The following information was provided by Mary Sanger:

The Austin City Council recently passed two resolutions relating to rental registration. The first was offered by Council Member Spelman, and it calls for the City Manager to initiate Code amendments for stiffer penalties for repeat violators of public health and safety codes and to require certain repeat offenders to register with the City. The second was offered by Council Member Tovo, and it calls for the City Manager to develop a one-year pilot registration program for certain residential rental property in the areas of North Austin Civic Association, Restore Rundberg, East Riverside/Oltorf Combined Neighborhood, Central Austin Neighborhood Advisory Committee Planning Areas, Hyde Park, Northfield, and North Loop.

The Tovo resolution specifically addresses stealth dorms. However, its primary thrust is multifamily properties, which the Austin Code Compliance Department has interpreted to mean triplexes and larger. With respect to duplexes and houses, the ordinance directs the program to "identify conditions under which registration for single family or duplex rental properties would be required." At a meeting hosted July 16th by the Code Compliance Department, Director Carl Smart indicated that they are considering repeat offenses as a possible trigger of registration for duplexes and houses.

On Thursday, July 4th at 10:00 am, the third annual 4th of July Parade and Picnic will be presented by the Hancock Neighborhood Association. Please join us for a fun-filled morning with Cupcake the Clown, Austin Fire Dept's Engine 3, and the Austin Police Department!!

In an effort to keep the cost down, each year we ask for help pulling the event together. If you plan to attend, please consider lending a hand to help make this a fun event for all of our families.

WISH LIST: (AKA: please bring them if you can!!)

* Folding Tables
* Trash Cans,
* Watermelon (already sliced even better!)
* Desserts like apple pie or cookies

We will also need volunteers to help set up, break down or prepare in the days before. Your help would be greatly appreciated. If you are interested in volunteering or have questions, please contact Melissa Linden at mkalinden (at) gmail.com

All families and pets are invited to participate in the parade or to cheer on the participants along the route. The parade route will begin at the Lee Elementary School parking lot on Harris Avenue and travel west on Harris Avenue, north on Woodrow Street, west on Texas Avenue, south on Montrose, and then follow Harris Avenue back to Lee Elementary. At the school we will enjoy watermelon, lemonade, cold water, entertainment for the kids and more! Cupcake the Clown is confirmed to Face Paint and we have adjusted the time to 10AM in the hopes of having the #3 Fire Truck lead us out!!

Please dress up your pets, children, wagons, and bikes, bring a picnic and and join your neighbors in celebrating this festive occasion. We are planning to gather at 10, and parade at 10:30. Hope to see you then!

Happy 4th of July!!

There is a Board of Adjustment hearing about proposed dorm duplexes at 718, 720 and 722 Harris Avenue on Monday, May 13 at 5:30 to consider an appeal filed for an interpretation that the zoning code permits only one building to be constructed on that site -- not three. Residents of Central and North Central Austin are urged to attend, and show support; and to also let the City Manager, City Attorney and City officials know we want the duplex occupancy limits lowered. The hearing will be held at City Council Chambers.