Ballot Language: The issuance of $143,299,000 transportation and mobility improvement bonds and notes and the levy of a tax sufficient to pay for the bonds and notes.

If approved, this proposition would allow the City to address city mobility issues by providing funding for designing, constructing and improving streets, sidewalks, bridges and bikeways. This proposition also would provide funding for traffic signals, signal synchronization and control systems, and public works buildings and related facilities needed for conducting transportation and mobility improvements. No increase in this year’s property tax rate is anticipated as a result of passage of this proposition.

The types of projects and programs to be undertaken as part of this bond proposition, if approved, may include, but are not limited to, the following:

Corridor Improvement Projects

Partner with other transportation agencies to address traffic flow and safety. Design and implement short-term, medium-term and long-term projects intended to improve mobility along major transportation corridors. Possible projects may include: operational and connectivity projects, street reconstruction, turning lanes, intersection improvements, signage, striping, sidewalk, streetscape, pedestrian crossing and accessibility projects and installation of bicycle facilities. Representative corridors may include:

• IH-35 Improvements
• Loop 1 (MoPac) Improvements
• North Lamar Boulevard/Burnet Road
• East 51st Street
• East Riverside Drive

Street Reconstruction and Renovation

Provide funding for street reconstruction and renovation projects as necessary to maintain the travelways citywide. Projects may include but are not limited to: streets, sidewalks, curbs, gutters, ramps, bicycle lanes, traffic management devices, streetscapes and drainage improvements.

Bridges, Culverts and Structures

Provide funding for the design and implementation of minor bridge and retaining wall repair projects throughout the city. Funding may also be provided for design of the Emmett Shelton Bridge project in preparation for future funding opportunities to construct the bridge.

Intersection Safety and Arterial Traffic Flow

Provide funding for the design and implementation of intersection improvement projects throughout the city to reduce traffic congestion and improve safety, including modifying and upgrading existing traffic signals and signal timing, installation of new traffic signals, pedestrian beacons, railroad-crossing improvements and planned roundabouts.

Local Area Traffic Management

Provide funding for projects to design and implement traffic calming devices throughout the city to address speeding concerns and improve pedestrian and bicycle safety. Proposed improvements may include new striping, speed humps, medians and other types of traffic management measures.

Citywide Sidewalks, Ramps, Curbs and Gutters

Provide funding for projects to repair, improve and install sidewalks, curb ramps and gutters, and associated infrastructure including storm drains. Provide improved accessibility of the pedestrian network in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Citywide Bikeways and Urban Trails

Provide funding for projects to improve the City’s bicycle and trail network. Projects may include but are not limited to: new bicycle lane striping, signage, markings or other bicycle facility or trail connectivity improvements. Funding may also be provided for a portion of the Violet Crown Trail in Southwest Austin.

Ballot Language: The issuance of $30,000,000 open space and watershed protection bonds and notes and the levy of a tax sufficient to pay for the bonds and notes.

If approved, this proposition would provide funding to allow the City to purchase land in the Barton Springs Watershed contributing and recharge zones for water quality protection. The City could also work with landowners in this area to create water-quality-management areas by purchasing conservation easements. This proposition would provide funding to preserve open space in perpetuity and may provide opportunities for development of facilities for public access to the open space land where appropriate, including trails and trailheads.

Tracts of land targeted for purchase or watershed easements may include those that would protect aquifer recharge waters, preserve water quality, preserve critical baseflows and provide a contiguous buffer where tracts are located next to existing protected land, habitat land and other public land. No increase in this year’s property tax rate is anticipated as a result of passage of this proposition.

Ballot Language: The issuance of $77,680,000 park and recreation improvement bonds and notes and the levy of a tax sufficient to pay for the bonds and notes.

If approved, this proposition would allow the City to provide funding for designing, constructing, acquiring, improving and equipping public parks, natural areas, trails, recreation centers and other park buildings or related facilities. No increase in this year’s property tax rate is anticipated as a result of passage of this proposition.

The types of projects and programs to be undertaken as part of this bond proposition, if approved, may include but are not limited to the following:

Citywide Park Projects

Provide funding for park improvements and design and construction of park facilities at existing metropolitan parks, district parks, neighborhood parks, pocket parks, downtown squares and greenbelts citywide. Improvements may include accessibility, infrastructure, structures, picnic and play equipment, site furnishings, associated park amenities, equipment, landscapes and trails. Representative projects may include:

• Colony District Park
• Emma Long Metropolitan Park
• Gus Garcia Neighborhood Park
• Republic, Brush and Wooldridge Squares
• Rosewood Neighborhood Park
• Shoal Creek Greenbelt
• Veterans Pocket Park
• Waller Creek Trail and Park Improvements
• Zilker Metropolitan Park

Facility Improvement Projects

Provide funding for interior and exterior renovations, expansions and new facilities to accommodate park-related programs and activities. Representative projects may include:

• Barton Springs Bathhouse Renovations
• Dougherty Arts Center
• Dove Springs Recreation Center Expansion
• Elisabet Ney Museum Renovations
• Montopolis Community Building - Recreation Center

Recreation Facility Renovations

Provide funding for renovations and improvements at existing pools, playscapes and athletic fields located throughout the city.

Cemetery Renovations

Provide funding for renovations to infrastructure, access, structures and overall landscape at City-owned cemeteries.

Parkland Acquisition

Provide funding for the continuing acquisition and development of parkland in areas throughout the city, including property for infill parks, destination parks, preserves and land along Austin creeks for future greenways and trails.

Ballot Language: The issuance of $78,300,000 housing bonds and notes and the levy of a tax sufficient to pay for the bonds and notes.

If approved, this proposition would allow the City to continue to fund the development of affordable rental and ownership housing, preserve existing affordable housing stock, and create transitional and permanent supportive housing for the homeless. The proposition would allow the City to provide funding for construction, renovation and repair of affordable housing, including infrastructure design and development. No increase in this year’s property tax rate is anticipated as a result of passage of this proposition.

The types of projects and programs to be undertaken as part of this bond proposition, if approved, may include but are not limited to the following:

Rental Housing Development Assistance

Create rental housing affordable to low- and moderate-income persons by providing funding for grants and loans to qualified non-profit and for-profit developers. The grants and loans could be used to acquire property, design and develop infrastructure, and construct new or rehabilitate existing housing, including permanent supportive housing, and other housing for individuals with special needs.

Home Ownership Programs

Create affordable ownership opportunities by providing funding for grants and loans to qualified non-profit and for-profit developers. The grants and loans could be used to acquire property, design and develop infrastructure, and construct new or rehabilitate existing housing that can be purchased at prices affordable to low- and moderate-income persons, and support development of community land trusts.

Transitional and Permanent Supportive Housing

Provide funding for housing individuals with special needs that, when combined with supportive services, can help them stabilize and work toward self-sufficiency. Transitional housing is designed to house persons for a limited period of time, typically no more than 24 months. Permanent Supportive Housing offers long-term solutions for persons who have experienced barriers to housing stability.

Home Repair

Provide funding to address substandard or hazardous housing conditions for low- and moderate-income homeowners, thereby alleviating hazards and preserving affordable housing stock. Funding could also provide renters with disabilities with accessibility modifications to make the residences more livable. Typical modifications include widened doors, wheelchair ramps, improved accessibility in bathrooms and installation of grab bars and handrails.

Infrastructure Improvement Projects

Provide funding for design and construction of infrastructure related to development with an affordable housing component.

Ballot Language: The issuance of $31,079,000 public safety facility improvement bonds and notes and the levy of a tax sufficient to pay for the bonds and notes.

If approved, this proposition would allow the City to provide funding for designing, constructing, improving and equipping police, fire and emergency medical services facilities. Facility projects could include renovations, expansions and new public safety facilities. No increase in this year’s property tax rate is anticipated as a result of passage of this proposition.

The types of projects to be undertaken as part of this bond proposition, if approved, may include but are not limited to the following:

• Northwest Police Substation
• Mounted Patrol Police Facility
• Park Patrol Police Facility
• Onion Creek area Fire and EMS Station
• Women’s Locker Room Additions to Fire Stations
• Fire Station Driveway Replacements
• Public Safety Drill Field and Tower Renovations
• Ambulance Truck Bay Expansions

Ballot Language: The issuance of $11,148,000 health and human services facility improvement bonds and notes and the levy of a tax sufficient to pay for the bonds and notes.

If approved, this proposition would allow the City to provide funding for designing, constructing, improving and equipping health and human services facilities. Facility projects could include new facilities to accommodate underserved areas of the community as well as renovations and infrastructure improvements at the City’s existing health and human services facilities. No increase in this year’s property tax rate is anticipated as a result of passage of this proposition.

The types of projects to be undertaken as part of this bond proposition, if approved, may include but are not limited to the following:

• Women and Children’s Shelter Renovations/Expansion
• Montopolis Community Building - Neighborhood Health Center
• Far South Clinic and Montopolis Clinic Parking Lot Expansions
• Betty Dunkerley Campus Infrastructure Improvements

Ballot Language: The issuance of $13,442,000 library, museum and cultural arts facility improvement bonds and notes and the levy of a tax sufficient to pay for the bonds and notes.

If approved, this proposition would allow the City to provide funding for designing, constructing, improving and equipping library, museum and cultural arts facilities. No increase in this year’s property tax rate is anticipated as a result of passage of this proposition.

The types of projects to be undertaken as part of this bond proposition, if approved, may include but are not limited to the following:

Library Facility Improvement Projects

Provide funding for interior and exterior renovations at multiple branch locations of the Austin Public Library. Representative projects may include:

• Austin History Center
• University Hills Branch
• Cepeda Branch
• Will Hampton Branch
• Milwood Branch
• Windsor Park Branch
• Pleasant Hill Branch
• Yarborough Branch
• Zaragoza Technical Support Warehouse

Cultural Arts Facility Improvement Projects

Provide funding to expand City-owned buildings that are leased and operated by the Austin Film Society to increase the amount of square footage available for film and television production and add office space for creative small businesses.

The $384,948,000 of project expenditures authorized by City of Austin Propositions 12 through 18 would be funded by General Obligation Bonds, which are repaid by property taxes. If approved, the City expects to issue bonds in installments beginning in 2013. No increase in this year’s property tax rate is anticipated as a result of passage of these propositions.

The Austin City Council is presenting this package of bond propositions to Austin voters based on the recommendations of a citizen’s Bond Election Advisory Task Force and City staff as well as community input. The following guiding principles provided the framework for developing the bond package:

• Infrastructure: Provide for adequate infrastructure and facilities to maintain City services
• New Initiatives: Support new investments reflecting the values and priorities of the City as identified in the Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan and related plans
• Mobility: Make investments in new mobility capacity
• Sustainability: Promote a sustainable community and high quality of life
• Cost-Effectiveness: Identify projects that are cost-effective, leverage other funding sources and maximize the benefit of capital investment
• Balanced Approach: Consider the balance of priorities in a proposed bond package

The election will be held Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Austinites must have registered to vote by Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2012, in order to be eligible to vote in the Nov. 6, 2012 election.
Early voting for the Nov. 2012 elections will be conducted from Oct. 22 through Nov. 2.

Visit www.austintexas.gov/vote for information about the Nov. 6, 2012 City of Austin Special Election.