In my last newsletter I wrote to you about the improvement projects that I gathered from talking to constituents across District 9. Over the course of the past year, I, along with the help of my staff and City staff, have worked diligently to identify funds for these projects. We are fortunate to have found a way to begin many of the projects you helped me identify.

These projects, some of which are years in the making, will improve traffic conditions, quality of life and infrastructure in District 9. With my remaining time in office my primary focus will be to initiate these projects and to ensure their completion in the very near future. Although I will not be serving on City Council when many of the projects are completed, I would like everyone to know that my successor, whomever it may be, has assured me that he/she will see these projects to completion.

[Springs web coordinator note: The complete list of District 9 projects can be viewed on this website's Community Pages]

I encourage you to check this list for regular updates. We will be adding information constantly in order to keep you apprised of our progress. You may also contact my office at any time if you wish to inquire further on a particular project's scope or for general information.

Highlights From The Agenda

Important Council Agenda Items from Last Month


City Council adopts ordinance to proceed with Jones Maltsberger and 281 intersection construction


o Amendment to the agreement between the City of San Antonio and the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) which will include Union Pacific Rail Road (UPRR) costs in connection with the Jones Maltsberger: US 281 to East of UPRR project
o Ordinance authorizes the negotiation and execution of an agreement between the City and Union Pacific for reconstruction and upgrades to the UPRR crossing within the project limits


Council approves ordinance programing federal stimulus dollars to be used City-wide

o As a result, District 9 will receive approximately $350,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) money to be used in economically depressed areas
o Additional projects that will be funded through economic stimulus dollars can be found [on the San Antonio city government website].

City Council approves ordinance for purchase of two street crack seal machines

o This equipment will be used for street preservation maintenance, which consists of applying a crack sealant application in order to prevent the further development of pavement degradation
o This equipment is paramount in the continued process improvements dealing with pavement preservation

Council unanimously approves and adopts the recommendations of the Mayor's Sustainable Building Task Force

A summary of some of the recommendations follows:
o Energy reduction of fifteen percent for all new construction (residential and commercial)
o Energy reduction target of thirty percent in 2012 and a 2030 target of net zero carbon new buildings
o Water code recommendations mandating the reduction of the water consumption standard for showerheads, faucets and toilets
o This code will be effective for all new commercial and residential construction on or before January 2010
o For more information on the Mayor's Task Force and Sustainability Plan, [see the San Antonio city government website].

Joint funding agreement with HEB for intersection improvements at Evans and 281 approved by Council

o HEB and the City of San Antonio have partnered to construct an additional right turn deceleration lane and left turn deceleration lane on Eastbound Evans Road at U.S. Highway 281
o his ordinance authorizes the City Manager or her designee to execute a funding agreement and to accept funds in the amount of 161,598.65 from HEB to provide for the design and construction of a left turn deceleration lane


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Past Council Agendas & Vote Results

District 9 News

North

The Policy Board of the San Antonio-Bexar County MPO will be holding a vote on Monday March, 23, on whether to fund the Super Street project. Currently, the recommendation is that the Super Street be funded but the Policy Board has the final say and they must vote to approve it.

If you would like to know more about the "Super Street" proposal, please join us at 7pm on March 19th at Roan Forest Elementary.

You can also view an abreviated version of the presentation [at http://www.sanantonio.gov/council/d9/pdf/Superstreet%20Presentation.pdf].

This proposal, developed by Pape-Dawson, is projected to alleviate traffic congestion and decrease peak travel times by eight minutes along 281. The plan is projected to cost as little as $7 million and construction on the project could be completed in less than a year.

In other news, the Texas Transportation Commission recently awarded federal stimulus dollars to construct four interchange ramps at 1604 & 281. By leveraging local dollars with monies from the state this can be completed as a non-toll project.

With the continued area growth, both projects are long overdue!

You can follow the progress of work being done on 281 by visiting a new website: http://www.411on281.com/

Central

The City of San Antonio, through the coordination of the District 9 Council Office, recently held yet another successful "Extreme Sweep" in the Blossom Park and Arboretum Neighborhoods (map). With the help of Special Projects Coordinator, Joe Frank Picazo, residents of these neighborhoods learned about the myriad city services available to them. Residents also got a helping hand from Public Works, Code Compliance, and the City's Solid Waste Management Department.

The "Extreme Sweep" Program was conceptualized to coordinate a comprehensive package of city services to enhance the appearance of the target neighborhoods and encourage long-term property maintenance. For more on the program or to have your neighborhood considered for next year's sweep, click here.


Elsewhere...Protecting Camp Bullis

Many of you may have received a letter recently regarding the new Military Lighting Overlay District (MLOD). We have received a lot of questions. Please see the following links to a website that talks about the plan to protect Camp Bullis.

Overview: [http://www.sanantonio.gov/dsd/mlod.asp?res=1152&ver=true]

PowerPoint Presentation on the new MLOD: [http://www.sanantonio.gov/dsd/pdf/CommunityMeetingPPT_MLOD.pdf]

Joint Land Use Study: [http://www.campbullisjlus.com/]

Note that any lights as they exist today will be considered legally non-conforming or "grand-fathered"