As part of an effort to update the 2010 Hazard Mitigation Plan, the City of Austin will hold a series of public meetings this month. According to the city, “Input from the community is needed for the project team to identify and analyze potential hazards affecting residents, in addition to possible recommendations to reduce their impact. Hazards can include droughts, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires and other major disasters.” Meetings will take place on: Tuesday, March 10, at Pleasant Hill Branch Library from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.; Thursday, March 12, at Spicewood Springs Branch Library from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.; Thursday, March 12, at Howson Branch Library from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.; and Monday, March 16, at Carver Branch Library from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

An ordinance that would allow businesses to count metered parking toward off-street parking requirements was once again delayed by City Council on Thursday, despite recommendations from staff. Council sent the ordinance back to the Mobility Committee without discussion. The Planning Commission in August voted unanimously against the ordinance, which would amend the Austin Land Development Code. Under the current code, businesses must fulfill parking requirements primarily through off-street parking. Staff said that metered parking encourages quick turnover and the change would create opportunities for small businesses. The ordinance was approved on first reading with a split vote in December, before the current Council took office.

On Saturday, Feb. 28, Council Member Pio Renteria will hold the first in a series of District 3 meetings. Titled “Council on Your Corner,” the event is a chance for residents to speak to Renteria (and each other) about issues. And, according to his open invitation, Renteria will also be offering coffee and pan dulce to those who attend. The discussion will take place at the A. B. Cantu Pan Am Recreation Center from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m..

The dramatic letter penned by Col. William Barret Travis to his fellow Texans about the dire situation his men faced at the Alamo is on display through March 6 at the Texas State Library and Archives Commission building. “The Travis Letter” has become one of the most revered and studied documents in Texas history. The iconic letter will be on display for 12 days, representing the lengthy siege fought by the defenders of the Alamo. While on exhibition, the document is being kept in a specially designed case that limits harmful light while providing visitors the unique opportunity to view one of the most important pieces of Texas history. The display is part of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission’s latest exhibit, Texans’ Struggle for Freedom and Equality, comprising documents and images integral to the state’s history. The exhibit is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily through March 6 with a special showing Saturday at the library at 1201 Brazos St. Go to tsl.texas.gov for more information.

Unlike the Board of Adjustment and Public Works ex-officio positions, the Austin Independent School District position has been unfilled on the dais since the Planning Commission reincorporated ex-officio members several years ago. According to the City Charter, the AISD position must be filled by the AISD Board of Trustees. Board President Gina Hinojosa has asked to appoint another member to take her place, but previously, staff has said that would not be allowed under City Charter. Since then, however, AISD and City Legal minds got together and came to an agreement that it could be done if the Planning Commission amended its rules to recognize an AISD representative. “The Planning Commission has wanted for a very long time to get the AISD rep here,” said Chair Danette Chimenti. She then quoted from a letter from Assistant City Attorney Brent Lloyd, who wrote that, after thinking about the issue further, City Legal didn’t see a problem with the new solution, “as long as it is not regarded as a delegation in the legal sense.” Chimenti said she wanted to get the ball rolling with a conversation at the commission’s next meeting, and other commissioners agreed. “I’m fine with discussing it. I just think we are on shaky ground,” said Commissioner James Nortey.

There appears to be a little City-envy at Travis County Commissioners Court. During a Tuesday briefing from County Attorney David Escamilla on the requirements of the Texas Open Meetings and Public Information acts, talk surfaced of adopting a public message board similar to the one embraced by Austin’s new 10-1 City Council members. Judge Sarah Eckhardt asked Escamilla about the new system her staff is working on to build Commissioners Court agendas with her colleagues. It works similarly to the Council board but isn’t available to the public. Escamilla was explaining to commissioners the potential legal landmines involved with that system when Commissioner Brigid Shea brought up Austin’s alternative. “I’m a big advocate of it,” Escamilla said while extolling its legal benefits. “I’m interested in utilizing it,” Shea concluded.

The City of Austin will host the annual kickoff reception and opening of the 2015 People’s Gallery on Friday. Each year the city showcases work by regional artists by hanging their works throughout City Hall. Visitors to the building can vote on the People’s Choice, an artwork that the city will purchase from the artist as part of the city’s permanent art collection. All of the artworks will be on display at City Hall for an entire year. Voting instructions and guidance to the exhibition are available on the first and second floor, and ballots are available in the second floor lobby. This year, District 5 City Council Member Ann Kitchen is also hosting a special exhibition in her office, showcasing District 5 artists from Thornton Road Studios. Those artists include: David Bear, acrylic on canvas; Greg Davis, photography; Ava Sharifian, oil on canvas; Christine Gilbert, watercolor; Mindy Graber, mosaic; Rita Marie Ross, copper sculpture; Rick Van Dyke, clay art; Sandy Ball Muckleroy, bronze sculpture; and John Robert Franklin and William K Stidham, who have each contributed giclee limited edition prints. (Giclee is a term for fine art digital prints made on inkjet printers.) The 2015 exhibition features more than 100 artists as well as special exhibits from United Way for Greater Austin, AISD Creative Learning Initiative students, and Art in Public Places. The exhibit begins at 6 p.m., and the People’s Choice will be announced at 6:30 p.m. in Council Chambers. The People’s Gallery is a project of the Economic Development Department.

District 6 City Council Member Don Zimmerman is holding a town hall meeting Saturday in his Northwest Austin district. Zimmerman says he will discuss his first months in office as well as items he is working on, and also help constituents process any issues or concerns they need to have addressed. He will also answer questions regarding city operations and be joined by pets from the Austin Animal Center in recognition of February’s “Love-A-Pet” Month. For questions, contact Zimmerman at (512) 978-2106 or district6@austintexas.gov. The meeting is set from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Fire Station #38, 10111 Anderson Mill Road.

Total January passenger traffic at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport was up 6 percent compared to January 2014. Officials say 779,481 passengers passed through the airport. That makes 60 out of 61 months that ABIA has shown year-to-year gains in passenger traffic. Most of the major airlines serving ABIA, including Southwest, United and Delta, saw passenger growth in January, while American/US Airways and JetBlue saw a modest decrease. Overall, air cargo was up 3 percent, while thanks to British Airways daily service, international cargo grew 175 percent.

Former City Council Member Chris Riley, long a policy wonk while he served on Council, will be pursuing a master’s degree to continue planning as a profession. Riley said Tuesday that he has been accepted as a graduate student at the Pratt Institute in the Urban Placemaking and Management program, starting in September. The Pratt Institute, which is in Brooklyn, offers what it calls a “professionally oriented education to a student body with diverse cultural, educational and professional backgrounds.” The institute focuses on community engagement while stressing a “multidisciplinary approach to the development, design and programming of public space,” according to its website. Riley was attending Tuesday’s meeting of the Central Texas Democratic Forum, where he won a door prize. Ironically, his prize was a Hillary Clinton bumper sticker. Riley rather famously has no car and prefers to travel by bike.