While there have been a few bumps in the city manager search (and city manager status quo) of late, City Council continues to press on with its quest to fill what is probably the most important job at City Hall. To further that effort, which has been underway in earnest since June, the city is reaching out for info on what Austinites would value in a new city manager. A new survey, which is being facilitated by the search firm hired by the city, Mosaic Public Partners, can be found here. If you have something to say, though, act fast. The survey will remain open only through the close of business on Friday, Feb. 16, in an effort to have top contenders available for a public process in April or May.

The city’s Development Services Department is celebrating “new beginnings” with the release of its 2023 annual report. The report, which details advances over the past year or so, is full of information: Last year, the department reviewed 36,034 building plans and performed 374, 307 development inspections, for example. 2023 also saw the arrival of a new director, José G. Roig, and a new department, Code Compliance. The report includes information on artificial intelligence, the Do I Need a Permit? wizard, affordability programs and advances in safety over the last year. It can be read online.

Keep Texas Beautiful is now accepting nominations for its Beautify Texas Awards. The annual awards recognize individuals and organizations that have made a positive environmental impact in education, projects, programs and the like. Anyone can nominate those whom they think most deserving (even themselves) through March 22 at 5 p.m. A list of the awards and information on the nomination process can be found here.

The long-in-the-works Equity-Based Preservation Plan now has a draft, and the city is asking for your feedback. The plan, which is “built on an inclusive, equity-focused, and community-oriented framework,” recommends a number of historic preservation policies and tools and, if approved, will replace the current preservation plan that has been in place since 1981. According to a press release from the city about the draft, “Draft recommendations take a proactive and strategic approach, recommending more community engagement and up-front information-gathering. They propose a range of incentives and tools to ensure that preservation equitably benefits people across the city. And they consider how to better tell Austin’s full, complex story while maintaining a high bar for historic designation.” The city is currently taking feedback about the plan online, with additional physical copies of the draft available at all Austin Public Library branches, through May 31. A more formal open-to-the-public launch will be held at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 13, at Huston-Tillotson University’s King-Seabrook Chapel. In addition, coming months will see city-hosted events, pop-up community outreach and presentations from the city to get the word out about the plan. Anderson Community Development Corporation, Creative Action, East Austin Conservancy, the Austin chapter of Taiwanese American Professionals and Tomorrow’s Promise Foundation have also been brought into the process to help engage historically marginalized communities.

Austin ISD Police Department has a warning about fraudulent phone calls from people posing as police officers. Community members are reporting to the police dispatch for Austin ISD that they have gotten phone calls from people identifying themselves as Austin ISD Police Department employees and repeatedly claiming the call recipient has an arrest warrant. The caller then asks for Social Security numbers and other sensitive information. Such calls are fraudulent, the department says, reminding the public that Austin ISD would not ask for that kind of sensitive personal information over the phone. If you you have been a victim of this potential scam, call 311 to make a nonemergency report.

The sun is out and swim season is upon us, according to the Aquatic Division of the city’s parks department. Season swim passes go on sale on Feb. 12, ahead of a March 9 reinstatement of entry fees at pools for the season. While swim passes do include a parking pass, this year’s swim season will be complicated by the Barton Springs bathhouse rehabilitation, which will remove parking on the north side of Barton Springs Pool. In addition, William Barton Drive will be limited to emergency and construction vehicles and those needing accessible parking. The parking squeeze will be in effect from Feb. 15 until spring of 2025. Barton Springs will be closed altogether from Feb. 24 through March 8 for normal maintenance.

Austin-Bergstrom International Airport’s Checkpoint 3 will remain closed until “sometime in 2026,” according to the city. The checkpoint, which is located at the far west end of the terminal, was shuttered on Monday night in order to move forward with the West Infill project that will expand the terminal as part of Journey With AUS. To help mitigate the impact of the closure, Checkpoint 2 has added two new lanes. When it reopens, Checkpoint 3 will have six to eight new lanes.

This year’s It’s My Park Day will take place on Saturday, March 2, and registration for volunteers is now open. Anyone hoping to chip in for the long-standing volunteer event is encouraged to register now. Preregistered volunteers will get a T-shirt that provides special discounts and treats at places like Cosmic Coffee, Jo’s Coffee, Zilker Brewing, Shake Shack or Tiny Pies. (A complete list of partners participating in the program can be found here.) “With nearly 100 projects happening simultaneously across the city, It’s My Park Day is unlike any other volunteer experience in Austin,” Colin Wallis, CEO of Austin Parks Foundation, said in a statement to the press. “At its core, It’s My Park Day is about community. Year after year, we are impressed by the outpour of support from dedicated Austinites all across the city who come together to improve their local parks and green spaces by participating in projects led by community members themselves.” It’s My Park Day was established in 2003 by Austin Parks Foundation and takes place twice yearly, contributing about $650,000 in volunteer labor for city parks. To register and get a full list of park projects and hours, visit the It’s My Park Day Spring GivePulse page.

In response to overwhelming interest in free training on emergency preparedness on Feb. 8, the city has announced a new location with a greater capacity for more attendees. Ready Together: Basic Emergency Preparedness for You, Your Family & Your Neighborhood will take place at Widen Elementary School, 5605 Nuckols Crossing Road, Austin, TX 78744, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 8. All community members who were on the waitlist will be notified that they are now registered. Capacity for this class was raised to 80 people. Registration is closed but if space allows, walk-ins may be allowed. The course will cover how to practice the four steps of emergency preparedness: making a plan, building a kit, knowing your neighbors and staying informed. Attendees will gain practical knowledge on how to prepare their home, family and community for a variety of hazards. This is the second time the class has been offered, and this installment will focus on winter weather. Those who complete the course will receive a free emergency preparedness starter kit and NOAA weather radio. Interpreters will be available on-site in Spanish and American Sign Language. “As we watch extreme weather events increase around the globe and here at home, we know working together to prepare for the unexpected is essential,” said Austin Energy General Manager Bob Kahn. “This training will help our neighbors get ready and stay ready for the next emergency.” The course is developed in partnership with Austin Energy, Ascension Seton, Go Austin/Vamos Austin and Austin Fire Department.

City Council will consider a resolution that will increase the city’s environmental investment. Sponsored by Council Member Ryan Alter and co-sponsored by Council members Vanessa Fuentes, Paige Ellis and Jose Velásquez, the resolution would kick off a public input process about the city’s environmental visions like Water Forward and the Austin Climate Equity Plan and identify funding opportunities in the city’s budget, utility rates or a November 2024 bond election. “Austin has done an excellent job of planning to address our climate crisis, but we’re falling short of our goals,” Alter said in a statement to the press. “Climate change will not wait for us to act. If we’re not willing to invest in our future, extreme weather will only get worse and the reliability of basic things like clean air, fresh water, and available electricity will diminish.” The resolution, which will be considered by Council on Feb. 15, sets a May 1 deadline for recommendations to Council and a May 16 public hearing.

Dougherty Arts Center’s Julia C. Butridge Gallery has extended a call for artists to March 17. Artists are invited to apply for a 5- to 8-week gallery show, which includes an artist reception and talk, with options to demo or workshop for exhibiting artists. There is no fee to apply to show in the 2,000-square-foot or 480-square-foot galleries, and artists can sell directly to the public, provided they are not a city of Austin employee. The gallery does not take commission. Learn more about the submission process and requirements here. Artists will be notified by April 12 for the 2025 season.

The city’s Charter Review Commission will hold a town hall at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 8, to discuss upcoming potential changes to the city’s constitution. The potential changes to the city charter must be put on the ballot by City Council and, ultimately, approved by voters. Prior to all of that, though, the review commission works through a number of recommendations, and Thursday’s town hall is part of that process. This time around, commissioners considered changes to petition requirements, elections and other transparency issues. More information about those issues can be found here. To weigh in on the proposals at the Feb. 8 town hall, the public can participate virtually or in person. Registration to speak in either capacity will open online on Feb. 5.