Thursday, April 28, 2022

Austin Public Health and Travis County Partner with Community Organizations for COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics

Austin Public Health (APH) and Travis County are partnering with local community organizations to provide free COVID-19 vaccination clinics around the county for events from April 29-May 2.   

Clinics are open to all eligible individuals without registration or appointment and do not require identification, insurance, or proof of citizenship. All vaccinations are free. All APH sites offer Moderna, Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson vaccines, including  third doses for the immunocompromised and booster shots for qualifying individuals. If you are receiving your second, third dose or booster shot, please bring your Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card to be updated.   

Pediatric vaccinations for children 5-11 years of age are offered at Old Sims Elementary Gymnasium and the Shots for Tots clinics. Shots for Tots offers vaccines by appointment only. 

Individuals attending these events should be weather- and traffic-aware. Remember to wear appropriate clothing, including garments that allow you to easily expose your arm.   

To locate providers in your area with a supply of COVID-19 vaccines, go to Vaccines.gov (Vacunas.gov for Spanish), or text your zip code to 438829 (822862 for Spanish).  

NOTICE: Hours are subject to change. 
 

Friday, April 29 

Consulate General of Mexico (Travis County) 

African American Youth Harvest Foundation (CTAHI/Travis County) 

Huston-Tilloston University (Travis County) 

La Mexicana Market – Rundberg (Travis County) 

La Mexicana Market – Stassney (Travis County) 

Poco Loco Supermercado – Cameron (Travis County) 


Saturday, April 30 

Del Valle Opportunity Center (Travis County) 

Dailey Middle School (Travis County) 

East Austin Succulents (APH) 

El Rancho Grande (Travis County) 

La Moreliana Market (Travis County) 

Travis County Constable Precinct 4 Office (Travis County) 

Twin Oaks Library (Travis County) 

Old Sims Elementary Gymnasium (APH) 

Eeyore's Birthday Party (Travis County) 

 

Sunday, May 1 

Travis County Constable Precinct 4 Office (Travis County) 

 

Monday, May 2 

African American Youth Harvest Foundation (CTAHI/Travis County) 

Consulate General of Mexico (APH) 

La Mexicana Market – Rundberg (Travis County) 

La Mexicana Market – Stassney (Travis County) 

Poco Loco Supermercado – Cameron (Travis County) 


COVID-19 Information  

For more information on COVID-19 and vaccinations, visit www.AustinTexas.gov/COVID19 or call 3-1-1 (512-974-2000). 


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Austin Animal Center is celebrating National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day

As of Thursday, Austin Animal Center has 359 dogs and 126 cats onsite, and the shelter is operating at 112% capacity for medium and large dogs. Thankfully, National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day is on Saturday, April 30th and Austin Animal Center is celebrating by waiving all adoption fees!
 
“National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day is celebrated across the nation and highlights the millions of homeless animals in shelters waiting to be adopted,” said Kelsey Cler, marketing and communication manager for Austin Animal Center. “After an initial spike at the beginning of the pandemic, adoption rates over the past two years have decreased for many shelters in the US so this is a great opportunity to shine a light on the need.”

“Adopting a dog not only saves that one life, it also opens up room for another dog in need,” said adoption supervisor Mary Brown. “There are so many reasons to adopt a shelter pet, including health benefits and companionship.”
 
Austin Animal Center is the municipal shelter for the City of Austin and unincorporated Travis County. The Center will be open from 11 am to 7 pm on Saturday for the fee-waived event. Adoptable pets can be viewed online at austinanimalcenter.org.
 
About the Animal Services Office
The City of Austin Animal Services Office operates the Austin Animal Center, and is home to the largest No Kill community in the United States. Austin Animal Center provides shelter to more than 11,000 animals annually and safely places more than 95% of all pets. Our goal is to provide a safe place for lost and homeless animals, education to prevent animal homelessness and promote responsible pet ownership, and to preserve the human-animal bond.

 
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Big Stacy Swimming Pool Closed for Maintenance on Tuesday, May 10

Big Stacy Pool will be closed for maintenance on Tuesday, May 10 and will reopen on Wednesday, May 11 for regular operating hours. Pool users can visit other year-round pool facilities during the one-day closure.

Year-Round Pools

  • Bartholomew Pool, 1800 E 51st St.
  • Barton Springs Pool, 2131 William Barton Dr.
  • Deep Eddy Pool, 401 Deep Eddy Ave.
  • Springwoods Pool, 13320 Lyndhurst St.

For more information, contact the Aquatics Office at 512-974-9330 or AquaticsOffice@austintexas.gov.

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Wednesday, April 27, 2022

Safely Stroll or Roll Down Exposition Boulevard with Transformative Improvements from Bonnie Road to West 35th Street

Austin Public Works and Austin Transportation have partnered to complete a transformational sidewalk project on Exposition Boulevard this month. The new improvements extend from Bonnie Road to West 35th Street and include new and repaired sidewalks, curb ramps, pedestrian crossings, and intersection safety improvements. This work completes a fully ADA-accessible route on either side of Exposition Boulevard from Lake Austin Boulevard all the way to West 35th Street. The improvements also create a safer route for students to walk or bike to nearby Casis Elementary School and O. Henry Middle School and safer access for everyone to neighborhood day care centers, libraries, churches, stores, and parks. 

 

“Every child should be able to walk or bike to school safely,” said Mayor Pro Tem Alison Alter of Council District 10, where these safety and mobility improvements are located. “While these safe routes are created for students and families, the improvements benefit everyone who walks, bikes, or rolls in the neighborhood.”

The project installed: 

  • More than 15,000 linear feet (3 miles) of new or rehabilitated sidewalks 

  • Nine pedestrian crossing improvements along Exposition Boulevard, Westover Road, and Hillview Road, including the installation of seven new pedestrian crossing islands 

  • Over 40 curb ramps repaired or installed 

  • More than 1,000 feet of new curb and gutter 

  • An intersection reconfiguration at Bridle Path and Exposition Boulevard to close a slip lane and replaced pavement with vegetation. This creates a safer bicycle and pedestrian route through Exposition Boulevard 

  • An eight-foot-wide shared use path on the west side of Exposition Boulevard from Gilbert Street to Bonnie Road

“For students to safely walk or bicycle to school they need well-designed, well-built, and well-maintained facilities,” said Assistant City Manager for Mobility Gina Fiandaca. “This project is an excellent example of how our Safe Routes to School program creates safer pedestrian routes and bicycle improvements near our schools. I’m very proud of the coordination between our mobility programs to build impactful mobility and safety improvements for Austin’s youth, their families, and our community.” 
 

The project was managed by Austin Public Works’ Sidewalk Program, designed by Austin Transportation’s Street Design team, and was delivered through an indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract. Construction began in June of 2021. The project cost approximately $2 million and was jointly funded by voter-approved 2016 and 2018 Mobility Bonds from Austin Public Works’ Safe Routes to School and Sidewalk Programs and Austin Transportation’s Pedestrian Crossing and Bicycle Programs. Mayor Pro Tem Alter also dedicated District 10 Quarter Cent funding for safety and mobility improvements for students walking or biking to schools in this area.

View photos and video of the completed projects along Exposition Blvd. 


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Homeless Strategy Division Hosting Two Virtual Community Meetings May 2-3

The City of Austin’s Homeless Strategy Division will host two virtual public meetings on May 2 and 3 to provide a progress report on efforts to address homelessness, as well as an opportunity for attendee Q&A.

Topics to be presented will include, but are not limited to:

  • American Rescue Plan Act investment framework
  • Homelessness social service and housing solicitations
  • HEAL Initiative
  • Housing Production
  • Cold weather shelter
  • Camping ordinance enforcement and response.

“We’re looking forward to providing information on the City’s activities related to homelessness, and hearing from the community,” said Dianna Grey, City of Austin Homeless Strategy Officer.
 
Register to attend a Virtual Meeting

The Homeless Strategy Division was created to focus on homelessness across the City of Austin. To learn more about homelessness in Austin, please visit https://www.austintexas.gov/page/learn-about-homelessness

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Tuesday, April 26, 2022

Mayor Pro Tem Alter Will Mark Sexual Assault Awareness/Prevention Month with Survivors and Advocates

AUSTIN, Texas (April 26, 2021) — Representatives from the SAFE Alliance, the Texas Association Against Sexual Assault, APD’s Victim Services Division, the City of Austin Commission for Women, and the Austin/Travis County Sexual Assault Response and Resource Team (SARRT) will gather at SAFE headquarters today alongside Mayor Pro Tem Alison Alter and several survivors and advocates. Mayor Pro Tem Alter will offer brief remarks before presenting a proclamation declaring April 2022 as Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month in Austin. The ceremony will take place at 4800 Manor Rd. inside of Building K and will begin at 2:30 sharp.
 
“Each April, we hold space for survivors and community advocates, and we reflect on the barriers to healing and justice that survivors face when they come forward,” said Mayor Pro Tem Alter. “We gather together during Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month to raise awareness of how far-reaching the impacts of sexual assault are in our community.”
 
Hanna Senko, the lead plaintiff in a recent class-action lawsuit that resulted in a settlement for fifteen survivors whose cases had been mishandled by APD, will read a statement on behalf of the plaintiffs. “Sexual violence occurs far too often, impacting each and every one of us,” said Senko. “Efforts need to remain steadfast to ensure institutions, organizations, systems, and services not only adequately support victims of sexual violence but that they also help to mitigate and prevent such events from occurring in the first place.”
 
The proclamation will be accepted by SAFE CEO Julia Spann. “Sexual assault is never the fault of the survivor,” said Spann. “SAFE provides free, confidential 24/7 forensic exams and advocacy to approximately 600 people a year. Our nurses and advocates know that the key to begin healing is to return the power and control back to the survivor.”
 
Mayor Pro Tem Alter is also sharing her hopes that Austin will become a model for other cities seeking to improve their sexual assault response systems, and reflecting on the cultural changes needed to remove the stigma associated with experiencing sexual assault. “I hope that my daughter, or maybe her daughter, will live in a time where a month dedicated to sexual assault awareness and prevention is no longer needed.”

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Upcoming events from the COA Economic Development Department

Austin Small Business Week

The Economic Development Department will host a series of virtual training events to help Austin’s small businesses, creatives, cooperatives, and non-profits during Austin Small Business Week, May 2 - 6. Participants will have access to a variety of educational and inspirational topics including funding, sustainability, making a living as a creative, and more. There will also be one-on-one business coaching opportunities daily. All classes and events are open to the public at no-cost.
 
Succeed in Austin's Destination Districts Panel Discussion

Join the Economic Development Department for a panel discussion with local retailers in mixed-use destination districts. Learn about what types of retailer's landlords and brokers are seeking, finding space, and the panel’s experiences including how to avoid common mistakes. Register for How Local Retailers can Succeed in Austin's Destination District panel discussion on May 10 at 10 a.m.
 
Community Navigator Program
The Economic Development Department’s Community Navigator Program supports local businesses, non-profit organizations, and creative professionals impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Through this initiative, local entities can receive no-cost assistance like one-on-one coaching, business classes, technical support, and application assistance for grants and resources. Learn more and register for the Community Navigator Program.
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Share Your Insights for New Cultural Funding Efforts

The Austin Cultural Funding Pilot Program draft guidelines are available for public comment through May 10. These three programs are supported through local Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) collections. The cultural arts programs contract with artists and arts organizations to produce creative activities and events for Austin's tourists and residents.

Cultural Funding Pilot Programs include:

  • Thrive - Funding to sustain and grow programming for 501(c) arts organizations that are deeply rooted in Austin’s diverse cultures.
  • Elevate - Funding for the creative and administrative expenses of cultural producers providing equitable and inclusive programming. Open to arts and culture 501(c) organizations, individual artists, and arts and culture groups.
  • Nexus - Funding for new applicants to support creative public projects developed through community activation and/or collaboration. Open to arts and culture 501(c) organizations, individual artists, and arts and culture groups.

Watch an informative session, view the draft guidelines, and provide feedback for these Cultural Funding programs by May 10.


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Urban Forest Grants Grow Opportunities to Support Austin Trees

The City of Austin’s Urban Forest Program recently awarded $1.24 million to seven partnership projects that will help grow and protect the community’s healthy tree canopy and provide more trees where they are needed most.  
 
“We are very excited about the opportunity to support these projects, which will benefit our community’s urban forest by planting and caring for trees and provide community stewardship and educational opportunities,” said Development Services Director, Denise Lucas.  
 
The Urban Forest Grant, administered by the City’s Development Services Department, funds projects that support tree planting and distribution, tree care and disease control, and community outreach and education.  
 
2022 Urban Forest Grant recipients include:

  • Austin Independent School District: $753,131
    • Tree planting, tree care and educational initiatives 
  • Partners for Education, Agriculture & Sustainability: $172,366
    • Growing the Canopy of Tree Education in Austin: A Multi-Module Approach
  • Austin Parks Foundation: $143,954
    • Engaging the Community in Stewarding Austin’s Urban Forest (It’s My Park Day activities and more)
  • Fruitful Commons: $98,222
    • Urban canopy expansion through tree care, planting fruit and nut trees, and education
  • The Contemporary Austin: $46,977
    • Restoring the Native Landscape: Invasive Species Removal and Restoration at Laguna Gloria Phase II
  • Ecology Action of Texas, Inc.: $20,450
    • Montopolis Community Forest Initiative
  • Waterloo Greenway Conservancy: $5,132
    • Waterloo Park Tree Care & Interpretive Signage  

Austin’s Urban Forest Grants are supported primarily by mitigation funds the City receives when protected trees are removed for development projects. Grants are reserved for community projects that help support Austin’s healthy tree canopy. Funding is considered twice annually for eligible projects submitted by organizations or individuals.
 
The deadline for the next round of Urban Forest Grants is July 1, 2022. Organizations with proposed projects to further the goals and criteria of the program can apply through Austin Community Foundation before the July 1 deadline to be considered for future funding. 
 
About the Development Services Department  
DSD ensures compliant and sustainable development, supports the environment, our urban forest, and special events. DSD helps ensure public safety by collaborating with partner departments and helping homeowners, business owners, contractors, event managers and area residents understand and apply existing codes and other guidelines designed to help keep our community safe. We support our vibrant community through responsible development.

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Friday, April 22, 2022

City of Austin to host annual Career Expo May 2

The annual Career Expo event will occur on Monday, May 2, 2022, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Palmer Events Center. The opening ceremony will start at 10:45 a.m. to welcome employers and job seekers. Last year, our Virtual Career Expo attracted approximately 100 employers with more than 4,000 jobs. 
 
The primary goal of this event is to provide opportunities for job seekers from all backgrounds, including Justice-involved individuals, Veterans, Seniors (50+), and people with disabilities, to find viable jobs and to network with employers and resource providers.
 
Employers registered to date include private employers, state agencies, higher education and technical schools, temporary staffing agencies, and many smaller businesses with skilled, customer service, and labor job openings.
 
For more information, visit austintexas.gov/career-expo

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Thursday, April 21, 2022

Summer 2022: Up To $1250 in Bonuses for Summer Temp Jobs at Austin Parks & Rec

Lifeguards can now earn up to $1250 in bonuses and summer camp staff can earn up to $750 in bonuses. Bonus qualification criteria varies by position.  

These temporary jobs are perfect for teenagers, college students, teachers on summer break, and retirees looking for a fun way to earn extra money.  

Pay starts at $15/hour for entry level positions and it increases with experience. Staff get paid sick leave, a free bus pass, and flexible scheduling. 

Austin Parks and Recreation is hiring hundreds of candidates from diverse origins, orientations, identities, and abilities. Apply now or tell someone you know about these great summer earning opportunities. 

Find bonus details and information about how to apply at AustinTexas.gov/SummerJobs.


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AHS and Austin Animal Center to Participate in COVID Cat Study

The Austin Humane Society and Austin Animal Center are teaming up with Texas A&M and the Texas Department of State Health Services to conduct a study on coronavirus in cats. The funding for the study – a $65,000 grant – was approved today by Austin City Council.
 
The study aims to determine if there are coronaviruses circulating or mutating among animals that could potentially pose a risk to humans. Community Cats, a joint program of AHS and AAC delivering trap-neuter-return services for free-roaming, unowned cats in Travis County, provides an ideal opportunity to participate in the study.
 
As part of this national study, AHS will take throat swabs from already-sedated cats during the neuter process. The samples will be sent to Texas A&M, where experts will determine if coronavirus is present. If the virus is detected, they will run more specific tests to identify whether it’s feline coronavirus, SARS CoV-2, or a different coronavirus.  Positive samples for SARS CoV-2 will be sent to the National Veterinary Diagnostic Lab for confirmation and gene sequencing to identify if there are mutations. Finally, the Texas Department of State Health Services will assist in reporting the findings to the CDC.
 
“We are very excited to be participating in this ground-breaking study,” said Dr. Katie Luke, Chief Operations Officer for AHS. “There is still a lot we don’t know about coronavirus and how it mutates, so we hope this study will help to identify best practices moving forward, and help understand potential sources of mutated viruses that affect human health.” 
 
The grant approved today by Austin City Council is funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE). For more information, please contact Katie Kennedy, AHS Director of Communications, by emailing kkennedy@austinhumanesociety.org.

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Wednesday, April 20, 2022

Early Voting for City of Austin Proposition A on Weed and Warrants Starts April 25

Early voting for the May 7, 2022 special called election starts Monday, April 25 and ends on Tuesday, May 3, 2022. There is one proposition on the ballot for the City of Austin. 

City of Austin Special Called Election Ballot:
Proposition A:

·         City of Austin Proposition A: Shall an initiative ordinance be approved to (1) eliminate enforcement of low-level marijuana offenses and (2) ban the use of “no knock” warrants by Austin police?

 

·         Ciudad de Austin Proposición A: ¿Será aprobada la ordenanza por iniciativa para (1) despenalizar la marijuana en bajo nivel y (2) prohibir las ordenes de “no tocar” por la policía de Austin?

 

Polling Locations:

In-person early voting: Monday, April 25-Tuesday, May 3

Election Day: Saturday, May 7

Last day to request a ballot by mail (received, not postmarked): Tuesday, April 26

 

Texas voters are eligible to vote by mail in an election if:

·         They cannot make it to the polls on Election Day because they will be away from the county on Election Day and during early voting;

·         They are sick or disabled;

·         They are 65 years of age or older; or

·         They are confined in jail.

 

To vote by mail, a request must be received by your County election official no later than close of regular business on the eleventh day before the election (April 26, 2022). With some exceptions, the completed ballot must then be returned by the close of polls on Election Day. For more information on voting by mail, see https://www.votetexas.gov/voting-by-mail/index.html

 

What are the voter ID laws in Texas?

See Voter identification laws.

 

More information about the City of Austin May 2022 Election: 
https://www.austintexas.gov/page/may-2022-election

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City Opens Applications for Community to Review Anti-Displacement Proposals

 

Deadline to apply is May 20, 2022

The Austin Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC) and The City of Austin Housing and Planning Department (HPD) invite community members to join a community review panel to review proposals for Project Connect Anti-displacement funding. Applications are open through May 20, 2022. This announcement follows last week's release of the Notification of Funding Availability for Community Initiated Solutions. 

Panel members will review applications from organizations that propose programs to support residents and neighborhoods near Project Connect lines and stations. Proposals will include solutions to avoid evictions and foreclosures, support expansion of homeownership, and create asset-building opportunities that improve people's economic mobility. 

Community members who live in areas impacted by Project Connect and are at risk of displacement are especially invited to apply. In addition, community members who have experience with community leadership and engagement, displacement and gentrification, or previous participation in funding review panels are also encouraged to apply. 

Participation will require approximately 30 hours over a period of three to four weeks, including four hours of training. A stipend is available for panel members. 

For more information and to access the community review panel online application, visit AustinTexas.gov/Connect.


About Austin Housing Finance Corporation
The Austin Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC) was created as a public, non-profit corporation and instrumentality of the City of Austin. The mission of the AHFC is to generate and implement strategic housing solutions for the benefit of low- and moderate-income residents of the City of Austin.


About Housing and Planning Department
The Housing and Planning Department provides resources related to planning, zoning, housing, and community development to enhance the quality of life of all Austinites. Equitable, efficient, and comprehensive planning with displacement prevention as a prioritized focus is the Department’s core charge in delivering housing services to the community.

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Tuesday, April 19, 2022

Arts + Culture Celebration on May 14, 2022

Artists Selected for Installation on Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail and Lady Bird Lake this May 
Three local artists have been selected to create a floating wetland installation on the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail and Lady Bird Lake this spring as part of the Trail’s Arts + Culture Plan. In conjunction with community engagement led by Public City and in partnership with Austin Parks and Recreation Department, Art in Public Places, and The Trail Foundation, the Common Waters installation will explore themes of community, creativity, environment, and collaboration. It will incorporate artistic components as well as serve an ecological function. 

The artists were chosen from a total of 37 submissions by a selection committee consisting of community leaders, arts leaders, and Trail stakeholders. Each artist will be compensated $5,000 for the project. The artists – Rejina Thomas, Ruben Esquivel, and Taylor Davis – will convene to collaborate in an open studio led by environmental artist Stacy Levy to develop, design, refine, and test models for the installation. Members of the community will then help fabricate the installation on Lady Bird Lake at the Arts + Culture Celebration on May 14, 2022.
 
Arts + Culture Celebration on May 14
The Trail Foundation will host a three-part event on May 14 to celebrate the unveiling of the Common Waters floating wetland installation.
 
Morning Launch: 10 a.m.–12 p.m. at Waller Beach Boat Launch 
Watch and assist the artist team with the assembly of the floating wetland. The morning launch will have live music and an opportunity to interact with the artists.

Procession: 12 p.m.–1 p.m.
Kayak, paddle board, canoe, walk, bike or run to join and watch the procession as the creation makes its way down Lady Bird Lake to the installation site at Lakeshore Park.
Click to view the installation's procession route
 
Afternoon Celebration: 12 p.m.–2 p.m. at Lakeshore Park
Upon reaching its final destination, the floating wetland installation will be installed off the shores of Lakeshore Park. The afternoon celebration will include live music, a performance by Body Shift of Art Spark, an opportunity to interact with the artists, and light refreshments.

About Rejina Thomas
Rejina Thomas is a maker of art, connector of culture, and creator of community. Her acclaimed artwork is widely held in many collections around the world and her clients range from Ann Richards, the Democratic National Convention, Human Rights Commission, to the Queen of England. Thomas ignited Austin’s eastside arts scene with her Pine Street Station Studios, and her thought-provoking exhibit Ascension was shown recently at the George Washington Carver Museum in Oct. 2017 through Feb. 2018.
 
About Ruben Esquivel
Ruben Esquivel is an artist and a creative maker of Mexican, Spanish, and Native American descent born in Austin, Texas. Ruben is a muralist, canvas artist, and designer and credits his exposure to various creative outlets growing up to pursuing a multidisciplinary art career. After studying art history in Italy in 2013, Ruben returned to Austin and completed an internship with a local art collective that led to a full-time position. Since then, Ruben has immersed himself in the creative industry through artist management, event production, mural painting, and graphic design. In 2021, Ruben founded East End Eclectic, a creative agency that serves artists through management services and consulting. His current focus is expanding his portfolio and creating large scale murals in his hometown.
 
About Taylor Davis
Taylor Davis is a landscape architect, artist, and curator who is passionate about the intersection of landscape and public art. Her work explores how natural and urban environments can be intertwined. She has investigated cultural preservation and land stewardship in the historic Dallas Freedom Community and the possibilities of carbon sequestration in urban landscapes. She also curated the show Exotify Elsewhere with Grace Sanabria, exploring the oppression and exclusion of the culture and bodies of women of color.
 
About Arts + Culture on the Trail
The Trail Foundation is partnering with the City of Austin's Parks and Recreation Department and the Economic Development Department Art in Public Places Program to prepare an Arts and Culture plan for the Butler Trail to contribute to the space and elevate the user experience, while not overwhelming, distracting, or complicating the environment. The Trail Foundation has organized a talented team of art professionals, community engagement specialists, innovators, and a Brain Trust team of stakeholders from the Austin community to lead this project.  

About The Trail Foundation
The Trail Foundation’s mission is to protect, enhance, and connect the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail at Lady Bird Lake for the benefit of all. The Butler Trail is the 10-mile lush, urban path in the heart of Austin that gets more than 4.9 million visits every year. Since it was founded in 2003, The Trail Foundation has achieved restoration and beautification projects to the Trail’s infrastructure and environment, while honoring the original vision of the Trail’s founders and ensuring its vibrancy for generations to come. For more information, please visit www.thetrailfoundation.org.

About the City of Austin Economic Development Department
The City of Austin Economic Development Department supports business growth, creative industries, and local communities. These programs build an equitable, sustainable economy to improve the lives of all Austin residents. To learn more about helpful resources, visit www.austintexas.gov/edd or like us on Facebook @AustinEconDev and follow @AustinEconDev on Twitter.


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City Seeks Input for Rain to River: A Strategic Plan to Protect Austin’s Creeks and Communities

From kayaking and fishing to flooding and erosion, Austin’s creeks and lakes have a huge impact on the lives of Austinites. At the City of Austin’s Watershed Protection Department, we manage these resources. We are seeking community input to guide the creation of our next strategic plan called Rain to River: A Strategic Plan to Protect Austin’s Creeks and Communities. This plan will guide the priorities and decision-making of our work for the next decade.

We need your help! Austinites can share their thoughts in several ways. The community is invited to a virtual kick-off event on Tuesday, April 19, from 6:30-8:00 pm. Attendees will learn more about Rain to River and how to share their input. Visit https://publicinput.com/BX1330 for meeting information. A recording will be posted on the website after the event if you are unable to attend. 

Residents are encouraged to share their vision for Austin’s creeks and communities by completing Community Vision Survey. In order to create a plan that reflects the values and priorities of all Austinites, we will dedicate extra time and resources toward engaging people of color and low-income communities who have been left out of past planning processes. For those interested in more involvement, consider filling out an application (en español) to be a Community Ambassador. 

“In my role as director, I hear from community members all the time and I know Austinites have strong opinions about our work, the need to protect the environment around our creeks and how to make Austin safer from floods,” said Jorge Morales, Director of the Watershed Protection Department. “I really encourage everyone to participate in Rain to River at whatever level feels right to them. Take our survey, become a Community Ambassador, or invite us to an event in your community. We can’t do this without your involvement!” 

Together, we can protect Austin’s natural spaces, waterways, and drainage infrastructure. Visit www.raintoriveratx.com to learn more about Rain to River, the work of the department, and why Watershed Protection is updating the plan. 

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