You’ve got plenty of opinions about how this city should be run, don’t you? Well, here’s your chance to share your views and ideas. Austin city commissions are hosting a 2020 budget community forums, and you’re invited. Help shape goals for the city’s commissions and make recommendations on city services. The city wants to hear your voice. RSVP on Facebook: www.bit.ly/2Ezw1dG. Details are on the flyer.

Jim Christianson, a former Historic Landmark Commission member with a 22-year tenure, came to warn the commission that “handing out historic zonings like cupcakes” would devalue the tax abatements those with the designation receive in the eyes of City Council. Christianson was referring to properties where modern additions or improvements had been made, like the old Spaghetti Warehouse, which was converted into a bar and given a third story. He argued that the new level should not be given a tax abatement, but there’s no way for the Travis Central Appraisal District to separate the addition out from the structure for taxing purposes. This shortcoming, he explained, allows properties to unfairly increase their values while still benefiting from historic zoning tax abatement. Commissioner Terri Myers pointed out that a number of Austin landmarks have non-historic additions and the commission tries, when possible, to remove historic zoning from the parcel that has become modernized. Christianson was also concerned about communication between the commission and TCAD, insinuating that it was the commission’s responsibility to alert the offices to historic zoning changes. However, Commissioner Alex Papavasiliou said that “the appraisal district is aware of building permits” where historic zoning is noted because they are public record. Steve Sadowsky, the city’s historic preservation officer, confirmed that city staffers do not communicate any changes in certificates of appropriateness because building permits, not certificates, trigger an appraisal. However, he said he will take Christianson’s suggestions and see what changes can be made in the flow of information “so that they’re more aware.”

It’s that time of year already – Barton Springs Pool is closing for its annual spring cleaning and restoration. The popular spring-fed swimming pool will be closed, and access to the dog beach will be limited, from March 4-15 while Parks and Rec staff remove gravel from the pool to restore its natural depth. Beginning Monday, March 4, Deep Eddy Pool at 401 Deep Eddy Drive will open at 6 a.m. to accommodate the early birds who can’t live without their morning dip.

If you’ve ever scrounged for change to feed a meter or paid for half a day at a lot when you only needed an hour, you’ll appreciate Austin Transportation’s sleek, upgraded parking app. Park ATX allows Austinites to pay for parking at more than 10,000 parking spots around the city and pay only for the time that you use. Park ATX is available for free on Apple and Android devices. With the launch of the new app, the city has expanded to more than 500 parking zones. Street parkers should check out the new zone numbers, which are on new Park ATX signage throughout the city.

In response to a suggestion by Travis County Commissioner and Capital Metro Board of Directors member Jeff Travillion during the board’s last meeting on Jan. 25, the agency voted Monday to rename its boardroom after civil rights activist Rosa Parks. CEO Randy Clarke suggested the name dedication as a way to follow Travillion’s lead in honoring African-American history with transit. Clarke said the American Public Transportation Association’s main conference hall in Washington, D.C., is named after Parks, who in Clarke’s words, “fundamentally changed our industry forever.” Capital Metro has installed a large wooden plaque outside of the boardroom with biographical information about Parks. The plaque features her words, “I believe we are here on the planet Earth to live, grow up, and do what we can to make this world a better place for all to enjoy freedom.” Travillion said the designation of the Rosa Parks Boardroom is an excellent step, and he had also spoken about the need to connect the transit community to Austin’s history. With this in mind, the resolution also honors Mrs. Howellen Bunton Taylor, who was arrested in Austin for refusing to move to the back of a bus as a protest in November 1955, prior to Park’s famous protest in Montgomery, Alabama.

Supporters of Recycled Reads, the quirky used bookstore at 5335 Burnet Road that offers mahjong and knitting and serves as a gathering place for the community, will be happy to hear that city staff has withdrawn an item to sublease most of the space to Austin Creative Reuse. Staff has postponed the item twice, including last week, after getting pushback from members of Council as well as the community. Library department spokeswoman Rachel Nguyen said one reason the item was not moving forward was because the Yarborough Branch Library on Hancock Drive, which is close to Recycled Reads, would be closing for renovations on March 1 for about 11 months. Nguyen also acknowledged that there was negative feedback from the community about the plan to eliminate Recycled Reads in 2022. That negative feedback is most likely at the top of the list of City Manager Spencer Cronk’s concerns. Council Member Leslie Pool told the Austin Monitor on Monday, “I appreciate the recognition of the important role that Recycled Reads plays in our community. People from all parts of town meet up there regularly. It’s a real community gathering place. I’m glad that we will continue the lease.” Pool said Cronk told her Friday afternoon that he would be pulling the item from the March 7 agenda and that it would not be coming back.

It’s easy to tell that Common Ground for Texans loves lively conversation. Just take the Austin nonprofit group’s latest topic for public discussion: “Scooters, Plastic Bags, Development: What’s the Right Amount of Regulation?” Who could resist diving into that? From the seemingly unregulated proliferation of electric scooters to the plastic bag ban to the land development code, the overarching theme of how much regulation is the right amount is bound to get people engaged and talking – hopefully in a civil manner. This free community event will feature two City Council members on opposite sides of the scooter question – District 10’s Alison Alter and District 6’s Jimmy Flannigan – and takes place Saturday, March 2, from 2-4 p.m. at Old Quarry Branch Library, 7051 Village Center.

After five trees were removed last September in the Govalle neighborhood, causing such an uproar that it influenced changes in how the city permits tree removal for demolition permits, things seemed to have calmed down on Gonzales Street. Whether out of respect or to taunt the ghosts of the former pecan grove that was the Govalle neighborhood, the developer, Urbane Roost, named the development Pecan Village. The three redeveloped lots will now hold six houses and a host of newly planted trees. This development came just before another Govalle neighborhood property was demolished without the proper permitting, causing the neighborhood to fear for the future of a grove of 75 mature, producing pecan trees that abuts the property.

The city’s Economic Development Department in partnership with the Colony Park Sustainable Community and other local partners will host a Family Resource Fair on Saturday, March 2 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at Barbara Jordan Elementary, 6711 Johnny Morris Road. The fair will feature exhibitors from local organizations as well as free workshops in home repair, wellness, job training, tax preparation and more. Attendees can enjoy free health screenings, ID cards for kids, services for pets, and updates on citywide mobility and health efforts. Family-friendly activities like face painting, balloon arts and raffle prizes, not to mention free food, make this community fair a can’t-miss event for kids of all ages.

On Friday, Feb. 22, the Austin school district broke ground on a pioneering project: to renovate Ann Richards School into a modern and technologically sophisticated new facility specifically designed for young women from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Voters approved the bond for the $70 million Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders in 2017. Now the district has set out to create a state-of-the-art campus at the South Austin site. The new facility, projected to open in August 2021, will serve more than 1,000 students with a curriculum focused on science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM. The existing school facility will remain on-site during construction.

Last summer, as you may recall, the Texas Supreme Court ruled that the city of Laredo’s plastic bag ban violated state law. Reading the writing on the bag, the city of Austin announced that it could no longer enforce its own single-use plastic bag ban. Now, Austin Resource Recovery has launched a survey to dig up the whole crinkly issue once again. What did you think of the court’s ruling? How do you feel about single-use plastic bags? Do you bring your own reusable bags when you shop? Do tell – take the survey right here, from now until March 8. Your answers will help shape ARR’s strategy to encourage retailers and residents to “honor the spirit of the ordinance with the voluntary use of reusable shopping bags,” as ARR eloquently puts it.

At the Feb. 20 meeting of the Environmental Commission, Save Our Springs Alliance attorney Bobby Levinski brought the commissioners’ attention to the heritage tree ordinance and how he believes the law falls short. He referenced a case where the Austin Country Club applied for a permit to remove a single heritage tree on a 180-acre golf course in order to create a designated press area for a PGA tournament. The city arborist approved the application and the tree was removed. “The only rationale they gave was for a media area for the press for a PGA tournament. That’s not really a great reason for removing our heritage trees,” said Levinski. “I’m concerned that this is setting a very, very low standard for what it takes to get a heritage tree removed.” The country club had previously hosted tournaments where the press was in attendance while the tree was still standing. He urged the board that the city needs to engage in a broader conversation about the requirements for heritage tree removal going forward, emphasizing that a single tree on 180 acres meeting the threshold for “impeding reasonable use” is a stretch. The commission thanked him for bringing the case to their attention.