Forum explores ways to build a sustainable region in a time of limited resources
Click here for a full report on the Forum, More People. Less Money. What Now?
Shown above are panelists discussing methods of funding infrastructure at the March 31 Forum. They include (l to r) consultant Betty Dunkerley, Cherian George, Fitch Ratings; Brannin Prideux, IBC Bank; and Jim Ziglar, Deloitte Corporate Finance. Moderator of the panel was Don Henderson, Public Financial Management (not pictured)
 | On March 31, nearly 250 community leaders from the five-county region gathered for a half-day workshop, More People. Less Money, What Now? at the Four Seasons Hotel. It was the first of four in ECT's 2010
Regional Forum Series. The interactive forum included expert speakers, panel discussions, table exercises and electronic polling. The recurring message of the day was - with limited financial resources and a rapidly growing population, it is critical that the region collaborate on planning and funding for a sustainable Central Texas future. Read More...
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Eight Finalists announced for Fifth Annual ECT Community Stewardship Awards
Make your reservations today online!
The Fifth Annual ECT Community Stewardship Awards Luncheon will be here in two weeks! Be sure to make your reservations soon! The eight finalists for the awards are as follows:
904 West (Travis
County) Dahlstrom Ranch (Hays
County) Franklin Gardens
(Travis County) Jacobs Well Natural Area (Hays
County) Kyle Plum Creek Preserve and Nature Trail (Hays County) Midtown Commons at Crestview Station (Travis County) Sustainable Sites Initiative (Central Texas) Taking Charge of Water Quality in the Plum
Creek Watershed (Hays, Caldwell
Counties)
Winners will be
announced at the Community Stewardship
Awards Luncheon on Friday, May 7 at 11:30 a.m. at the Hilton Austin.The
event will be the fifth time the ECT Community Stewardship Awards will
be
presented to recognize and honor visionary people, projects and
processes that
are helping to ensure the region's livability in the future. This year's luncheon features Keynote Speaker
Shelley Poticha,senior advisor for sustainable housing and communities,
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, who will share
insights into
the recently formed federal Interagency Partnership for Sustainable
Communities
involving HUD, EPA and DOT. She will discuss this innovative program and
how Central Texas can benefit from this new initiative. Click here to make reservations!
Samsung Austin Semiconductor is the Presenting Sponsor
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 Rock & Rail Celebration
CapMetro plans fun appreciation weekend with music and Saturday ridesJoin Capital
Metro for a free customer appreciation concert on Friday, April 30 from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. at
Brush Square Park in downtown Austin featuring Cienfuegos and W.C. Clark.
To help you get to the concert, on the afternoon of Friday, April 30,
the community can ride for free on one of three rail connector bus
routes that serve the Downtown Station (and the concert in the park): 460 -
Downtown /Congress, 461-
Downtown/Guadalupe, and 462 - Downtown/Riverside.
Capital Metro is also offering special
MetroRail service one Saturday only on May 1, 2010 from 11 a.m. to 11:30
p.m. Trains will run every hour between Leander and Downtown Austin
(see the schedule for exact times). Bring your family and friends and
ride MetroRail to many of Austin's local events. Regular fares
apply on Saturday, May 1. One way tickets range from $2-3,
depending upon area traveled. For more information click here or call (512) 389-7400.
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Three new directors join ECT Board
The Envision Central Texas (ECT) Board of Directors
has elected three new directors to three-year terms. They are Dr. Tom Cedel, president, Concordia University Texas (left);
David Singleton, president, Southwest Land Services (right); and, John Donisi,
partner, Drenner & Golden Stuart Wolfe LLP (middle), who was also elected Vice
President, Advocacy. They join 62 other members of the ECT Board of Directors.
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Around the Region
 The City of Austin's comprehensive planning process, "Imagine Austin" is in high gear. They've launched "Speak Week" - April 20th to 29th - so look for booths around the city where you can review a draft "vision statement" for Austin's future, examine current trends in the
city's growth, and weigh in on the future direction of Austin. You'll also want to be sure to attend one of the Community Forums for a hands-on opportunity to identify how Austin should grow and what transportation
infrastructure is needed. Your input will help chart a course for Austin's future, both for the Comprehensive Plan and Austin's Strategic Mobility Plan. Listed below is a list of times and locations, and you can click here to learn more and to register for a forum:
Tuesday, April
27, 3:30 -9 pm
Austin Community
College Eastview Campus
Wednesday, April
28, 7:45
am -1:30 pm
St. David's Episcopal
Church
Wednesday, April
28, 6:-8:30 pm
Anderson High School
Saturday, May
1, 9-11:30 am
Fulmore Middle
School
 The Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization(CAMPO) is working to finalize the region's 25 year transportation plan entitled " People, Planning and Preparing for the Future". This plan has major implications for our region's future, so you are encouraged to weigh in with your thoughts. CAMPO has extended the public comment period on their 2035 Plan until May 14th. There is also a public hearing on the draft plan scheduled for
Monday, May 10th at 6:00 p.m. at the Austin Convention
Center, 500 East Cesar Chavez Street. Click here to review the plan and complete an on-line comment form, or you can e-mail or phone your comments to Greg
Griffin at greg.griffin@campotexas.org or (512) 974-2084 .
 The 2010 Statewide Land Conservation Conference, hosted by the Texas Land Trust Council, will take place in Austin April 28 - 30 at the Hilton Austin Airport. The conference will feature speakers, panels and exhibits and cover topics such as Conservation
Easements and Appraisals, Federal Tax Incentives for Conservation, Conservation Development, Land Trust Operations and more! To learn more and to register, visit the conference website. April 29: Enhancing the Congress Ave. Experience Next
Steps Breakfast Forum. Congress Avenue in Austin is the "Main Street of Texas."
But does it measure up to the standards of the great streets in the greatest
cities of the world?
Join the Downtown Austin Alliance (DAA) on Thursday, April 29 for a
presentation of the initial findings from the "Enhancing the Congress Avenue
Experience" charrette held on Feb. 26. DAA is continuing to gain
momentum on the re-envisioning of Congress Avenue and invite you to be a part of
the transformation - whether or not you were able to attend the event in
February.
Enhancing the Congress
Ave. Experience Follow-Up MeetingThursday, April 29, 20107:30 a.m.:
Breakfast8:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.: Presentation and DiscussionSt. David's
Episcopal Church, Sumner's Hall 304 East 7th StreetRSVP: email RSVP@downtownaustin.com or call
512-381-6270 |
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