Today, City Council marks the 10-year anniversary of the Climate Protection Resolution, which solidified Austin’s commitment to fighting climate change. Since then, the city has reduced its municipal greenhouse gas emissions by 75 percent. Austin Energy’s supply came from a measly 4 percent renewables. Currently that number is 31 percent, and it’s on the way up. During today’s meeting, Council will present a proclamation to former Mayor Will Wynn, who called Austin “indispensable” in combating the issue. “Some of the things that give us an edge include the fact that Austin owns our own electric utility, is a significant technology hub focused on innovation, and has a citizenry that recognizes the problem and demands we do something about it,” he said in a press release on Thursday. The city is also premiering a three-minute video on what residents can do to reduce their environmental impact. That, and a whole lot more information, can be found on the city’s website.

The city’s Parks and Recreation Department is already preparing for the summer swim season by hosting a lifeguard job fair today from 4-8 p.m. at the Virginia L. Brown Recreation Center, 7500 Blessing Ave. PARD’s Aquatic & Nature Based Programs Division has 650 lifeguard slots to fill each year, and Thursday’s hiring day is already the third of the season. Bring valid ID and a Social Security card to apply for lifeguard, cashier, swim instructor or swim coach positions. The pay starts at $13.50 an hour. Find more information at www.lifeguardaustin.com.

On Tuesday, an Austin Independent School District memo had district principals scrambling, with some warning their teachers not to hand out Immigration and Customs Enforcement fliers, according to the Austin American-Statesman. Today, the AISD board of trustees is expected to tackle the issue head-on at its Board Operations Committee meeting, in an attempt to get a clearer read on official policy. Trustees, who have a separate legal counsel than the district, were not informed about the memo in advance. Trustee Paul Saldaña told the Austin Monitor that he was “surprised” by its content and noted that it seemed counter to an Education Austin ICE training for teachers held last week, for example. He expressed hope that today’s meeting would help forward a clearer, more consistent policy for everyone.

“A lot of people forget that in 1985, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that it was unconstitutional for states to deny access to public education to students or families based on immigration status,” he said. “That means, as a district, we are legally required to educate and support every child that walks into our school.” Saldaña also told the Monitor that he plans to bring forward a resolution supporting the inclusive community of AISD with co-sponsors Jayme Mathias and Ann Teich and hopes it will be on the board’s Feb. 27 agenda.

A spokesperson for the district explained that the memo was “just something that goes out once in while” to “update staff on information they need to know.” That memo, embedded below, includes the statement that “employee, staff member, teacher, or administrator may not speak to political affiliation, views, protests, advocacy, or other controversial issues or topics that may arise while on District property, whether that is in a classroom or in an Administrative building, working as a District employee, or using District resources. The very narrow but permissible exception is recognized in the event that the discussion of these issues is necessary for the complete education of our students so long as the information is presented in a non-partisan and neutral manner.” It also asks staff to refrain from reproducing and distributing third-party resources in class.

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Jerry Rusthoven, who has served as acting assistant director of the Planning and Zoning Department since last summer, found out Tuesday that he is now officially an assistant director. Congratulations to him! In addition, the Austin Monitor learned Tuesday that Shannon Halley, who has been on Mayor Pro Tem Kathie Tovo’s staff since August 2011, has accepted a position with Austin Water. Her new title will be environmental program coordinator and she will report to Assistant Director Daryl Slusher. Tovo said that since Halley joined her staff, “she has helped develop important initiatives related to homelessness, energy efficiency, parks and so many other diverse issues. She has been a valued member of my District 9 staff. She will be missed, but we wish her well in her new role.”

The population of far western Travis County could soon get a significant boost. On Tuesday, the Commissioners Court gave the go-ahead to a 2,200-acre master development near State Highway 71 and Paleface Ranch Road. The project, known as Thomas Ranch, also partially dips into Burnet County and will include offices, restaurants, retail shops, a resort hotel and approximately 3,300 housing units (including both single- and multifamily). A press release sent on behalf of the developer notes that the project, whose nearest boundary is a 30-mile drive from downtown Austin, “will feature an ideal balance between the Texas Hill Country and Austin city life.” The release also quotes Commissioner Gerald Daugherty in whose Precinct 3 Thomas Ranch is located: “As Western Travis County continues to grow, it’s important we welcome developers who can provide infrastructure for thoughtfully planned communities. Thomas Ranch is a community that the Spicewood area will benefit from, providing economic opportunity as well as improvements to existing streets off Paleface Ranch Road.” Other developments in the portfolio of the project’s lead developer, Tom D’Alesandro of Blakefield LLC, include The Shops at La Cantera in San Antonio and The Woodlands outside of Houston.

It was a milestone moment for one of the most coveted properties in downtown Austin and yet also deeply anticlimactic. The Travis County Commissioners Court voted on Tuesday to start negotiations with the firm that pitched the best proposal for 308 Guadalupe St. However, in order to protect the county’s bargaining position, officials are staying completely mum about details both big and small. After the 5-0 vote, County Judge Sarah Eckhardt declined to make any revelations about the identity of the company, the nature of its proposal or even whether a ground-lease or an outright sale is on the table. The county purchased the land in 2010 with hopes of building a new civil courthouse on it. Voters rejected that plan in 2015, prompting the court to solicit proposals for the property from private developers. “I can tell you this,” Eckhardt told reporters. “(Given) the proposals that came in, it’s safe to say that we will definitely realize considerably more than the $22 million that we spent in 2010.” The judge also refused to offer a timeline of the negotiations, but she did say the court’s next two agendas will feature items related to the property.

The city is working on a study to design routes for vehicles that transport nonradioactive hazardous materials across the state. Those materials can include substances like gasoline, chlorine and propane. Community members with opinions can attend an open house on Tuesday, Feb. 21, from 5-7 p.m. at the Terrazas Branch Public Library, 1105 E. Cesar Chavez St. During the meeting, staff will give a preview of the draft routes and take feedback on how best to safeguard vulnerable populations, protect environmental resources and facilitate efficient travel.

A local lobbying group called Texas Appleseed is conducting a survey on housing equity in Austin. Texas Appleseed calls itself a “public interest justice center” with a focus on criminal justice, the school-to-prison pipeline, fair financial services, disaster recovery and fair housing. According to the survey, the objective is to learn about Austinites’ “housing needs and affordability concerns” as the city puts together CodeNEXT, an update of its land use code. For more information, contact Rocio Villalobos at rvillalobos@texasappleseed.net.

The Austin Animal Center had a record-breaking month in January, saving the lives of 99.2 percent of dogs and 97 percent of cats that had entered the shelter. This news comes just a month before the city’s Animal Services Department celebrates the sixth-year anniversary of its no-kill policy. One thing that helps facilitate Austin’s no-kill record is its robust adoptions program, which connected 700 pets with families last month – another record. “Six years into No Kill and we can see how the community ethic of lifesaving is making us stronger and better than ever. Because of our incredible rescue partners, volunteers, foster families and adopters, we’re saving more lives than ever. Austin truly is one of America’s most pet-loving cities,” Chief Animal Services Officer Tawny Hammond said in a press release on Monday.

District 2 City Council Member Delia Garza will host a town hall on the city’s land use code rewrite on Wednesday, February 22, at the Learning and Research Center at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, 2800 Spirit of Texas Drive. Starting at 6:30 p.m., Garza will provide more information about CodeNEXT, give an update on Parks and Recreation Department programs planned for this spring and summer, and take questions and concerns from constituents. Parents can take advantage of child care (ages 5-12) on site at the event.

The location of the provided childcare has been corrected.

The city welcomes the woman sometimes known as the “Priestess of Waste-free Living,” Bea Johnson, to discuss how her family dedicated themselves to a zero-waste lifestyle. Since 2008, her family’s philosophy has been refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle and rot – and it paid off. Johnson reports that her four-person family generated a “mere pint of waste” all of last year. Her book, Zero Waste Home, is a road map, she says, to achieving that lifestyle. She hopes her story can help encourage Austin to follow through on its stated goal of diverting 90 percent of trash from landfills by 2040. Catch the talk at 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 15, at the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center, 600 River St.

In order to save wildlife, the Center for Biological Diversity is gifting 10 U.S. cities 4,000 condoms each for Valentine’s Day this year. Austin infamously topped a Men’s Health Magazine list of the most “sex-obsessed” cities in America and will therefore receive a share of the 40,000 complimentary condoms from the Arizona-based organization. The center hopes to call attention to how human population growth affects endangered species throughout the world with brightly colored condoms that contain factoids about things like habitat loss and polar bears. Austin lovebirds can find them at burlesque shows, breweries and other venues across town. The center’s Leigh Moyer said in a press release on Friday: “It’s important to bring population growth back into the environmental conversation. Endangered Species Condoms make starting that conversation easier, and they also make great Valentines.” Other lucky recipients include Dallas, Houston, Denver and Oklahoma City.