HERITAGE OAKS PARK VOTE RESULTS

[Malcolm Yeatts]

The EROC Contact Team voted to continue working with the developer, City Council, Parks Dept, and city staff to acquire the lot designated TCAD Property ID 285948 as an addition to Heritage Oaks Park by using Parkland Dedication Fees. The vote was 23 for, 0 against, 3 not voting. The vote spreadsheet is attached.

This request is about more than just the purchase of a specific property. This request is about allowing East Riverside area residents to influence how parks are developed in this area. For years, the EROC Contact Team has been asking for more transparency and accountability concerning Parkland Dedication Fees. Lack of community oversight and input has resulted in abuse of the parkland dedication process for new buildings in this area. These abuses have been documented in the presentation given to the City of Austin Equity Action Team at their July 2024 meeting.

This presentation is available on the Google Drive:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1H0BFIkS3PBc9zvEdhSLH3YlChAf58LvF/view?usp=sharing

The commentary on the slides:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/15zxsZHydfQZH0B1zx19r2XfWa4OnRsrO/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=107698607260712401570&rtpof=true&sd=true

 

EROC will now send a request to Councilmember Velasquez asking him to support using Parkland Dedication Fees to purchase the abandoned property adjacent to Heritage Oaks Park.

If you have not already sent emails, please send emails to Councilmember Velasquez, his staff, and the Council District 3 Parks Board member, asking them to support using Parkland Dedication Fees to buy this property. This email should include information about the proposal:

 

Please support the proposal for the city to purchase the property designated TCAD Property ID 285948 as an addition to Heritage Oaks Park by using Parkland Dedication Fees.

This property has been abandoned by the owners.

Transient camps on this property have increased the crime and drug use in the neighborhood.

The police cannot issue trespass notices because the city cannot identify an owner.

If the city owns the land, the transient camps can be removed and the crime in this area reduced.

 

Send the email to Councilmember Velasquez, his staff, and the Council District 3 Parks Board member:

Councilmember Jose Velasquez:

Jose.Ve...@austintexas.gov

 

D3 Policy Advisor Monique Cooper:

monique...@austintexas.gov

 

D3 Parks Board member Nichole Merrit:

bc-nicol...@austintexas.gov