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Highland Neighborhood AssociationHighland Neighborhood Association Quarterly Newsletter
P O BOX 14109 AUSTIN TX 78761-4109
www.highlandneighborhood.com
December 2013 (Circulation of 1500) Winter Edition
HNA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
PRESIDENT Damon Howze 512-791-2328
VP NORTH SECTOR
Fitz Meshbane 512-460-9119
VP CENTRAL SECTOR
Collette Kuemmel 512-917-7581
VP SOUTH SECTOR
Philip Knisely 512-406-1206
VP WEST SECTOR
Damon Howze 512-791-2328
TREASURER
NEWSLETTER ADS Joann Rees
512-452-3426
SECRETARY ABIGAIL WIEST
512-970-9770
NEWSLETTER EDITOR NEWSLETTER ADS
Kitty Traylor 512-451-9479
HISTORIAN
EVENTS COORDINATOR Dorothy Johns 512-452-1728
WEB ADMINISTRATOR
Alex Schmitz 512-921-8583
HNA boundaries are Hwy 183, N Lamar, Highland Mall and Midtown Commons
Greetings Neighbors, Texas Dept of Transportation will be presenting their plans to close the St. Johns-I35 overpass and close the southbound entrance to I35 between St Johns and 290 at our December 3rd meeting. This will greatly impact our neighborhood and isolate us from access to I35 travel. Please come show your support for Highland Neighborhood connectivity. Dates have been released for the community meetings with Parks and Recreation, Watershed Protection, Highland Neighbors and University Hills Optimists (UHO) concerning a Park at the city owned property at 401 W. St Johns. This is the only large acreage owned by the city in the entire Highland planning area and is the only place we could ever have a neighborhood park. You all are needed to participate or our dream of a park for Highland may be lost forever. The first meeting has happened already. The second meeting will be December 4th,6:30pm in the Reilly Elementary School Cafeteria, 405 Denson (Guadalupe and Denson). This will be a Charette-type meeting with interested parties from all sides breaking out into tables with maps to show how you would like this property used (just a park, shared use with UHO, or as is). It is very important that we have a very large turnout for this meeting. At the last meeting at City Council, UHO brought people from all over the city and surrounding area to testify. We need to show that Highland Neighbors want to have a say in what happens to City of Austin property in our neighborhood. Watershed had a private meeting with UHO without neighbors being invited to come up with the current proposal. Jan 15th City Staff will make a presentation to City Council about the two input meetings. Council will then decide when to vote on the future of the property. Watch the list serves or subscribe to aparkforhighland.org to find out the date Council will vote. UHO packed city hall with children from all over the city in baseball uniforms at the last City Council meeting on this subject. (Parks and Recreation has assured all parties involved that no child will be left without a place to play by relocating all of the UHO programs to other existing locations.) Highland neighbors need to turn out for this meeting like no other in our history if we are ever to have a park. There is free parking in the parking garage below council chambers. I will ask the A Park for Highland Committee members, who have worked tirelessly for this issue, to organize carpools to this meeting. It will be history-making for our neighborhood one way or the other. Numbers of people do count. Highland Neighbors voted overwhelmingly 97-3 on our website survey and the HNA executive committee voted also to support a move to relocate urban rail back to its original planned location of Guadalupe-N. Lamar route instead of the proposed Mueller neighborhood route. The Lamar transit corridor is the most used in the city and should be a successful example of how rail will facilitate transportation. Neighbors from Airport Blvd. Corridor (ABC) neighborhoods (Highland, Northfield, Delwood 2, Delwood 1, Cherrywood, Windsor Park, and Mueller) worked together over the last three months to try to get an ABC District for single-member city council voting. Unfortunately we were not successful at getting that district, but we have formed an ABC group to support each other’s issues in the future. It was a pleasure representing Highland during this process and I was rewarded with meeting all the smart, involved, informed and connected leaders of those neighborhoods. Highland/Skyview is in District #4 along with Northfield, Ridgetop, part of Windsor Park, St Johns, N. Lamar/Georgian Acres, Mockingbird Hill, Georgian Manor tenant council, and Quail Hollow. A little over half of our district is north of 183 and district 4 is the second Hispanic opportunity district. (the majority of people living in this district are Hispanic therefore there is a opportunity for a Hispanic City Council (continued on Page 2)
AGENDAAGENDAAGENDAAGENDA 1) Erin Perkins-Watry Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) Public Involvement I-35 Capital Area Improvement Program
2) Marla Schmitz Update on A Park for Highland
3) Election of Officers
HNA FALL QUARTERLY MEETINGHNA FALL QUARTERLY MEETINGHNA FALL QUARTERLY MEETINGHNA FALL QUARTERLY MEETING GATEWAY BAPTIST CHURCH
7601 Guadalupe St
TUESDAY, December 3, 2013 6:30 pm Social 7:00 pm Meeting
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1st CLASS
COLLISION CENTER Owner: Billy Harp
6820 Guadalupe St Austin, Texas 78752 Phone: 512.458.1212 Fax: 512.458.1223 Mobile: 512.632.7424
www.1stclasscollisioncenter.com [email protected]
Ask about the
5% Discount for Highland
Neighborhood Residents
(continued from Page 1)
member to be elected to represent District 4). This is my last communication as the HNA President. It has been a pleasure to represent you over the last six years during our challenges of positive change. I offer my support to the next HNA president and will continue to be involved in HNA and the Highland/Skyview Neighborhood Plan Contact Team. I wish you all a happy and safe holiday season and a blessed new year. Damon Howze, HNA President
CLEANUP SCHEDULE FOR TRIANGLE PARK
Second weekend of the month: Saturday 8:00 - 10:00 Sunday 3:00 - 5:00
You will need to bring some yard and/or garden tools to work with, brown bags, lawnmower (HNA owns one), and your own drinking water and snacks. Please report your volunteer time to Damon so that he can report it to the city for credit.
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Nelda’s Tailor’s, Inc. Excellence in custom tailoring since 1978
Celebrating 34 years in Business
Thank You AustinThank You AustinThank You AustinThank You Austin AustinAustinAustinAustin PflugervillePflugervillePflugervillePflugerville Highland Village Settler’s Ridge 6929 Airport, Suite 134 1101 W Pecan St 451451451451----0179017901790179 252252252252----8886888688868886
IMPORTANT DATES COMING UP
Bulk Collection December 2, 2013 HNA Winter Meeting December 3, 2013 Park Conversations December 4, 2013
(Reilly Elementary, 405 Denson 6:30 pm) Large Brush Collection December 9, 2013 Presentation on Park January 15, 2014
(Austin City Counci) HNA Spring Meeting March 4, 2014
Gethsemane Lutheran Church “A RECONCILING IN CHRIST MINISTRY”
200 West Anderson Lane Austin, Texas 78752
(512) 836-8560 www.gethsemaneaustin.org
email: [email protected] 2013 ADVENT CHRISTMAS SEASON2013 ADVENT CHRISTMAS SEASON2013 ADVENT CHRISTMAS SEASON2013 ADVENT CHRISTMAS SEASON
December 4, 11, 18: Advent Wednesdays 12:00 noon Eucharist 5:30 pm Soup 7:00 pm Eucharist
December 5: Ostomy Christmas Party December 6: St. Nicholas Day
December 12: Restore Rundberg Meeting December 13: St. Lucia Day & Scandinavian Club
December 14: Distribute Gifts to T A Brown Families December 24: Christmas Eve
12:00 noon Eucharist 6:30 pm Sacrament of Holy Baptism 7:00 pm Family Worship Candle Lighting Santa Lucia, Apples 11:00 pm Candle Lighting Santa Lucia, Apples
December 25: Christmas Day 8:15 am Swedish Julotta 9:00 am Fellowship 9:30 am Eucharist
CHILDREN’S MINISTRYCHILDREN’S MINISTRYCHILDREN’S MINISTRYCHILDREN’S MINISTRY Good Beginnings Never End
(512) 339-6335 www.glcmchildcare.org
December 19: Christmas Program All ARE WELCOME
PRE-SCHOOL PROGRAM (School closed December 24 & 25)
Ages 6 weeks - 5 years (PK) Full time MWF/TTH 9:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
MDO available for 2 yrs - PreK Hot Lunch and Snacks Provided Daily Administrative Leadership Team:
Valerie Johnson, Director Darlene Krenek, Angelica Lundquis & JaMilla Arnold,
Assistant Directors
HNA SUPPORTS URBAN (LIGHT) RAIL ON GUADALUPE/NORTH LAMAR!
For the last 8 years, the Mueller development has been the city's preferred route for light rail to UT and downtown. Rail advocates have been pushing for other locations, like North Lamar. Project Connect's rail team in November recommended light rail in the “Highland” corridor which includes Red River from UT to the Hancock center. Initial plans connected rail to Mueller rather than Highland ACC, Crestview Station, or Highland neighborhood. The new “Highland” designation would bring light rail to Mueller's original route through Hancock, so little has changed. Highland NA endorsed rail on North Lamar in its neighborhood plan and in a poll on the HNA website. To learn more and sign a petition in support of rail on Lamar visit the HNA website. City Council hasn't voted yet. Sign the petition and call city council to ask for convenient, dependable, and eco-friendly public transport to UT, the Capital, and many destinations on Guadalupe & Lamar.
LUIS’ Corner Barber Shop _________________
6807-A Guadalupe St. Austin, TX 78752
(Corner of Airport & Guadalupe) 512- 323-0602
Senior Citizen Discount Wednesday & Thursday Special:
Straight Razor Shave & Haircut $28.00 Locally Owned Referrals Appreciated
Now 3 Barbers To Serve You Tuesday - Friday: 9:00 - 6:00
Saturday: 8:30 - 4:00
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GATEWAY BAPTIST CHURCH 7601 Guadalupe St
512-453-4797 Sunday School 9:45
Morning Worship 11:00 Evening Worship 6:00
Wednesday Bible Study 6:30 Open Mic for Jesus
Friday December 6th 7-10pm If you love to sing or play an instrument or just love to listen to wonderful praise
and worship music come and join us. Christmas Choir Program
Emanuel-Celebrating Heaven’s Child Sunday December 22nd 11:00am
Support Your Local Optimist Club University Hills Optimist Club-UHO
Baseball/Kickball Spring Registration
Starts February 2014 Online Register and pay online
Stay tuned online for in person registration www.uhobaseball.com
REZNICEK FIELD
(Sports Complex) 401 W. St. Johns Austin, TX 78752
Groomingdale’s of Austin
A new experience in pet care
Call Tomay, Lori or Cynthia at (512) 524-1484
Visit us at 1108 Koenig Lane Austin, 78756
www.groomingdalesofaustin.com
Open Sundays All Breed Cat & Dog Grooming
HNA wishes to thank Marla Schmitz and
Charlotte Garza who have generously
devoted their time and energy into organizing and planning the meetings
regarding HNA’s desire to have a park at 401 W St.
Johns.
We really appreciate you!
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GOOD NEIGHBOR AWARD
SEPTEMBER 2013 7002 Miranda
Planning of special events
OCTOBER 2013 601 Wilmes
Countless attending meetings for 401 W St Johns Park
NOVEMBER 2013
514 W O’Dell St Cultivating beautiful flowers in yard all year long
—————————
The Good Neighbor Award recognizes neighbors in the following categories: ▪ Property improvement
▪ Neighborliness and caring ▪ Neighborhood safety
▪ Neighborhood improvement, beautification and preservation ▪ Neighborhood organization and participation
To nominate a neighbor
for this award, call Damon at 512-791-2328
Historian’s Corner by Dorothy Johns
Salute to Damon Howze Highland neighbors would like to give a special Thank You to Damon Howze. He works full time as a Cosmetologist and also works so hard and full-time as President of our neighborhood association. Damon has attended many meetings to make sure HNA is not forgotten or left out of any decision that effects our area of town. He keeps us informed in the newsletter and at our meetings. He is always trying to improve the quality of life for all of us in our neighborhood. He is always thinking about others. He was successful in getting the Lamar/Morrow intersection to open as soon as there is bond money. He also has worked with the city to add tables and benches and a walking path around The Dorothy Johns Triangle. Damon helped our neighborhood come together and have a wonderful successful potluck picnic on the 4th of July. I could go on and on how much he has done and continues to do for our neighborhood. Damon has been a great leader with a great heart. We appreciate him so much.
Thank You Damon!
I-35 Corridor
Proposed Changes
A representative from the I-35 Corridor Improvement Program will be coming to the December HNA meeting to present the proposed changes to I-35 in our area and take questions from the neighborhood. These changes include installing a Texas Super Highway and closing St Johns to cross traffic over 35, leaving it open for pedestrians and cyclists only. The feeder road becomes essentially an extension of the interstate with higher speeds and no break in traffic. They have also proposed closing the southbound I-35 access ramp just south of St. Johns, significantly decreasing our access to I-35 and increasing traffic volume on the feeder road. If you would like to learn more and be a part of the discussion please plan on attending the HNA meeting on December 4th at 7:00 pm.
Christmas Lighting Contest
First Prize: $50.00 Second Prize: $25.00 Third Prize: $10.00
Turn on your lights on Sunday, December 22nd, to be considered as one of the winners.
Courage is doing what you’re afraid to do. There
can be no courage unless you’re scared.
—Eddie Rickenbacker (WWI Medal of Honor recipient)
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Austin-Peel and Son
Funeral Home &
Crematory Full Service FlowersFull Service FlowersFull Service FlowersFull Service Flowers
www.austinpeel.com (512) 419-7224
FAX (512) 419-7641 Billy F. Peel 607 E. Anderson Lane President Austin, TX 78752
Family Owned and OperatedFamily Owned and OperatedFamily Owned and OperatedFamily Owned and Operated [email protected]
Elbe Body-Massage Therapy Swedish, Deep Tissue,
Sports and Shiatsu Massage Linda E. Koop, LMT 811 West St Johns Ave
Suite 2105 Austin, TX 78752
512.944.0456 www.elbebody.com Let me help you…Live Life Relaxed. I’m in the neighborhood!
ARTWORK
by Rachel Sellars
www.artworkbyrachelsellars.com
512-454-1656
To contact me about buying
artwork, commissioning artwork, or to inquire about art lessons, please e-mail me at
Kitty Traylor, Veronica Sharp (Principal), Dorothy Johns, Joann Rees Dorothy Johns, Dinorah Bores Principal, Joann Rees
Self Portrait
HNA School Supplies Fundraiser Results $220.00 (with HNA’s match each school received that amount). Contributors were: Harry Burkhart, Mason Cox, John & Mary Edson, Nancy Hall, John Halligan, Damon Howze, Dorothy Johns, Barbara Johnston, Joann Rees, Richard Sommers, Kitty Traylor
Sarah Biggerstaff
Realtor
Native Austinite HNA Homeowner Spanish Speaking
Have real estate questions? I am here to help.
512-584-5233
[email protected] www.BiggerAustin.com
Michelle & Ryan Rutan recently hired Charlie to mow the Dorothy Johns Triangle. He is a very nice older man who walks our neighborhood looking for jobs. He gave them a great deal and did a great job. They wanted to have the park looking good for the installation of the new birdhouse! Thanks Michelle & Ryan! If you wish to hire Charlie, his number is 512-696-5525..
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“I'm here to update you on what has happened since HNA voted to form a committee and pursue a park at 401 W. St. Johns. The committee started a website aparkforhighland.org and asked for
volunteers to go door to door to get signatures for a petition to city council and the parks department. Those volunteers made a huge difference by getting the support of people who did not know about the park or may not have gotten involved. Thank you to Damon Howze, Ryan Rutan, Dana Deane, Sally Pye, Adrian Getzoff, Tim Fuentes, Charlotte Garza, Kitty Traylor, Michael Anderson, Sunny Bonnecarrere, and Karla Schultz for their hard work in this heat. We have now added an online petition to the website. Thank you to Richard Sommers for his hard work in making a park image and multiple maps for meetings with City Council staff. Thank you also to everyone who donated money to a park for Highland through PayPal on the website and at the 4th of July Picnic. Those donations purchased yard signs, paid for presentations to city council, and several other activities advocating for a park. We have more yard signs available for anyone who would like one. Black Star Co-op also donated a keg of beer for the 4th of July picnic, where we added a lot of petition signatures and had 154 letters to city council members signed. All this was done in preparation for stakeholder meetings between the neighborhood, Highland, and University Hills Optimists arranged by Kathie Tovo's office. In August Tovo decided to introduce a resolution before city council rather than meetings. Watershed needs to move forward with its filtration pond, and Tovo felt that more direction was needed from City Council. We don't know the wording of the resolution, but expect that it will include opening the property in some way to a park for the neighborhood. We know that the Parks Department has found alternate field locations that would allow UHO programs to continue. This means their kids would still be able to play sports, and Highland's 700 kids and 4500 residents would have a park —————————————— On Sept 26th City Council passed a resolution sponsored by Council Member Kathie Tovo for the City Manager to make a presentation to City Council regarding future options for the land at 401 W. St. Johns: 1) Storm water management only, 2) A park only, 3) Shared use with a park and University Hills Optimists (UHO) sports fields, and 4) Exclusive use of property for UHO sports fields. The City Manager was also asked to provide three relocation options for UHO, and provide community input meetings regarding the future of the property. Many Highland neighbors generously gave their time for several hours at the City Council meeting to show their support for a park for Highland and we are one step closer to a park because of them. The first of two community input meetings has already been held, the second will be December 4th at Reilly Elementary. At the Nov 14th meeting we had the opportunity to hear from the UHO parents and leadership, and look forward to meeting with them in December. Both UHO and Highland neighbors were positive and spoke of working together. We are committed to UHO's kids continuing to play sports. Our goal is to find a solution in which all UHO's children and Highland's 700 children and 4500 residents have a place to play, and hope that UHO will consider options that make this possible. The input meeting began with people telling the group what the property means to them. UHO volunteers and parents repeatedly spoke of what they and their children have gained from UHO's sports programs. Highland neighbors repeatedly called the property an OPPORTUNITY to give our residents a safe place to play, walk dogs, and enjoy nature, and a place where neighbors can gather for events and to make friends within our community. Many people said that when UHO is playing it is a place filled with cheering and children. However, outside the sports seasons and when there isn't practice or a game, i.e. every weekday and for months out of the year, neighbors see a place littered with trash, poorly maintained, overgrown, and with fences that make the property unwelcoming to the our neighbors, but inviting to criminals. Watershed and Parks and Recreation (PARD) were then asked questions by the community. Mike Kelly from Watershed expressed his regret that the neighborhood wasn't involved in the filtration pond plans and described the current one, which includes 4 foot limestone walls in the SW corner of the property and a chain link fence around it due to steep slopes. He said that other fencing options were possible, but that these would require more laid back slopes and take more space. He also stated later by email that UHO's sharing proposal — putting a park on their current parking lot and covering the ditches across St Johns on Northcrest to make new parking, is not possible due to cost (>$500K) and possible flooding upstream because pipes drain less water than ditches. Kim McNeeley from PARD then spoke about how all youth sports organization contracts are being revamped to have better criteria for maintenance, and PARD is examining how fields can be better used, like combining groups on properties so they can share maintenance and fields. Ms McNeeley said they HAVE RELOCATION OPTIONS for all of UHOs programs and will present them at the December 4th meeting. They also said neighborhood parks range from 2 to 30 acres, and this property would have about 5 useable acres after the pond is made. Mr Reznicek and I were unable to speak as planned due to time constraints, so I would like to address a few things here. As far as space, national standards set a minimum of 5 acres for neighborhood parks, more in dense neighborhoods like Highland. There is less than a half acre sandwiched between the fields, so smaller than the Dorothy Johns Triangle, but in one long strip that includes bleachers. A neighborhood park can not be made on the property with UHO fields remaining as they are now, there just isn't enough space. Some neighbors also expressed fear that crime on the property would increase with a park rather than fields. There were seventy-eight 911 calls for 401 W St Johns in the last 10 years, including assault, drugs, and homeless sleeping in the creeks and the dugouts. The American Planning Association has compiled a large amount of research showing that parks and urban green spaces decrease crime, but that maintenance is key. A clean, well maintained park used year round, rather than seasonally, increases foot traffic and surveillance, and creates social ties that lead to safer neighborhoods. I will be at the Dec 3rd HNA meeting during the 6:30 social to answer questions about the park. Please come out in December to include your opinion in the report the city manager files with City Council Jan 15th. We don't know when city council will vote, but we need everyone at that meeting. Subscribe to aparkforhighland.org to stay up to date and so you will know when you are needed at city council to support a park in what could be the heart of Highland.
Marla Schmitz (Chair of the A Park for Highland Committee)
September Meeting Notes & Update on Park Meetings
Support a Park for Highland!!! Community meeting regarding 401 West St Johns, aka Reznicek Field, will be Wednesday, December 4th at 6:30 pm in the Reilly Elementary Cafeteria, 405 Denson Dr. Please, please make an effort to come to these community meetings. They will be our only opportunity to give input into the City Manager's presentation to City Council on January 15th. If you want a neighborhood PARK on this city owned land located centrally in Highland neighborhood we need you at these meetings.
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HNA Newsletter Printed By:
Worley Printing Company Serving Austin for 30 plus years
Union Label No. 25 Typesetting & Camera Graphics
High Speed Copying Wedding Invitations & Accessories
Multi-Color Offset Promotional & Advertising Products
Letterpress Political Campaign Specialists
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AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT DATA
You can now access the last 18 months of crime information, which is updated daily, through an interactive mapping program called the Crime Report Viewer at: www.ci.austin.tx.us/police.
This site has a link for Registered Sex Offenders. For questions contact: Officer Steven Gordon, APD District 1 Representative 512-974-5592 or [email protected] Or: Joseph Jiles, Senior Deputy Office of the Constable, Travis County Precinct 1 512-854-7510 or 512-917-8465 Cell
ADVERTISING IN THE HNA QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER Small $30, Medium $60, Large $90
The deadline for placing an ad is the 10th of the month in February, May, August, and November.
TO PLACE AN AD CONTACT:
Kitty Traylor at 512-451-9479 or [email protected] Please send checks to:
HNA, P O BOX 14109, AUSTIN TX 78761-4109
HNA MEMBERSHIP FORM Complete this form and bring it to the next meeting or mail it to HNA, PO Box 14109,
AUSTIN, TX 78761- 4109. The Membership dues are $15.00/year for each household.
Name_______________________________________________________________________________
Address ____________________________________________________________________________
Telephone (Home) _________________________ (Work/Cell) ___________________________
E-mail Address _____________________________________________________________________
Would you like to find out about volunteer opportunities with HNA? ____________
SIGN ON TO THE HNA LISTSERV AND FACEBOOK@
www.highlandneighborhood.com
Stay informed about happenings in our neighborhood!
HNA QUARTERLY BUDGET REPORT December 3, 2013
by Joann Rees, Treasurer BALANCE FORWARD $1,234.78
Income: 1) Membership Dues…….....…............$245.00 2) Ads in Newsletter……...…..........…...540.00 3) School Fundraiser……………………220.00 4) Donation to HNA…………………….....50.00 5) Check #1334 Not Cashed…...…….…..10.00 6) Donation to Garage Sale Ad…….……..1.50 Total Income $1, 066.50
SUBTOTAL $2,301.28 Expenses:
1) Bank Fees (Sept, Oct, Nov)…………...15.00 2) Worley Printing………………...……...553.25 3) T A Brown Fundraiser...……………...220.00 4) Reilly Fundraiser..….………....…....…220.00 5) Garage Sale Ad……………………...…..28.50 6) Supplies, Stamps…….………..………..25.35 Total Expenses $1,062.10
BALANCE December 3, 2013 $1,239.18
HNA Membership Dues! The yearly membership fee of $15.00 for each household (giving you one vote) is a small price to pay for the valuable services you get from this association. Without your dues and our advertisers we would not have funding to inform you of important issues in our neighborhood. (We are not a Homeowners Association — you do not have
to own your property to be a voting member! ) Complete the form below and mail or bring it to the next meeting or pay with PayPal at our website.
Let HNA continue working for you!
Highland/Skyview Neighborhood Plan
Contact Team If you enjoy watching the City Council on Austin Public Television, and are interested in learning about land-use and zoning, you might want to be on this team.
If interested, contact Damon Howze at 512-791-2328
(there is a limit of 16)
