The city’s Development Services Department is inviting residents to a Brown Bag Lunch & Learn session, intended to shed light on the city’s Environmental Inspection processes. Amanda Wyrick from the Environmental Inspections team will discuss erosion and sedimentation controls, tree protection and the inspections needed during development. It’s scheduled for noon to 1:15 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 23, at the City of Austin Permitting and Development Center, 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Dr. Registration is open now. For more information, email DSDCommunications@austintexas.gov.

With cold weather and the threat of a hard freeze having descended upon Austin, the Austin-Travis County Emergency Operations Center (ATCEOC) remains activated and at the ready to coordinate response. The cold weather shelters will be in operation until Friday morning, then reopened for another overnight shift this evening. In addition, Austinites in need of a warm space can access warming centers throughout the day. More information about the shelters can be found by calling 512-972-5055, and general information will be posted at austintexas.gov/alerts and @AustinHSEM social media accounts. Information on preparing for and coping with cold weather can be found at ReadyCentralTexas.org. Officials ask that Austinites refrain from calling 911 unless they are experiencing an emergency. Nonemergency help can be found by calling 311.

People interested in serving on the Community Development Commission – a 15-member board that “advises (City Council) in the development and implementation of programs designed to serve the poor and the community at large with emphasis on federally funded programs,” according to a press release – can apply for a role on this board with Austin Public Health. Applicants must be 18 or older, live within the geographic area assigned for that seat and want to serve people living in poverty. Seven members of the board are nominated by a Council committee and appointed by Council, and eight are democratically selected to represent low-income people who are eligible to be served under the Community Services Block Grant. Applications will be accepted for representatives in the following areas:

• North Austin – Gus Garcia Recreation Center – 1201 E Rundberg Lane, Austin, 78753
• St. John – St. John Community Center – 7500 Blessing Ave., Austin, 78752
• Colony Park – Turner-Roberts Recreation Center – 7201 Colony Loop Drive, Austin, 78724
• Rosewood-Zaragosa/Blackland – Givens Recreation Center – 3811 E. 12th St., Austin, 78721
• East Austin – East Austin Neighborhood Center – 211 Comal St., Austin, 78702
• Montopolis – Montopolis Recreation and Community Center – 1200 Montopolis Drive, Austin, 78741
• South Austin – South Austin Recreation Center – 1100 Cumberland Road, Austin, 78704
• Dove Springs – Dove Springs Public Health Center – 5811 Palo Blanco Lane, Austin, 78744

Each election site will have paper ballots available with the names of the candidates for each area.

The Urban Land Institute (ULI) Austin chapter will host its next Building Equitable Communities Exchange from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 15, at 506 Congress Ave. The event is free and open to the public, aiming to connect professionals in the built environment industry with initiatives supporting equity and inclusivity. The series, organized by ULI Austin’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Steering Committee, highlights projects and programs that foster equitable outcomes across Austin. The event will feature presentations on the Palm School, Equidad ATX, Colony Park and the Mexican American Heritage Corridor. Attendees will have opportunities to interact with project leaders during a networking session following the presentations. The DEI Steering Committee’s mission includes amplifying diverse voices, building a pipeline of young leaders, fostering a culture of inclusiveness and empowering allies through partnerships. By providing a platform for community-driven projects, the Exchange aims to increase awareness and collaboration, encouraging Austinites to participate in shaping a more inclusive city. For more information and to register, visit the ULI Austin website.

The city of Austin is set to salute New Year’s Eve with a free celebration at Auditorium Shores featuring Third Eye Blind, local bands, food and fireworks. This year, the event will be part of the “New Year’s Eve Live with Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen” broadcast on CNN. “Austin’s New Year is back and bigger than ever, and we couldn’t be more excited to celebrate at Auditorium Shores,” Austin Mayor Kirk Watson said in a statement to the press. “This City is no stranger to hosting world class events, so it’s no surprise CNN is returning to count down to the new year in the Live Music Capital of the World.” More information about the schedule, parking, food and road closures can be found here.

In October, City Council passed a resolution aimed at improving the city’s sound regulations when it comes to things like air conditioners and landscaping equipment. Until Dec. 20, the Development Services Department is looking to gather feedback on Austin’s current mechanical equipment noise regulations and has invited anyone with information or personal experience to share it through a survey.  Additional questions can be directed to dsdcommunications@austintexas.gov.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, Dec. 10 and 11, residents can get help preparing for emergencies with information, demonstrations and giveaway items at the north and south locations of the City of Austin Utilities Customer Service Centers. The city is providing meter keys, hose bib covers, hand-crank flashlights, solar-powered device chargers, emergency preparedness kit materials and winter preparedness tip sheets. A number of city departments are getting in on the effort: Austin Energy will provide free solar phone chargers and info on staying safe during a power outage; Austin Water will have free water shutoff keys or insulated faucet covers help avoid property damage caused by freezing temperatures; and the Austin Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management will help folks build emergency preparedness kits. The city advises arriving early because quantities are limited.

UCSC — North
8–11 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 10, or while supplies last
8716 Research Blvd., Suite 115

UCSC — South
8–11 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 11, or while supplies last
1901 W. William Cannon Dr., Suite 100

For more information on preparing for emergencies, check out ReadyCentralTexas.org. The city also reminds people to tune in for emergency alerts by:

• Downloading the Ready Central Texas mobile app.
• Signing up for Emergency Alerts at WarnCentralTexas.org.
• Registering for Austin Energy’s Outage Alerts by texting REG to 287846
• Bookmarking COAUtilities.com, austinwater.org, austinenergy.com and outagemap.austinenergy.com.
• Signing up for Austin Water’ My ATX Water customer portal.

Workforce Solutions Capital Area is hosting a Mobility & Infrastructure Hiring Event on Dec. 11 at the organization’s branch on North Interstate 35. The event offers the chance to explore career paths in the rapidly growing transportation industry as well as major infrastructure projects needed to complete multibillion-dollar efforts such as Project Connect, and the expansion of Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. With projections of 10,000 new jobs needed annually in the next 15 years, the event is intended to fill positions that are seen as essential for the local economy. Transportation stakeholders encourage attendees to learn about positions ranging from bus operators for the upcoming Capital Metro 800 and 837 Rapid lines to skilled trade opportunities vital to building the city’s infrastructure. Admission is free, with registration available online.

An open call for exhibit proposals for the Dougherty Art Center’s Julia C. Butridge Gallery is now active, with applications being accepted through Jan. 26, 2025. Exhibit proposals for the 2026 gallery season can be submitted online now. Exhibits at the gallery are five to eight weeks long and include an artist reception and talk, with gallery demos and workshops available to exhibiting artists. There is no fee to submit a proposal, and all exhibits are free and open to the public.

Travis County, the city of Austin and Greater Good Charities are combining forces this week to host free spay and neuter clinics for dogs and cats Dec. 5-7. Though the clinics are free of charge, pet owners must show proof that they are residents of Austin or Travis County. “This is an excellent opportunity for Austin and Travis County residents to provide their pet important healthcare at no cost. Spay and neuter surgeries can cost pet owners hundreds of dollars,” Travis County Health and Human Services Division Director Ana Almaguel said in a statement to the press.“The procedure can extend your pet’s life and help control the dog and cat population in our area.” The clinics will be held at 1817 W. Braker Lane, Building F, and operated on a first-come, first-served basis with registration beginning at 7:30 a.m. each day until 10 a.m. or capacity is met. There is no limit on pets per person, though they all must be at least 2 pounds and two months old and cats must be in secure, individual carriers with a working door.

Voters in City Council District 7 and those living within the boundaries of the Austin Independent School District will have the opportunity to vote early beginning today. The runoff election for the Council race and AISD at-large position 8 will be held on Dec. 14, but those who wish to cast their ballots early will be able to vote at any voting center in Travis County through Dec. 10. There are 20 early voting centers, which will each have a “Vote Here/Aqui” sign displayed, and they will be open today through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. The final day of early voting is Tuesday, Dec. 10. For a list of early voting locations as well as election day voting centers, check the Travis County Clerk’s website. The District 7 race is between Gary Bledsoe and Mike Siegel. The AISD race is between Lindsey Stringer and Fernando Lucas de Urioste.

The uniquely spiraled 3,309 lights on the Zilker Holiday Tree will start glowing for the season at the 2024 Tree Lighting Ceremony, planned for Sunday, Dec. 1, at Zilker Park, 2100 Barton Springs Road, on the south side of the park. At 5:15 p.m., music by the Austin Civic Wind Ensemble will welcome folks, and the ceremony starts at 6 p.m. Expect local entertainment, food and live music, plus ASL interpretation services on stage for the duration of the ceremony. Parking is free and first-come, first-served. Carpooling to the event or taking Cap Metro is suggested.