Trails resolution (#64) at City Council this Thursday.

[Charlie McCabe]

Trail advocates:

The following resolution (#64) on trails is being offered by Council member Cole and co-sponsored by Mayor Wynn this Thursday at City Council as part of the consent agenda at 10 am.  This focuses on pulling together all trails/bike ways planning in the city.  Please take a moment if you can to read through the resolution and write a note of support to council members.

Also on the agenda is item #63, supporting the Street Smarts Task Force recommendations with a goal of attaining Gold status as a bike friendly city:

Approve a resolution supporting efforts to upgrade the City of Austin’s bicycle network by establishing the city’s intent to become the first Texas city to attain Gold level bike-friendly status from the League of American Bicyclists; supporting the work of the Street Smarts Task Force January 2008; and directing the City Manager to study and report back to Council with recommendations for inclusion of the Street Smarts Task Force findings into the Austin Bicycle Master Plan. (Mayor Will Wynn Council Member Brewster McCracken Council Member Sheryl Cole)

Thanks so much!

Charlie

Subject: Approve a resolution directing the City Manager to direct the City Public Works Department and Parks and Recreation Department, and other departments as necessary, to collaborate to adopt a comprehensive and unified interdepartmental vision and coordinated plan to optimize City efforts to promote an enhanced and interconnected bicycling, pedestrian and trails network; and to provide a report to Council on the completion of the plan and the advisability of staff reorganization to support implementation of the plan. 

WHEREAS, the Envision Central Texas planning process encouraged the City of Austin to develop a dense, vibrant, urban infill to meet our regional population growth and as the City of Austin is implementing this vision; and

WHEREAS, the increased density redevelopment of in our urban core increases the utilization of our existing parks, trails, and other recreational facilities; and

WHEREAS, this redevelopment also creates opportunities to build new parks, trails, sidewalks, paseos, and other elements of an active transportation network through on-site parkland dedication and parkland dedication fees; and 

WHEREAS, both these urban open space and transportation demands could be satisfied through connections built into to the urban fabric through linear parks or trails; and

WHEREAS, the City of Austin has already begun a Parks Master Planning process to develop priorities for parkland and facilities acquisition, enhancement, and management; and

WHEREAS, the use of linear parks are becoming an increasingly important asset to multi-modal transportation systems throughout the nation and world in urban areas; and

WHEREAS, the City of Austin is also updating its Bicycle Master Plan to incorporate the recommendations of the Street Smarts Task Force to include a stronger emphasis on off-street facilities that serve both recreational and transportation purposes; and 

WHEREAS, connecting parks with other elements of an active transportation system, such as trails, bike lanes, and sidewalks, enhances the quality and utilization of all such facilities; and

WHEREAS, the ability to fully utilize our trails system for both purposes increases the overall quality of life in Austin; NOW, THEREFORE,  

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN:

The City Manager is directed to:

1. Direct the Public Works Department and Parks and Recreation Department to collaborate to adopt a comprehensive and unified interdepartmental vision and coordinated plan to optimize City efforts toward an enhanced and interconnected bicycling, pedestrian and trails network.  

2. Direct other City departments with related assets and management responsibilities – including Austin Water Utility, Austin Energy, Solid Waste Services and Watershed Protection & Development Review – to participate and lend necessary resources to the creation of the coordinated plan.

3. Direct the Public Works Department and Parks and Recreation Department to develop implementation strategies as a part of the plan, including but not limited to:

a) Interdepartmental consultation and coordination in the ongoing updates of the Bicycle Master Plan and the Parks and Recreation Long Range Plan.

b) Development of a map to guide the implementation of the coordinated plan, and incorporation of the map into the updated Bicycle Master Plan, Parks and Recreation Long Range Plan and Sidewalk Master Plan.

c) Identification of any additional City departmental plans or processes into which the map and coordinated plan should be incorporated.

d) Identification of any organizational changes, process improvements and staff resources necessary to facilitate and implement the interdepartmental vision and coordinated plan.

4. Provide a report to the City Council on completion of the tasks outlined above, and present the plan to Council for approval, prior to presentation of the Bicycle Master Plan and Parks and Recreation Long Range Plan updates.

ADOPTED: _______________, 2008    ATTEST:____________________

     Shirley A. Gentry

          City Clerk

M:\GC\GLA\2007-2008 Council Items\Drafts\04-24-08\ master trails plan resolution (2) draft res

Charlie McCabe

Executive Director

Austin Parks Foundation

701 Brazos, Ste 170

Austin TX 78701

512.477.1566

cmc...@austinparks.org

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Please become a member of the Austin Parks Foundation and help adopt, revitalize and improve Austin's parks. Memberships start at $35 a year.  Details at: http://www.austinparks.org/member.html

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The Austin Parks Foundation participates in payroll contribution plans at many Texas workplaces through Earth Share of Texas. Find out how you can support us at 800-GREENTX or http://www.earthshare-texas.org

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[May, Rachel]

Hi everyone,

 

Just for the record, Brewster is also a co-sponsor on item #64.

Thanks!

Rachel

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From: austint...@googlegroups.com [mailto:austint...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Charlie McCabe
Sent: Monday, April 21, 2008 12:32 PM
To: austint...@googlegroups.com
Subject: Trails resolution (#64) at City Council this Thursday.