On Friday, work on the Waterloo Greenway reached a milestone with the opening of a new 142-foot suspension pedestrian bridge over Waller Creek. The bridge is part of phase two of the project, known as The Confluence, and it is the first of three that will be erected south of Cesar Chavez Street. According to a press release from Waterloo Greenway about the new bridge, “The design of the bridge allows for minimal impact on the surrounding ecological environment through the use of small foundations and a unique Vierendeel truss system. This bridge will provide connectivity and access to natural beauty while remaining resilient to weather events and a high volume of pedestrian and bike traffic.” Work on The Confluence has been underway for about a year. When completed, it will also feature a boardwalk under Cesar Chavez, public green spaces and extensive landscaping. The entire undertaking is the result of a partnership between Waterloo Greenway Conservancy and the city’s Watershed Protection and Parks and Recreation departments. It is funded by a combination of public funds and donations.

According to a post on the City Council Message Board, Mayor Kirk Watson has sponsored an ordinance that will increase the property tax exemption for senior and disabled homeowners in Austin from $124,000 to $154,000. Council will have to act by May 30, the date of this week’s City Council meeting, in order for the exemption increase to take effect. Council Member Alison Alter, who responded to the post, called it “an important piece of our efforts to allow our seniors to age in place.”

In an effort to ease its ongoing capacity crisis, Austin Animal Center is limiting intake hours to 11 a.m. through 1 p.m., starting today. A press release about the new policy makes exceptions for animals showing “extreme signs of distress or injury, such as heat stroke, young litters that would need to be bottle fed, and animals showing obvious signs of injury.” The press release also explains that the shelter has been boarding animals off-site because the shelter is over capacity and faces an ever-increasing demand for its services. “As AAC limits intake even further and continues working to increase outcomes, the goal is to re-open once all the dogs in boarding have returned to the shelter and animals are safely housed in permanent kennels,” states the release. In order to address capacity issues, the shelter has waived adoption fees, offered financial incentives for rescue organizations that can take larger dogs, and increased its outreach to get the word out about adoptions. Austinites are encouraged to adopt, foster or volunteer if they can.

This month kicked off a number of groundbreaking and construction ceremonies for projects funded by 2022 bonds. Williams, Cook, Wooten and Harris elementary schools and the Sadler Means Young Women’s Leadership Academy are now undergoing modernization projects funded by the historic $2.44 billion in bonds. The money will also go toward improving safety, technology, buildings and athletic facilities across the district, with 25 campuses slated for modernization projects. “By modernizing these schools, we’re making a tremendous impact on the learning environment and improving the experience of students for generations to come,” said Austin ISD Superintendent Matias Segura in a statement to the press. “Every campus will be uniquely designed by and for the communities they serve. It has been amazing to see such hands-on involvement to customize the needs of these schools.” More information about the 2022 bond program can be found at www.AISDFuture.com.

The Lower Colorado River Authority has approved its business and capital plans for Fiscal Year 2025, which begins July 1, authorizing about $1.32 billion in energy, water and public service projects and a $577 million business plan. In addition to affirming a commitment to a new “peaker” plant that will come online with electricity when the grid is maxed out, the LCRA board plans to invest more than $3.9 billion in transmission facilities over the next five years in order to increase reliability and meet projected demands for electricity in the future. In addition, LCRA will invest around $146 million in data transmission to enable smart technologies, $174 million on water supply projects and $38 million in dam rehabilitation projects over the next five years. “We electrified the Hill Country in the 1930s and ’40s, and now we are taking a lead role in investing in dispatchable generation that can be called upon quickly when needed,” LCRA General Manager Phil Wilson said in a statement to the press. “We are well positioned to serve Texans and our customers for many years to come because while LCRA’s services have evolved over the past 90 years, we continue to help Texans respond to significant population growth by staying true to our mission to enhance the quality of life of the people we serve through water stewardship, energy and community service.” LCRA does not collect taxes or receive state appropriations and is funded by its own business revenues. Fiscal Year 2025 business and capital plans can be found here: www.lcra.org/about/financial-highlights/business-plan.

Austin ISD will provide free summer meals to children 18 and younger (as well as students with disabilities who are younger than 21) through its Summer Food Service Program. Children do not need to meet income requirements or be enrolled in AISD to be fed, and there are no registration or identification requirements. Families can find meal sites by calling 211, texting FOOD or COMIDA to 304-304, or checking out the Summer Food and Austin ISD websites. According to a press release from the district, these campuses will serve summer meals:

The program feeds children who rely on school meals over the summer through a U.S. Department of Agriculture nutrition program.

In response to the severe storms and flooding in Houston and Hays County, Austin Disaster Relief Network (ADRN) is on the ground providing real-time relief and support. The nonprofit network of about 200 Austin-area churches and trained volunteers is seeking additional volunteers as well as donations of money and supplies. People interested in supporting survivors and distributing supplies can join ADRN’s volunteer efforts by signing up here. In-kind donations can be made through this Amazon wish list or through donations to Hope Family Thrift Store. Financial contributions to sustain disaster relief operations can be made here and will cover things like clean-up buckets, hygiene kits and survivor care kits, which are critically low. The Austin-based nonprofit organization is dedicated to providing physical, emotional and spiritual care to disaster survivors.

On Tuesday, May 28, construction intended to improve safety will begin at Stassney Lane and First Street. The intersection was targeted using Vision Zero planning tools and is funded by the 2018 mobility bond. The project is aimed at reducing crashes and improving things for pedestrians and cyclists. According to the Planning and Transportation Department, the improvements will include:

• Extended and widened medians for access management and motorist safety
• Upgraded pedestrian infrastructure including restriping of high-visibility crosswalks and new Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-accessible curb ramps
• New protected bike lanes and sidewalks
• Improved access to transit through the construction of a new far-side bus stop serving eastbound routes on Stassney Lane
• Driveway modifications to improve safety for drivers turning in and out of driveways

Central Health is holding a conversation about its newest plans for serving the community today. The event, which is free and open to the public, will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. both in-person and online. The event is an opportunity to ask Central Health leadership questions and hear from Central Health Board Chair Ann Kitchen and CEO Dr. Pat Lee about newly launched programs centered on things like gastroenterology, pulmonology, nephrology and palliative medicine. Kitchen and Central Health Board members Shannon Jones, Amit Motwani and Cynthia Valadez will hold a listening session for attendees following the official presentation. Lunch, coffee, tea and snacks will be provided for all (in-person) attendees.

Travis County GOP Chair Matt Mackowiak has declared his intention to head the Republican Party of Texas. Mackowiak, who has chaired the county Republican party since 2017, is also well-known as the co-founder of Save Austin Now, a group that notably led the charge to reinstate Austin’s ban on camping for homeless people and unsuccessfully pushed a ballot proposition that would have mandated more police in Austin. He pulled no punches in last week’s statement about entering the race. “The most important election in our lifetimes is 5 months away, and due to incompetence, mismanagement, laziness, and shady associations our outgoing State Chairman and his endorsed successor Abraham George are risking President Trump’s margin in Texas, Senator Cruz’s re-election, and everything we all care about. The state party has only 5 paid staff, a Victory chair who just quit, was $500,000 short of the minimum budget for the convention which begins in six days, and couldn’t organize a two-car funeral,” he said. “Today I am announcing my candidacy for RPT Chairman, not because this will be easy, but because the task ahead is too important to leave it in the hands of children. We will make RPT great again and we will save Texas.” Mackowiak thanked and endorsed fellow contenders Dr. Dana Myers, Mike Garcia and Ben Armenta, but said that his goal is to make sure former Collin County GOP Chair Abraham George does not win the race. Weston Martinez is also in the running to be chair.

Tonight, the Central Texas Food Bank is holding the first gallery night for its Feed Creativity Youth Art Competition. The event will highlight the nearly 100 pieces submitted in the competition by students, as well as unveiling the grand prize winner, whose art will be displayed on a 26-foot distribution truck. In addition, the evening will highlight the work of the food bank, which will continue to provide 6,000 meals and snacks to students this summer when they are out of school. The gallery night is free and open to the public at the Central Texas Food Bank at 6500 Metropolis Drive, with check-in starting at 5:30 p.m. and programming at 6 p.m.

On Wednesday, May 22, the Development Services Department will offer limited services in its usual work helping homeowners, business owners and contractors ensure compliance with applicable city and building codes when they build, demolish, remodel or perform any construction. Starting at 11 a.m., appointments and in-person payments may be unavailable because of the department’s annual awards and recognition event. Standard operations will resume on Thursday, May 23. Additionally, there might be slight delays in inspections from May 22 to May 29. If an appointment must be rescheduled, inspectors will reach out with details. The Permitting and Development Center will remain open for other departments located in the building and Event Center activities. For immediate assistance or inquiries during the temporary closure, visit DSD’s website or call Austin 311.