As the city’s water utility moves forward with the aquifer storage and recovery project, it is turning to the public for help with a series of in-person and virtual workshops. The meetings are designed to answer questions and gather input on how the project will incorporate equity and affordability concerns. Aquifer storage and recovery, or ASR, is a way to store and retrieve water in aquifers for use when needed. The project is in its first phase of implementation, with a team working on identifying suitable storage sites. The public feedback sessions, which all contain the same information, are open to Travis, Bastrop and Lee county residents.

In-Person Workshops

Workshop 1 

• When: Tuesday, Oct. 18, 6-7:30 p.m.
• Where: Giddings Public Library and Cultural Center, 276 N. Orange St., Giddings, TX 78942
• Register

Workshop 2 

• When: Wed., Oct. 19, 6-7:30 p.m.
• Where: Bastrop Public Library, 1100 Church St., Bastrop, TX 78602
• Register

Workshop 3 

• When: Thursday, Oct. 20, 6-7:30 p.m.
• Where: City of Austin Permitting and Development Center, 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Dr.
• Register

Virtual Workshops via Zoom  

Workshop 4 

• When: Tuesday, Oct. 25, 5-6 p.m.
• Register

Workshop 5 

• When: Thursday, Oct. 27, 6-7 p.m.
• Register

In addition to a number of exciting local races in November – including one for mayor and an affordable housing bond – Texas voters will get to choose a governor and attorney general. It’s imperative that Austinites make sure they are registered to vote by Oct. 11 in order to vote in the election. Luckily, the Voter Registration Division of the Travis County Tax Office has 112 locations where one can register, and a handy map to show you where they are and when they are open. All Travis County residents – even those who are registered to vote – should also ensure that their information is current and accurate. Would-be voters may check their registration online, and change their address (if they have moved within the state). Early voting will run from Oct. 24 to Nov. 4. Election day is Tuesday, Nov. 8.

Capital Metro wants to be your date to Austin City Limits. Check out the transit agency’s ACL page if you want a car-free way of getting to Zilker Park in time for the festival. Here are a few more things to know:

• Bus and bike options will get you to Republic Square for the free ACL shuttles or close to the park itself (the corner of South Lamar & Barton Springs for a quick walk to Zilker).
• Rapid routes run every 15 minutes on weekdays.
• Night Owl routes run until about 3 a.m. Friday and Saturday nights.
• Route 30 is on detour, avoiding Zilker Park both weekends. Route 4 will service Stop ID 1977 on Veterans Drive after 7 p.m.
• Take MetroRail’s special event service on Sunday, Oct. 9, to get the Austin FC game at Q2 Stadium. Trains will service Kramer Station till about 8 p.m.
• MetroRail does not run on Sunday, Oct. 16.

If you’ve never ridden an electric bicycle before (and really, what are you waiting for?), you’ll get your chance this weekend at the E-Bike Rodeo at the state Capitol. Along with a variety of e-bikes available for test rides, experts will be on hand to explain everything you need to know about electricity-powered bikes. You’ll also hear about Austin Energy’s rebate program for e-bike buyers. As Luke Metzger, the executive director of Environment Texas, put it, “E-bikes open up the world of two-wheeled transportation to more of us. They extend ride ranges, make it easier to conquer hilly terrain and increase the cargo load that someone can carry. In sum, an e-bike makes it vastly easier to get around without a car. Replacing car trips with zero-carbon options such as e-bikes is one of the best ways to fight climate change.” Saturday, Oct. 8, 9-11 a.m., 1100 Congress Ave.

Visitors are flooding into Austin to attend ACL Fest and the Formula 1 U.S. Grand Prix race later this month. What this means, among other things, is that the airport is very, very busy right now. AUS is expecting a lot of what officials call “high passenger days,” which are days with more than 30,000 departing passengers, and fully anticipating a “new record number of single-day departing travelers for both ACL and the Formula 1 race.” Remember, all those people who fly into Austin also have to fly out of Austin, and all that coming and going adds up to a whole lot of, um, potential for aggravation. Airport officials are pleading with travelers to plan ahead, check in online, get to the airport early – 2.5 hours for domestic flights – and pack correctly. That last one is a sore subject: According to TSA, “AUS passengers continue to bring a record number of guns to security checkpoints this year.” What?! Use your noggin, people, and leave your firearms at home. And while you’re at it, check out the airport map so you know where you’re going before you get there.

Getting to and from Austin City Limits – at Zilker Park the weekends of Oct. 7-9 and Oct. 14-16 – is always an adventure. We do not recommend driving to the festival. In fact, you really can’t: Barton Springs Road near the park is closed to vehicle traffic throughout the weekend and there’s no parking at the park or in the surrounding neighborhoods during the festival. But do not despair: You still have many options, including walking, riding a bike, taking public transit, taking a scooter or using a ride-share service. The Austin Transportation Department has made things easy for you with this handy list:

• Free shuttle: Board at Republic Square Park and ride to the festival entrance. At the end of the night, you can also ride the shuttle back downtown.
• Capital Metro: MetroRapid 803 is the best route to get directly to ACL. Find the way to the park that works best for you using the CapMetro Trip Planner.
• Walk or bike: Take the hike-and-bike trail to get to the festival or ride a MetroBike.
• Micromobility: Drop off your electric scooter or bike in a designated area before entering the grounds.
• Ride-share: Pickup and drop-off points will be located near MoPac at Veterans Drive, Lee Barton Drive and Wallingwood Drive.

As of September 2022, the Austin Police Department had 280 vacancies in its sworn staff. Of those, 99 were the result of retirements, according to Jason Matson, the department’s research and planning division manager. He said the department had budgeted for 1,809 positions, but only 1,529 of those were filled by late September. Matson reported to the Public Safety Commission Monday that the department had spent more than $21 million on officer overtime, compared with an overtime budget of $5.8 million. However, with that factor in mind, he noted that the department had spent only $318 million in the past year compared to its budget of $335 million. A class of 56 new officers is scheduled to graduate in mid-November, but they will not be full-fledged officers until several more months of on-the-job training, and another eight officers from other jurisdictions are also undergoing training to join APD. The vacancy rate among 911 call operators is even more dire, Matson reported, noting that they have a vacancy rate of 48 percent. However, he told the commission that vacancy rates are very high among 911 call takers in most other parts of the country also.

Photo by daynaw3990/Pixabay.

Pop quiz: 1) What’s the only marsupial native to North America (and common in Texas)? 2) What mammal is rarely a vector for rabies because its low body temperature inhibits the virus? And 3) What critter is the subject of this month’s installment of the Wild Neighbors Speaker Series? If you answered opossum for all three questions, you win! (OK, the photo gave it away, but we couldn’t resist.) Wildlife rehabilitator Guin McDaid, who has made the acquaintance of many an opossum over the past two decades, will reveal why the opossum is North America’s most misunderstood wild animal and why they are so beneficial to humans and the environment. She’ll also share some fascinating details about opossum behavior and habitat along with “a long list of interesting facts about why we should protect and cherish” them. Friday, Oct. 28, noon-1 p.m. Register here.

Keeping up with repair and homeownership costs can be challenging for seniors or disabled people. The city of Austin and Travis County are offering some hands-on help with their Homeowner Savings Workshop. Participants will learn about the city’s home repair programs for lower-income, older and disabled Austinites; homestead exemptions that can lower your property tax bill (with additional exemptions if you or your spouse are aged 65 and older, disabled, or a disabled veteran); and discounted internet service programs. Fill out this short form to register for one of three upcoming workshops in October. Light refreshments will be served.

Today’s the day, artists: The city has begun accepting applications for the 2024 season of its Artist Access Program. What exactly is the Artist Access Program? According to the city’s announcement, it “provides free or low-cost rehearsal and production spaces to both emerging and established performance artists from the Austin area. Created to address the needs of local artists, participating organizations collaborate with the city of Austin’s Cultural Centers to produce professional performances for both local and visiting audiences.” Participating artists and arts organizations enjoy expanded rehearsal hours as well as the chance “to produce public performances in a space for free or at a reduced rental fee of $1 per ticket sold.” Marketing resources, help with event planning and support staff are also part of the deal. Austin Shakespeare, Austin Dance Ensemble, Lannaya Drum & Dance and A’lante Flamenco are just a few of the organizations that are currently participating in the program. The deadline to apply is Dec. 18.

Austin Public Health is recommending that all eligible adults get the updated Covid-19 booster and the annual flu shot in one visit. It’s easy, it’s convenient, and you’ll be protected from two unpleasant – and potentially dangerous – viruses in one fell swoop. In addition, October is the ideal time to get the flu shot. To find the closest vaccine distribution spot, visit vaccines.gov. You can also call the Covid-19 vaccine hotline at 1-800-232-0233 if you have any questions or concerns about the vaccine.

After more than seven years without a bridge at Country Club Creek, the city has begun construction at Roy G. Guerrero Park. The project to replace the bridge, which is expected to take two years to complete, got underway this week. Because the original bridge’s collapse was due to severe erosion, the parks, public works and watershed protection departments have been working together to find a long-lasting solution to replace the fallen bridge as well as stabilize the drainage channel it spans. During construction, some park trails will remain closed and crossing the creek within the project limits will be prohibited due to safety concerns.