5B NEWS
5B
News
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
City, University Partners work on parking meter details By Michelle Truong Daily Texan Staff Adding meters on the streets of West Campus may pay for improvements to only one city block a year, according to a committee chairman in the neighborhood association University Area Partners, who met with city transportation representatives Monday. Because of a recent population increase in West Campus, the city of Austin recommended installing new meters within the last year. The city will not install the meters until it reaches an agreement with the UAP, whose members are in the process of working out details of a meter proposal. “In general, I believe the meters are a good idea,” said UAP President Cathy Norman. “The devil is in the details and we need to make sure we cover everything.” Brian Donovan, chairman for
NEWS BRIEFLY UT ranks as fifth-best university in Washington Monthly list UT was ranked the fifth-best university in the nation in Washington Monthly magazine’s 2010 national universities rankings. The magazine’s editors worked with Education Sector, an education reform nonprofit, to gather data for this year’s rankings. The universities were graded based on social mobility for low-income students, excellence in research and public service contributions. “We’re trying to get at what colleges are giving back to the country,” said Erin Dillon, a senior policy analyst for Education Sector. “Other [institutions that rank colleges] measure existing prestige of the institution. While those are useful, what we’re trying to get at is what colleges are doing with their resources.” Five new subcategories in this year’s rankings are mostly responsible for UT’s rank, since the University’s statistics remained about the same from 2009 to 2010, Dillon said. UT ranked third in student community service hours, only following the University of California, Los Angeles and St. Louis University. An estimated 27,000 UT students participated in nearly 3 million hours of service last year, she said. Despite its high overall rank, the University scored the lowest in the ROTC and support for service, staff, courses and financial aid categories.
— Aziza Musa
UT’s custodial services takes award for training program For the third time in nearly a decade, UT’s Custodial Services Division won the Training Program of the Year Award, according to a statement released by the Facilities Services Department. Robert Moddrell, manager of training and development for the division, also won the (OS1) Trainer of the Year Award, according to the statement. (OS1) is a benchmarking organization for custodial services.
— Collin Eaton
Groups ask Justice Department for Youth Commission probe Four advocacy organizations, including Texas-based Advocacy Inc. and Texas Appleseed, sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Justice on Tuesday, calling for a federal investigation of 10 secure facilities operated by the Texas Youth Commission. Based on interviews conducted with children and information obtained by open records requests, the organizations claim that the conditions at these facilities are unsafe and in violation of their residents’ constitutional rights. Among the groups’ major complaints are that the TYC facilities use excessive force and unnecessary restraints, and that they lack adequate mental health treatment. “TYC has not been able to adequately address the problems related to mental health care” raised in their meetings with TYC leadership, the letter said. Jim Hurley, a spokesman for the commission, said the letter in question is “not an accurate portrayal of the Texas Youth Commission.” He said that the commission takes the accusations very seriously and over the past three years has worked with Advocacy Inc. and Texas Appleseed on behalf of the children and teens committed to the juvenile justice system and will continue to do so.
— Kate Ergenbright
UAP’s parking and bike committee, met with city transportation representatives Monday. He presented the information from the Austin Transportation Department to members at the meeting, which was open to the public and included local business and property owners, residents and Student Government representatives. Although West Campus is predominantly populated by University students, the only students in attendance were four Student Government representatives, including SG President Scott Parks. “There are a lot of unanswered questions about residential and metered parking from the student perspective that need to be asked before we come out with a public stance,” Parks said. Donovan said current plans call for the city to receive 70 percent of the meter revenue, while West
Campus would get 30 percent. If the 96 proposed parking meters are in use a third of the time, city officials estimate that they would generate approximately $73,000 annually. About $14,500 of that amount would be designated for West Campus improvements. “It would be enough for less than a block of improvements,” Donovan said. “But some money is better than no money.” UAP is also planning to apply for the Neighborhood Partner Program, which will match funds raised by the West Campus parking meters, potentially doubling the expected revenue. Norman said more meters should be installed in areas that would have a lot of turnover, specifically in retail areas where people tend to be more mobile to increase commercial use of the meters. Some residents may receive park-
ing permits if free parking in West Campus becomes limited because of meter implementation. Multi-family properties constructed before 1959 — the number of which must be determined by UAP — are eligible for permits, and the number of permits distributed are to cover 50 percent of a deficiency between the number of needed and actual parking spaces. Donovan also noted the success of the meters on San Antonio Street in West Campus, which are in use about 60 percent of the time. He said that if all the meters do that well, West Campus meters could earn up to $30,000 without being matched by the city. The UAP Board plans to have a final proposal by mid-October. They will meet several times before then to gather public and student input, including after a Sept. 1 public forum to be held by Student Government.
Tamir Kalifa | Daily Texan Staff
Brian Donovan, chairman for University Area Partners’ parking and bike committee, discusses the addition of parking meters to west campus to support improvements to the area. Donovan said the city is slated to receive 70 percent of the meter revenue while West Campus would get 30 percent, although meters may only pay for renovation to one city block a year.