| Dear Neighbors,Over the last few months I have had the privilege of working with some amazing parents, students, and community members to launch a state-wide campaign called Just Fund It TX. We are asking our state legislators to do the right thing and adequately fund public education! Every child in Texas deserves a high-quality public education. So our asks are pretty simple: - Increase overall public education spending to meet student needs, provide valuable programs, and attract and retain quality teachers.
- The state should pay its share to fund our schools - at least 50%.
- Money raised for education should be used for education.
As a policy maker, I firmly believe that school finance reform is one of the most important steps we could take to address both affordability and equity in Austin. I know that how our state leaders choose to fund our schools has a disproportionate impact on AISD’s ability to serve Austin students as well as on the size of property taxes those living in Austin pay.
The numbers speak for themselves. AISD is challenged to cut about $55 million, but projected to send $673 million to fund education outside of Austin in 2019. To put this very large number in perspective, the City of Austin collects less than $500 million in property taxes annually to fund city services such as public safety, public health and parks. As challenging as Austin’s funding situation is, underfunding of our schools is a problem across our state, in rich and poor districts alike. With the Texas legislature in session and focused on school finance, it is important that state leaders hear from their constituents about how important public education is to them and that we need big bold solutions and a long-term plan. I invite you to join me in supporting our city's legislative priorities by demanding that our state government provide sufficient funding to support the education of our state’s children. Through Just Fund It TX, we have tried to make it easy for you to make your voices heard. We have prepared a website with resources such as a powerpoint, materials for presentation at meetings, a house party kit, and love letters for people to send to their legislators explaining why they love their schools, why being 43rd in per-student spending isn't okay, and why the legislature needs to pony up and really fund public education. You will also find a student-written petition urging legislators to fund their public schools. It is all available here on the Just Fund It TX website: http://justfundittx.org/. Please visit the site, check out the fantastic materials we have put together, and share them at meetings, house parties, through editorials, social media, and more. You can engage with us on social media at JustFundItTX. And one last very important request, if your networks extend beyond Austin, please take a few minutes to invite your friends and relatives across Texas to ask their legislators to adequately fund public education. If we quit fighting each other over the scraps left from underfunded districts, we can change the conversation and help the Texas legislature deliver the kind of school finance reform our students across the state deserve. Regards,
Alison Alter
City Council Member, District 10
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Table of Contents - Amplify Austin Day – Feb. 28
- Doss Modernization Update – March 1
- Explore UT – March 2
- It's My Park Day – March 2
- Yarborough Branch Library Closing for Renovations – March 2
- Common Ground for Texans Event – March 2
- Budget Community Forums
- Five-Year Federal Funding Plan Survey
- Workshop for Loop 360 Project at Courtyard Drive/RM 2222 – March 7
- Boards and Commissions Openings
- Austin Water Wastewater Averaging
- Austin Resource Recovery Personalized Schedules
- Austin Resource Recovery Plastic Bag Survey
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| | | Amplify Austin Day – Feb. 28
Amplify Austin Day, organized by I Live Here I Give Here, is our city’s annual day of giving. The 24-hour period provides an easy and fun way for the entire community to give while helping local nonprofits. On Amplify Austin Day last year, donors raised $10.3 million for 700 Central Texas nonprofits.
Gifts made on Amplify Austin Day will be matched by generous sponsors and also may help your chosen nonprofit win a prize. If you want to raise money for a nonprofit that is not listed, Amplify Austin allows individuals and businesses to create their own fundraisers supporting their favorite organizations.
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| | | Doss Modernization Update – March 1
As many parents in the area know, Doss Elementary is receiving a full modernization, including new construction and expansion to bring the permanent capacity up to 870 students. An update on the modernization will be provided as part of Principal Coffee on March 1 to give folks an opportunity to learn more and ask questions. Please note, this meeting will be at Lucy Read School.
Friday, March 1 8-9 a.m. Lucy Read School 2608 Richcreek Rd.
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| | | Explore UT – March 2
Held annually at UT Austin, Explore UT is a day-long event that aims to inform students, parents, teachers and community members from across the state about the importance of the public research institution and higher education in Texas. Texans of all ages are invited to experience robust research experiences, hands-on demonstrations, and experiments, and participate in the richness of the university's scholarship and knowledge.
Explore UT seeks to broaden the horizons of students in Texas and motivate them toward achieving higher education after high school. It seeks to help parents and teachers encourage the excitement of learning and discovery, and welcomes alumni to reconnect with the institution that prepared them for their careers. For the event schedule and program details, visit the Explore UT Schedule of Activities. A helpful FAQ page also is available. |
| | | It's My Park Day – March 2
The Austin Parks Foundation is holding its semi-annual It's My Park Day on Saturday, March 2 at project sites across the city. Originally held once per year, It's My Park Day has become Austin's largest city-wide volunteer event and now encompasses both a spring and fall date. In Spring 2018, over 3,000 volunteers worked on nearly 100 projects across town, and in Fall 2018 over 2,000 people volunteered on nearly 85 projects. As It's My Park Day continues to grow, the Austin Parks Foundation partnering with restaurants and businesses across the city so you get more when you give. Wear your Spring 2019 IMPD t-shirt to any of the partner locations and receive great discounts and giveaways! District 10 projects include: - Stillhouse Hollow Nature Preserve
- Mayfield Park
- Mt. Bonnell (Covert Park)
- Great Hills Park
You can find a complete list of projects, register to participate, see FAQs, and more here. |
| | | Yarborough Branch Library Closing for Renovations – March 2
Beginning at 6 p.m. on Friday, March 1, the Yarborough Branch Library will be closed for a comprehensive interior renovation, site accessibility improvements, landscaping upgrades and exterior repairs. The project is scheduled to take approximately 11 months. During the closure, Austin Public Library customers can receive full library services at other branch locations including the nearest branch:
Other nearby branches include: 7051 Village Center Dr. | 512-974-8860 2500 Exposition Blvd. | 512-974-8800 5833 Westminster Dr. | 512-974-9840 |
| | | Common Ground for Texans Event – March 2
On Saturday, March 2, Common Ground for Texans is hosting a meeting on local regulation, e-scooters, plastic bags, the land development code and other local issues. The panel discussion will be moderated by Mike Ignatowski, and feature Council Member Alter and Council Member Flannigan.
Topics discussed will include whether an e-scooter company should be able to start operating in a city without the cooperation of local government, when local regulators should step in, and determining how much regulation is the right amount. Saturday, March 2 2-4 p.m. Old Quarry Branch Library 7051 Village Center Dr.
Feel free to invite your friends on Facebook! |
| | | Budget Community Forums
For the upcoming budget cycle, staff from the City’s Budget Office, Equity Office, and Public Information Office have been collaborating with the various commissions that comprise the City’s Joint Inclusion Commission on a community engagement effort. That collaboration has resulted in a Community Forum series that will take place throughout the month of March. The input received during these forums will assist the commissions in making recommendations related to city services and the budget.
Below is the 2020 Budget Community Forum Flyer that includes the list of all upcoming dates and locations for each forum. |
| | | | Five-Year Federal Funding Plan Survey
Help set Austin's priorities for federally funded housing and public service programs! The City of Austin is asking residents to fill out a two-minute online survey and to share their thoughts about priorities for addressing affordable housing, job creation, and public service needs for low- and moderate-income families, persons with disabilities, and seniors. The survey is available in both English and Spanish, and asks Austinites to rank their community priorities, identify areas of need, and offer their own suggestions of needs and potential programming. Managed by the Neighborhood Housing and Community Development Department (NHCD), the survey will help decide where to spend nearly $13 million in annual grant funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the next five years. Vulnerable communities and populations are especially encouraged to participate. For more information, please feel free to visit http://www.austintexas.gov/five or call 512-974-3100. |
| | | Workshop for Loop 360 Project at Courtyard Drive/RM 2222 – March 7
The Texas Department of Transportation ( TxDOT), in conjunction with the City of Austin, is moving forward with the Loop 360 project at Courtyard Drive/RM 2222. The project includes removing the traffic signal on the Loop 360 main lanes at Courtyard Drive and adding an underpass where the Loop 360 main lanes cross under Courtyard Drive. The project also proposes reconfiguring Loop 360 at RM 2222 to a diverging diamond intersection (DDI).
On March 7, TxDOT is hosting a public workshop for the project. At the workshop, the project team will gather feedback on the recommended improvements to help guide the next planning phases. The feedback received will help shape factors such as environmental analysis, final design and construction. The public workshop will be in an open house format, so attendees may come and go at their convenience.
March 7 4-6:30 p.m. Riverbend Church (Community Center) 4214 N. Capital of Texas Highway
If you are unable to attend the workshop in person, a virtual workshop will be available on the website at loop360project.com. Interested citizens can view meeting materials, take our survey and comment online. Future workshops will be held to gather input on the additional intersections. |
| | Boards and Commissions Openings
With each new Council comes new opportunities to engage with different City initiatives. The City of Austin has various boards and commissions covering a wide range of topics, including a Parks and Recreation Board, Arts Commission, Commission on Seniors, and more. All District 10 positions are currently filled by our wonderful commissioners, and I would like to thank them for the work on the many policy issues they consider.
Though all of my appointments are filled, newly elected or re-elected Council offices are seeking candidates to serve in these capacities, and other Council offices may have some vacancies. If you are interested in a particular policy area, I encourage you to look through each of the City's boards and commissions to see if there are openings or upcoming term expirations and reach out to the appropriate Council office to discuss your interest.
Not only does an appointment to one of these positions expand your network and civic involvement, but it often can allow you to have a direct say in policy making, too. Many important City proposals come before the relevant board or commission for a vote before making their way to Council for approval, and my office always considers board/commission votes as part of our agenda process. Applications for a board or commission appointment also can be completed online, and more information about the application process and what to expect as part of your service can be found at the Board and Commission Information Center. |
| | | Austin Water Wastewater Averaging
From November to March, Austin Water calculates customers' wastewater usage to determine monthly billing for the next year. Wastewater averaging is used as a way to save customers money since most of the water during these months goes directly into the sanitary sewer system instead of being used for outdoor watering. To learn about how to save water and possibly lower your wastewater bill, visit http://waterwiseaustin.org.
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| | | Austin Resource Recovery Personalized Schedules
Wondering when Austin Resource Recovery is scheduled to pick up trash, yard trimmings, bulk items, or other things? You can download a personalized pickup schedule for all curbside services by entering your address into the online ARR collection schedule tool. You can add your schedule to Google, iCal or Outlook, or you can print it. You also can sign up for text, email or phone reminders and alerts. |
| | Austin Resource Recovery Plastic Bag Survey
Austin Resource recovery invites you to provide your thoughts on how to reduce plastic bag usage in Austin. Though the single use bag ban is no longer in effect, the City is exploring ways to promote voluntary participation. To share your input, take the online survey here. |
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