I completely agree Alan. I tried to get them to plant Buffalo Grass, which they agreed to do ... but the very same day, Darryl Haba's boss told him they couldn't do that, so they went back to the lovely rock. This is only one of the many "bait and switch" things and misrepresentations that they did on this poorly designed, massively overbuilt and very costly project. - Kelso Kelso King 8508 Leo Street Austin, TX 78745 Phone: (512) 243-6137 Mobile: (512) 6737216 Email: _KelsoKing@aol.com_ (mailto:KelsoKing@xxxxxxx) In a message dated 12/5/2014 8:45:15 P.M. Central Standard Time, covna@xxxxxxxxxxxxx writes: I have to admit that after the City of Austin (reference Austin Water flyer) asked us to NOT cover our yards with rock as it retains heat (in a drought), does NOT retain moisture (in a drought) that the contractors did exactly what the city does NOT recommend (in a drought). Then (in a drought), lets plant young trees surrounded with the same rock that does NOT benefit them nor what was originally “sold/pitched” to everyone local? What??? And we are paying for this via our taxes? That is called “bait and switch” which is illegal in business but I guess to the city of Austin it’s okay? How do these rocks keep Austin “green”? If you think I am crazy, then lets save us all a bunch of water cost and lets remove all the grass at Zilker park and replace it with rocks. Saves us a big watering bill yes? ACL festivals will no longer have to worry about flooding, we’ll just fill it in with rocks, it’ll drain during the floods right?. Yeah it’s going to be a bit warmer at the festivals but we’ll just blame it on global warming, not the removal of green grass. And won’t the Festival of Lights be lovely reflecting off the rocks? Hmmm... Hell maybe lets just pave it so there is no maintenance cost, what do you think? Sarcasm of course. Folks we got screwed when the city changed the rules LATE POINT into this “ upgrade”. In a drought you plan (lay?) mulch which retains moisture and gives the plants a chance to survive, not rocks! There is nothing native to Austin that went around these newly planted trees, just a way for the contractor (or city) to save any future maintenance cost. I cry foul, your mileage may vary... Alan From: _covna@freelists.org_ (mailto:covna@xxxxxxxxxxxxx) Sent: Friday, December 05, 2014 3:14 PM To: _covna@freelists.org_ (mailto:covna@xxxxxxxxxxxxx) Subject: [covna] Re: Fwd: Davis/Deer Realignment Project Status Update Heck no, they think nothing of their impact on the environment. They decided to put rock in the new medians rather than Buffalo Grass in order to be "sustainable." This after bulldozing dozens of beautiful trees, many unnecessarily. I don't think they really understand the concept. All they know is scraping the landscape clean and then paving it. As Gallagher once said: it seals in the nutrients.- Kelso Kelso King 8508 Leo Street Austin, TX 78745 Phone: (512) 243-6137 Mobile: (512) 6737216 Email: KelsoKing@xxxxxxx In a message dated 12/5/2014 2:26:21 P.M. Central Standard Time, covna@xxxxxxxxxxxxx writes: Gee... how funny. I actually for a moment thought they might be sending the displaced deer somewhere (Deer realignment). Get ready for some deer collisions. I'm sorry to be pessimistic, but have they given a thought about the wildlife issue??? Sheila ----- Original Message ----- From: covna@xxxxxxxxxxxxx To: COVNA@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Friday, December 5, 2014 10:46:33 AM Subject: [covna] Fwd: Davis/Deer Realignment Project Status Update Update on Davis at Brodie project. Significant detours to come. Mark Tilley Queenswood ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Garnett, Susan <Susan.Garnett@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Date: Thu, Dec 4, 2014 at 1:54 PM Subject: Davis/Deer Realignment Project Status Update To: Please see below for an update on the Davis/Deer Realignment Project. The City’s contractor is approximately 90% complete with the Davis/Deer Lane Realignment project (CIPID 6685.027) . Installation of driveways, sidewalk, and ramps have been completed. Remaining work includes storm drain installation at the east pond, final paving, striping and median work along Brodie Lane. Beginning on Sunday, December 7, *Deer Lane will be closed* and westbound traffic will be detoured to Alexandria Drive and then to Coastal Drive and Copano Drive. This detour will allow the contractor to complete the final portion of paving and striping from Ovalia Drive to Brodie Lane. Eastbound traffic along Davis Lane will also be detoured to Copano Drive and then Alexandria Drive toward Brodie Lane. No thru traffic will be allowed, only the residents who live along this section of roadway may enter. This road closure is expected to reopen on Saturday, December 13. The City’s contractor will also open the new portion of Davis Lane on Saturday, December 13, and begin median work along Brodie Lane. This project is expected to be complete by the end of December 2014. Please follow all detour signage and use caution in these areas. Project Contacts: Jessica Salinas <jessica.salinas@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, Project Manager, (512) 974-7646 David West <david.west@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, Project Inspector, (512) 974-8742 Susan Garnett <susan.garnett@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, Public Information Specialist, (512) 974-7064 Susan Garnett Public Information Specialist Public Works Department | City of Austin Desk: 512-974-7064 Cell: 512-574-6650 -- Sheila Gordon, Chair Department of Performing Arts Associate Professor, Acting and Voice St. Edwards University Austin, TX 78704 (512) 492-3158 http://www.stedwards.edu/sites/default/files/admission_pdfs/theater_audition .pdf