The environmental group Clean Water Action revealed its choices in a variety of City Council races on Monday. The group has endorsed Kirk Watson for mayor, Ken Craig for the District 5 Council seat, incumbent Paige Ellis to retain her District 8 Council seat, and Linda Guerrero for the District 9 seat. David Foster, who has retired but is still active with the group, told the Austin Monitor that Clean Water Action has not yet made a decision about endorsements in districts 1 and 3.

Austin Transportation and Capital Metro have partnered up for a community engagement process that explores the public’s thoughts on various transit enhancements in the pipeline over the next few years, with a focus on transit accessibility. The agencies’ outreach efforts are intended “to improve the transit rider experience by implementing a range of infrastructure projects that promote safer, more efficient and accessible transit service within the city of Austin. Infrastructure improvements could include transit priority lanes, transit-specific traffic signals and improved location of bus stops.” Feedback from an online survey that launches today “will help planners understand the delays and difficulties riders experience using transit and guide infrastructure improvements that can make the greatest difference in system efficiency.” Take the survey.

There’s a record number of opportunities out there for job-seekers, and one of the best places to learn about them is at a job fair. The latest job fair is a collaboration between Austin-Bergstrom International Airport and the city’s aviation department, in an effort to promote the variety of employment opportunities offered by the airport and the air travel industry, including with the Department of Aviation, Transportation Security Administration, airlines like Southwest, American and Delta, and food and retail concessions. Airport CEO Jacqueline Yaft pointed out in a news release that AUS is “home to hundreds of different teams and supports thousands of direct and indirect jobs. We look forward to welcoming more talented professionals across a wide range of trades and professions to our airport. One of the most exciting and fulfilling things about a career in airport management or the air travel industry is getting to work alongside so many different teams and partners with the shared goal of serving our community.” Entry-level, supervisor and management positions are available, with airport employers offering a minimum wage of $20 per hour and some offering sign-on bonuses. Learn more about careers at the airport here. The job fair is free and open to the public. Tuesday, Sept. 20, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Omni Southpark Hotel, 4140 Governors Row.

Because each precinct only had one candidate file, the Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District has canceled its November election. On Sept. 15, the board declared the unopposed candidates elected to their offices, though they will not receive a certificate of election until after the Nov. 8 general election has taken place. The directors are Blayne Stansberry, Precinct 2; Lily Lucas, Precinct 3; and Vanessa Puig-Williams, Precinct 5. Both Stansberry and Lucas have previously served on the board in their positions. Puig-Williams will replace outgoing Director Craig Smith.

This month the Wild Neighbors Speaker Series attempts to shed some light on an animal usually associated with the darkness: Texas salamanders. Biologist Ruben Tovar is a Ph.D. candidate at UT Austin who has worked with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and San Marcos Aquatic Resources Center researching Texas blind salamanders, San Marcos salamanders and Barton Springs salamanders, to name a few. He knows just about everything there is to know about these secretive, nocturnal amphibians. In a webinar that promises to be lively and surprising, Tovar will discuss the diversity and evolution of the cave salamanders of Central Texas. Friday, Sept. 30, noon-1 p.m. Register here.

In a unanimous vote, City Council has approved a resolution asking the city to reach out to city vendors to raise awareness about human trafficking and provide resources to victims. The resolution, which was sponsored by Council Member Mackenzie Kelly, homes in on nonprofits and vendors working with those experiencing homelessness, as they are a particularly  vulnerable population. “I authored this resolution after an experience on a ride-out with a sergeant where we went into an encampment, and I met a woman who was in distress. I spoke with the sergeant about her situation, and he let me know that she was being sex trafficked in the camp. At that point, it broke my heart because it occurred to me that she couldn’t be the only person experiencing homelessness in this type of situation. Our city needs to do more to help these people get lifted out of their situation,” Kelly explained in a statement to the press. That press release notes that research at UT Austin has found that there are an estimated 313,000 victims of human trafficking in Texas.

Last month, the city of Austin asked for input on the proposed expansion of Interstate 35 through downtown at an event focused on the cap-and-stitch program that seeks to mitigate the impact of expanding the highway through connections across the road. Those who were not able to attend last month’s event now have another chance to weigh in with Our Future 35. Take a survey, which will be open at least until Sept. 19.

Senior citizens who are retired but seeking to return to the workforce, or who have a job but want to try something different, may want to attend the city’s upcoming job fair focused on opportunities for the senior community. About three dozen employers will participate in the job fair, from public to private employers and resource organizations. According to the news release, “Employers will be looking to hire individuals at all levels in professional, technical service, medical, retail and construction positions.” Thursday, Sept. 22, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at Workforce Solutions North, 9001 N. Interstate 35, Ste. 110.

Looking forward to a very long day with numerous controversial items, including parkland dedication fees, license plate readers and police oversight, Mayor Steve Adler said Tuesday that he would allocate just one minute per speaker at today’s meeting. According to the city clerk’s office, a total of 178 people have signed up to tell Council their thoughts on various agenda items. However, it won’t be an all-nighter; several Council members expressed a desire to go home by 10 p.m. So, the Thursday meeting will simply be in recess until Friday. As City Attorney Anne Morgan explained it, Council would need seven votes to pass the Austin Police Oversight Act or an election to consider that ordinance on a single reading. If there are merely six votes for either option, Council will have to take that vote on three different days. That is why Council is scheduled to meet on Saturday as well as Monday. Of course, any Council member could change his or her vote to avoid extra meetings.

You may have read about the city’s plan to sprinkle resilience hubs throughout Austin, to help the community prepare “for a range of threats including flooding, drought, extreme heat and wildfires, with a specific focus on vulnerable populations,” says a news release. Six pilot hubs will be activated later this year to form part of the citywide network of hubs offering resources to support community members “before, during and after a disaster.” Besides food, water and shelter, the hubs will offer bathrooms, cellphone charging and space to meet with others. Laura Patiño, the city’s resilience officer, explained, “As climate change brings more frequent severe weather and other disasters, there is a need for accessible community spaces, supply distribution centers, backup power and water, and safe temporary shelters. Working with Austin Independent School District, Travis County, the Community Advisory Committee, and the Community Task Force, we continue to make progress towards the creation of this vital support network.” Read more about the Resilience Hub Network here.

The Economic Development Department has launched a grant program that “promotes tourism through historic preservation and inclusive projects about Austin’s history.” The Heritage Preservation Grants are “reimbursable two-year historic preservation funding grants for capital, planning, educational, or marketing projects.” As EDD Director Sylnovia Holt-Rabb explained in a news release, “Preserving Austin’s history and heritage allows us to tell countless untold stories that encompass our city’s unique identity and allure for tourists. The Heritage Preservation Grant provides critical funding to ensure Austin’s irreplaceable historic sites can be enjoyed for generations to come.” For-profit, government and nonprofit entities may apply until Oct. 17. Review the full eligibility requirements, grant guidelines and application details online.

The city is moving forward with plans to improve Nuckols Crossing Road. The southeast road is considered substandard, which means it is less than 24 feet in width or lacks curb, gutter, drainage, bicycle or sidewalk infrastructure. The project, according to an email from the Transportation Department, “focuses on two sections: from Bluff Springs Road to Salt Springs Drive north of Ringsby Road and from the roundabout at Todd Lane/South Pleasant Valley to South Pleasant Valley Road.” To get feedback from the community on how to prioritize improvements, the city will host a meeting at Widen Elementary School, at 5605 Nuckols Crossing Road, this Thursday at 5:30 p.m.