| Dear Neighbors,
I was ready to hit “send” for this Back to School newsletter last week when I learned that the Austin Police Department (APD) had thwarted a terror threat at Hill Elementary in District 10. I have since been in touch with APD leadership, AISD Superintendent Segura, AISD Trustees, the AISD Police Department, District Attorney Garza and Principal Drummond. This morning I joined the Hill community for a parent coffee, and AISD Police reiterated that there is no existing threat to Hill Elementary.
In this case, we were fortunate that APD was able to act quickly to arrest the adult suspect and that his parent recognized the danger and notified the authorities. Each of us can help keep our community safe by following the advice of “See something, Say something.” You and your family can report issues or potential threats at Austin ISD schools by calling AISD dispatch at (512) 414-1703 or by calling 911. Alternatively, as appropriate, you can use AISD’s anonymous tip line.
Every year, at this time, I share resources to start the school year. I want to underscore a few of the safety resources that are available to you and your family.
Free gun locks are available via a partnership between Austin Public Health and Lock Arms for Life. Learn more about safe firearm storage and request a lock at LockArmsForLife.org. You can also find tools to initiate a family conversation about gun safety at BeSmartForKids.org.
Mental Health and Family Resources: Mental health is a crucial part of a healthy childhood and family life. Visit AskListenTalk.org to learn more about how you can promote mental health in your home. Resources and education about bullying are available at herefortexas.com/bullying-resources and safeaustin.org. Sliding scale therapy for young people is available at austinchildguidance.org. For a full list of resources including crisis hotlines, support groups, financial and legal assistance, and more please visit austintexas.gov/page/victim-services-resources.
We all look forward to a safe and successful school year.
In the rest of this letter, I want to update you on my work to support our schools, and share additional important resources for back to school season and for your household. Over the past eight years, I have been proud to work with council colleagues, city staff, education stakeholders, and community members in the interest of District 10 students, families and schools.
As your Council Member, I have championed city budget investments in local public schools including funding for Parent Support Specialists, Family Resource Centers, and Pre-K classroom start-up costs. I also have supported critical Austin ISD programs like the Prime Time Out-of-School Enrichment and VICTORY Tutorial programs. Prime Time is the largest free after-school program in Austin, funded by a grant from the city and managed by the AISD School, Family & Community Education Department. VICTORY Tutorial is an Austin ISD program that offers free tutoring to students in grades 1–12, hosted at various public libraries.
Throughout my two terms, I have shepherded major safe routes to school upgrades near every District 10 school. I also worked with City and AISD staff to leverage our respective funding to deliver better pedestrian improvements than each entity could achieve on their own.
Following the 2017 AISD bond, I instituted an expedited permitting process and dedicated staffing to facilitate the timely delivery of AISD bond projects. In 2018, I co-founded and led Just Fund It Texas, a non-partisan group which advocates for school finance reform at the state level.
I serve on a joint subcommittee with the City, Travis County and Austin ISD, which is a space for leaders to share information and resources so we can more effectively meet the needs of our families. Through that work, we advanced many of the childcare initiatives described in my July newsletter and collaborated to pilot resilience hubs throughout Austin.
At the start of each school year, my office shares a Back to School Resource Guide with public and private schools in and around the district. I am pleased to share resources and programs available to support our City’s students below, and you can view the full Resource Guide online.
CapMetro rides are free for students 18 and under with a valid school ID. Learn more at capmetro.org/fares.
Austin Public Library has books and resources available virtually. Search for library materials, place holds, renew checkouts, and more at library.austintexas.gov/virtual.
ACC is offering free tuition through a pilot program launched this year. High school graduates and GED completers who are graduating between 2024 - 2028 and live in the ACC service area are now eligible to attend ACC with free tuition. This program has no GPA requirements or income restrictions. Find out more on ACC’s website.
If you need assistance with internet access or information on free and low-cost options or discounts, visit the Digital Empowerment Community of Austin Resources page.
Also an important reminder, Travis County residents who will be 18 by Election Day (Tuesday, November 5th) can register to vote once they reach 17 years and 10 months of age. Update your address and get voter registration information at tax-office.traviscountytx.gov/voters.
In the remainder of this letter, you will find resources for your household, Council and City news and more.
Wishing you and your family a wonderful and safe 2024-25 school year!
Regards,
| | Alison Alter Council Member, District 10 | | Table of Contents
Staffing Changes in the District 10 Office
Council Recap
Council Member Alter in the Community Central Market 30th Anniversary Celebration Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce Area Business Conversation 2222 Community Safety Meeting YMCA Four Points Facility Renovation Tour Austin Is A Poem: The Austin Poet Laureate Program Kickoff Party
Household Resources Household Hazardous Waste Pickup Service 311 and Austin Police Department Resources City Rebates and Utilities Discounts
Announcements Old Lampasas Dam Modernization: Meet the Contractor Event Austin Transit Partnership Community Expert Directors - Application Period Extended Art In Public Places Open Call Get Ready Central Texas Emergency Preparedness Fair Our Future 35 Cap and Stitch Open House 2nd Annual Small Business Connection Conference Coffee With A Cop Upcoming Job Fairs
City Service Updates | | | After 5 years of dedicated service, Mina Sherkarchi has departed the office in anticipation of attending law school. She started as my constituent liaison and then transitioned to handle our communications and advise on Austin Water policy. If you are a devoted reader of this newsletter, you have benefited from Mina’s work over her time at City Hall.
Please join me in welcoming Ashley Fisher and Sophia Mirto as new members of the District 10 team, serving as a senior policy director and communications coordinator respectively.
Ashley Fisher brings 15 years of public policy experience including service at Austin Resource Recovery and many years at City Hall working with Council Member Spelman, Council Member Renteria, and Mayor Adler. Her portfolio will include planning, development services, watershed, police, parks, and other departments previously covered by Kurt Cadena-Mitchell and Mina Sherkarchi.
Sophia Mirto is an Austin native with extensive experience driving communications agendas and building brand identities for purpose-based organizations. She co-founded the Bastrop Live Music Foundation in 2023 and has lived and worked on three continents. | | | During the Council meeting on September 12, the Council advanced a variety of contracts that address various public health needs in our community, especially mental health services for Asian, Pacific Islander, and Latinx / Hispanic communities, as well as community health navigation services for the Asian American immigrant community and the Asian American community more generally.
The Council also approved agreements aimed at supporting HIV prevention and education programs for African American women, as well as primary care and medications for people living with HIV & AIDS. We also added more funding to our partnership with UT Austin to improve maternal and infant health outcomes for African American and Latina women. In addition, we made significant investments to provide mental health and financial wellness services, as well as physical health and dental care services for our community’s seniors.
We continued our commitment to reduce gun violence in our community by allocating federal grant funds and extending an agreement for the Harvest Trauma Recovery Center to help survivors of violence. We also took important steps to fortify the City of Austin against cybersecurity threats and we made other critical investments to protect the City’s technological infrastructure.
Furthering our commitment to our workforce, Council authorized the negotiation and execution of a contract supporting workers compensation for our sworn employees. This improvement for the care of our EMS, Fire and Police officers will allow them to receive the treatment needed to recover and return to their jobs sooner and healthier.
The Council also approved various initiatives to promote our environment and sustainability practices, particularly in our support for the expansion of the CapMetro Bikeshare program which will increase access to transit for underserved communities and our support for developing a plan to phase out the use of PFAs within the Fire Department.
Another important action to note is requiring residential and hotels in certain areas to conduct sound assessments so that residents and developers can have accurate expectations about nearby music venues. | | | | | Central Market 30th Anniversary Celebration
This week, I attended the 30th Anniversary Celebration of Central Market. They set a new Guinness World Record for the largest charcuterie board at their original North Lamar location. | | | Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce Area Business Conversation
On Wednesday, I was honored to speak with the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce about the accomplishments and challenges of my eight years on Austin City Council. I was proud to highlight my work on child care, emergency services, workforce and local business. Mayor Pro Tem Pool joined us for the discussion. | | | 2222 Community Safety Meeting
Thank you to the many concerned constituents who joined Austin Police Department (APD) Baker sector representatives and me on September 5th to discuss safety concerns around reckless motorcycles on FM 2222. APD Lt. Chris Casto and Officer Willis Rounds shared some of the challenges to enforcement in the area, and we brainstormed additional ways to curtail unsafe driving along FM 2222 and prevent tragedy. APD leadership and my office are collaborating on next steps and you should soon see additional enforcement and safe driving education efforts along 2222. | | | YMCA Four Points Facility Renovation Tour
Last week, I had the pleasure of touring what will soon be the new YMCA Tomorrow Academy early childhood education center in Four Points. The center will open in early 2025 thanks to a $3 million gift from The Schmetterling Foundation. The Academy marks phase 1 of the Greater Austin Y’s three-phase plan to bring a new community hub to Four Points. Visit the website to learn more about how you can get involved and bring the community’s vision to life.
The Y plans to open multiple YMCA Tomorrow Academy locations across Greater Austin to help address the urgent need for more quality, affordable childcare to support working families. Learn more here.
| | | Austin Is A Poem: The Austin Poet Laureate Program Kickoff Party
I recently attended Austin Is A Poem, the launch party for our new Austin Poet Laureate Program, sponsored by the Austin Economic Development Department and the Austin Public Library.
I had the pleasure of chatting with the 2024 Texas State Poet Laureate, Amanda Johnston (pictured above), and the Austin poet KB Brookins who led this initiative. This program is near and dear to my heart, as my son Zachary was the 2022 Austin Youth Poet Laureate, and poetry is a big part of my life. Earlier this year, I was delighted to co-sponsor Council Member Vanessa Fuentes’ resolution creating this program.
The Austin Poet Laureate will act as the official ambassador of the City’s literary arts, fostering community connections through the art of poetry. Applications to serve a two-year term as Austin’s inaugural poet laureate can be submitted through the online library portal starting October 1. Learn more. | | | FREE Household Hazardous Waste Pickup Service in District 10
I am proud to have worked with Austin Resource Recovery to implement a Household Hazardous Waste Curbside Collection Program in District 10. Thanks to the participation of our district in the pilot program, it will be going citywide in early 2025. District 10 ARR customers can schedule a free home pickup of paint, batteries, oil, and more at austintexas.gov/hhwpilot. Also starting in early 2025, on-demand service for brush and bulk pick up will be available to ARR customers.
311 and Austin Police Department Resources
Download the Austin 3-1-1 smartphone app to report potholes, graffiti, garbage pick-up issues, and more. To ask questions or make a report about City of Austin departments or services, dial 3-1-1 or 512-974-2000 to talk to a City ambassador, available 24/7.
Find station locations, send anonymous tips, and file certain reports at ireportaustin.com. The Austin Police Department also has a district representative program, with several officers representing the neighborhoods that make up District 10. Find your rep here.
City Rebates and Utilities Discounts
The City of Austin offers a number of rebates for Austin Energy and Austin Water customers, as well as for drivers of electric vehicles.
The City of Austin offers programs for customers facing financial or medical challenges. Learn more at COAUtilities.com. | | | | | Old Lampasas Dam Modernization: Meet the Contractor Event
Construction on the Old Lampasas Dam Modernization project is slated to start at the beginning of October. This project will bring the dam into compliance with Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) dam safety regulations, reduce flood risks in the neighborhood, and improve water quality in Bull Creek. Sign up for updates about this project here.
Watershed Protection, Austin Water, and Capital Delivery Services will be holding a public meeting on Tuesday, September 17 at 5:30 pm at Canyon Vista Middle School (8455 Spicewood Springs Rd., 75750) to further explain project scope, construction impacts, and answer any questions community members may have. | | | Austin Transit Partnership Community Expert Directors - Application Period Extended
Austin Transit Partnership has extended the application period for Community Expert Directors on the ATP Board. If you have an interest in sharing your expertise to advance Austin Light Rail Phase 1, the new deadline to submit applications is 5 p.m. on September 27, 2024.
The Board seeks community expertise in finance, engineering and construction, and community planning or sustainability. More details about the Community Expert Director qualifications and the application and nomination process are available at atptx.org/board-vacancy.
| | | Art In Public Places Open Call
The City of Austin Economic Development Department’s Art in Public Places Program (AIPP) is launching five new open-call opportunities for local professional visual artists and artist-led teams. These opportunities invite artists to create public artworks across seven locations in Austin, including Red Bud Isle in District 10.
Each public art installation will serve as a lasting symbol of the city’s artistic innovation, creating meaningful connections between residents, visitors, and the spaces they share. Please RSVP if you would like to attend an information session. Applications are open between September 24 and October 22. | | | Get Ready Central Texas Emergency Preparedness Fair
September is National Preparedness Month. The City of Austin Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management (HSEM) encourages Austinites to start a conversation with friends and family about planning for disasters before they happen.
HSEM is hosting its 3rd Annual Get Ready Central Texas Emergency Preparedness Fair on Thursday, September 19 at the ACC Rio Grande campus from 3 - 7 p.m. This year’s fair will feature more than two dozen vendors, each with an activity associated with preparedness. The event is free and open to the public. Guests will receive a free emergency supplies kit to get them started on their preparedness journey. Find out more about the event here.
| | | Our Future 35 Cap and Stitch Open House
After gathering valuable input from the community this summer on Austin’s Our Future 35 project, the City invites residents to the September Open House on Saturday, September 28 from 10 AM - 2 PM at Canopy Austin, 916 Springdale Road, to meet the project team and view the latest cap and stitch designs. The updated renderings incorporate the public’s feedback on the proposed green spaces and recreation areas over I-35. This event is free and open to the public.
The September Open House is the final public presentation of the project before the City Council considers plan adoption. To learn more about the project, visit OurFuture35.com. | | | 2nd Annual Small Business Connection Conference
Registration is now open for the City of Austin's 2nd Annual Small Business Connection Conference, scheduled for Wednesday, September 25, 2024, from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Palmer Events Center.
This free event connects you with various City departments and other small businesses. You'll learn about contract opportunities, how to work with organizations such as the Austin Airport, and how to win City contracts. Light refreshments and lunch will be provided. Find out more and register here. | | | Coffee With A Cop
Join the Austin Police Department (APD) for an Officer Appreciation / "Coffee with a Cop" event on October 2 from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. at Texas Health Credit Union (4800 Grover Ave., 78756) to engage in one-on-one conversations with police officers, lieutenants, commanders, and chiefs. They will address questions and listen to concerns over a cup of coffee. Additionally, the next APD Community Connect Meeting will be on October 10 at The Gathering Place at Shepherd of the Hills Church (6909 W Courtyard Dr., 78730) from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. | | | Upcoming Job Fairs
The City of Austin is sponsoring a job fair for Austinites 50+ years of age on Wednesday, September 25 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Workforce Solutions Capital Area North (9001 N Interstate 35 Ste 110, 78753). Register to participate as a job seeker or as an employer.
Other upcoming job fairs include a Heros Night Out For A Job Fair on Wednesday, September 18 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and a Healthcare Industry Hiring Event on Thursday, September 19, 2024 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., both sponsored by Austin EMS.
| | | | | Barton Springs Is Undergoing Repairs
Staff from the City of Austin's Parks and Recreation and Watershed Protection departments are working with contractors to address a leak in a portion of an abandoned pipe at Barton Springs Pool. The pool will remain closed while work is underway.
While Barton Springs Pool undergoes repairs, Deep Eddy Pool will be open daily from 6 a.m. For updates, FAQs, and more information about Barton Springs Pool repairs, visit austintexas.gov/bsprepairs. For a full list of available pools in the city, visit austintexas.gov/pools. | | | Pano AI's 360-degree cameras are stationed on cellphone towers to view the surrounding area. Photo from Austin Energy/Pano AI. | Pano AI Deployed to Help Fight Wildfires
I am proud to have worked with Austin Energy and the Austin Fire Department to improve our City’s ability to prevent and respond to wildfires. This new AI system will monitor wildfire risk in over 400 square miles of the Austin area, boost emergency response times, and make the job safer for our firefighters. Learn more from the KVUE coverage.
Learn how your family can prepare for and prevent wildfire in my May 2024 wildfire newsletter. You can monitor current conditions at the Austin-Area Wildfire Hub, call 3-1-1 to request a home assessment by a Wildfire Division member, and refer to the Austin-Travis County Wildfire Coalition’s Ready, Set, Go! guide for preparedness tips.
| | | Loop 360 Lane Closures
Loop 360 improvements are under way. You can find project information and updates on lane closures at txdot.gov/loop360.
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