After a series of near-misses and safety concerns, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport will be the first in the nation to get an advanced tower simulator. The Federal Aviation Administration announced the news on Monday. U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Austin) released a statement praising the change. “After multiple near-misses at ABIA, I’m pleased the Federal Aviation Administration has prioritized us for updated safety equipment and installed the nation’s first Advanced Tower Simulator at our airport. This is a modest first step in improving safety for travelers and enhancing training for air traffic controllers, who are often overworked, overwhelmed, and understaffed,” said Doggett. “For months, I’ve been working with the Federal Aviation Administration to ensure our air traffic controllers have the resources and support they need, and I look forward to continue working with the Biden administration to build on this progress.” The tower simulation system is used to train controllers and is already operational at the airport. The FAA plans to install similar systems in 95 other facilities by the end of 2025.

Using debt defeasance, Austin Water closed a financial transaction that will save $62 million over the next three years. Austin Water uses Capital Recovery Fee money to manage debt and reduce payments, with the saved money going toward more infrastructure, payment assistance for customers and stabilizing utility costs.  A press release from the utility about the recent savings touted the utility’s debt management strategy, which has saved customers $556 million since 2016. “Finding efficiencies and cost savings are critical components of Austin Water’s overall debt management strategy,” said Shay Ralls Roalson, director of Austin Water, in a statement to the press. “Debt defeasance has been a tremendously successful strategy that has helped offset the cost of construction and upgrades to improve resilience across Austin’s water and wastewater infrastructure.”

Training for summer lifeguard jobs is underway now – and, in fact, happens year-round. Lifeguards who earn their certification or recertification now can take part in smaller classes in a heated pool and can start making money sooner. Hundreds of positions are still open; the Aquatic Division of the Parks and Recreation Department needs about 850 lifeguards to fully staff city pools for the summer months and currently has 235 lifeguards on staff. The pay for entry-level positions is $20.80 per hour. Check out the lifeguard certification schedule and lifeguard renewal class dates. Lifeguard training and hiring starts at age 15 and there is no age limit. Learn more about how to become a lifeguard at LifeguardAustin.com.

The city’s Housing Department is celebrating the groundbreaking of a new 204-unit affordable housing project in the East MLK neighborhood. The project is the result of a partnership between the Austin Housing Finance Corporation, the NHP Foundation and Capital A Housing on about 3 acres at 3511 and 3515 Manor Road. When complete, all units will be offered to those earning at or below 60 percent of the Median Family Income. AHFC approved the financing for the housing in July 2022. It will be funded by a “$40M tax-exempt Bond issued by the City of Austin, $3.4M Citibank construction bridge debt, $32.3 million in 4% LIHTC Equity syndicated by Boston Financial, and $13.5M in Austin Housing Finance Corporation subordinate debt financing through Rental Housing Development Assistance,” according to a press release about the project. Its construction will be broken into two phases – the 204 apartments will be the first, with Phase II consisting of permanent supportive housing on the site. The estimated move-in date for tenants is July 2025.

Code amendments supporting the first phase of Project Connect light rail will be prioritized this spring, according to a new memo from interim City Manager Jesús Garza. Focusing on these amendments, he explains, will help ensure the city can apply for federal funding. City staff will also push to bring back a recommendation to reduce the minimum lot size from the current 5,750 square feet. That change was initiated as part of the recently approved HOME initiative. In terms of Project Connect-related amendments, this spring will see a push to adopt citywide compatibility, a revamp of VMU2 that will be a new density bonus zoning district, modifications to downtown parking requirements, the first phase of an equitable transit-oriented development overlay and a South Central Waterfront Bonus District.

After a week of much-needed rain, public access to the boat ramps at Lake Walter E. Long has been restored. The ramps had been closed due to low lake levels from a persistent drought in the region. Updates to the boat (and lake) status can be found here, and lake levels will be monitored by Austin Water and the parks department. Operational decisions concerning lake access are made in collaboration with Austin Energy, Austin Water and the Lower Colorado River Authority.

Austin will soon add another troll to its population, and though the news isn’t popular with everyone, Pease Park Conservancy is ready to celebrate its most recent public art initiative. The project has already gone through the city process and been approved, with installation to begin late next month. The troll, which is the creation of “Recycling Art Activist” Thomas Dambo, is one of more than 100 trolls worldwide and will be fully funded and maintained by the conservancy. Those curious about the ins and outs of the new Austinite can check out the surprisingly extensive FAQs here.

The annual Flood Safety Video Contest put on by the Watershed Protection Department is underway, with students in grades 6 through 12 invited to compete by submitting their own short public service announcements. The theme centers on the concept of “turn around, don’t drown” that encourages drivers to avoid flooded roadways that are the leading cause of death during flash floods. Winners will receive a $100 gift card, swag bags and possible coverage on a local news station. PSAs should be 30 seconds long and are due by March 31, 2024. Entries will be judged “based on creativity, clarity in messaging, and overall impact,” according to a press release about the contest. Winners will be announced in April. “With the increasing challenges posed by extreme weather events, it becomes crucial to educate and inform young minds about the importance of flood safety,” Jorge Morales, Watershed Protection Department director, said in a statement to the press. “Through this contest, we hope to inspire students to drive change and make a positive impact in their communities.”

The Red River Cultural District has stepped up its call for city assistance to help cover festival programming and operational expenses for the downtown cluster of music venues and restaurants. On Tuesday, the RRCD issued a press release chronicling the challenges facing music venues, including substantial increases in liability insurance costs, and listing how the district would use an annual payment of between $150,000 and $300,000 that other cultural districts receive. One of the deliverables would be a comprehensive economic analysis to document the business impact delivered by festivals and other programming in the district throughout the year. Earlier this month, the Music Commission voted to support the RRCD’s request, with the hope of including it in midyear budget amendments. If not taken up in the coming months, the request would have to wait until possible inclusion in the city’s next budget that goes into effect in the fall.

Austin Independent School District’s first set of electric school buses will be officially unveiled Thursday. In September 2022, the AISD Board of Trustees unanimously approved a resolution to convert to electric buses to avoid the harmful effects of diesel school bus pollution. At the Thursday press conference, U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, Austin Mayor Kirk Watson, Austin ISD interim Superintendent Matias Segura, Austin ISD Board of Trustees President Arati Singh and others will formally recognize the $6.25 million grant from the Environmental Protection Agency for the district to purchase an additional 25 electric buses. The district aims to transition to an all-electric fleet of buses by 2035.

This year’s Woofstock is ready to kick off, and this Saturday is a chance for Austinites to score tickets to the Feb. 16 Grace Potter concert. Each donation from noon to 1 p.m. at Austin Animal Center will mean a pair of tickets, distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. According to a press release from Austin Animal Center, they are in need of:

• Fleece blankets
• Non-rawhide dog bones
• Kongs
• Dog and cat toys
• Training treats for dogs
• XXL dog sweaters and coats
• Peanut butter
• Churu
• Cat treats

Woofstock was created in 2015 as a way for Austin City Limits Radio staff to support local animal shelters. Instead of purchasing tickets, attendees are encouraged to make a donation to a local shelter.

Dianna Grey, who was most recently the city’s homeless strategy officer, will be taking the position of interim executive director for the Strategic Housing Finance Corporation of Travis County. Grey has been working for the group since Jan. 3. “Affordable housing has become the number one issue facing most urban communities in America today, including Austin-Travis County,” Travis County Housing Authority CEO Patrick B. Howard said in a statement to the press. “It is paramount that area housing providers be focused, creative and resourceful to address the issue of housing insecurity adequately. Dianna Grey, in her new role as SHFC Interim Executive Director, will continue to advance the expansion and preservation goals of affordable housing for this community as she has done very effectively for more than 25 years.” The Strategic Housing Finance Corporation is a local government corporation created in 2004 that works to preserve and expand affordable housing in the region.  “I am quite grateful to be entrusted with the role of SHFC’s Interim Executive Director,” Grey said in a statement to the press. “I’m thrilled to be joining SHFC at this dynamic juncture, and I will work hard to position our organization to deliver increased high-quality affordable housing for our neighbors in Travis County.”