Travis County Commissioners Court
Tuesday, July 27, 2010,
Item 2
>> item no. 2. Consider and take appropriate action on the following: a. Adopting a resolution expressing travis county's appreciation for service by sam hamilton in protecting the endangered species of central texas; and b. Recognizing him for his -- why don't we just deal with a and then discuss b, okay?
>> good morning.
>> good morning.
>> i'm rose parmer, program manager for natural resources for travis county. I wanted to come to you today and recommend that we have a resolution to -- to recognize sam hamilton's service to the people of this community. He served as -- had a fish and wildlife service for a number of months. He was appointed by president obama in 2009 to be the head of u.s. Fish and wildlife service in washington. With his untimely death in february of 2010. 2010, we are all very saddened by that, he had worked in austin in the late 1980's and early 1990's when the golden cheeked warbler and black capped vireo were listed as endangered species and very instrumental in the creation of the balcones canyonland preserves at that time. We wanted to have a resolution to recognize his many years of service both in this community and also to those endangered species and his service to the country as well. I wanted to also recognize wade harrel, here on behalf of fish and wildlife service to -- to thank and to recognize them as well.
>> wade, welcome.
>> thank you, thank you, i just want to thank you on behalf of the fish and wildlife service for recognizing sam in this way. I know both his co-workers and his family would be very appreciative.
>> did an outstanding job for us and i guess the rest of the country.
>> he did.
>> should we read the resolution.
>> okay.
>> it's -- with great honor and pleasure that i read this resolution. With sadness, though, at the loss of sam hamilton. Resolution on recognition of sam hamilton: whereas the coordinating committee of the balcones canyonland preserves conservation plan recommends a resolution in recognize of sam hamilton's service. Whereas the passing of samuel "sam" davis hamilton on february the 20th, 2010, the citizens of travis county lost a true friends who contributed greatly to preserving the environmental legacy of central texas through his efforts to establish the balcones canyon land conservation plan. Whereas sam hamilton's efforts to protect our natural resources, undertaken as texas state administrator of the u.s. Fish and wildlife service from 1991 to 1995, often placed him at the center of controversial issues and in highly contentious circumstances. And whereas through his tenure in central texas, sam hamilton also exhibited -- a willingness to listen fairly and an ability to deal even handedly in his professional undertakings. Supporting a vision of environmental quality and wildlife protection in balance with the community needs and whereas during his 30 year career, as a senior biologist and manager for the u.s. Fish and wildlife service, sam hamilton consistently proved his commitment to the highest standards of public service and demonstrated an ability to effectively address important and complex issues, and whereas the travis county -- the travis county is indebted to mr. Hamilton for his open constructive approach to addressing community concern that's aided in establishing the balcones canyonland conservation plan as a national model for endangered species habitat preservation, being the first such multi-species in urban area effort and now encompassing over 28,600-acres. And whereas sam hamilton is fully deserving of our gratitude and the citizens of travis county wish to express his lasting contribution to the quality of life in central texas. Now, therefore, be it resolved that the travis county commissioners court expresses its sincere appreciation to sam hamilton for his commitment and outstanding contributions to environmental conservation and particularly to protecting the endangered species of central texas. And that travis county recognizes mr. Hamilton for his work in establishing the balcones canyonland conservation plan. I move approval.
>> second.
>> i would also like to add that in recognition of sam hamilton, not only did he do for our area all that is mentioned in this proclamation, but by virtue of the fact that we have almost 30,000-acres set aside has added a whole new dimension to central texas from the stand point of economic development, quality of life, and it's set a standard that's been replicated now throughout the country. So i -- so sam hamilton is quite a man.
>> [ applause ]
>> any more comments.
>> there is a b portion of this. This.
>> > any more comments regarding a? All in favor? That passes by unanimous vote. B is recognizing him for his work establishing the balcones canyonlands conservation plan by officially naming one of travis county's preserve tracts within the balcones canyonlands conservation plan as the "sam hamilton memorial reserve.
>> we believe in the spirit of a way to recognize sam hamilton. We believe that it would be a good idea to name one of our bcp tracts. The city of austin is also interested in naming one of their bcp tracts. In the bull creek watershed there are a number of tracts where there's a city tract and a county tract next to each other. So we are proposing that as a way to honor mr. Hamilton, the -- to name one of these tracts. Be aware that the city council also has an item on their agenda this thursday, the 29th, where they will be both doing a resolution to honor sam hamilton and also to propose naming one of the city's bcp tracts. Be aware that these tracts are not open to the public except on a guided tour. At the basis the entrance of the tract will be so designated if you all vote in the affirmative on this. There would be a bcp sign, the regular sign, also either on that same sign or a separate sign. It's depending on how the city of austin and the county decide to do it, whether we have on the same sign or separate signs. To say sam hamilton memorial preserve so that we are joined with the city of austin in honoring sam hamilton in this way.
>> mr. Reeferseed.
>> thank you, sir. I'm proud to be able to express my support for this wonderful man and this wonderful memorial idea. And i also want to express my deep sorrow and sadness that i'm not allowed, i'm not allowed, people, as a citizen to attend the meeting this coming thursday because they have got these bizarre rules about me and about how i can't speak and i can speak 25% of the time, it's so bizarre. So i'm suppressing sorrow that i can't do what i'm doing right now thursday. But my spirit and you can throw in a word for ronnie reeferseed if you choose. Thank you so much.
>> here's my problem: normally on something like this we would have a -- at least a public hearing. We wouldn't just on one tuesday do it. And i have no problem with the recommendation. But it seems to me that we ought to come close to following section 1.020, which sets forth a policy for naming new travis county facilities. We can strike new. If we set out the reasons why we want to name this reserve after him, my guess is that we wouldn't get opposition. But i think we ought to go through the formality of a public hearing anyway because you never know what may come up. If you don't give the opportunity, there are those who may have wanted to come down and testify in favor of the project, you know, who are denied the opportunities. I don't know that i found much besides this particular section, did you, mr. Hilly?
>> no, that's all that i found?
>> i would feel a whole lot better if we followed this process now. Historically we have named buildings after individuals, but we have gone through a public process and -- and the ones that i recall i think in one or two of them we did get other recommendations that we listened to and decided to really go with the recommendation that was before us. That's on the sweatt historical courthouse, on the ruiz building that -- out at airport and probably one or two others.
>> yeah.
>> on this reserve, i think we ought to do the same thing. We could have a public hearing fairly soon, say in two weeks. I think we ought to put together a statement of the reasons why we believe the -- the reserve should be named after sam hamilton. We need some time to discuss with the city of austin how we should do it, right? When i read the backup, i thought we had in mind two separate tracts of land that we would treat separately. But if they are contiguous, it may make sense to put both of them together. One big sam hamilton memorial reserve the city of austin's property would be named the same thing as our property would be named. Each property would be managed by the agency. So travis county would own and manage its property, the city would own and manage its property.
>> okay. Of a separate gee -- of they separate degree graphically, though?
>> they are next to each other.
>> next to each other.
>> i guess that i'm looking more at the name than who manages. One big sign. Or two little ones.
>> two signs, one sign for each agency.
>> we treat them separately basically?
>> yes.
>> okay.
>> two entrances.
>> yeah.
>> okay. So i guess that i'm sort of blessing the recommendation and -- and i will be supportive, but i'm also supportive of the public process that we have used historically, i think has served us well.
>> yes, sir. We will put that on the agenda --
>> if we expedite that, there's no reason to prolong it. We can expedite it, i would still set that hearing off two weeks from today so we can get outlet a little notice and hopeful -- get out a little notice. Hopefully those who are aware of the city zest process will also -- city's process, will also be advised that travis county has a public hearing on -- that's august 10th. We can take action that same day, i think.
>> okay.
>> so we are postponing two weeks.
>> sounds like a good plan.
>> mr. Reeferseed, although you can't go to the city council on thursday, you are welcome down here on the 10th of august.
>> hey, thanks.
>> when will that actually go before the city council as far as your particular proposal is concerned?
>> i'm sorry, i couldn't hear you.
>> when will it go before the austin city council as far as -- or has it already gone to them and they just probably going through the process. I really don't know.
>> the city bcp staff parallel to me, city bcp staff are taking this to city council this thursday.
>> this thursday?
>> this thursday the 29th. So it will be on city council's agenda this thursday.
>> i'm fine with the public hearing. I think we should go through the process that we're accustomed to. But i did want to say for your benefit, commissioner davis and perhaps to the judge, we -- we got caught a little short not realizing that it was going to be on the city agenda this thursday. And the -- sam hamilton's family is going to be there thursday, so we tried to get this proclamation in today. So we would have it to presents on thursday with the family being there.
>> that would be good.
>> we will present this as well on thursday.
>> that would be good.
>> thank you very much.
>> let's make it happen. Thank you very much.
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Last Modified:
Tuesday, July 27, 2010 2:25 PM
