City Council and the Planning Commission will host a joint meeting at 2 p.m. today to hear public comment on a proposal to allow larger homes on lots where there is already existing housing. According to the posting, if adopted the proposal would “increase the maximum square footage limits of two new housing units when the property owner preserves the existing housing unit.” Although the proposal allows for larger units, it does not allow for increased impervious cover. After a staff presentation, Council will allow two minutes for each speaker. The Planning Commission is expected to take action on April 8 and Council will consider the proposal on April 24, according to Mayor Kirk Watson’s posting on the City Council Message Board.

City Council has approved an ordinance expanding erosion protections along the Colorado River downstream of Longhorn Dam, aiming to prevent future damage in a part of East Austin particularly prone to extreme erosion. The new rules, approved at last week’s Council meeting, double the required buffer for erosion hazard zone analyses from 100 to 200 feet along the river’s shoreline in the affected area. Developers and infrastructure projects within that zone must now evaluate erosion risks, and depending on the findings, implement protective measures. The requirement does not apply to single-family home permits. The soils in that area are sandy and highly susceptible to erosion, making remediation efforts difficult and costly. Past erosion damage in the area has led to repairs or replacements of city infrastructure, including a pedestrian bridge in Roy G. Guerrero Park and stormwater outfalls at Tillery and Canterbury streets. The ordinance also includes citywide code clarifications for erosion hazard zones. It exempts non-habitable structures like sheds and fences from analysis requirements and limits erosion hazard zones from extending beyond public roads that run parallel to waterways.

More than 40 county officials from seven counties in the Hill Country region met in Austin last week to align on key policy priorities ahead of the 2025 legislative session. The gathering was organized by county commissioners and leaders from Comal, Gillespie, Guadalupe, Hays, Kendall, Travis and Williamson counties to discuss their shared agenda. Officials discussed strategies for tracking high-impact legislation, defending against bills that could undermine local authority, and advancing policy solutions for infrastructure and natural resource protection. Hill Country Alliance staff noted that with nearly 9,500 bills filed this session, regional collaboration is critical to ensure key concerns don’t fall through the cracks. The County-to-County workshop series is supported by a coalition of nonprofits including the Hill Country Alliance, Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance, National Wildlife Federation and others working to preserve the ecological and cultural character of the Texas Hill Country.

Austin Municipal Court and Downtown Austin Community Court have launched their annual warrant amnesty program that began March 31 and runs through April 25, offering a chance for people with unpaid citations or outstanding warrants to resolve their cases without fear of arrest. During the amnesty period, warrant fees will be waived for those who take action on active cases. Judges and prosecutors will be available during walk-in dockets held weekdays, and no appointments are necessary. Spanish interpreters will be present. In 2024, the amnesty effort helped clear 1,988 outstanding warrants and 14,466 civil parking citations. The program includes payment plans, community service, and hardship waivers for those who qualify. Services apply only to active cases in front of the municipal or community courts and are provided free of charge. For details, locations and hours, call (512) 974-4800 or visit austintexas.gov/court.

The Austin Police Department and the nonprofit 911 Cell Phone Bank are launching a phone collection drive in April to provide electronics to people fleeing abusive or dangerous situations. A press release from APD said, “For individuals escaping domestic violence or human trafficking, an untraceable phone can serve as a crucial lifeline.” As Melissa Nachbaur, a supervisor in the department’s Victim Services Unit, explained, “By donating a device you no longer use, you could be giving someone the chance to reach safety, find resources, or rebuild their life.” Community members are invited to donate cell phones, tablets and other electronic devices they no longer need. The devices will be data-cleared and refurbished before going to their new homes via the 911 Cell Phone Bank program. Donation dropoff boxes will be available at all Austin Police Department substations, including the Main Headquarters at 715 E. Eighth St., North Substation at 12425 Lamplight Village Ave., South Substation at 400 Ralph Ablanedo Drive, and East Substation at 812 Springdale Road. Devices may also be donated at any Austin Fire Department station.

Austin Animal Center and Greater Good Charities are partnering up to offer a free spay-neuter clinic for Travis County residents. Spaying and neutering is a vital tool to help control the pet population crisis filling the nation’s shelters with homeless dogs and cats. Sterilization also has significant health benefits, reducing the chance of cancers, infections and lost pets. To be eligible, pets must be at least 2 months old and weigh at least 2 pounds. Dogs should be on leash and cats secured in a carrier. Feral/community cats are OK if brought in a covered trap. Vaccines and microchips will be included free of charge with the procedure, and feral cats will be ear-tipped. Registration and dropoff will begin on-site at 7:30 am. and will continue until 10 am, or until the schedule is full each day. Thursday, April 3, to Monday, April 7, from 7:30-10 a.m., Brodie Oaks Shopping Center, at the closed Neiman Marcus Last Call store, 4115 S. Capital of Texas Hwy. Find more details here. 

Carole Keeton, Austin’s first woman mayor, died Wednesday at the age of 85. She was born in Austin to Page and Madge Keeton and devoted herself to the city throughout her life. Her father was a much-lauded dean at the University of Texas Law School. Carole graduated from UT and married attorney Barr McClellan in 1961. Together they had four sons and she taught at McCallum High School. She served the city and the state over many years, starting on the Austin ISD Board of Trustees in 1972, where she worked to improve achievement of minorities. From the school board, she was elected Austin’s mayor in 1977 – a post no woman has won since. She served as mayor until 1983, when she was appointed the first woman to serve on the State Board of Insurance. She followed that appointment by serving as railroad commissioner from 1994 to 1999 and then comptroller of public accounts from 1999 to 2007 – also the first woman elected to the position. In 2006, as Carole Keeton Strayhorn, she ran an unsuccessful independent campaign against Gov. Rick Perry. Reporters who knew her remember her as a talkative source who often had a humorous anecdote to tell. Our city is smaller without her.

The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center has launched its annual spring native plant sale, which stretches from March 28-April 27, Fridays-Sundays from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. (The first weekend of the sale is reserved for members only.) Native plants have evolved to thrive in our hot climate and they tend to be tough, beautiful, resilient and naturally water-wise. Natives also help build healthy soil, and provide food and shelter for an array of pollinating birds and insects. The sale includes flowering perennials, grasses, vines, shrubs and trees for both shady and sunny gardens – just about everything you’ll need to create a stunning Texas native garden. Find a list of plants on sale here. The inventory will be continually updated.

Longtime Austinite Ed Crowell, a former Austin American-Statesman editor and the author of the book Barton Creek, will be leading a guided hike to the upper waterfalls of the Lost Creek Greenbelt. Bring your swimsuit for an optional swim or snorkel – snorkel and masks provided. Few people know more about the ecology, the history and the politics of Barton Creek than Crowell, who is also on the board of the Save Barton Creek Association. Hydrologic technician Mark D. Hiler and Save Our Springs spokesperson Linzy Foster will be on hand at the beginning of the hike to discuss the USGS monitoring stations on Barton Creek and explain how to interpret stream monitoring data. Sunday, March 30, 8-11:30 a.m. Meet at Save Our Springs HQ at 3201 Menchaca to pick up a shuttle to the trailhead. Find more info and register for the hike here.

April is Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month, and in recognition of survivors, the Alamo Drafthouse will host two screenings of “An Army of Women.” This disturbing yet surprisingly uplifting documentary follows several Austin-area women who lodged a class-action lawsuit after their cases were mishandled by the Austin Police Department. The commitments made in the lawsuit (which the city settled in 2022) led to many of the recent reforms in Austin’s sexual assault response systems. The Alamo has scheduled evening showings on April 1 and 3, followed by a live Q&A with film participants. The April 1 showing is nearly sold out, but there are still spots on April 3 – tickets available here. “An Army of Women” premiered at SXSW Film Festival in 2024. More theatrical screenings are being announced on the film website. Find resources for survivors at atxbelieves.org.

Last month, Travis County confirmed its first reported case of measles since 2019, in an unvaccinated baby “who was exposed to the virus during a vacation overseas.” Dr. Desmar Walkes, Austin-Travis County Health Authority, announced that “measles has arrived in our community” and urged residents to “make sure they’re protected against this vaccine-preventable disease.” The safest and most effective way to protect yourself from measles is by getting the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine. Measles is more than just an itchy rash, Walkes said, and it “can put you in the hospital and can even lead to death, as we’ve seen already in Texas.” Measles is so contagious that a single infected person can pass the disease on to nine or 10 people nearby, if they are not protected. Fortunately, Austin Public Health holds free vaccine clinics throughout Travis County, all year long. No insurance is required and noncitizens are welcome. Find dates, locations and times of the clinics here.

​Movability, Central Texas’ transportation management association, will host its inaugural Central Texas Commuter Awards Luncheon from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 10. The event, held at HNTB’s office on the 24th floor of the Indeed Tower at 200 W. Sixth St., aims to honor individuals and organizations leading mobility initiatives that enhance commuting experiences in the region. ​The awards will recognize finalists across several categories including Commute Policy Champion, Community Commute Champion and Carbon Reduction Champion. Movability will also recognize Central Texas employers named as national “Best Workplaces for Commuters” in 2025. The more than one dozen recognized organizations offer benefits such as transit pass and vanpool subsidies, guaranteed ride-home programs, secure bike parking, carpool incentives, flex time and telework options. Tickets for the luncheon are available for purchase, and sponsorship opportunities are open for interested organizations.