Callout: Today’s newsletter is supported by “Austin Parks Foundation’s Party for the Parks”
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Quote of the Day
“Unlike many large airports in the United States, (ABIA) is not a hub to any single airline, and that makes this a vote of confidence from our collective signatory airline partners… They are choosing to make long-term commitments and big investments in Austin because they believe in the growth of this market and in our region’s future.”
— ABIA business officer Tracy Thompson, from Austin airport expansion to get even bigger under new deal approved by Council
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Austin airport expansion to get even bigger under new deal approved by Council
From Nathan Bernier, KUT News:
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, already bursting at the seams, will see its largest-ever expansion start to take final shape after a City Council vote. For travelers, the decision will lead to more gates, more terminal space and possibly higher ticket prices.
Council’s action on Thursday gives airport staff the green light to finalize a long-term deal with seven major airlines: Southwest, Delta, United, JetBlue, Spirit, American and Alaska. The 10-year contract unlocks billions of dollars and sets the scale of ABIA’s two most public-facing expansion projects.
Tapping In: Resource concerns flow at water panel
From Chad Swiatecki:
Rising pressure on local water infrastructure, with prolonged drought, declining inflows and rapid population growth were the focus of a recent Urban Land Institute Austin panel. Speakers called attention to ongoing water policy shortfalls at the state and local levels and warned that continued development could outpace available supply unless legislative and planning reforms are adopted.
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Today’s newsletter is supported by “Austin Parks Foundation’s Party for the Parks”
Join Austin Parks Foundation for the 11th Annual Party for the Parks, featuring Passion Pit! This beloved event is happening under the lights at ACL in Zilker Park on Wednesday, October 8th.
Partygoers will enjoy delicious dining options, libations from Austin’s premiere beverage brands, games, a live auction and an intimate concert—all while helping raise funds for our city’s nearly 400 parks, trails and green spaces. Click here to get your tickets and join the fun!
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Audit finds city employee was paid by vendor in violation of city code
An investigative report by the Office of the City Auditor has found that an employee of the Small and Minority Business Resources Department violated city code when he accepted payment from a vendor whose contract he reviewed.
According to the report, John Wesley-Smith approved documents concerning a $1.6 million contract with the vendor that was related to cleaning up homeless encampments.
Auditors noted that Wesley-Smith reviewed and approved the vendor’s compliance documentation in 2022 and approved the company’s subcontracting form in February, 2023. “A few weeks after his last approval, we found that the vendor made the first of two bank transfers from their company account to Wesley-Smith in March 2023. They made a second bank transfer in May 2023.” The combined amount of the transfers was $3900.
Auditors noted that Wesley-Smith’s actions came close to violating the city’s conflict of interest rules. However, city code requires the employee to be paid at least $5000 during the previous 12 months to be considered a conflict of interest, auditors wrote.
Wesley-Smith denied that he did anything that violated city code. However, the director of SMBR, Edward Campos, responded to the audit report by noting putting Wesley-Smith on administrative leave on August 11.
After a news report concerning Wesley-Smith’s alleged conflict of interest, he provided the city with a notarized letter stating that his professional relationship with the vendor had been terminated in March 2021. However, auditors found that Wesley-Smith actually continued working with the vendor in 2023. Wesley-Smith told members of the audit team that he was shocked to hear about the payments from the vendor to himself. He offered to provide his bank statements but did not do so, according to the audit. Likewise, the managing partner of the vendor failed to attend a meeting with the audit team and did not respond to requests to reschedule that meeting.
— Jo Clifton
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Elsewhere in the News
The Daily Texan confirms that Austin will end its abortion fund, per state law.
In calming news for the conspiratorially-minded, KXAN talks to an “expert” and determines that there is no serial murderer drowning folks in Lady Bird Lake.
The Austin Fire Department’s retirement fund is in compliance with state law.
And, this weekend, the city will host a seed swap and offer free seeds, which is pretty cool!
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