This year’s Art From the Streets show will be at The Gallery at Austin Central Library, starting Saturday. The show, which will run from July 27 until Sept. 29, will feature 40 artists from Austin’s unhoused community and, as organizers explain, “gives a voice to these artists in a professional gallery setting and educates the public about the benefits of art to those unhoused in Austin.” Admission to the show is free and open to the public, as is the artist reception, which will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Aug. 8. More information about the show and gallery hours can be found here.

The Texas Department of Transportation is updating its 10-year transportation plan, and the period for commenting on it will be open through 4 p.m. Aug. 4. The plan, known as the Unified Transportation Program, or UTP, serves as a road map that defines and prioritizes funding for transportation projects statewide over a decade. The UTP authorizes TxDOT and local agencies to prepare projects for construction based on potential funding, but does not guarantee that funding (or that projects will be built), instead solidifying the transportation authority’s long-term visions. The most recent visions, and the ability to comment on them, can be found here.

A three-member city commission is seeking applicants to volunteer. A three-year term on the City of Austin Firefighters’, Police Officers’, and Emergency Medical Services Personnel Civil Service Commission would begin Nov. 1 and end Oct. 31, and would require one to three hours of business time per month. The commission is meant to ensure general compliance with applicable provisions of Chapter 143 of the Texas Local Government Code; local Civil Service rules established by the Commission; and any current agreements between the city and associations representing firefighters, police officers and emergency medical service personnel. It also regulates promotions, suspensions and terminations of personnel in those departments. Qualified applicants must be U.S. citizens who have resided in the city for more than three years, are older than 25 and have not have held office within the preceding three years. Experience or knowledge of the administration of human resources or labor relations and employment law is preferred. Apply online here and include a resume and cover letter. For more information, contact the Office of the City Clerk at bc@austintexas.gov.

The Village at Western Oaks is getting 21 Little Free Libraries thanks, in part, to the city’s Neighborhood Partnering Program. The program, which teams up with neighborhoods to help with community-driven projects like park improvements, public art, gardens and trails, accepted a proposal from the neighborhood’s HOA to share costs on the installation of the libraries, which are small, book-sharing boxes that can be used by anyone. Similarly, anyone can reach out to the NPP, either about starting their own little library project or any other enhancement. More information, including proposal guidelines, can be found on the city’s website.

With the two finalists now made public, and a selection expected on Friday, July 26, it’s time for the public to meet Austin’s next police chief. The city will hold a meet-and-greet at the Palmer Events Center on Tuesday, July 23, to do just that. Though the period for submitting questions online has closed, attendees can ask questions in person from 5:30 until 6 p.m. and interact directly with the candidates from 7:30 until 8 p.m. The main event, which will start at 6 p.m., will feature opening remarks and a question-and-answer session moderated by Judy Maggio. City Council will meet to possibly confirm the next chief at a special called meeting on July 30.

The city’s parks department has a new online exhibit, “Unificar, to Unite,” which explores the history of Tejano organizations and their accomplishments in Texas. The stories of Tejano social justice leaders can be viewed online in English or Spanish. To celebrate the new exhibit, the city will also host a free workshop at the cemetery, at which contemporary Tejano community organizers “will conduct workshop sessions teaching attendees how to organize within their communities, leading discussions on advocacy, and sharing insights on working behind the scenes on social and political movements,” according to a press release from the city. The workshop will take place from 10:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m Saturday, July 27. Register here.

With the help of the Financial Services Department, a community survey is being launched to help the city’s Animal Services Office decide on its future priorities. Austin Animal Center has consistently been at or above its live outcome goal rate but with extra measures to maintain it over the past few years, including restricting intake of animals due to declining adoptions. Last year, reviews of ASO by the Office of the City Auditor and the National Center for Animal Shelter Evaluations turned up “misaligned departmental goals as well as issues with stakeholder engagement and alignment,” according to a city statement to the press, and the city auditor recommended the chief Animal Services officer to work with stakeholders on a strategic plan. From July 17 to Aug. 14, the community survey and additional information about the planning process are available at publicinput.com/asoplan2024. In the assessment phase of the strategic planning process, the community survey will be accompanied by external partner and stakeholder interviews and a listening session; staff and volunteer listening sessions; reviewing previous audits, documents, surveys and reports; and identifying best practices from similar animal services organizations.

Registration is now open for 2024 sessions of the Austin CityWorks Academy, a program that gives Austinites a comprehensive understanding of city government operations through interactive weekly classes with a focus on civic engagement. City staff from various departments will lead the informative sessions – including Police, Fire, Emergency Medical Services, Animal Services, Transportation and Public Works, and Austin 311. With the exception of city employees, the program is open to all residents within Austin city limits. Classes take place at various locations throughout the city from 6 to 8 p.m. most Mondays from the last week of September through December. The deadline to apply is July 31. Accessibility accommodations like accessible parking and language access resources are provided. To apply or learn more, visit www.austintexas.gov/cityworks or email Lucero Arechiga at lucero.arechiga@austintexas.gov.

Through the city’s Accessible Parking Enforcement Program, volunteers can issue citations and warnings for illegally parked vehicles in designated accessible parking spaces. In partnership with the Police Department, the Transportation and Public Works Department provides training so that residents can raise awareness about accessible parking and help ensure it’s available for people who need it most. To become a deputized volunteer, applicants must:

• Be 18 years of age or older
• Be a U.S. citizen
• Pass an initial background check
• Possess a photo ID
• Complete training
• Abide by the program’s policies
• Volunteer at least 12 hours a year

The next available training sessions have been shifted to Sunday and Monday and will be held on July 21 and 22. To learn more and apply, click here.

In an effort to improve access to resources, the Austin Area HIV Planning Council will hold a town hall this Wednesday to get feedback from the community. Organizers are looking to learn more about the challenges and needs of people living with HIV and raise awareness about and develop strategies to improve access to HIV/AIDS prevention, testing, treatment, support and care. “This town hall is an excellent opportunity to meet face-to-face and share your experiences and needs with city staff to help improve access to care,” Laura G. La Fuente, Austin Public Health’s health equity and community engagement assistant director, said in a statement to the press. “We encourage anyone who has been impacted by HIV/AIDS to attend the town hall and have their voice heard.” The meeting can be attended virtually or in-person at the city’s Permitting and Development Center (6310 Wilhelmina Delco Drive) from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 17. Anyone interested in attending can register here.

Transit Forward, the advocacy group in favor of regional mass transit in Austin, has scheduled a quarterly update on Project Connect, beginning at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 28, at the UA 286 Plumbers and Pipefitters Hall on Airport Boulevard. The lunch gathering will include discussion on the design, construction and operational plans for the area’s larger mass transit system. Panelists scheduled to speak and take questions include Mayor Kirk Watson, Travis County Commissioner Jeff Travillion, Austin Transit Partnership Board Chair Veronica Castro de Barrera, Capital Metro President and CEO Dottie Watkins and ATP Executive Director Greg Canally. Transit Forward has also scheduled a “Choo Choo and Brews” event on July 20 to encourage use of the Capital Metro Rail train that serves Q2 Stadium. The promotion will stop at three local breweries along the train line ahead of the Austin FC match against Charlotte, which begins at 7:30 p.m. Previous Choo Choo and Brews events have started earlier in the day and incorporated downtown destinations, but the next one to be shortened because of the summer heat.

The new underpass being constructed under South Pleasant Valley Road will be enlivened with a mosaic by Texas artist Reginald Adams, and residents are invited to give their input on the project at a community engagement workshop from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 17, at the Rudy Mendez Recreation Center at 2407 Canterbury St. The workshop, hosted by the city’s Capital Delivery Services and Art in Public Places, will introduce Adams and his team, along with their objectives for the artwork at Longhorn Dam. They will gather ideas from the community through interactive activities like brainstorming sessions, sketching and storytelling. Surveys will collect any further suggestions or input from attendees, and those who do not attend can fill it out here. The event is the first of many community engagement activities that Adams will lead while working with AIPP on the Longhorn Dam project from now until the estimated completion in 2026. Two other artworks by Adams are publicly viewable in Austin – “Reflections” at the African American Culture and Heritage Facility and “Field of Dreams” located at Downs Field. RSVP is encouraged but not required.