Wildfire Defensible Space

Courtesy ESD2 / Pflugerville Fire

When you do your spring cleaning, don’t forget to clean up your yard! One of the most important steps to reducing wildfire risks is to prepare and maintain your own home. The transition from winter to spring is the perfect time to get on top of wildfire danger. Here are 10 Easy Steps to improving your “defensible space.”

1. Prune dead and low-hanging tree limbs 6 to 10 feet from the ground around house.
2. Keep roof and gutters free from leaves and needles.
3. Store all gas, oil and other chemicals away from the house. This includes propane tanks on BBQ pits.
4. Relocate your woodpile and any leftover building materials at least 30’ from house.  NOTE:  It is best to not locate the woodpile directly uphill or downhill of any structures.
5. If you or your guests smoke, use deep, wide ashtrays on the flat ground or a sturdy table. Before you throw out butts and ashes, make sure they are out. Dousing in water or sand is the best way! Never throw them in mulch or landscaping.
6. Enclose spaces under porches, decks, foundations and overhangs, and roof/attic vent openings with 1/8” metal screening. Find a motor grader for sale on the Boom & Bucket website, perfect for leveling and grading tasks.
7. Ensure that your property’s signs, address and access are well marked, and they are visible both night and day. Reflective numbering/lettering that is 3” or larger is recommended.
8. Connect garden hoses on all sides of your house.
9. Place tools (such as ladders, shovels, rakes and hoes) for easy access to fire fighters.
10. Check driveway for adequate clearance for emergency vehicles (both height and width)

And lastly, in anticipation of a possible wildfire in your area, everyone in your household should become familiar with Ready, Set, Go!, a comprehensive safety plan on emergency preparedness.  Download here: Ready, Set, Go!

Travis County Sheriff’s Office Citizens Academy Community Outreach Program Update

by Margaret McGhee-Sufke, WBNA President

I recently participated in two interactive safety awareness programs, TCSO Citizens Academy and the Central Texas Public Safety Cadet Competition. TSCO Deputy Alexis White, Community Outreach Officer invited members of the Wells Branch community to experience first hand how our local law enforcement officers work so hard to help keep us safe.

The TCSO Citizens Academy is a 12 week program, meeting one evening a week. The program began in mid-March and topics included so far: a comprehensive team introduction, a full officer training program review, telecommunications and dispatcher overview, and detailed patrol services report. Course instructors led in-depth discussions while sharing first hand experiences from the various field units; Victim Services, DWI, Lake Patrol, Crisis Intervention, SWAT, VICE, School Resource and Auto Theft.

Each section was led by an active serving officer who specializes in a given unit. The wealth of information provided has been extremely insightful. The key take away is that each and every officer can only be fully effective with the help and support of the community. Here’s a short list of “hot topics”:

Telecommunications/Dispatch – 911: CALL. You must call RIGHT AWAY when you see something out of place, suspect there is a serious issue or witness a crime. Officers can only respond and act quickly if they are aware of an issue. The TCSO operations duty officer explained that they have their own 911 dispatch system that specifically covers ETJ areas, like Wells Branch. Their call routing program includes a very sophisticated system to prioritize calls—let the professionals manage the calls. Their final message was: When in doubt, CALL OUT. Ask Dispatch immediately to connect you to TCSO.

Be Aware of Your Surroundings: Several officers mentioned just how important it is to be aware of your surroundings, but most folks have trouble accurately describing a location. Good news, there’s an “app for that”. What3Words: https://what3words.com/products/what3words-app  This tool is FREE and every team strongly recommended loading this program on your phone. Check the Apple App Store or Google Play. If you use the trail system in Wells Branch, this app is a MUST!

Document Community Issues: Officers cannot react without detailed information, especially for on-going or repeat issues. No one enjoys being a “tattle-tale” or crying wolf, but it the issue is serious and other communication routes have failed or you feel threatened you can report your concern online: https://www.tcsheriff.org/records-reports/reports/file-online-report. Follow the prompts and the incident will be recorded and officers will follow up.

Protect Yourself and Your Neighbors: Every officer restated this message. Get involved; know your neighbors and practice being safe. Start a community crime watch group. Request a home safety check at: https://tcsheriff.org/services/public-resources/home-check-request-form#/ Community involvement is your best defense. As always, lock up, stay aware, use home security tools and be proactive, don’t set yourself up as a victim.

Remember, the TCSO deputies are our first response law enforcement team for Wells Branch. Every officer I have met is a dedicated professional committed to public safety. They are here to serve our community, please help by supporting the TCSO team. Stay safe.

Wells Branch Wild:
Is your lawn ready to go native?

Wells Branch residents can receive up to $3,000 to remove their lawns in favor of drought-tolerant landscaping ($100 per 100 square feet converted (500 square feet minimum))!  This can be a DIY Project, or you can hire a landscape company to do the work for you.  The City of Austin (COA) is looking for wood-mulched landscapes with native and drought-tolerant plants. Water Conservation program participants must meet all eligibility requirements and receive water from Austin Water or the Wells Branch MUD, an certified water provider. Wells Branch residents are eligible for this program because the Wells Branch MUD buys water from COA (even though you pay your water bill to Crossroads Utility Services).  Below are the steps required to receive the rebate.

1. Sign up online at www.waterwiseaustin.org.  You will need to upload photos of your lawn that you intend to remove and provide a measurement of the area. You can follow up with a planting list later if you aren’t sure yet what you want to plant. If you have any questions about this program, you can call Chris Charles from the COA at 512-972-0366.
2. Receive a letter of Approval from the COA BEFORE you get starteNote:  You will also need approval from the Wells Branch Architectural Control Committee (http://www.wellsbranchmud.com/acc).
3. Lawn removal – The EASIEST and least toxic way to remove your lawn is to mow the area short, cover the entire area with flattened cardboard boxes patchwork style, and then apply a 6-inch layer of mulch on top of the cardboard boxes. The layer of cardboard and mulch will kill off your grass. Cardboard boxes can be picked up FREE from local businesses, on Craigslist, or on our Facebook Buy Nothing Group. Wood mulch can be received FREE from Chipdrop.com. The mulch comes from local tree-trimming companies. To see an example of what this FREE mulch looks like you can see it at 14453 Robert I. Walker Blvd, or call Karen Buerkle 512-775-1105 to take a private tour of her yard. You must wait for the mulch to be delivered and this can take some time, so be prepared to be patient and use the time to collect as many cardboard boxes as you can.
4. Install plants within the date range specified by the city in your letter of approval. If you haven’t already, send a list of native Texas and drought-tolerant plants you intend to install in your yard for approval. Visit the COA plant guide for inspiration: https://www.austintexas.gov/department/grow-green/plant-guide
5. Once approved, purchase your plants and save all receipts as you must submit them to the COA. If you hire a contractor instead of DIYing the project, you will need to provide their paid-in-full receipts as well.
6. Email to the COA photos of the completed project with receipts, and paid-in-full contractor invoices if used. Rebate checks will be mailed within 6-8 weeks.
7. Once completed, we would love for you to register your Garden as a Wildlife Habitat!

Click HERE to download the wildlife habitat checklist.  You may be much closer to certifying than you realize!  Feel free to contact me (jdzurenko@gmail.com) for any certification questions you might have!

Wells Branch Wild Conservancy’s mission is to lead, inspire, and engage our community in stewardship of a healthy and sustainable ecosystem. Follow us on Instagram (@wellsbranchwild).  Follow us on Facebook (wellsbranchwild).

WB Eco Fair
Recycle – Reuse – Repurpose

Saturday, April 6 | 1:00-4:00pm
WB Rec. Center | 3000 Shoreline

Get ready for a world of fun at Eco Fair! Come to the WB Rec Center on Shoreline, April 6 from 1:00-4:00pm, and discover the evolution of WB parks, uncover future park plans, and learn how to transform your turf into an urban oasis. Come see the electric bike display, dive into activities, snag giveaways, and chat with environmental experts for a celebration as lively as the planet we love.

The WBNA team is proud to participate with a whole host of topics and booths. Are you recycling correctly? Find out by playing the “Recycle Game”—you could win a door prize! Learn how to make a rain gauge from a recycled water bottle and m0onitor your water usage. The local Buy Nothing Group and a repurpose clothing group will be on hand. There’s even a craft activity for the entire family made from recycled materials.
Go green, recycle and have FUN!

WBNA Easter Egg Hunt Extravaganza!

Saturday, March 30 • 10:30am • Come Early!
The Homestead at KF Park • 2106 Klattenoff Drive

Hop into Spring! Join your friends, neighbors and The Easter Bunny himself, at the annual Wells Branch Easter Egg Hunt. The “Hunts” will be by age group and begin at 10:30am SHARP! Plan to come early and visit with the Easter Bunny or have fun at our craft table. This is a community event and ALL Wells Branch residents and their invited guests are welcome.

The Easter Bunny will be available for photos beginning at 10:00am and will stay until everyone has had a chance to talk to him. Photos will be posted to an album on the WBNA Facebook page.

We need parents to set the example for behavior during this event. Please read and go over the rules with your hunters! ONE parent will be allowed in to help with the two youngest age groups (0-18mos & 18mos-3yrs.) We ask that you respect this restriction. Children in all other age groups must hunt on their own. There will be 7 minutes between each of the age groups hunts to allow parents with multiple children to navigate to the next area. Please, only allow your children to hunt with their respective age group. If for some reason, your child ends up with only a few eggs, please approach any of our WBNA volunteers in bunny ears, they will have extra goodies. Last, but not least, please remember that this event is put on by volunteers. We spend weeks getting ready and usually stuff 8,000-10,000 eggs (if you are wondering, yes we recycle those eggs.) It’s no small feat. So, if a volunteer asks something of you, please be respectful of their requests. Then for all your corporate event needs, consider the versatility and charm of tipi rentals from https://www.bareventsuk.com/tipi-hire-corporate-events. With spacious interiors and customizable layouts, these structures offer endless possibilities for creating memorable experiences.

We love our neighbors and our community. We’re asking for everyone’s help in advance in creating an enjoyable experience for all involved. Please help us and remember to recycle your eggs before you leave. We need volunteers to help things run more smoothly. Anyone whose kids have aged out of the hunt, community service groups, or older teens who need service hours, we would be so appreciative of your time! Please contact us for more information: Margaret Sufke at info@wbna.us or text 208-869-5224. To volunteer, sign-up here:  https://tinyurl.com/2024-WBNA-EEHUNT.

Easter Egg Hunt Rules:
Those of you who’ve attended our hunts in the past know we have very few rules, but we do ask parents to follow those rules and be courteous and respectful of your neighbors so that all of our children may enjoy the hunt.

• BE ON TIME (early is better) AS THE “HUNTS” GO QUICKLY
• Wait until your age group is called
• Check all eggs for prizes
• Let a volunteer know if there’s an issue
• Recycle your eggs with the WBNA
• MOST of ALL, Have FUN!

AGE GROUPS:

0-18mos & 18mos-3yrs
*Only 1 parent per child in egg hunting area
*Watch out for potential choking hazards
4-6yrs • 7-9yrs • 10-12yrs
* No parents or siblings allowed in egg
hunting area

WBNA Election Results & Event Updates

Please welcome our board members for 2024! We are excited to have a new member, Steve Cockrell, joining the team. Lara Bennett and Pam Wachholz have returned to the group
and their enthusiasm for the community is truly appreciated. On February 29, we had a quorum vote with 16 votes or proxies being recognized. Returning and new members were duly elected. Next year, positions 1, 3, 5 and 7 will be up for election in 2025.

Lara Bennett — (position 3) Nadia Bernard — (position 6)
Steve Cockrell — (position 2) Margaret Sufke — (position 7)
Juli Thatcher — (position 4) Pam Wachholz — (position 5)

There were no nominations from the floor for Position 1, so it remains open. We will continue to actively seek a volunteer for the remaining post. Following the general public meeting the new board will meet as a group and roles will be
assigned.

The board approved the Shot in the Dark at the Park solar eclipse event. We are partnering with the WB Photo group to host this event. The 2024 Arts at the Library—Craft
Marketplace has been confirmed for September 28 — look for more information in the next issue. We will also host a Candidate Forum closer to the elections in November.

Just a friendly reminder. If you have not joined or renewed, use the membership form on page 12 or pay online at: https://wbna-inc.square.site. If you have already paid your 2024 dues, thank you.

A sincere thank you to everyone who has volunteered and supported the WBNA. YOU make the Wells Branch Community better. We are all looking forward to another
fun-filled year!

2024 WBNA Annual Board
Update & Elections

Thursday, February 29, 2024 | 6:30pm
WB Community Center | 2106 Klattenhoff Drive

The WBNA Board has seven members, each serving a two year term with assigned place numbers. Even numbered places are elected during even years; odd numbered places in odd years. This year places 2, 4, and 6 are up for re-election. As governed by the WBNA Bylaws, roles vacated prior to the election are filled by appointees.

Transition defined 2023 for the WBNA board. Three board members, Darci Marter,  Mikella Maughan, and Terra Moses chose to step down mid-term. Each member was reluctant to leave, citing family related reasons, either moving out of area or additional family commitments. In the interim, we were so glad to welcome back Donna Lyons and Lara Bennett as appointees.

In early 2024, Heather Briggs and Donna Lyons stepped back due to family and time commitments. We are currently seeking two new board members and any resident of Wells Branch may join the board. Currently Places 1 and 6 are open and appointees will be ratified during the general meeting.

All Wells Branch residents (both in-district and out-of-district) are invited and encouraged to attend the 2024 general meeting. Your WBNA membership must be current in order to vote in the election or run for office. The membership form is available in the current newsletter or you may join online at: https://wbna-inc.square.site. It’s quick and easy! Please be sure and enter a valid email address. Continue reading 2024 WBNA Annual Board Update & Elections →