Although most members of City Council, including all the newly elected ones, had earlier indicated they wanted to be part of the Audit & Finance Committee, that has changed. As previously announced, Mayor Kirk Watson will lead the committee. Council Member Ryan Alter will serve as vice chair. Mayor Pro Tem Vanessa Fuentes and Council members Marc Duchen and Chito Vela will round out the group. All of this is according to a post on the City Council Message Board.

Council members Krista Laine and Mike Siegel, who both indicated they wanted to be on Audit & Finance in earlier posts, withdrew those requests. Laine will now plan to serve as vice chair of the Public Safety Committee and as a member of the Mobility Committee. Vela will take over as chair of the Austin Energy Committee, with Siegel as vice chair. All members serve on this committee.

Alter is slated to serve as chair of the new Climate, Water, Environment and Parks Committee. This committee replaces the Austin Water Oversight Committee and adds new subject matter. Also, Council is adding an Economic Opportunity Committee. Council Member Zo Qadri is expected to serve as chair, along with Council members Natasha Harper-Madison, José Velásquez and Siegel. Mayor Pro Tem Fuentes is listed as vice chair.

Council Member Paige Ellis will serve as chair of the Mobility Committee, with Qadri as vice chair and Council members Harper-Madison, Vela and Laine as members. Harper-Madison is still listed as chair of the Housing and Planning Committee and Vela as vice chair. However, no one else has signed up for it and the message board post indicates a need to discuss it.

Fuentes is slated to serve as chair of the Public Health Committee. Other members will include Council members Alter, Duchen, Qadri, and Velásquez. There are also a number of regional appointments up for consideration, including CAMPO and the joint Austin/AISD/Travis County committee. Laine has indicated that she wants to serve on that panel. Current members include Watson, Alter and Velásquez. All of these assignments are subject to change when Council meets to vote on next Thursday’s agenda.

The Julia C. Butridge Gallery, within the Dougherty Arts Center on Barton Springs Road, has put out a call for artists for its 2026 gallery season. Both emerging and established artists are encouraged to apply for a chance to showcase their work in a city-owned space known for its vibrant and diverse exhibitions. “This is your chance to have your work featured in one of the city’s premier cultural spaces—with no submission fee,” a press release from the city reads. “The gallery welcomes proposals from all artistic disciplines, and selected exhibitions will be presented to the public free of charge.” Submissions will be accepted through March 16. To submit an exhibit proposal, visit doughertyartscenter.submittable.com/submit.

Former City Council Member Mackenzie Kelly has transitioned into a new role as the director of governmental affairs for the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute following the conclusion of her term in office. Kelly, who represented District 6 from 2021 to 2024, began her new position on Jan. 6. She will advocate for increased mental health funding at the state level and provide policy guidance aimed at improving access to mental health resources across Texas. In a recent interview, Kelly told the Austin Monitor she admired the organization’s work to make it easier for 911 callers to get better access to mental health services. Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute focuses on a range of mental health initiatives, particularly targeting youth, veterans and individuals involved in the criminal justice system. The organization offers policy recommendations and research to help shape mental health services statewide.

The Trail Conservancy has appointed Julie Fisher as its new CEO. Fisher brings extensive nonprofit leadership experience, having previously held roles at the Livestrong Foundation and the Andy Roddick Foundation. She holds a Master of Public Affairs from the University of Texas at Austin. Austin Business Journal notes that Thomas recently served a managerial position at National Instruments. In a prepared statement, Board Chair Hugh Westmoreland praised Fisher’s passion for public spaces and nonprofit management expertise, noting her strong leadership skills and deep understanding of fundraising and community engagement. Fisher will oversee strategic planning, fundraising, and initiatives aimed at enhancing the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail, ensuring it remains a cherished resource for Austinites and visitors alike. The Trail Conservancy, founded in 2003, partners with the City of Austin to preserve and improve the 10-mile trail around Lady Bird Lake, which attracts millions of visitors each year.

This whisper has been corrected.

A new report finds Austin is one of the leading U.S. cities for high-paying jobs, with a significant number of positions offering salaries exceeding $500,000 annually. According to research from ADP, Austin’s booming tech sector, combined with its growing financial and health care industries, has contributed to a surge in lucrative employment opportunities. In total, about 1.1 percent of payroll workers in Austin take home at least $500,000 per year. The report finds that while cities like New York and San Francisco continue to dominate in terms of sheer volume, Austin stands out for its rapid job growth and lower cost of living compared to other top markets. Key industries driving these high salaries in Austin include software development, venture capital and executive leadership roles within established tech giants and emerging startups. Dell and Tesla were noted as two of the most high-profile companies in the local tech scene, though the area’s growing role as a hub of microchip manufacturing also impacts the economy significantly with giants like Samsung making major investments in the area.

Opportunity Austin, in collaboration with Con Mi Madre and Dress for Success Austin, will host the HER Power Summit from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 23, at Austin Energy Headquarters, 4815 Mueller Blvd. The event aims to provide 100 women from diverse backgrounds with opportunities to connect with employers and explore career development options. The agenda includes networking sessions with employers and breakout sessions featuring presentations from Workforce Solutions Capital Area’s Infrastructure Academy and career spotlights by Capital Metro and Austin Energy. Participants will rotate between employer networking and breakout sessions. Complimentary food will be available for all attendees. The HER Power Summit is intended to support women seeking career opportunities and professional development. Registration is available online.

Austin Mayor Kirk Watson and Mayor Pro Tem Vanessa Fuentes traveled to Washington, D.C., to advocate for federal transportation funding last week. Watson spoke to the U.S. Conference of Mayors’ Transportation Standing Committee to stress the importance of focusing on local infrastructure. Fuentes brought a similar focus to the Congressional House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, where she asked for continued collaboration and funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. “Whether in a large city like Austin, Texas, or a smaller one like Mission, Kansas, reliable infrastructure is the foundation of our local economic future,” Fuentes said. “A strong federal partnership will ensure that local governments can continue to be a powerful force in solving national challenges like road safety and connectivity.” Over the past three years, Austin has received about $82 million in federal transportation grants and contracts.

Landscape architect and neighborhood advocate Jean Mather passed away on Jan. 9, shortly after her 99th birthday. She is remembered as a passionate advocate for the environment and for South Austin. Mather and her husband, Bob, settled in Travis Heights in 1961. He was a professor of architecture at the University of Texas, where he taught until his death in 1984. The couple had two children, Emily Mather (Phillips) and Richard Mather. Jean co-founded the South River City Citizens (SRCC) in 1972 and was active in the organization for many years. She became involved with city environmental issues after becoming concerned about the city’s placing water pipes in creeks. Her interest in the environment lead Jean to membership on the Planning Commission and later on the Zoning and Platting Commission. She also served on the city’s Historic Landmark Commission from 2002 until 2008.

City administrative offices and other facilities will be closed Monday, Jan. 20, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Normal business hours will resume Tuesday, Jan. 21. But many city services will continue to operate as normal, including utilities payments, Austin Resource Recovery curbside collections (they will follow regular schedules) and the Parks and Recreation Department (city parks, golf courses, cemeteries and year-round pools will be open). However, expected inclement weather could limit hours, so visit the Parks and Recreation and Park Closures pages for up-to-date details. If needed during the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, the following public resources will be available: Report power outages at outagemap.austinenergy.com or by calling 512-322-9100; for nonemergency issues, call 3-1-1, download the Austin 3-1-1 mobile app or submit the request online; report water or wastewater emergencies by calling 512-972-1000; and access library resources at the Austin Public Library website.

The U.S. Small Business Administration has awarded a grant to establish a Women’s Business Center in Austin. Administered by the Foundation for Better Business, the WBC will provide resources such as education, training and access to loans to support women-owned businesses in the city. The initiative addresses a long-standing gap, as Austin was previously the largest Texas city without an SBA office dedicated to supporting women entrepreneurs. The grant and office opening align with a recommendation from the Mayor’s Task Force for Austin Women Entrepreneurs, which was formed in 2023 to foster a more equitable business environment. Bethany Leffingwell, director of development for Austin’s Better Business Bureau, and Mayor Kirk Watson played key roles in advocating for the grant. The new center aims to reduce barriers for women entrepreneurs and contribute to a more inclusive local economy. Details on the center’s launch timeline and specific programming will be announced in the coming months.

The Austin Chamber of Commerce’s next Area Business Connections event will focus on the expansion program at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. The event is scheduled from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 29, at Galaxy Theatres Austin on Middle Fiskville Road. Ghizlane Badawi, CEO of AUS, will provide updates on upcoming projects, timelines and business opportunities associated with the airport’s development. The airport’s multiyear expansion is seen as essential to accommodating the region’s rapid growth. Key projects include the construction of a new Concourse B with at least 20 gates, connected to the existing Barbara Jordan Terminal via an underground pedestrian tunnel. The design phase is underway, with construction expected to begin in 2026 and completion anticipated by 2030. City Council has authorized $72 million for engineering and architectural services and $1.031 billion for pre-construction and construction services for this project. A new Arrivals and Departures Hall is planned to enhance passenger processing capabilities. The design contract, valued at $45 million, has been awarded to Skidmore Owings and Merrill LLP, with construction costs estimated at $820 million. The project aims to consolidate ticketing, security and baggage claim areas, with construction slated to begin in late 2025 and completion targeted for 2030. Tickets for the event are available online.

The city’s Capital Delivery Services will hold another quarterly “Building Austin” event to address ongoing city projects. This quarter, the department will look at transportation, water and park projects in Northeast Austin from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 20. Attendees, whether virtual or in-person, will be able to learn about the various projects and ask questions. The event is free and open to the public, with RVSPs available here.