The city’s Homeless Strategy Office has announced $2.1 million in new funding opportunities. The money is split into two programs: $1.5 million has been allocated to a Housing Barrier Reduction program which “aims to launch a fund that reduces immediate barriers for individuals and households trying to obtain or maintain stable housing,” and $600,000 is for a Property Engagement and Education program that “aims to improve relationships with local property owners to increase housing availability for persons experiencing homelessness or at-risk of imminent homelessness,” according to a press release from the city. All funds come from the American Rescue Plan Act, with applications due by Oct. 3, and funding expected to begin on Dec. 15. “The two goals of this funding – removing barriers to housing and increasing the number of available housing units – are essential to effectively help individuals and families exit homelessness,” David Gray, Austin’s homeless strategy officer, said in a statement to the press. “Through this opportunity, we are offering the necessary foundation for people to rebuild their lives. Our approach supports the long-term stability that individuals require to achieve their full potential and end their homelessness.” Eligibility requirements and applications can be found here.

In addition to the multitude of City Council candidates looking for funds for their campaigns, there are now three local political action committees that will be raising and spending money to support various candidates. Leading the Vibrant Austin political action committee is Skyler Korgel, who told the Austin Monitor that his PAC is “pro housing.” He is assisted by Julio Salinas and Luis Osta Lugo. Korgel said Wednesday that his committee is not ready to announce who they will be supporting. However, he said they will not be involved in the mayoral race. According to a form filed with the city clerk, the Vibrant Austin PAC “is not established or controlled by a candidate or an officeholder …” A second political action committee filed paperwork last month designating Tanya Payne as its treasurer. She could not be reached for comment. The third committee, called Austin Progress PAC, will specifically be raising and spending money in support of mayoral candidate Doug Greco. The campaign treasurer for this PAC is Max Langert. He did not return a call requesting comment. However, the PAC could provide a way for Greco’s family and friends who do not live in Austin to support his campaign without violating the city’s campaign finance regulations. Complaints have been filed against both Greco and Mayor Kirk Watson because they received more than the allowed amount of contributions from people living outside the city. The Ethics Review Commission is scheduled to hold a preliminary hearing on those complaints at its next meeting on Sept. 25. Greco has complained that the rules disadvantage candidates who have not lived in Austin for a long time and those who have relatives in other cities.

Two major leaks in the infrastructure of Barton Springs Pool are keeping the pool closed for several weeks. While they’re being repaired, the city will open Deep Eddy Pool at 6 a.m. daily. Holes in an abandoned skimmer pipe, estimated to be from the 1940s, were pulling water into an abandoned pipe below the pool’s dam and creating a safety hazard. Water loss has been temporarily reduced, and city departments are collaborating on a more permanent solution. Visitors to Barkin’ Springs, the free area just below Barton Springs Pool dam, are asked to avoid cordoned-off areas. “Timelines may be adjusted depending on how conditions evolve during the repair process. City staff will provide periodic public updates as the operation proceeds,” according to a statement from the city to the media. For updates on the pool’s repair progress, check austintexas.gov/parkclosures.  

Plans are in place for where and when local folks can vote. Forty-one early-voting sites and 171 Election Day sites for the Nov. 5 election have been approved by Travis County Clerk Dyana Limon-Mercado, the Elections Division and the Commissioners Court. There will be a few changes to voting sites on the University of Texas at Austin campus. UT said the Flawn Academic Center is unavailable because of construction, so after some discussions between the clerk’s office and the university, the Texas Union, which is located next door to the Flawn Academic Center, was decided on as an alternative site. And there will be extended hours for voting at seven sites that will be open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on the final two days of early voting:

• Austin Permitting and Development Center
• Ben Hur Shrine
• Carver Branch Library
• Lakeway Activity Center
• Pflugerville Rock Gym
• Southpark Meadows
• UT Union

All other locations will be open during normal voting hours. Below is the early voting schedule:

• 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 21, through Saturday, Oct. 26
• noon-6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 27
• 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 28, through Wednesday, Oct. 30
• 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 31, through Friday, Nov. 1 (with the seven sites open until 10 p.m.)

“Accessibility for Travis County voters is our top priority as we consider the various factors necessary for selecting polling sites,” the County Clerk’s office wrote in a statement to the media. Limon-Mercado stated, “Ensuring access to the ballot for every voter while upholding federal and state laws is vital to the integrity of our democracy. I extend my sincere thanks to the Commissioners Court for its steadfast support in this critical endeavor, which helps guarantee that all voices are heard and valued.” Voters can find polling locations, a wait time map and voter ID requirements at VoteTravis.com. Personal sample ballots will be available on VoteTravis.com in mid-September.

The city’s Ethics Commission and the League of Women Voters Austin Area will be hosting a forum for the seven candidates vying for the City Council seat currently held by Leslie Pool. Pool, who was initially elected in 2014, could run for reelection by gathering a sufficient number of signatures to place her name on the ballot. But Pool, who currently serves as mayor pro tem, made it clear early on that she did not wish to do that. Three contenders seem most likely to win or advance to a runoff based on how much money they have raised and/or how well known they are to the public. Attorney Mike Siegel had raised the most money as of June 30, reporting $102,000 in contributions. His name may be familiar to Democratic voters because he ran twice against Republican U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul. Gary Bledsoe, whose name is familiar to many Texans because of his work as a civil rights attorney and president of the Texas NAACP, did not file soon enough to require the June 30 report. However, the District 7 candidate who reported the second-highest amount of contributions on that report was Adam Powell. Powell, 30, was described by The Austin Chronicle as an “energetic campaigner with serious policy chops.” He reported raising more than $44,000 on the June 30 report. Todd Shaw, former chair of the city’s Planning Commission, is an engineer whose name may be familiar to people interested in zoning, and had raised about $15,000, according to his June 30 report. Pierre Nguyen is a reservist with the U.S. Coast Guard. He has served on the Public Safety Commission, the Asian American Quality of Life Commission, and ACC’s Emergency Management Advisory Board. He reported raising more than $7,200 through June 30.  The Austin Bulldog reported that Edwin Bautista, 26, is a planner with GrantWorks. He reported raising $560 through June 30. Finally, Daniel Dominguez, 64, filed for the office on Aug. 19. He told the Bulldog he is retired, an Army veteran and is classified at 100 percent disabled. He said he formerly worked as director of diversity of the Texas Comptroller’s office. The candidate forum will be at the Northwest Recreation Center, 2913 Northland Drive, 6:30-8 p.m. Thursday.

Austin Energy has launched its AI-driven wildfire detection system. According to a press release from AE, “The Pano AI system integrates 13 ultra-high-definition, 360-degree cameras, artificial intelligence and real-time data monitoring to swiftly detect and verify potential wildfires. Once a fire is identified, the system automatically alerts Austin Energy and local fire departments, providing precise location data and real-time imagery to help first responders in their efforts to quickly address and contain the threat.” The system, which covers a 437-square-mile area that includes parts of Hays, Bastrop, Williamson and Burnet counties, scans for smoke and “delivers actionable intelligence to local authorities” through the use of 13 strategically placed cameras. The AI effort is the result of a collaboration between AE, the Austin Fire Department and the Texas Public Power Corridor Committee. “This system gives us real-time situational awareness, allowing us to identify and respond to fires before they spread,” Justice Jones, wildfire mitigation officer for the Austin Fire Department, said in a statement to the press. “The collaboration between Pano AI, Austin Energy, and local fire departments marks a new chapter in our ability to safeguard our communities from the growing threat of wildfires.”

On Friday, the city’s parks department, Austin Water and the Watershed Protection Department convened to investigate a leak in Barton Springs’ infrastructure. They found that an old water bypass pipe has developed two holes, much like a similar incident in 2018. While the city’s plans to fix the issue will take the same tack as last time, they will also take a minute to complete, as a more thorough understanding of the conditions is sought. Until then, the pool will be closed with reduced water levels, as will a portion of Barkin’ Springs. Updates on Barton Springs’ status can be found here.

Travis County will host a job fair Wednesday, Sept. 4, at 700 Lavaca St. in order to showcase the more than 100 open positions at the county. According to a press release about the fair, those jobs include “Application Developers, Paralegal, Investigators, Juvenile Probation Officers, Mechanics, Groundskeepers” as well as recently approved positions for the Counsel at First Appearance program. County representatives, hiring managers and human resources representatives will be on hand to answer questions, and parking will be available at the parking garage located at Guadalupe and Eighth streets. Would-be participants are also invited to register as candidates prior to the fair here.

City Council approved a plan to preserve flow during times of drought at Barton Springs during yesterday’s meeting. The Little Bear Recharge Enhancement Project directs water from Little Bear Creek to a former quarry during times of high flow. There, the water can recharge the Edwards Aquifer, improving its resiliency when water is scarce due to drought and climate change. Construction will start in the next couple months and expected to take seven months. In all, the project will cost $2.6 million. “This unique project has been more than 20 years in the making and is the culmination of a strong partnership between several City departments, including Watershed Protection Department, Capital Delivery Services, and Austin Water. The project site, in Hays County, was purchased in 2002 as part of a voter-approved bond package and is managed by Austin Water. It is one of many open spaces that make up more 34,000 acres of Austin’s Water Quality Protection Lands. Through this project, the site will provide additional environmental benefits to enhance water supply to the aquifer,” explains a press release about yesterday’s approval. “Because Water Quality Protection Lands make up 47 percent of the area upstream, runoff flowing to the creek is very clean and suitable for diverting to the aquifer. In addition, some recharged water can linger for as long as a year in this area before reaching Barton Springs, making the site ideal for storing water to be available during times of drought.”

In observance of Labor Day, city administrative offices and other municipal facilities will be closed Monday, Sept. 2, and business hours will resume Tuesday, Sept. 3. Closures include City Council offices, all recreation and senior centers, cultural centers, museums and libraries.

• Austin Public Libraries
  All locations will be closed Sunday and Monday, Sept. 1 and 2.
• Utility Payment Centers
  Closed Monday, Sept. 2. Customers can make payments at COAUtilities.com or pay in a variety of other ways.
• Austin Resource Recovery
  For trash, recycling and composting, curbside collections will follow regular schedules and will not be affected by the holiday. The Recycle and Reuse Drop-off Center and administrative offices will be closed on Monday, Sept. 2, but Austin Water’s Hornsby Bend Biosolids Management Plant will be open regular hours (8 a.m.-3 p.m.) for yard trimmings and large brush drop-off.
• Austin Animal Center
  Closed on Monday, Sept. 2, resuming regular hours on Tuesday, Sept. 3.
• Austin Public Health
  Environmental Health Services at the Rutherford Lane Campus, Office of Vital Records, all WIC and Shots for Tots clinics, and Neighbor Centers will be closed on Monday, Sept. 2.
• Austin Water
  Administration offices will be closed on Monday, Sept. 2, but the 24-Hour Emergency Dispatch Line (512-972-1000) will be available.
• Parks and Recreation
  City of Austin parks, playgrounds, tennis centers and golf courses will be open on Labor Day for regularly scheduled hours. Visit AustinTexas.gov/Pools for operational hours of pools. City rec centers, senior centers, museums and cultural centers will be closed on Sunday, Sept. 1, and Monday, Sept. 2.

For questions about city services or information call 311 or 512-974-2000. Service requests can also be submitted from the Austin 3-1-1 mobile app.

Creek Show, the annual light-based art exhibition that sets Waller Creek aglow, is coming back this November for its 10th anniversary celebration, honoring a decade of what it calls “high spectacle creativity, innovation, and community.” Creek Show alumni artists and designers are creating a new series of light-based immersive spectacles along the creek that will open nightly from 6-10 p.m. Nov. 8-16. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Sept. 19, and online reservations are required to attend. Some nights offer free entry and some require a low-cost entry fee – check creekshow.com for scheduling and reservations.  All proceeds from Creek Show benefit Waterloo Greenway Conservancy, the nonprofit organization whose mission is to create and maintain a new 35-acre urban park system in partnership with the city of Austin. “Over the past decade, this unique installation series has captivated the imaginations of architects, landscape architects, and artists, drawing hundreds of thousands of Austinites and visitors to experience the magic of Waterloo Greenway,” says Ingrid Spencer, AIA Austin executive director and Creek Show co-founder and artistic director. “Creek Show has not only illuminated our cityscape but has also shone a spotlight on the vital restoration and revitalization efforts of Waller Creek, fostering a deeper connection to our urban parks and their ecological importance.”

Mayoral candidate Doug Greco has earned the endorsement of the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund. The group, which is dedicated to electing LGBTQ+ candidates to office, will work to promote its endorsement and Greco among its supporters. In a statement about the endorsement, the group wrote, “LGBTQ+ people remain severely underrepresented in government nationwide – holding just 0.2 percent of elected positions despite representing at least 7.2 percent of the U.S. population, according to LGBTQ+ Victory Institute. As an out LGBTQ+ leader, Greco will be an unwavering voice for equality in Texas. His priorities in office will include education, workforce development, housing affordability, community safety, protecting the environment, and fighting back against state attacks on local decisions and civil rights.”