Boards & Commissions Appointments, Winter Weather, Upcoming Events

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Subject: Boards & Commissions Appointments, Winter Weather, Upcoming Events

Dear Neighbors,

With the first two City Council meetings in the rearview mirror, my team is working hard to fill board and commission appointments over the next few weeks.

City of Austin Boards & Commissions: A Direct Line To The Dias

The City of Austin has over 50 commissions that play a vital role in shaping city policy. These constituent and stakeholder-led focus groups provide valuable input on a wide range of issues, from urban planning and public health to arts and environmental sustainability. They serve as an essential link between the public and the City Council, making recommendations for items that end up on the City Council agenda.

Boards and commissions are made up of community volunteers who bring their expertise, experience, and passion to the table. Their investigations and recommendations help guide city policies, offer advice on projects, and ensure that local governance is transparent and responsive to the needs of residents.

Each council member can generally appoint one person to each board. Council offices, including District 10, are busy sorting through the different commissions and trying to fill seats. Anyone is welcome to apply, especially if you are a District 10 resident with knowledge and experience that would benefit the commission.

To learn more about Austin's commissions, view open positions, or submit an application, visit the website. Your voice matters — join the conversation today!

City Council Recap

At the last City Council meeting we passed Item 26, which updates the existing parking code to make a number of changes to improve mobility and roadway safety in Austin.

The change most likely to impact you: Parking tickets will now be written for cars that park in bike lanes within the limits of the City of Austin. You can identify bike lanes by looking for bicycle symbols, bicycle arrows, and chevron icons painted on the roadway. From now until June 1, 2025, warnings and educational flyers will be issued for bike lane violations.

A notable exception to the new rule is if “a person stops, stands, or parks a motor vehicle to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the directions of a police or peace officer or traffic-control device.”

Short Term Rentals: Proposed Code Changes

Council is considering changes to the Land Development Code, specifically for Short Term Rental (STR) properties, such as the kind you can rent through Airbnb and Vrbo. The final public hearing on these proposed amendments will be at the February 27 City Council meeting at 10 AM.

Proposed changes will modify regulations to include new requirements that focus on regulating owners, operators, and platforms as businesses and enforcing licensing requirements. The changes represent the first time that the city has undertaken significant STR reforms since 2016.

Learn more, submit your opinions, or sign up for public testimony on the website.

D10 Public Safety Update: Increased City Park Security

One outcome from January’s Baker Sector APD public safety meeting was an update on Baker Sector’s ongoing attempts to curb crime and break-ins at parks in District 10.

Baker Sector is making progress using bait cars and other tactics. They have made a number of arrests in connection to burglaries of vehicles at local parks, including 4 more arrests last week during a Directed Patrol near Redbud Trail. Law enforcement also arrested a man responsible for painting swastikas on public and private property in western Travis County for nearly a year.

Additionally, we are working with APD and other law enforcement agencies to step up directed patrols near 2222 and 360 to combat speeding and noise problems while we explore possible longer-term solutions.

If you experience or know of someone who experienced a crime, please report it to the police by calling, visiting a station, or using ireportaustin.com. APD crime analysts will use that data to help ensure issues are responded to and resources deployed appropriately in District 10.

In the rest of the newsletter, you’ll find tips for winter weather preparedness and a recap of the February Community Listening Session. I've also included of upcoming events happening in the next week, including a Budget Town Hall with our City Manager, a free vaccine clinic, and more.

Sincerely,

Marc Duchen

Council Member, District 10

Winter Weather Resources

This week’s extremely low temperatures are projected to stretch into the weekend. Austin Emergency Management reminds us to protect the 4 Ps: people, pets, pipes, and plants. Austin Water has cold weather tips to help you prevent pipes and water heaters from freezing, and the city website has a full list of winter weather preparedness resources.

An Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) weather watch remains in effect through this Friday, potentially creating a higher electrical demand and lower reserves. To help conserve energy, ERCOT suggests turning your thermostat down a few degrees and closing curtains and blinds that are not receiving direct sunlight.

We hope you never experience a power outage, but in the unfortunate circumstance that you need to report one, you can report an outage online and check the Outage Map for status updates.

Text OUT to 287846 to register for Austin Energy text message alerts. Austin Energy will text back with status updates, as available. Learn more about registering for Outage Alerts. You can also call (512) 322 - 9100 to ask questions.

Most Recreation Centers and all Austin Public Libraries serve as warming centers during regular business hours to provide a reprieve from winter weather conditions. For a map of warming centers, visit austintexas.gov/alerts.

The Cold Weather Shelters (CWS) activation has been extended through Friday, 2/21 overnight. During registration, The Austin Public Health Immunization Team will also be onsite to offer COVID, measles, Mpox, and flu vaccinations. For information about CWS activation, visit austintexas.gov/alerts or call the Cold Weather Shelter Hotline at (512) 972-5055.

February Community Listening Session

We had a great turnout on Tuesday for the February Community Listening Session. Our discussion covered topics such as wildfire community preparation, city homelessness policy, neighborhood public safety concerns, new developments proposed near River Place and Hart Lane, and concern about the effects of the federal funding freeze.

Mark your calendar for the next Community Listening Session, scheduled for Friday, March 28 at Russell's Bakery & Coffee at 2222 (7300 Ranch Rd 2222, Building 5, 78730) from 5 - 7 PM.

Austin Area Firewise Alliance Meeting

The first Austin Area Firewise Alliance meeting of the year had twice as many residents attend as usual, reflecting the concern that our city has for the threat of wildfire.

We discussed evacuation plans, brush and dead and down cleanup, community building around wildfire preparedness, and ways to work collaboratively with City of Austin departments. The AFD Wildfire Division expert stressed that homes are fuel for fires, and talked about the importance of hardening your home.

If you missed the meeting you are welcome to read my January Wildfire Newsletter for essential preparedness resources. Find out more about the Austin Area Firewise Alliance on their website.

Imagine Austin Discussion

Yesterday, I attended the latest Imagine Austin Speaker discussion, featuring our City Manager T.C. Broadnax and City Demographer Lila Valencia.

One of the surprising takeaways from the talk: our demographer reported that Austin’s population replacement rate is only 1.3 (meaning the average woman in Austin has 1.3 children) compared to the 2.1 needed to maintain a stable population. This significant gap tells us that without immigration and domestic migration, Austin’s population will contract. It further highlights the need to preserve our neighborhoods and address affordability issues so that people can live, work, and raise families in Austin.

Budget Town Hall with the City Manager

Join the City Manager T.C. Broadnax for a budget town hall on Monday, February 24, at McNeil High School (5720 McNeil Dr.) beginning at 6:30 PM. Learn how the City budget works and share your feedback to help shape future city spending.

RSVP at austintexas.gov/budget. If you can’t make it on Monday, you are welcome to attend future town halls held in other districts.

This Sunday: FREE City Vaccine Clinic

With reports of a significant measles outbreak in North Texas, now is the perfect time to get current on your vaccines at the City’s 2nd annual all-ages vaccine clinic taking place this Sunday, February 23, from 1 - 4 PM at 1800 E 51st St., 78723. Free vaccines will be available for children and adults, subject to availability. No citizenship or insurance is required to receive the vaccines.

If you are unable to make Sunday’s clinic, free and low-cost vaccines are available by appointment from Austin Public Health (APH). Schedule an appointment online or call (512) 972 - 5520. Find more vaccine services on the city website.

City Of Austin Small Business Certification

Are you a minority-owned, women-owned, or disadvantaged business interested in contracting opportunities with the City of Austin?

Join the Small and Minority Business Resources Department (SMBR) for a monthly Pre-Certification Workshop designed to guide you through the certification process and help you access the benefits of becoming certified.

Learn more and register for the next workshop, happening on Wednesday, March 19 from 5:30 - 7 PM.

Black History Month Kid's Day at the Carver Museum

The Carver Museum (1165 Angelina Street, 78702) is hosting a Kid's Day this Saturday, February 22, from 11 AM - 3 PM, with the purpose of educating the next generation about the rich history of Black culture.

A range of fun and engaging activities are planned, including storytelling sessions, arts and crafts workshops, and interactive exhibits. Learn more and register.

FREE Yoga & Meditation Classes 50+

Pickfair Community Center (10904 Pickfair Dr. 78750) offers free yoga and meditation classes designed for people ages 50 and up twice a week.

Schedule:

Yoga on Wednesdays from 10 AM - 11 AM

Breathe & Meditate on Fridays from 11 AM - 12 PM

Learn more about programs for people ages 50+ at AustinTexas.gov/VarsityGeneration or call (512) 974-1320.

Volunteer: It’s My Park Day

It's My Park Day on March 1 is Austin Parks Foundation's biannual, community-led day of service. Volunteers work to improve parks and green spaces around Austin and build community through projects like litter cleanup, tree mulching, invasive species management and more. For a full list of volunteer opportunities during It's My Park Day, visit the website.

NEW! On-Demand Hazardous Waste Residential Pickup

The City of Austin now offers on-demand collection of bulk, brush and household hazardous waste. You can request up to 3 pick-ups per calendar year.

Schedule a pick-up through the Austin Recycles app, online or by calling Austin 3-1-1 (512-974-2000). When scheduling your appointment, let them know what items you are setting out. You will receive an email confirmation with guidelines for setting out your waste.

Starting Now: Lifeguard Hiring Season

Even though we’re experiencing freezing temperatures, Austin Parks and Recreation is preparing for the summer season by hiring lifeguards! If you have family or friends looking for a great summer job, encourage them to apply at LifeGuardAustin.com. Pay starts at $21.63/hour, schedules are flexible, and there is a $400 training stipend for candidates that are hired and complete 80 hours of work. Applicants should be competent swimmers ages 15 and up. Don't wait to apply - certification classes are happening now.

Small Business Workshops

The Economic Development Department is hosting a series of free or low-cost workshops over the next few months, designed to support the success of small businesses. Learn more and register on the website.

Apply to Vote By Mail

Eligible voters can now complete their Annual Application for a Ballot by Mail (ABBM), which covers all elections in a calendar year. The deadline to apply for Ballot by Mail for the upcoming May 3 election is April 22.

You can vote by mail if you are: 65 years or older, sick or disabled, out of the county during early voting and Election Day, expecting to give birth within three weeks before or after Election Day, or incarcerated but otherwise eligible to vote.

Learn more and submit your application.

Artist Access Program Applications

The Artist Access Program (AAP) provides free or low-cost rehearsal and production spaces to Austin-based performance artists. Artists and arts organizations can apply to take advantage of the opportunity to produce public performances in a space for free or at a reduced rental fee of $1 per ticket sold. Additional benefits include marketing resources, assistance with event planning, and support from PARD’s arts and culture staff.

For more information, visit the webpage or email AAPInfo@austintexas.gov. The deadline to apply is Saturday, March 15.

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Subject: Boards & Commissions Appointments, Winter Weather, Upcoming Events