Austin Water is hosting open houses over the next few weeks as a way for customers to learn about their water and wastewater system, planned investments and how these investments may impact rates in the coming year. Rate increases for water and wastewater have been forecast in 2025, which Austin Water chalks up to costs of improving system resiliency and tracking a growing population. A cost-of-service rate study is being conducted now, with a goal of balancing affordability with maintaining critical utility infrastructure for extreme weather. Attendees can ask staff questions and share their feedback at the following times at these Austin Public Library locations and community centers:

• 4–7 p.m. Thursday, May 23: Twin Oaks Branch, 1800 South Fifth St.
• 4–7 p.m. Wednesday, May 29: Howson Branch, 2500 Exposition Blvd.
• 4–7 p.m. Thursday, May 30: Hampton Branch, 5125 Convict Hill Road
• 10 a.m.–1 p.m. Saturday, June 1: Little Walnut Creek Branch, 835 W. Rundberg Lane
• 4–7 p.m. Tuesday, June 4: Pleasant Hill Branch, 211 E. William Cannon Drive
• 4–7 p.m. Wednesday, June 5:  Spicewood Springs Branch, 8637 Spicewood Springs Road
• 8:30–11:30 a.m. Saturday, June 8: Conley-Guerrero Senior Activity Center, 808 Nile St.
• 4–7 p.m. Tuesday, June 11: North Village Branch, 2505 Steck Ave.
• 6–7 p.m. Thursday, June 13: Virtual meeting on Zoom
• 10 a.m.–1 p.m. Saturday, June 15: Menchaca Road Branch, 5500 Menchaca Road
• 10 a.m.–1 p.m.Saturday, June 22: Montopolis Recreation & Community Center, 1200 Montopolis

For in-person open houses: No formal presentation will be made. Customers can drop in at any time to view materials and speak with Austin Water officials. For the virtual open house: Austin Water officials will explain the need for the rate study and potential rate impacts. Attendees can ask questions and provide feedback. Click here for information about the meeting and a Zoom link to attend.

For more in-depth conversations, Austin Water is seeking 30 customers to attend two focus groups – up to 15 at each session – on Thursday evening, May 30, or Friday morning, May 31. For language interpretation assistance, contact Austin Water at AWPublicInformation@austintexas.gov. A summary of all feedback will be made available at Austin Water’s website and to customers upon request.

After receiving a $75,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, the city of Austin has announced its intention to fund a local artist (or artist group) as the “Our Future 35 Artist in Residence.” The city will match that money to fund the position. Our Future 35 is an initiative that will attempt to mitigate the impact of the expansion of Interstate 35 downtown with public spaces over the highway. According to a press release from the city, “The Artist in Residence will work closely with the Our Future 35 planning team over the course of two years, producing and integrating art into public engagement events and culminating with a capstone or showcase event. The artist will also potentially generate temporary installations or activations along construction corridors, pending the program’s status in Spring 2026.” Updates to the artist in residence program will be available online here.

UMLAUF Sculpture Garden and Museum will unveil its Historic Preservation, Expansion and Unification Plan on Wednesday, May 29. What’s a Historic Preservation, Expansion and Unification Plan, you ask? According to a press release from the parks department, “The plan is the vital first step for the Austin art institution to improve access and expand use of the 5.86-acre sculpture garden, museum and grounds, while preserving and incorporating the adjacent 1.93-acre site that includes the historic home of Angeline and Charles Umlauf, their private sculpture garden, and the artist’s studio.” Specifically, the plan recommends strategies for preservation and more public access and programming in addition to finding a way to display more of the museum’s collection. The presentation of the plan will take place at the museum at 5:30 p.m.. The event is free and open to the public, who can RSVP to the event here.

With the added enticements of maps, coffee, snacks and group rides, commuting by bicycle is encouraged this Friday, May 17, for Bike to Work Day. Austin Transportation and Public Works (TPW) and partner organizations Get There ATX, Ghisallo Cycling Initiative, Movability and MetroBike will offer bike trips, educational information and a morning at Austin City Hall. Looking for high-comfort bike routes? The live, interactive Austin Bike Map can be found online here. Don’t have a bike? You can rent a MetroBike for free using promo code B2WD2024. Ghisallo offers free consultations to help riders find a safe route – just email kari.kuwamura@ghisallo.org. Cyclists can find fueling stations featuring coffee, snacks and more or join a group ride from locations throughout the city. An 8 a.m. National Bike to Work Day celebration at Austin City Hall will feature free coffee and tacos, swag giveaways and booths from community partners focusing on mobility. And at the end of the day, the official Bike to Work Day After Party will be at Central Machine Works (4824 E. Cesar Chavez St., Austin, TX 78702) from 6 to 8 p.m.

On Bike to Work Day, and every other day, the best way drivers can support bicyclists is giving them the space they need on the road – at least 3 feet of space when passing. Drivers can keep themselves and bicyclists safe by taking extra time to check for bicyclists in intersections or dark conditions. In morning or late evening hours, cyclists can be safe by wearing reflective clothing and using a white front and a red rear light.

This piece has been updated with the correct promo code.

In celebration of famed 19th century artist Elisabet Ney as well as today’s women enriching Austin’s arts, sciences and diverse communities, the 10th annual Ney Day is set for noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 25, on the grounds of the Elisabet Ney Museum, 304 E. 44th St. The free afternoon celebration presented by the Austin Parks and Recreation Department will feature artist-led activities, interactive demonstrations, games and attractions, plus music by Gina Chavez, the Latin Grammy-nominated artist and 12-time Austin Music Award winner. There will be booths presented by KUTX, ATX Gals, the Refugee Collective, Lady Cans, Girls Empowerment Network and the Austin History Center, and Ney Day is free and open to all ages. RSVP to the Ney Day celebration.

The city has embarked upon a historic resource survey of Downtown Austin and is looking for help to complete the “comprehensive snapshot” of the area, which will document the history and heritage of the neighborhood through documentation, research and oral histories. On Monday, May 13, the city’s Historic Preservation Office will host a virtual meeting to share information about the survey. Those wanting to participate can also take part in an online questionnaire that will close on Sunday, June 16. Those wanting to attend Monday’s meeting, which will take place at 6 p.m., can register here.

The city has released its budget survey tool to help prepare for the upcoming budget season. The tool is pretty simple, asking residents to pick their top three priorities out of a list of departments like Austin Public Library, Forensic Science and Housing. “Our residents are at the heart of everything we do, and their input is invaluable in shaping the priorities of our city,” new Austin City Manager T.C. Broadnax said in a statement to the press. “We encourage all residents to take advantage of this opportunity to share their perspectives and help shape the future of Austin.” The survey will be online and available through May. Those who would like to participate on a more robust level can check out the upcoming timeline, which has the proposed budget presentation on July 12, with opportunities for public comment on July 24 and Aug. 1 prior to a budget adoption process that begins on Aug. 5. More information on the budget process can be found here.

This Saturday, May 11, a new bilingual exhibition called “Carros y Cultura: Lowriding Legacies in Texas” opens at the Bullock Museum in celebration of lowriding culture in Texas. In Spanish and in English, it highlights lowriding communities through artifacts, interactive experiences and lowrider cars and bicycles from San Antonio, Austin, Dallas, Houston, Laredo, Pecos and more. The exhibit, which will be on view through Sept. 2, includes a pristine, gold-plated ’63 Chevy Impala and a 1986 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme customized with an image of famed Mexican ranchera singer Vicente Fernández, plus a 1972 Schwinn Fastback customized as an homage to Whataburger. It will trace the origins and elaborate artistry of lowriding, beginning with the Mexican American community in California after World War II, and follow its ties to the Chicano civil rights movement. Today, lowriding competitions and car clubs are found all over the world. Programs and events celebrating lowriding culture in Texas will be offered throughout the run of the exhibition, including talks with experts, children’s activities and teen workshops. On July 7, H-E-B Free First Sunday will be a day for free exhibit admission from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and lowrider-themed activities from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, visit TheStoryofTexas.com/lowriders.

The city’s Homeland Security and Emergency Management Office will be hosting a training on emergency preparedness in partnership with Austin Fire Department Wildfire Division, Ascension Seton and Go Austin/Vamos Austin (GAVA). The two-hour class, which is free and open to the public, will teach emergency preparedness with a focus on wildfire. Participants who complete the course will receive a free weather radio and emergency preparedness kit (in addition to pizza and beverages). To attend the training at the Spicewood Springs Branch Library from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 9, RSVP here.

Travis County voters have not shown much enthusiasm for the May 4 election. As of Sunday, only 21,742 registered voters had cast ballots early – just 2.43 percent of the county’s registered voters. Today is the last day to cast a ballot early in the Saturday election to choose members of the Travis Central Appraisal District Board of Directors. You can find a list of early voting locations throughout the county here.

Outside of Austin, there are six areas that will be considering disannexation from the city on the May 4 ballot. That includes Lost Creek, which would owe Austin more than $7.7 million for amenities the city has provided. Voters in five other areas will also have a chance to vote on disannexation, outlined here.

The city of Lakeway’s ballot has a $22 million bond proposition as well as races for mayor and City Council. Voters in Leander will consider whether to allow collective bargaining rights for firefighters if a majority of employees favor representation by an employee association. Voters who live in the Eanes and Elgin school districts also have the opportunity to consider new school board members. Voters in Webberville will choose a mayor and two commissioners for their council.

Unsurprisingly, Lakeway voters have been among the most likely to vote, along with those in West Lake Hills and Bee Cave. Find more voter information at VoteTexas.gov.

To celebrate May Day, the Austin Democratic Socialists of America is hosting a union-focused labor fair and concert. The job fair, which will feature opportunities from local unions like IBEW, TSEU and AFSCME, will take place on Saturday, May 4, from noon to 7 p.m. at Batch Craft Beer and Kolaches. According to a press release from Austin DSA, “There are an array of opportunities for everyone, from recent high school graduates to experienced professionals. Job hunters can enjoy live music by local bands Pony Soprano, Medieval Snails, Ama, Gummy Fang, and Provoked Emotions.” This event is free and open to the public. Anyone interested can RSVP here.

This Saturday, May 4, the Black Leaders Collective will be holding a summit “dedicated to fostering positive change in the educational landscape for school-aged children in Travis and Williamson counties.” The “State of Black Education” summit is the result of a collaborative effort between parents, guardians, students and educators and is free and open to all. Those under the age of 18 require parental or guardian permission to attend. The event will take place from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Norris Conference Center on West Anderson Lane. For more information and to register, visit blackleaderscollectiveatx.com/sobe.