  
• Joyce Basciano ...................member since 1999
• Bob Hamilton........................member since 2020
• Sarah Hawthorne Cain.........member since 2020 (Advertising)
• Heidi Gibbons.......................member since 2020 (ANC Liason)
• David Bolduc ........................member since 2023
• Open board chair
• Open board chair

Honorary Committee Members

• Honorary Kirk Watson
• Honorary Alison Alter
• Honorary Kathie Tovo

Contact your City Council Representatives:

(click on name to send email)

• Mayor: Kirk Watson 512-978-2100
  
• District 1: Natasha Harper Madison 512-978-2101
  
• District 2: Vanessa Fuentes 512-978-2102
  
• District 3: Jose Velasquez 512-978-2103
  
• District 4: Jose "Chito" Vela 512-978-2104
  
• District 5: Ryan Alter 512-978-2105
  
• District 6: Mackenzie Kelly 512-978-2106
  
• District 7: Leslie Pool 512-978-2107
  
• District 8: Paige Ellis 512-978-2108
  
• District 9: Zohaib "Zo" Qadri 512-978-2109
  
• District 10: Alison Alter 512-978-2110
  

Email All of the Council: Entire Council and Mayor

events are linked to more info on each

Click on the link City Stage photo above

(Austin Center for Events)

for more info of everything happening around Austin !!!!

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SEND US YOUR PHOTOS ! to include in our "Around the Neighborhood"

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EMERGENCY.......................................911

Fire......................................................911

Ambulance (EMS) .............................911

Police Dept.......................512-975-5000

Austin ISD......................................512-533-6000

Casis Elementary School.............512-414-2062

Austin High School.......................512-414-2505

O.Henry Middle School...............512-414-3229

City of Austin........................................512-494-9400

Texas Gas Service.............................1-800-700-2443

Grande Communications...................512-220-4600

AT&T (new service)...........................1-800-464-7928

Time Warner Cable (Cust. Svc)...........512-485-5555

Austin/Travis Hazardous Waste.........512-974-4343