This year’s Art From the Streets show will be at The Gallery at Austin Central Library, starting Saturday. The show, which will run from July 27 until Sept. 29, will feature 40 artists from Austin’s unhoused community and, as organizers explain, “gives a voice to these artists in a professional gallery setting and educates the public about the benefits of art to those unhoused in Austin.” Admission to the show is free and open to the public, as is the artist reception, which will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Aug. 8. More information about the show and gallery hours can be found here.

The Texas Department of Transportation is updating its 10-year transportation plan, and the period for commenting on it will be open through 4 p.m. Aug. 4. The plan, known as the Unified Transportation Program, or UTP, serves as a road map that defines and prioritizes funding for transportation projects statewide over a decade. The UTP authorizes TxDOT and local agencies to prepare projects for construction based on potential funding, but does not guarantee that funding (or that projects will be built), instead solidifying the transportation authority’s long-term visions. The most recent visions, and the ability to comment on them, can be found here.

A three-member city commission is seeking applicants to volunteer. A three-year term on the City of Austin Firefighters’, Police Officers’, and Emergency Medical Services Personnel Civil Service Commission would begin Nov. 1 and end Oct. 31, and would require one to three hours of business time per month. The commission is meant to ensure general compliance with applicable provisions of Chapter 143 of the Texas Local Government Code; local Civil Service rules established by the Commission; and any current agreements between the city and associations representing firefighters, police officers and emergency medical service personnel. It also regulates promotions, suspensions and terminations of personnel in those departments. Qualified applicants must be U.S. citizens who have resided in the city for more than three years, are older than 25 and have not have held office within the preceding three years. Experience or knowledge of the administration of human resources or labor relations and employment law is preferred. Apply online here and include a resume and cover letter. For more information, contact the Office of the City Clerk at bc@austintexas.gov.

Anyone curious about the city’s most recent effort to redraw City Council district maps is instead likely to get a hard sell for the many wonders of the online casino and gaming industry, aimed specifically at Japanese gamblers. While looking for a Council district map recently, this reporter clicked on a link to the redistrictatx.org website, which at one time was a resource connected to the work of the Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission, which met throughout 2021 to draw a new map of all 10 districts based on new census data. What came up instead was a site that offered a series of tutorials for newcomers to the world of online casinos, with calls to action (after a run through Google Translate) like “Slot machines: the best strategies and options to win” and “The magic of blackjack: exploring strategy and fun.” Some preliminary sleuthing on WhoIs.com shows the site was most recently registered by GMO Internet Group last April and is valid through April 2025. No telling how any of this plays into the charter amendment related to redistricting that City Council voted to put on the November ballot, but anyone with an eye toward the next redistricting process should note that redistrictatx.net or redistrictatx.com are available at very affordable prices.

The Village at Western Oaks is getting 21 Little Free Libraries thanks, in part, to the city’s Neighborhood Partnering Program. The program, which teams up with neighborhoods to help with community-driven projects like park improvements, public art, gardens and trails, accepted a proposal from the neighborhood’s HOA to share costs on the installation of the libraries, which are small, book-sharing boxes that can be used by anyone. Similarly, anyone can reach out to the NPP, either about starting their own little library project or any other enhancement. More information, including proposal guidelines, can be found on the city’s website.

The city’s online development portal will be offline from 8 a.m. Aug. 8 through 7 a.m. Aug. 12 in order to launch a redesigned Austin Build and Connect Portal. While customers will log in to the new system the same way as before, they are encouraged to “complete any necessary activities” before the system is temporarily unavailable. According to a press release from the city, “all user profiles, contact information, records and billing information will be preserved” and additional information about support and access will be on the AB+C Portal closer to the scheduled maintenance. More detailed information about application submissions, payments and inspections can be acquired by contacting the appropriate city department directly. The new portal will have an updated interface in addition to increased security and reliability.

This week, Travis County has plans for multiple prescribed burns in East Austin near Lake Walter E. Long and the Travis County Expo Center, depending on appropriate weather. Between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. each day, pile burns might be implemented throughout the week as part of a cooperative fuel reduction project by Emergency Service District 4, Lake Travis Fire Rescue and multiple county departments. Constructing fire lines and fuel breaks to minimize the impacts from a wildfire are also part of the plan. Expect light smoke to be present for much of the day in the area immediately adjacent to the piles.

With the two finalists now made public, and a selection expected on Friday, July 26, it’s time for the public to meet Austin’s next police chief. The city will hold a meet-and-greet at the Palmer Events Center on Tuesday, July 23, to do just that. Though the period for submitting questions online has closed, attendees can ask questions in person from 5:30 until 6 p.m. and interact directly with the candidates from 7:30 until 8 p.m. The main event, which will start at 6 p.m., will feature opening remarks and a question-and-answer session moderated by Judy Maggio. City Council will meet to possibly confirm the next chief at a special called meeting on July 30.

The city’s parks department has a new online exhibit, “Unificar, to Unite,” which explores the history of Tejano organizations and their accomplishments in Texas. The stories of Tejano social justice leaders can be viewed online in English or Spanish. To celebrate the new exhibit, the city will also host a free workshop at the cemetery, at which contemporary Tejano community organizers “will conduct workshop sessions teaching attendees how to organize within their communities, leading discussions on advocacy, and sharing insights on working behind the scenes on social and political movements,” according to a press release from the city. The workshop will take place from 10:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m Saturday, July 27. Register here.

U.S. Rep. Greg Casar delivered a $1 million check for water infrastructure to Travis County on Thursday. The money will be used to bring water service to fire hydrants and clean drinking water to eastern Travis County in the FM 812 area. “All Travis County families deserve to have safe, reliable drinking water in their homes,” Travis County Judge Andy Brown said in a statement to the press. “Thanks to Congressman Greg Casar, we’re one step closer with this $1 million award to ensure no one has to drive to a water standpipe to fill up their water tanks and haul it home to their families for access. This grant will help fund the design and construction process for the FM 812 neighborhood.” The money comes through Community Project Funding, applied for through Casar’s office. It was approved by the federal government in March of this year.

Austin Public Health has given an update on the new Dove Springs Public Health Center, which is expected to be completed this fall. As of this month, the building’s exterior has been complete, including the installation of solar panels, and the power has been turned on, allowing for interior work to move forward. A call for community artwork to be displayed at the clinic was sent out earlier this year, with a deadline of July 10. When complete, the bond-funded facility will feature a neighborhood center, food pantry, child care, and Women, Infants and Children and immunization programs.

With the help of the Financial Services Department, a community survey is being launched to help the city’s Animal Services Office decide on its future priorities. Austin Animal Center has consistently been at or above its live outcome goal rate but with extra measures to maintain it over the past few years, including restricting intake of animals due to declining adoptions. Last year, reviews of ASO by the Office of the City Auditor and the National Center for Animal Shelter Evaluations turned up “misaligned departmental goals as well as issues with stakeholder engagement and alignment,” according to a city statement to the press, and the city auditor recommended the chief Animal Services officer to work with stakeholders on a strategic plan. From July 17 to Aug. 14, the community survey and additional information about the planning process are available at publicinput.com/asoplan2024. In the assessment phase of the strategic planning process, the community survey will be accompanied by external partner and stakeholder interviews and a listening session; staff and volunteer listening sessions; reviewing previous audits, documents, surveys and reports; and identifying best practices from similar animal services organizations.