Today, the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority and the Texas Department of Transportation are holding a public hearing about the 183 North Mobility Project environmental study. The public hearing will feature information on the project and provide the interested public with an opportunity to speak with staff and provide feedback. Those unable to attend today’s meeting can also participate through a virtual public hearing online here. The online hearing will be available until the public comment period closes on Nov. 22. Today’s meeting will take place from 5 until 8 p.m. in the Westwood High School Cafeteria at 12400 Mellow Meadow Drive.

Casa de Luz will not be getting another shot at a parking variance that was denied unanimously by the Board of Adjustment last week. However, a request for reconsideration did raise larger questions for the board at its meeting on Monday night. Board Member Eric Goff said there was one good point that surfaced as a result of Casa de Luz’s request for consideration: During the last meeting at which the variance was considered, some of the key testimony came from a letter, not from someone who had been sworn in. “We’ve had this happen in the past,” said Board Member Michael Von Ohlen. “And what has been taken into consideration is: Would that testimony have changed anybody’s mind if they hadn’t heard it? … I wasn’t here, but I’ve been following this for a loooong time. And – it’s like I don’t have a personal life – but when I got back, I did watch the board meeting on Channel 6 so I could be up to speed.” Goff pushed for a reconsideration, given the fact that the case “relied heavily upon the letter in question” and was repeatedly mentioned by those who opposed the variance. His motion to reconsider failed due to lack of a second. Chair William Burkhardt pressed for a response from city legal about the larger question at hand. He said he was concerned that setting a standard that all testimony must be verified as sworn-in at the beginning of the meeting could be precedent-setting. He will get that answer next month.

This Saturday, as part of the East Austin Studio Tour, Austin’s first-ever Piñata Fest will be held. The event will take place at Edward Rendon Sr. Park from noon until 4 p.m., and it will center on a city-commissioned art instillation by David Goujon consisting of three large burros. The piece is a tribute to the Jumpolin piñata store that was demolished earlier this year and has become a symbol of east side gentrification. During the fest, event organizers will rig up piñatas for the crowd to break, and they say they have been crowd-funding “as many piñatas as possible from the owners of Jumpolin and other local piñateros.” A press release about the event explains, “In our view, Austin’s growth is a reality; but for Austin’s growth story to be considered a success, we believe the city must respect its past as much as it anticipates its future. The Las Piñatas art installation is designed to preserve the memory of Jumpolin so that Austinites, both old and new, will discover a shared responsibility in shaping the city’s expansion.”

Travis County is weighing its options after last week’s narrow electoral defeat of the proposed $287 million Civil & Family Courts Complex bond. County Judge Sarah Eckhardt told reporters last week that she is willing to take drastic, career-ending action to replace the aging, overcrowded Heman Marion Sweatt Courthouse. The Austin Monitor has learned that the window for what could be considered the nuclear option is still open for several more weeks. According to a new state law, local governments will be banned from voting to issue certificate of obligation bonds within three years of losing a bond election to fund the same project. That law, however, doesn’t take effect until Jan. 1, so Eckhardt could, in theory, try to push the CO bonds through Commissioners Court sometime before that deadline. However, Eckhardt’s chief of staff, Peter Einhorn, ruled out that scenario on Tuesday night. He told the Monitor, “The voters spoke. Issuing COs in the aftermath would be inappropriate.” It should be noted that the new law doesn’t preclude the voters from speaking again during the three-year ban. While the Commissioners Court won’t be able to issue its own CO bonds during the blackout period, it can still schedule a new election to have voters decide on alternative funding mechanisms. The commissioners received a briefing on their options from the County Attorney’s Office during executive session on Tuesday, but there’s no word yet on exactly what was discussed.

Annie’s List announced Tuesday the hiring of well-known political professionals Genevieve Van Cleve and Laurie Felker Jones. Van Cleve will serve as political director and will focus on races that are difficult to win, as well as on recruiting new candidates and training. Felker Jones plans to work on incumbent protection, according to a news release from the group. Annie’s List is a statewide organization that focuses on recruiting, training, supporting and electing progressive women in Texas. Van Cleve is returning to the organization, where she served as deputy political director from 2009 to 2013. Both Van Cleve and Felker Jones have extensive political experience. Van Cleve’s most recent campaign involved an effort to get Travis County voters to approve bonds for a new courthouse. Prior to that, she worked on the successful campaign to elect Sarah Eckhardt as Travis County judge. Felker Jones, who joined Annie’s List in April, has been active in political campaigns and lobbying on behalf of women’s causes for the past 20 years. Patsy Woods Martin, executive director of Annie’s List, noted that 2016 campaigns are well underway. “Annie’s List is committed to having the resources we need to advance candidates and those considering running to improve the lives of Texas women and our families,” Martin said.

Ahead of City Council’s consideration of a long-term plan for the Austin Convention Center on Thursday, Mayor Steve Adler posted a draft online Tuesday of amendments that he plans to propose prior to the vote. Those amendments state that, before asking Council to take any action to implement the plan after it is adopted, city staff should bring the Council Economic Opportunity Committee recommendations on several issues. These include “assessment of the long term viability of the convention and exhibition industry,” “other potential venue needs in Austin,” “use of open space and other facilities developed as part of the Convention Center expansion for free and meaningful community events and programs of interest to the Austin community” and “addition and enhancement of publicly accessible open spaces and green spaces within the Convention Center complex area.” Adler said at Tuesday’s work session that he drafted up the amendments in an attempt to address concerns about the impact of the proposed expansion, which the plan states is “best accommodated on the city blocks immediately west of the existing Convention Center.” Mayor Pro Tem Kathie Tovo said that she’s heard concerns from residents “that the expansion of the Convention Center, if not done in a way that’s really sensitive, would create a dead zone in that spot.” She added that it’s “really critical to make sure that we have services, if (the center) is to be expanded.”

Yesterday, local officials warned area residents impacted by flooding to be aware of and report suspicious activity or fraud. The city said, “Some of the most common post-disaster fraud practices include fraudulent housing inspectors, building contractors, pleas for donations and fake offers of disaster aid.” As measures of precaution, they advise people to act cautiously and research individuals and companies. They also note, “Disaster survivors should also keep in mind that relief workers always carry photo identification badges and do not ask for or accept money. There is no fee required to apply for or to get disaster assistance. Additionally, local disaster assistance agencies will not call to ask for private financial account information. Unless a survivor calls a charity or agency, personal information should not be given over the phone.” According to a press release about the issue, those wishing to complain “can call local law enforcement, or the Disaster Fraud Hotline at (866) 720-5721, fax at 225-334-4707 or email disaster@leo.gov. Calls can be made anonymously and confidentially. Residents can also report scams (including remolding/repair scams and price gouging) to the Texas Attorney General’s Office Consumer Protection Hotline at (800) 621-0508. The Austin Regional Office is at 300 West 15th Street, 9th Floor, PO Box 12548, Austin, Texas 78711-2548. The local telephone numbers are 512-463-2185 (office) or 512-473-8301 (fax).”

Today, Travis County Commissioner candidate James Nortey will reveal a proposal to provide paid leave for Travis County workers at the regular meeting of the Commissioners Court. According to a press release about the plan, Nortey will be joined by Lea Downey, who works for the county and hopes to start a family in the near future. In the press release, Nortey explained, “Travis County should be a leader on family-friendly policies that create economic security for working families and encourage all of our workplaces to better support parents regardless of gender or sexual orientation.” According to a document released by the campaign, Nortey will ask the county to evaluate the cost of up to six weeks of paid parental leave for all parents (paternal, maternal and adoptive) that could be taken anytime during the first year following the birth or adoption of a child. The city of Austin already has a plan like this in place and offers 30 days of paid leave to city employees to care for a newborn or newly adopted child.

Earlier this week, the Trail Foundation announced that its newest project will be a major upgrade of the trail under the north end of the Ann Richards Congress Avenue Bridge. Anyone who has experienced the current configuration (and blind curve) of this elevated section of the trail will understand the need for improvements, and the foundation will spend $2.5 million to make those improvements through its “Trail Bridge at Congress Avenue” project. According to a press release about the overhaul, the funding comes from donor Robert F. Smith, who is the founder, chairman and chief executive officer of Vista Equity Partners. He has committed a pledge of $1.25 million toward the new project. The foundation launched its own matching campaign and will raise $1.25 million more. The new bridge is expected to be completed in two years and, when done, will be 14 feet wide.

Due to technical difficulties, our regular Monday posting of the Austin Monitor‘s KOOP show was delayed. Please enjoy our Tuesday posting today, which is much like the Monday post would have been, one day later.

Police said Sunday that they had no new information to share about the investigation into Friday night’s shooting of Travis County District Judge Julie Kocurek. Kocurek, who is the presiding felony judge, was shot as she returned to her West Austin home shortly after 10 p.m. on Friday. Her neighbors reported hearing four shots. Kocurek was taken to University Medical Center Brackenridge Hospital, where she was reported to be in stable condition in the intensive care unit. Mayor Steve Adler expressed a wish for her speedy recovery at Sunday’s special called meeting of the City Council. Kocurek was appointed to the newly created 390th district court in 1999 by then-Gov. George W. Bush. Although she was elected as a Republican initially, Kocurek switched parties in 2006, noting that she was more comfortable as a Democrat.

The city will hold an informational community meeting today for residents impacted by recent flooding. The meeting will offer answers to questions about home repairs and permits, home buyouts, cleaning and debris removal. That meeting, which will offer supervised activities for children and Spanish interpretation, will take place at Perez Elementary School from 6:30 until 8:30 p.m. Additionally, City Council Member Delia Garza will hold a District 2 town hall meeting on Saturday, Nov. 14, from 10 a.m. until noon. The meeting will take place at the Del Valle Opportunity Center, 5301 Ross Road.