Minutes
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Rosewood Neighborhood Contact Team
Special Meeting on Boggy Creek Improvement Project
May 3, 2005
Conley-Guerrero Senior Activity Center

Present
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Rosewood Glen Oaks Neighborhood Association (RGO)
    Starya Wagner, Dolores Perez, Annie Stewart, Ramiro Montoya 
Rosewood Neighborhood Planning Team (RNPT)
    Clara Cobble, Louis Herrera, Jr., Angela Miller 
RGO and RNPT
    Liz Snipes, Gilbert Rivera, Jane Rivera
City of Austin Neighborhood Planning & Zoning
    Laura Patlove 
Austin Clean Water Program
    Gopal Guthikonda, Bill Moriarty, Brenda Baker, Joe Smith, Brigid
    Shea, and Crispin Ruiz
Ê
Laura presented the RNPT Top Ten Priorities and requested that we
consider among several that may be appropriate for use of the $10,000
grant that the RNPT has left. Of the 7 RNPT members and 4 RGO members
there, following discussion,Êwe asked Laura to investigate placing the
money on the sidewalk continuation for theÊwest side of Pleasant
Valley RoadÊbetween Rosewood Recreation Center and
Conley-GuerreroÊSenior Center.
Ê
Boggy Creek Improvement Project
Gilbert showed some slides he took of some of the issues weÊwere going
to discuss:Êbank erosion, debris, and the old sewer lines thatÊrun
through the creek.

Gopal gave us an overview of how the project came to be.ÊIn 1999, the
Brushy Creek incident occurred, where the groundwater was
containimated.ÊThe EPA gave Austin a mandate to repair the wastewater
overflow problems throughout the city by 2007.Ê The Govalle area
project (Brenda reports on it in detail) will be the biggest City of
Austin project to date in wastewater improvements.ÊThere will be a
complete removal of the existing pipes from the creek once all phases
are complete.

Brenda then reviewed the 4 separate projects that will repair our
creek. There are 3 wasterwater projects:
    1)  Manor Road/Comal Project--it goes from Northwestern to NW of
        the creek plus the other side of the creek itself;
    2)  Webberville/San Bernard--various locations around the RNPT
        area; and
    3)  Waller/Pedernales 36" Interceptor--will put in a large line
        from Boggy Creek south to Town Lake.Ê 
    
There is one streambank stabilization project:Êthe Boggy Creek
Streambank Stabilization Project.ÊThere will be no stream crossings.
The new wastewater lines will parallel Nile and will not cross the
creek. All the wastewater projects are in the design phase, somewhere
between 30 and 60% complete. They expect to begin construction in
early 2006 and to complete in early 2007. There will be a separate
contractor for each of the projects.

Mike told us that the reason there are wastewater pipes in the creek
is that, since drainage has to flow downhill, in the early city
drainage lines were laid at the bottoms of the creeks.ÊUnfortunately,
with time and erosion, the creeks drove down below the lines and the
result is what we have.ÊHe said that in the past, repair of creeks was
like the Army Corps of Engineers Boggy Creek project that was very
un-natural.ÊToday, they do projects that build on the natural beauty
of the area, instead.ÊExamples of current streambank stabilization are
Shoal Creek between 24th and 29th andÊBartholomew Park at 51st across
from the old airport.Ê This project for our area will take place
following the 2006 bond election, which is what will be used to pay
for the stabilization project. Their long term goal is to increase the
canopy but within the appropriate zone--i.e. not tight up to the creek
bank.ÊThey will replant to ensure that there will be enough
canopy.ÊThis project will stop at Rosewood Avenue.
Ê
Mike told us that if we find an obstruction in the creek, we can call
dispatch: 974-3550.

*adjourn*