Dear Neighbors,
Our local small businesses are key drivers of Austin’s economic prosperity, and I am proud to have championed creative approaches to support them. Over the last year I worked with small business leaders, local chambers of commerce, and the city’s procurement office to revise our existing city contracting tools. I am excited to announce that a pilot Small Business Local Preference (SBLP) program will launch on October 1st! This program will create more economic opportunities for Austin businesses and their workers, while also keeping our tax dollars in our local economy.
State and federal frameworks govern our procurement process and ensure that our contracts are awarded based on a competitive scoring process. Under our new SBLP program, businesses headquartered in the Austin-Round Rock metro area will be awarded additional points in the scoring process, adjusted by the size of the contract and the contract type. Furthermore, additional points will be awarded to businesses that meet the small business standards established under state, federal, and local definitions. Other existing city programs supporting small, women, and minority-owned businesses also will continue to operate.
In addition to providing opportunities for our small and local businesses to compete for city contracts, the SBLP program will help source new city partnerships from Austin’s growing local business landscape. Over the next two years, the program will be evaluated regularly to determine potential optimizations and revisions. To learn more about the pilot, I invite you to review the slides from the August Audit and Finance Committee presentation. You can also email FSDProcurementProgramCommunications@austintexas.gov with questions. If you are a local business owner, I hope you will learn more about the pilot and consider applying for a city contract opportunity in the future.
In the remainder of this letter, you will find updates related to our EMS, fire, and police departments, opportunities to improve your family’s emergency preparedness, and more. I look forward to our continued work together to make Austin a great place to work and grow a business.
Regards,
| | Council Member, District 10 | |
Council Member Alter in the Community Funding for UT-City Climate Collaboration Leading Delegation to Florence Gun Safety Awareness Month Austin Energy Generation Plan Meeting Touring New Courthouse with Elected Women First Service Back at Congregation Beth Israel Shoal Creek Trail Gaps Improvement Project
Announcements One Austin Resilience Survey Austin Community Job Fair Reminder: Drought Stage 2 Restrictions in Effect
City Services Updates
Safety Tips Emergency Preparedness Fair this Friday Pilot Emergency Preparedness Class Registry for Vulnerable Texas Residents Wildfire Risk Information Hub
| | | | The City Approves a 4-Year Labor Contract with the EMS Association I am pleased that on September 14th, the Austin City Council approved a strong and fair collective bargaining agreement with the EMS Association. This agreement prioritizes the recruitment and retention of our EMS personnel and will enhance our first responders’ quality of life. Key provisions of the 4-year contract include increases to base wages and payscale adjustments for entry-level medics to mirror the City’s efforts to address staffing shortages in the 911 call center. The contract also creates more opportunities for promotions between divisions and improves processes to advance gender and racial diversity. This agreement will enhance our EMS department's ability to grow and thrive as they respond to the health and emergency needs of our community. Thank you to our Labor Relations Office and the EMS Association for their diligent efforts!
The City and Austin Firefighters Association Finalize Labor Contract through 2025 On September 8th, the City of Austin and the Austin Firefighters Association (AFA) finalized key terms of their labor arbitration award, including base wage increases, additional stipends for key divisions, such as the Wildfire Battalion, and other retention strategies to ensure that we address the department’s vacancies and improve morale. The award also incorporates agreements the City and AFA leadership had tentatively agreed to in previous negotiations, such as improvements to cadet hiring and promotions procedures. I am hopeful that this agreement will strengthen our Austin Fire Department and ensure they are well-poised to continue responding to public safety threats, including wildfire. | | Changes in APD Leadership Chief Joseph Chacon announced his retirement from APD in August. I thank him for his service and wish him well in his next chapter. I also want to congratulate Robin Henderson, on her confirmation as Interim Chief on August 31. Chief Henderson has been with APD for 26 years and most recently served as Chief Chacon’s Chief of Staff. Over her career, Chief Henderson served in various assignments including Executive Lieutenant, Patrol Lieutenant, Cadet Training, Field Training, Internal Affairs, Person and Property Investigations, Street Response, and Patrol. I look forward to working with her to keep Austin safe.
Green Job Accelerator On August 31, council adopted a contract to create a Green Job Accelerator, which will have cascading economic and environmental benefits by expanding Austin's green job economy. To meet the goals of the Climate Equity Plan, we must create accessible pathways to well-paying green careers, and this item is an important step in the right direction. I want to extend my thanks to the Innovation Office and the Austin Civilian Conservation Corps for their continuous good work. | | | | | | Funding for UT-City Climate Collaboration I joined Rep. Lloyd Doggett, Professor Dev Niyogi, UT President Hartzell, and Mayor Watson to celebrate a $1.5 million federal grant to develop neighborhood scale datasets and advanced AI tools to inform our community’s extreme weather and resilience planning. This new research will help Austin build more equitable and effective local solutions as we prepare for and adapt to climate change. I look forward to putting this partnership to work driving innovative solutions to the challenges Austin faces. | | | Leading Delegation to Florence Last week I was honored to lead a delegation to Florence, Italy organized by Austin Sister Cities International. In the historic Palazzo Vecchio we signed a Protocol of Cooperation Agreement with the City of Florence that is the first step towards a sister city agreement between these two great cities. I look forward to our cities’ collaboration, innovation, and partnership in the future!
If you are interested in joining the Austin Florence Alliance or one of Austin’s established sister city partnerships, visit Austin Florence Alliance or Austin Sister Cities International to learn more. | | | Gun Safety Awareness Month I joined Mayor Pro Tem Ellis, APD, District Attorney Garza,, Lock Arms for Life, Texas Gun Sense, and Dell Children's Hospital for a proclamation recognizing Gun Safety Awareness Month.
Congratulations to Texas Gun Sense on the recent passage of HB 3, which includes a measure to provide all TX school districts with safe gun storage info, and for the districts to provide that info to parents. Learn more and find resources here. Additionally, Austin Public Health’s Office of Violence Prevention has partnered with Lock Arms for Life to provide free gun locks and gun safety education. Learn more at lockarmsforlife.org. | | | Austin Energy Generation Plan Meeting I sponsored a resolution initiating a review and revision of our 2030 Austin Energy Resource, Generation, and Climate Protection Plan in light of recent energy market changes. The plan update is underway and recently I attended a related community input meeting. I invite you to learn more about the plan and share your thoughts via the virtual survey at publicinput.com/generation. | | | Touring New Courthouse with Elected Women I joined elected women representing central Texas to tour the new Travis County Courthouse and learn about the path to building this beautiful new facility and the important work taking place there. I’m proud that we have so many female representatives here in Austin/Travis County, and honored to be part of this diverse network of women. | | | First Service Back at Congregation Beth Israel Shortly before the High Holidays began, we welcomed Shabbat in our new transitional sanctuary at Congregation Beth Israel, after nearly two years away following the Oct. 31, 2021, arson attack. Thank you to the many members who worked tirelessly to create this warm and inviting space. L’Shana Tova to all those who celebrate. | | | Shoal Creek Trail Gaps Improvement Project The City of Austin is seeking to improve connections of the Shoal Creek Trail by filling the 3 remaining gaps:
I appreciated seeing so many of you at the August pop-up event hosted by Transportation and Public Works. It’s not too late to share your feedback! Stop by the next pop-up: Saturday, Sept. 30, 9-11 a.m. near the intersection of Shoal Creek Blvd. and North Lamar, or fill out the virtual survey. Learn more on the project webpage. | | | | | | One Austin Resilience Survey Austin’s Office of Resilience is conducting a survey around four main topics: Housing Health Financial Success Climate Change
The findings from this anonymous survey will help us guide our priorities and design community events and workshops as we design our One Austin Resilience Strategy. 50 participants will be randomly selected to receive a $50 gift card! Complete the survey here.
| | | Austin Community Job Fair Do you know someone looking for work? The City of Austin job fair offers opportunities to meet with City departments and local employers committed to hiring and assisting individuals from all backgrounds, including justice involved applicants, job seekers aged 50+, veterans, and people with disabilities.
Register today at: AustinTexas.gov/JobFairs. For more information, contact (512) 974-3210 or employment.services@austintexas.gov.
| | | Reminder: Drought Stage 2 Restrictions in Effect Austin is currently under Stage 2 watering restrictions. Learn more here. | | | | | | | Update on Old Quarry Library Reopening The Old Quarry Library remains closed for HVAC repairs, with reopening anticipated by the end of October.
| | | Home Pickup from CapMetro in Exposition Area Tarrytown neighbors–did you know CapMetro has an affordable rideshare option in the Exposition area? You can schedule on-demand rides from your home to anywhere in the service zone below. Rides cost $1.25 for adults, and are free for those under age 18. Learn more at capmetro.org/pickup. | | | | | | | Emergency Preparedness Fair this Friday Austin Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM) is hosting the second annual Get Ready Central Texas Emergency Preparedness Fair this Friday, September 22, at Austin Community College Eastview Campus. This is an excellent opportunity to learn how to make a plan, build a kit, stay informed, and meet neighbors. Find more event info at ReadyCentralTexas.org.
| | | Pilot Emergency Preparedness Class Austin HSEM is also piloting a free classroom training on basic emergency preparedness. The course is developed in partnership with Austin Watershed Protection Department, Ascension Seton, Go Austin/Vamos Austin, City of Austin Office of Resilience, University of Texas Medical Reserve Corps, and Austin Fire Department. The class will take place on Thursday, September 28 from 6-8 p.m. at the Montopolis Rec Center, 1200 Montopolis Dr. Reserve your spot here.
| | | Registry for Vulnerable Texas Residents Do you know someone who would need special assistance in the event of an emergency evacuation? Austin Emergency Management is currently creating mapping and evacuation planning based on the State of Texas Emergency Assistance Registry (STEAR) to better support Austin's more vulnerable residents during emergencies. Anyone with disabilities, mobility impairments, and other special needs is encouraged to register here. | | | Wildfire Risk Information Hub The Austin Fire Department’s Wildfire Division continues to improve and update information related to community preparedness. ATXWildfireHub.com is a great resource for current wildfire risk for your neighborhood, directions on how to prepare for an evacuation, measures you can take to prevent wildfire spread on your property, and more. | | |
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