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Questions & Answers Source: http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/annexation/ammud_splan_questions.htm
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How will the City and County Sheriff work together to solve problems?Cooperation between the departments will continue. The City also offers the District Representative Program to help with the resolution of short- and long-term problems, such as a barking dog. Detectives also help to solve problems.
Will the City build a substation in Anderson Mill MUD?The substation for the Northwest Area Command is located at 12425 Lamplight Village near the corner of Lamplight Village and Parmer Lane. Officers do not spend a lot of time at the substation; they are mobile and work out of their cars.
Who will patrol schools in the annexation area?Currently, Williamson County Sheriff's Deputies provide school resource officers (SROs) to Grisham Middle School and Westwood High School. After annexation, Round Rock Independent School District may choose to continue this arrangement at its discretion. Routinely, SROs are responsible for the school grounds proper, while the district patrol officers would be responsible for areas contiguous to the school property. The Austin Police Department patrols the areas around all schools within Austin city limits, regardless of the county.
Who hires crossing guards for schools?The city hires crossing guards as part of the Public Works Department's School Safety Program.
How will residents find out about city ordinances?The city ordinances that are most relevant to residents of annexation areas are described in the document Regulations from Selected City Ordinances (PDF 182 KB) on the City's Web site.
How many officers will we see in the neighborhood at any particular time?APD has already hired eleven additional officers who will be added to the staff of the Northwest Area Command as a direct result of the Anderson Mill MUD annexation. They will begin familiarizing themselves with the neighborhood in the Spring of 2008. APD operates in three overlapping shifts. Calls are prioritized, and an officer may be called out of the district to respond to a high-priority call nearby.
Which jail will be used for offenders?The offender will be brought to a jail in either Williamson or Travis County, depending on where the offense took place, except for municipal code violations. Individuals arrested for outstanding warrants issued for municipal code violations will be taken to the Travis County jail.
How will police become familiar with the community?Typically district representatives are free from responding to calls for service in order to have more time to get to know residents in the district and understand important public safety issues in the area. Patrol officers are also encouraged to get to know those in the community. Officers will begin getting acquainted with the Anderson Mill area this spring so they are familiar with the area by the time of annexation.
What can residents do to get to know the police and help them?Residents can make their concerns known to the City Council but more importantly have an open line of communication with the Northwest Area Command. Please remember to contact the Northwest District Representatives at (512) 974-5743 and utilize them as a liaison for areas of concern. Residents can also participate in an active Neighborhood Watch program or the Citizens on Patrol (C.O.P.s) program.
How is the Austin Police Department funded?Police service is funded by the City's general fund, with revenue from property taxes, sales taxes, fees, transfers from the utility departments, and other sources. Federal funds and seized property are also used to provide police training and equipment.
What will response times be?The city-wide goal is to respond to Priority One calls in an average of seven minutes. In December 2007, the average response time in the Northwest Area Command was eight minutes and fifty seconds for Priority One calls. Travel times are longer in this part of the city, so the area command received additional officer positions in order to help improve response times. Longer response times occur during the busy afternoon rush hour and when officers are called out of their districts for an incident. However, Anderson Mill is well-situated within the area command because it is not on the periphery.
Will the Limited District be allowed to hire off-duty police officers to provide security for MUD facilities?Yes. The Limited District will be responsible for providing adequate security for facilities.
How will the City utilize the old MUD building that currently functions as a Williamson County Sheriff's Department substation?If this building is currently owned by the MUD, it would not become City property until after the Limited District is dissolved. Prior to that time, if the MUD or Limited District is interested in leasing the building to the City, APD would consider using it as a location for officers to write reports. However, the City's Real Estate Department would need an opportunity to review the terms of the proposed lease before committing to this use of the building.
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Why will staffing be reduced at the Anderson Mill Road fire station (#38)?The unit stationed here is called a quint. Because of its dual capabilities as both a fire engine and a ladder truck, in the past it has been staffed as two units with three firefighters each, with a total of six firefighters. It will be a more efficient use of resources to operate the quint as a single unit with four firefighters.
What will the response times be?
Response times to the Anderson Mill MUD area should meet our Standard of Response Coverage goal of a first-in unit on-scene within eight minutes of call receipt 85% of the time. The addition of a new station at Spectrum Drive and Parmer Lane and the Automatic Aid Agreement with the Jollyville Fire Department will provide additional units that can respond to the area if the first-in units are unavailable or when a multiple unit response is required.
How will the change in the fire service provider impact homeowner's insurance premiums?The Austin Fire Department (AFD) has the same ISO rating (2) as Jollyville Fire Department, so there should be no impact on homeowner's insurance.
What happens if a firefighting unit is out of service?AFD will move units around as needed. AFD has agreements with several other fire departments in the area so that they can be called for help if needed.
What will happen to the Jollyville Fire Department?At the public meeting in January, Chief Kiracofe explained that the ESD will remain in existence to serve the remaining 2/3 of its district. Staff and equipment at the station within the MUD will be moved to the station on Anderson Mill Road, for which an expansion is planned. Jollyville Fire Department may still be called upon to respond to incidents in the MUD because of its Automatic Aid Agreement with the City of Austin.
You mentioned AFD's fire prevention education efforts for school children. What programs are available for adults who would like to improve the safety of their homes?
AFD will be glad to make an educational presentation to your community group. Individuals who live in a single-family home (renters and owners) and have an income of less than $42,000.00 a year are eligible for free installation of a smoke alarm. Senior citizens are especially encouraged to participate in this program as most fatalities in fires are senior citizens.
When will the new AFD station at Spectrum Drive and Parmer Lane open?This station is expected to open in February or March 2009.
What medical calls will AFD respond to?AFD responds to Priority One, Two, Three, and Four medical calls. For these calls, AFD will often be the first responder on the scene. EMS will also be dispatched and will take over response from AFD upon arrival and will transport the patients to the hospital if needed.
Who in APD can the neighborhood association or residents contact with questions? Will the Austin Fire Department support neighborhood events with fire equipment displays?The AFD Public Education Office serves this function. Call the office at (512) 974-0290 for general questions or to request a fire truck appearance, AFD guest speaker, or exhibition booth.
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Emergency Medical Services |
How will Austin/Travis County EMS provide service to the area?Austin-Travis County EMS currently provides some service to the Anderson Mill MUD area and will continue to provide service upon annexation. Austin-Travis County EMS operates an all Advanced Life Support system using the latest medical equipment and treatments. Paramedics undergo rigorous training that includes annual continuing education. In addition, certain medic teams are trained for swift water, high angle, hazmat, tactical and other specialized rescues.
Full-time ambulances are located at AFD stations 38 and 34. There are also 28 other full-time ambulance units that can serve as backup as well as peak load units that are staffed during high demand periods. Each ambulance is staffed with two paramedics, all of whom have national certifications in trauma and cardiac care.
EMS is a mobile service provider, with units constantly moving throughout the system area. Staff at the state-of-the art 911 communications center track the location of all ambulances in real time using digital maps and GPS vehicle locator devices on all of the units. The communications center is staffed by emergency medical personnel. As a result, Austin/Travis County EMS provides zero interval response times since care begins the moment the call is answered.
In response to concerns regarding emergency medical response, the service plan has been clarified regarding the city's response to emergency medical calls and how service will be provided.
Can you provide examples of priority medical calls?Cardiac arrest, respiratory arrest, life threatening rescues, and unconsciousness would be considered Priority One medical calls. Examples of Priority Two calls include chest pain, altered mental state, and severe bleeding. Priority Three includes non-life threatening auto collision injuries and generalized sickness with potential for complications (such as cardiac history). Priority Four calls are non-life threatening complaints with no significant signs, symptoms or history (such as generalized sickness, abdominal pain).
What are the response time for EMS?In Fiscal Year 2007 (October 2006-September 2007), Austin/Travis County EMS responded to 126 calls in Anderson Mill MUD. The average response time was six minutes and one second.
What will happen to Williamson County EMS, currently located in a trailer on MUD property?
Williamson County EMS will move out of this site.
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Please note: The correct phone number for reporting water or wastewater problems is (512) 972-1000. This number was listed incorrectly in the Resource Manual provided at the meeting. If you did not attend the meeting but would like to receive a copy of the Resource Manual, please contact staff.
Will a deposit be required when transferring to the Austin Water Utility? Will there be any inspections or fees?There will be no deposit, inspections, or fees required of existing MUD customers when the Austin Water Utility assumes operations of the utility. A deposit, inspections, and fees may apply to new utility connections, however. The Austin Water Utility occasionally conducts inspections of lines for preventive maintenance or to identify problems in the system. If the Austin Water Utility will be conducting a test such as smoke testing, residents in the area will be notified in advance.
Will the water rates be higher in the summer?
Seasonal water rates apply to multifamily and commercial customers but not single-family customers.
How do Austin's water rates compare to the MUD's water rates?For customers consuming water at the average city rate of 8,500 gallons per month, the water bill will be lower in the city. The City's water rates increase as consumption increases.
How will the Austin Water Utility compute wastewater bills during 2008, given that wastewater averaging takes place in the winter?Austin will use the winter average provided by the MUD.
Will you please explain wastewater averaging?The Austin Water Utility looks at water consumption during three consecutive billing periods from mid-November through mid-March, when there is little need for watering outdoor plants or lawns. The wastewater average is typically calculated from the average of the two months with the lowest daily water usage.
What about tap fees?Tap fees are assessed for new homes and for the installation of larger replacement meters, not on existing homes or existing meters.
Will water and wastewater charges be on the City electric bill?If you are currently an Austin Energy customer, your water and wastewater charges will be added to your Austin Energy bill. If you are a Pedernales Electric Cooperative (PEC) customer, you will receive a separate bill from the City for water and wastewater.
Will I need to do anything different if I have an irrigation system?No. A new meter for your irrigation system is not required.
How will the City account for water leaks in wastewater averaging?First, call the Austin Water Utility's Consumer Services office at 972-0000 for assistance if you experienced a leak during the winter month wastewater averaging period. If the leak did not affect the charges for the two months with the lowest water usage, the standard wastewater average may be used. If the leak did affect the winter month wastewater average, the Austin Water Utility will work with customers to resolve the issue.
How does the Austin Water Utility respond to service calls?
A priority system is used to send staff to the most urgent calls as quickly as possible. Approximately 67% of priority calls are responded to within 1 hour. A first responder will assess the situation, determine the personnel and equipment needed, and report back to the Austin Water Utility so that the right person can then be sent to the scene.
How will water quality compare to our current water when we are served by the City of Austin?The water currently distributed by the MUD to its customers is purchased wholesale from the City of Austin after treatment. The City of Austin will continue the same treatment procedures after annexation, so the quality of the water will not change.
What will happen to the MUD's wastewater treatment plant?The initial plans are to keep the plant in operation to continue serving MUD customers.
When will the City assume operations of the wastewater facilities?The transition will happen this summer within a thirty day period following the transfer of facilities to City ownership. From this time forward, the City will conduct all billing and retain all utility revenue.
Will the City offer employment opportunities to MUD employees?MUD employees are welcome to apply for any City job vacancies. Their qualifications will be considered along with those of all other applicants.
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Will PEC continue to serve its customers in Anderson Mill MUD?Yes. The boundaries of electric service providers are not affected by annexation.
Can we see examples of new bills? Please include fees, and show how different volumes of usage will be billed. Also, please show what a PEC customer's bill will look like.
Please see the sample bill provided here. This bill is for a customer with average water and wastewater consumption, a 60-gallon garbage cart, and electric service from a utility provider other than Austin Energy, such as PEC. Austin Energy customers will receive a similar bill with electric service added.
Are there discounted electric rates for non-profit organizations?There is no program for discounted rates for non-profit organizations.
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How will parks be maintained by the City if limited district is not ratified?The City will continue to operate and maintain the parks and recreational facilities at the same level as the MUD's current procedures for the life of the service plan (10 years after annexation).
What will a pool pass cost on an annual basis?A large number of city pools are free during the summer season, and during the winter months an entry fee is charged to offset the heating costs. The City has not set fees for Anderson Mill pools; however, you may find current city pool fees and other information on the city’s Web site and anticipate something similar. These fees are subject to change annually.
How long will the limited district last?If approved by voters, the original term will be ten years. The district may be renewed once for ten additional years with the City's consent. The district will be authorized to maintain parks and recreational facilities, provide for solid waste collection and disposal, and enforce deed restrictions.
Will it be possible for the City to keep the pools heated year-round beyond ten years?This has not been determined. Some City pools are heated during the winter, and an entry fee is collected to cover the cost of heating.
How will the limited district be funded?It will be funded by property tax, fees, and any leftover funds from the MUD.
If the pools are open to the public, and they become more crowded, how is that the same level of service?The term "level of service" does not relate to access. [After the meeting, MUD board members confirmed that the MUD pools are currently open to the public as required by law, though fees vary for in-district and out-of-district customers.]
Will the tennis courts be unlocked if they are managed by the City?Yes.
What is the Tanglewood Forest Limited District's tax rate?Currently, the tax rate is $0.22 per $100 of assessed value with a $50,000 exemption for taxpayers over 65 years of age.
Will pool employees be hired by the City?Pool employees will not automatically be hired by the City, but they are welcome to apply for any City job vacancies. The limited district may hire staff to maintain and operate parks and recreational facilities.
Can we use the City Parks and Recreation Department resources to recommend best practices for improvements to our parks?
Yes.
Does the City have a trail plan?No; however, the City currently has over 50 miles of trails and is developing a new six-mile bikeway named for Lance Armstrong that includes some off-street concrete paths. The City's Bicycle Plan and Pedestrian Plan include only on-street facilities, such as bike lanes and sidewalks.
Will the Limited District be able to set the hours and days of operation of the pools?Yes.
Will the Limited District be able to charge a higher rate for non-district residents for use of the pools?According to the Strategic Partnership Agreement, the Limited District may charge non-district residents no more than the City summer pass rate. If the District sets a daily rate fee, it must be uniform for all City residents, including residents of the Limited District.
Will the City allow the Westwood High School swim team and the local neighborhood swim team to use the pools?
Some existing City pools accommodate high school and neighborhood swim teams in a similar fashion.
Will APD provide security at pools during peak hours of operation?APD will respond to incidents as needed. The Limited District will be authorized to provide security at the pools as well.
How will the City manage the Anderson Mill Community Center?The City will maintain and operate the facility much like the existing City recreation centers. Many of these centers are used for neighborhood meetings, depending on room availability. A fee may be charged for an after-hours meeting, but this determination is made by each recreation center.
How will the City manage the soccer and softball fields?Soccer and softball fields will be available for use by teams by reservation. Call 3-1-1, and the operator will transfer you to the appropriate person to reserve the fields.
Who will manage the use of our neighborhood sign on Lake Creek Parkway near Anderson Mill Pool?The sign would fall under the purview of the Parks and Recreation Department. Interested parties should coordinate with the Department about posting public messages. Messages for community events that are open to the public, such as neighborhood meetings, would be considered more appropriate than personal messages.
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