The city’s final collections for Hotel Occupancy Tax during last year’s fiscal year appeared to show a slight decrease of just under 1 percent from the 2023 fiscal year. That dip was brought to light at last week’s Music Commission meeting during a presentation on total revenues for the Live Music Fund, which receives a state-mandated portion of the city’s total hotel tax collections. The fiscal 2024 total was $4.445 million, compared to $4.472 million for the prior year. Some commissioners questioned what could have caused the decrease instead of a double-digit increase, since the local tourism industry has seen as strong rebound since the Covid-19 pandemic. Economic Development Department staff and commissioners who work in tourism-related fields said the numbers up with other data showing hotel revenues as being essentially flat, perhaps as a response to ongoing inflation concerns.

Workforce Solutions Capital Area is hosting a Mobility & Infrastructure Hiring Event on Dec. 11 at the organization’s branch on North Interstate 35. The event offers the chance to explore career paths in the rapidly growing transportation industry as well as major infrastructure projects needed to complete multibillion-dollar efforts such as Project Connect, and the expansion of Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. With projections of 10,000 new jobs needed annually in the next 15 years, the event is intended to fill positions that are seen as essential for the local economy. Transportation stakeholders encourage attendees to learn about positions ranging from bus operators for the upcoming Capital Metro 800 and 837 Rapid lines to skilled trade opportunities vital to building the city’s infrastructure. Admission is free, with registration available online.

The McBee Family Foundation has given $1 million to Preservation Austin to forward its mission in the city. According to a press release from Preservation Austin, the gift will support “establishing the newly-named McFarland-McBee House, built in 1947, as Preservation Austin’s office and home base.” In a statement to the press, Robert F. McBee, president of the McBee Family Foundation and son of Austinites Sue and Frank McBee, explained: “The McBee Family Foundation is not huge and historically has given useful, but certainly not life-changing, grants to a number of well-deserving organizations. With this grant, though, we believe we can make a real difference for Preservation Austin. They need and deserve a real home. Our mother and father were both devoted to the preservation of historical buildings in Austin, mainly through the efforts of the Heritage Society, and so with this gift we are going back to our roots, so to speak. We look forward to watching how Preservation Austin grows and blossoms in its new headquarters.” The donation is the largest single gift given to Preservation Austin in its 71 years of operation.

An open call for exhibit proposals for the Dougherty Art Center’s Julia C. Butridge Gallery is now active, with applications being accepted through Jan. 26, 2025. Exhibit proposals for the 2026 gallery season can be submitted online now. Exhibits at the gallery are five to eight weeks long and include an artist reception and talk, with gallery demos and workshops available to exhibiting artists. There is no fee to submit a proposal, and all exhibits are free and open to the public.

Members of Plein Air Austin, local artists dedicated to painting on location, have been making paintings of Austin Fire Department stations in 2022, and this holiday seasons some of them are donating their station paintings to the department. The paintings will be presented at Austin City Hall at 10 a.m. Dec. 6, with remarks from Austin Fire Department Chief Baker and Plein Air Austin president Baron Wilson, and a selection of the paintings will be on display at the event.

The underwhelming totals are in for the first day of early voting in the Dec. 14 runoff election. They are, as expected, underwhelming, with 0.4 percent of registered Travis County voters. A total of 2,256 early and mail-in votes have been cast in the election so far, which will determine the City Council representative for District 7 as well as an at-large position on the Austin Independent School District Board of Trustees. Early voting runs through Dec. 10. More information about polling times and locations can be found here.

A year of water quality testing has determined that Austin’s water supply has “little to no detectable traces” of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), according to a press release put out by Austin Water. Exposure to PFAS, called “forever chemicals,” is currently being evaluated by the Environmental Protection Agency in order to provide guidance about health risks to the public. As part of that effort, the EPA tested Austin’s water, finding that no additional action was needed to address the low levels that were found. “This great news validates decades of work to protect and safeguard our water at its source,” Austin City Manager T.C. Broadnax said in a statement to the press. “Austin’s embrace of strong environmental protections to reduce pollution in the Highland Lakes has played a vital role in keeping our water supply safe and clean.” According to the press release, “PFAS testing first began in October 2023 in accordance with the EPA’s Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. The rule required drinking water providers, like Austin Water, to measure the level of 29 specific PFAS chemicals – six of which will soon be regulated. The quarterly tests were conducted over a 12-month period. Results will be used to determine requirements for testing, treatment, and future regulations surrounding PFAS in communities that have experienced detection and/or exceedance levels.” The test results are available to the public at both the EPA website and at Water Quality Reports | AustinTexas.gov.

Travis County, the city of Austin and Greater Good Charities are combining forces this week to host free spay and neuter clinics for dogs and cats Dec. 5-7. Though the clinics are free of charge, pet owners must show proof that they are residents of Austin or Travis County. “This is an excellent opportunity for Austin and Travis County residents to provide their pet important healthcare at no cost. Spay and neuter surgeries can cost pet owners hundreds of dollars,” Travis County Health and Human Services Division Director Ana Almaguel said in a statement to the press.“The procedure can extend your pet’s life and help control the dog and cat population in our area.” The clinics will be held at 1817 W. Braker Lane, Building F, and operated on a first-come, first-served basis with registration beginning at 7:30 a.m. each day until 10 a.m. or capacity is met. There is no limit on pets per person, though they all must be at least 2 pounds and two months old and cats must be in secure, individual carriers with a working door.

The George Washington Carver Museum, Cultural and Genealogy Center is expanding its facilities, and community members are invited to share their input to “help shape welcoming, inclusive spaces that reflect our community’s diverse cultural heritage and vision,” according to the city. Updates are listed in the Facility Expansion Plan, which City Council approved in 2021. According to the city, “Phase 1a will explore relocating the administrative area to a new upper level to expand the available area for community-centric programming near the main entry” and “Phase 1b focuses on outdoor spaces and site improvements that include outdoor classrooms, renovations of existing public restrooms, and a new flexible event lawn with a covered pavilion.” Austin Parks and Recreation will host an online kickoff community meeting 10-11:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, on Zoom (register here), and an in-person meeting is planned for 4:30-6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 10, at the Center, located at 1165 Angelina St. To keep up with project updates, sign up here.

Voters in City Council District 7 and those living within the boundaries of the Austin Independent School District will have the opportunity to vote early beginning today. The runoff election for the Council race and AISD at-large position 8 will be held on Dec. 14, but those who wish to cast their ballots early will be able to vote at any voting center in Travis County through Dec. 10. There are 20 early voting centers, which will each have a “Vote Here/Aqui” sign displayed, and they will be open today through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. The final day of early voting is Tuesday, Dec. 10. For a list of early voting locations as well as election day voting centers, check the Travis County Clerk’s website. The District 7 race is between Gary Bledsoe and Mike Siegel. The AISD race is between Lindsey Stringer and Fernando Lucas de Urioste.

City Manager T.C. Broadnax has appointed Jesús Aguirre as the city’s new parks head. Aguirre was formerly the CEO of Waterloo Greenway and serves as chair of the National Recreation and Park Association and the Children and Nature Network. Aguirre previously worked for the parks and recreation departments of Seattle and the District of Columbia, and his hiring is the result of a national search. “I’m honored to join the Austin PARD team as we work to inspire Austinites to connect, protect, learn and play,” Aguirre said. “Austin is at a pivotal moment of growth and change, and parks and recreation are essential to ensuring our communities remain healthy, vibrant and inclusive. I am excited to work with our community members to create spaces where everyone can thrive.” He will start on Jan. 12.

The city has entered the design phase for the second phase of the Asian American Resource Center (AARC) improvements, focusing on a new pavilion in the great lawn area. The project, led by Capital Delivery Services and the Parks and Recreation Department, is intended to enhance the center’s role as a cultural and community hub. The pavilion will provide space for performances, programs and gatherings and offer the community a year-round venue for cultural and educational activities. Key features include a performance area, accessible facilities and infrastructure to support diverse events. A schematic overview of the pavilion will be presented to the city’s Design Commission on Dec. 9 to ensure alignment with the city’s Urban Design Guidelines and sustainability standards. The project is set to move from design to bidding and permitting in spring 2025, with construction anticipated to begin in winter 2025 and continue through summer 2026.