Austin City Manager T.C. Broadnax is working to shape the city’s budget for Fiscal Year 2026, and Austinites are encouraged to weigh in on their priorities. Through early May, the city’s Budget Priority Survey will be available in multiple languages. This survey follows a series of five community budget conversations that Broadnax hosted across the city from February through April to help residents learn about the budget development process and voice their funding priorities. “The community made it clear that funding should focus on affordable housing, mobility, and community programs,” Broadnax said. “This valuable feedback will play a critical role as I continue to shape the proposed budget. To access the survey and find out about upcoming budget engagement opportunities, visit austintexas.gov/budget.

The 48th annual O. Henry Museum Pun-Off World Championship is approaching. The contest, which is free and open to the public, will take place 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, May 10, at Brush Square Park. The event, which is known worldwide, consists of the Punniest of Show and Punslingers contests and will feature live music by Kathleen Turner Overdrive, a silent auction, merch, plus food and drink from local food trucks. More information can be found on Facebook or at punoff.com.

A free spay/neuter clinic for dogs and cats is underway through April 7 at the Brodie Oaks Shopping Center, 4115 S. Capital of Texas Hwy., Austin, Texas, 78704 – also providing free vaccinations, flea/tick prevention and microchips to pets who undergo surgery. Registration and drop-off will begin on-site at 7:30 a.m. and will continue until 10 a.m., or until each day’s schedule is full. Typically, spay/neuter procedures cost anywhere from $75 to several hundred dollars, depending on the animal’s breed and size. The Austin Animal Center is partnering with Greater Good Charities to help reduce the number of stray and homeless animals.

This weekend, the Landmarks Bike Tour returns to UT Austin. Landmarks has partnered with the school’s Orange Bike Project for the tour and is offering $10 rentals for those who need a bike. According to Landmarks, the docent-led tour of their collection will include stops at “Mark di Suvero’s Clock Knot, Nancy Rubins’ Monochrome for Austin and Sol LeWitt’s Circle with Towers, among others.” The tour is free and open to the public. It kicks off at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, April 6, though those who need to rent a bike should arrive at 10:15.

Community not Commodity is sounding the alarm on HB 3919, called the small lot impervious cover bill, which would “would allow 70 percent impervious cover on residential lots of 4,000 square feet or less.” The bill is set for a hearing on Wednesday at 8am in the House Land & Resource Management Committee. Since Austin passed the HOME initiative, the minimum lot size was reduced to 1800 square feet. Under this bill, lots of less than 4,000 square feet could have 70 percent impervious cover. The current limit is 45 percent. The group says, “Allowing a large increase in impervious cover combined with inadequate drainage infrastructure will put communities at higher risk of flood inundation.” Austin Rep. Gina Hinojosa is a member of the committee. The Senate has already passed a similar bill, SB15.

City Council and the Planning Commission will host a joint meeting at 2 p.m. today to hear public comment on a proposal to allow larger homes on lots where there is already existing housing. According to the posting, if adopted the proposal would “increase the maximum square footage limits of two new housing units when the property owner preserves the existing housing unit.” Although the proposal allows for larger units, it does not allow for increased impervious cover. After a staff presentation, Council will allow two minutes for each speaker. The Planning Commission is expected to take action on April 8 and Council will consider the proposal on April 24, according to Mayor Kirk Watson’s posting on the City Council Message Board.

The Austin Police Department and the nonprofit 911 Cell Phone Bank are launching a phone collection drive in April to provide electronics to people fleeing abusive or dangerous situations. A press release from APD said, “For individuals escaping domestic violence or human trafficking, an untraceable phone can serve as a crucial lifeline.” As Melissa Nachbaur, a supervisor in the department’s Victim Services Unit, explained, “By donating a device you no longer use, you could be giving someone the chance to reach safety, find resources, or rebuild their life.” Community members are invited to donate cell phones, tablets and other electronic devices they no longer need. The devices will be data-cleared and refurbished before going to their new homes via the 911 Cell Phone Bank program. Donation dropoff boxes will be available at all Austin Police Department substations, including the Main Headquarters at 715 E. Eighth St., North Substation at 12425 Lamplight Village Ave., South Substation at 400 Ralph Ablanedo Drive, and East Substation at 812 Springdale Road. Devices may also be donated at any Austin Fire Department station.

Austin Animal Center and Greater Good Charities are partnering up to offer a free spay-neuter clinic for Travis County residents. Spaying and neutering is a vital tool to help control the pet population crisis filling the nation’s shelters with homeless dogs and cats. Sterilization also has significant health benefits, reducing the chance of cancers, infections and lost pets. To be eligible, pets must be at least 2 months old and weigh at least 2 pounds. Dogs should be on leash and cats secured in a carrier. Feral/community cats are OK if brought in a covered trap. Vaccines and microchips will be included free of charge with the procedure, and feral cats will be ear-tipped. Registration and dropoff will begin on-site at 7:30 am. and will continue until 10 am, or until the schedule is full each day. Thursday, April 3, to Monday, April 7, from 7:30-10 a.m., Brodie Oaks Shopping Center, at the closed Neiman Marcus Last Call store, 4115 S. Capital of Texas Hwy. Find more details here. 

Last month, Travis County confirmed its first reported case of measles since 2019, in an unvaccinated baby “who was exposed to the virus during a vacation overseas.” Dr. Desmar Walkes, Austin-Travis County Health Authority, announced that “measles has arrived in our community” and urged residents to “make sure they’re protected against this vaccine-preventable disease.” The safest and most effective way to protect yourself from measles is by getting the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine. Measles is more than just an itchy rash, Walkes said, and it “can put you in the hospital and can even lead to death, as we’ve seen already in Texas.” Measles is so contagious that a single infected person can pass the disease on to nine or 10 people nearby, if they are not protected. Fortunately, Austin Public Health holds free vaccine clinics throughout Travis County, all year long. No insurance is required and noncitizens are welcome. Find dates, locations and times of the clinics here.

​Movability, Central Texas’ transportation management association, will host its inaugural Central Texas Commuter Awards Luncheon from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 10. The event, held at HNTB’s office on the 24th floor of the Indeed Tower at 200 W. Sixth St., aims to honor individuals and organizations leading mobility initiatives that enhance commuting experiences in the region. ​The awards will recognize finalists across several categories including Commute Policy Champion, Community Commute Champion and Carbon Reduction Champion. Movability will also recognize Central Texas employers named as national “Best Workplaces for Commuters” in 2025. The more than one dozen recognized organizations offer benefits such as transit pass and vanpool subsidies, guaranteed ride-home programs, secure bike parking, carpool incentives, flex time and telework options. Tickets for the luncheon are available for purchase, and sponsorship opportunities are open for interested organizations.

Waterloo Greenway has appointed Colette Pierce Burnette as its new chief executive officer, effective April 1. Burnette, a former board member and longtime Austin community leader, returns to the city after serving as president and CEO of Newfields, a cultural institution in Indianapolis. The Waterloo Greenway Board of Directors selected Burnette following a nationwide search. Burnette previously served as president of Huston-Tillotson University, where she oversaw major growth in the university’s endowment and enrollment. Her tenure at Waterloo Greenway comes during work on phase two of the 35-acre park system, which is focused on Palm Park and slated to open in 2026. Burnette will lead fundraising, operations and community partnerships to ensure the project’s continued success. The public is invited to welcome Burnette at Waterloo Greenway’s Pop-Up Picnic on April 5 at Moody Amphitheater. Find more information at waterloogreenway.org/picnic.

St. David’s Foundation is set to unveil a new funding opportunity aimed at enhancing economic stability within the Central Texas health care sector, with up to $10 million in grants available. The Pathways to Economic Stability for Healthcare Workforce initiative, scheduled for release on March 26, seeks to create collaborative pathways for historically marginalized communities to secure financially sustainable careers in health care. The foundation plans to allocate 24-month grants to support organizations and collaboratives dedicated to supporting the health care workforce. Eligible applicants include tax-exempt entities operating in Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, Travis or Williamson counties, focusing on high-demand health care careers that offer self-sufficient wages. The application process begins with a rolling letter of intent starting March 26, with a submission deadline of May 1. Organizations are encouraged to submit letters of intent promptly to allow ample time for the full application, due by May 13. More information about the program is available online.