Water Monitoring
There are at least three people in Cypress Cove monitoring Lake Travis water under the auspices of the LCRA's Colorado River Watch Program.
This monitoring consists of monthly analysis for pH, total dissolved solids, dissolved oxygen and nitrates. At some sites a bacteriological screen for E. Coli is also run.
Through these elementary analyses it is hoped that potential problems will be rapidly detected.
Incidentally, these volunteers are a part of several hundred volunteers scattered from above Lake Buchanan to Matagorda Bay, all doing regular analysis and reporting to a central LCRA office.

Improper Mailbox Use
Several residents have expressed concern about items placed in their mailboxes that were not delivered by the US Postal Service (USPS). According to the Leander Postmaster, it is illegal for anyone to place items in mailboxes other than their own. He further related that the Volente carrier found some items recently that were placed in mailboxes without postage and they were removed and taken to the post office. The post office can collect postage from the person or organization distributing items in mailboxes not sent through the postal system.

1) REMAIN UNINCORPORATED AND BE MORE PROACTIVE
We are told by Save Our Volente (SOV) that the Volente area is not going to be annexed by the City of Austin (COA), and that the request for annexation is merely a stepping-stone to allow incorporation to come to a vote. (Volente Wave January 2002 issue.)
If COA is NOT going to annex Volente - why does anything need to change? What is wrong with Volente?
COA currently must approve subdivisions and commercial development. The community and individuals can give input in this process.
If individual residents or groups identify issues or concerns, a neighborhood association, supported by the residents, can address specific issues or concerns to COA, Travis County, LCRA and if appropriate seek the assistance of other organizations such as Protect Lake Travis Association, 2222 Neighborhood Coalition, etc.
This approach assumes residents communicate and speak with one voice.
Advantages: No zoning, no new taxes, options remain open for annexation, LPA, or incorporation in the future.

2) LIMITED PURPOSE ANNEXATION
To be annexed for limited purposes, an area must be:
¨ Within the municipality's extraterritorial jurisdiction; and
¨ Contiguous to the corporate boundaries of the municipality (unless the owner of the area consents to noncontiguous annexation)
¨ Consent of the owners of at least 51 percent of the total affected territory must be evidenced by appropriate signatures on the limited-purpose annexation request
COA would consider the following when making a decision on LPA:
¨ The kinds and levels of development that will likely occur in the area in the next 10 years (if there is LPA or is not LPA);
¨ The public benefits to result from the LPA;
¨ The economic, environmental, and other impacts LPA could have on the residents, landowners, and businesses in the area; and
¨ The proposed zoning of the LPA area.
Advantages of LPA
¨ No new taxes
¨ Developments are governed by COA permitting, building and inspections codes just as though they were within the City limits (for example: lot lines, setbacks, building heights, commercial vs. residential, single vs. multi-family development, subdivision requirements etc.)
¨ Control over desired zoning is achieved
¨ Travis County would remain the authority for roads and the LCRA for septic systems.
¨ After 3 years, majority of residents could request that LPA remain (instead of full annexation)
Bottom line: If control over zoning and development is desired, LPA would require that COA staff review and approve developments for adherence to COA standards and Volente could request zoning determinations. We would have no city services and no additional taxes.