 "Photo: Bryant Haertlein")
The Austin City Council held a public hearing Thursday night for residents to voice opinions on the proposed city budget.
Most of the people who spoke were representatives from ADAPT of Texas, a grassroots disability rights group, and called for the reallocation of funds in the proposed budget to fund the improvement of city sidewalks.
Group spokeswoman Jennifer McPhail asked Mayor Will Wynn and city council members to provide $5 million per year for the next 20 years for sidewalk improvement.
"We have a few dollars available to us, and all you have to do is redirect some of that money," McPhail said.
McPhail said interest from city bonds and a rebate from the Texas Department of Transportation could provide funding. She said the $1.2 million provided in the budget for sidewalk improvement is targeted mostly toward residential areas and would not alter some of the most dangerous areas for pedestrians.
"If you can spend money on parking space management, but not sidewalks, your priorities are askew," she said.
The only other group represented at the hearing was the Heritage Society of Austin, which called for additional funds to go to historic preservation in the city.
The proposed budget calls for $237,000 in spending on historic preservation. John Donisi, president of the heritage society, cited Portland, Atlanta, Nashville, Denver and Fort Worth as smaller or similar-sized cities that spend two to four times as much on historic preservation.
"When we lose our historic fabric, we do so at our own peril," Donisi said.
Donisi said Austin's collection of historical sites is one of the biggest draws for visitors and that hotel tax revenue from tourists provides an essential part of the city budget.
Mayor Pro Tem Brewster McCracken said city council members valued the testimony of both groups.
"As great as the city of Austin is, we have a sidewalk situation that does not live up to our standards," he said.
McCracken said funding for sidewalk improvement was a matter that would require attention in the next city bond election rather than a budget update. He said a significantly improved sidewalk situation would be an important part of any voter-approved financing package for a planned city rail line.
"I think the advocates have identified a major shortcoming," McCracken said of sidewalk improvement.
Austin City Manager Marc Ott proposed a $2.8 billion budget on July 24 for the 2008-2009 fiscal year. To avoid a budget shortfall, Ott proposed freezing open job positions in city departments, limiting public library hours and cutting back on road maintenance.
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