North - Northwest Austin Edition | June 2023

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NORTH NORTHWEST AUSTIN EDITION

VOLUME 17, ISSUE 5 JUNE 29AUG. 1, 2023

HEALTH CARE EDITION 2023

Queso-covered tacos coming to North Austin

HEALTH CARE EDITION 2023

Community snapshot

Waterloo Swimming sets sights on new location

Dell Children’s Medical North Campus is the rst pediatric hospital in Williamson County. (Nell Carroll/Community Impact)

New pediatric hospitals give parents care options

Shuck Me sailing strong 1 year after opening

Pull the newest teaser from CC Libraries

BY GRACE DICKENS

and the new Texas Children’s hos- pital is set to open February 2024. Both facilities are located on Lake Creek Parkway, giving parents a choice on where to take their children when they need care. “I expect the hospitals to have a great transformative eect on our community because it’s going to improve the health and well-being

of children and families in our area, and even in surrounding areas,” said Mackenzie Kelly, Austin City Council member for District 6 and Northwest Austin native. Both new hospitals will go in District 6, which includes part of the Williamson County area. “As a mom of a daughter who is in CONTINUED ON 30

The far Northwest Austin area will welcome two new pediatric hospitals within one year less than 2 miles apart, making waves in the local pediatric scene that parents must navigate to determine what these new facilities mean for them. The Dell Children’s Medical Cen- ter North Campus opened in April,

NEW Tech Ridge location

Your first step to the care you want.

When you need care, you want it from a team you trust. With our new clinic in Tech Ridge, we’re always close by. You can even get care from the comfort of home through the MyBSWHealth app. It’s the care you need, when and where you need it.

Come visit us at: 500 Canyon Ridge Drive, Building C, Austin, TX 78753

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Virtual and in-person | Access to a network of specialists | Coordinated care through MyBSWHealth app

Photography may include models or actors and may not represent actual patients. Not all services available at all locations. Providers are employees of Scott & White Clinic. ©2023 Baylor Scott & White Health. 53-ATX-722773 DN3

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NORTH - NORTHWEST AUSTIN EDITION • JUNE 2023

Dell Children’s Medical Center North Campus NOW OPEN — 24/7 pediatric ER care

Most advanced pediatric specialty care

From a name in Austin you already trust — closer to home

35 Dell Children’s Medical Center North Campus 9010 N. Lake Creek Parkway Austin, TX 78717

183A

183

Dell Children’s Medical Center is open near you! Now pediatric specialty care, including around-the-clock ER and trauma care, specialized surgical care, pediatric imaging, and outpatient rehab services, are right here, closer to where you live and work — without leaving Austin. You can schedule with specialists today! Many of our pediatric specialists are now in a new medical building on the same north campus, including gastroenterology, neurology and neuropsychology, general pediatric surgery and more. Ask your doctor about appointments closer to home on our north campus.

Only in Austin . Only at Dell Children’s .

Start a conversation with a pediatric specialist today ascension.org/DellChildrensNorth

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THIS ISSUE

MARKET TEAM GENERAL MANAGER Taylor Caranfa Stover EDITOR Grace Dickens REPORTER Brittany Anderson GRAPHIC DESIGNER Sabrina Musachia ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Jill Futch METRO LEADERSHIP PUBLISHER Travis Baker MANAGING EDITOR Amy Denney COPY EDITOR Kasey Salisbury SENIOR ART PRODUCTION MANAGER Haley Grace CONTACT US 16225 Impact Way, Pugerville, TX 78660 • 5129896808 CI CAREERS communityimpact.com/careers PRESS RELEASES nnwnews@communityimpact.com ADVERTISING nnwads@communityimpact.com Learn more at communityimpact.com/advertising EMAIL NEWSLETTERS communityimpact.com/newsletter SUPPORT US Join your neighbors by giving to the CI Patron program. Funds support our journalistic mission to provide trusted, local news in your community. Learn more at communityimpact.com/cipatron ABOUT US Owners John and Jennifer Garrett launched Community Impact in 2005, and the company is still locally owned today. We have expanded to include hundreds of team members and have created our own software platform and printing facility. CI delivers 35+ localized editions across Texas to more than 2.5 million residential mailboxes.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THIS MONTH

FROM TAYLOR: It never gets old hearing how much our readers rely on us to keep them up to speed on what is going on in their community. Our Impacts section (see Pages 6-7) might rank the highest as our readers’ favorite content. If you are ever curious about what is being built down the street, reach out to us! If we don’t know, we will do the digging for you. Thank you for your readership! Taylor Caranfa Stover, GENERAL MANAGER tstover@communityimpact.com

FROM GRACE: Welcome to our latest issue! This month is our annual Health Care Edition, with local health care news for residents in North and Northwest Austin. For our front- page story, I explore what the new Dell Children’s Medical Center North Campus and Texas Children’s hospitals in the area have to oer and what that means for parents. Outside of the guide, we dive into Waterloo Swimming and Shuck Me for the inside scoop on a few local businesses. As always, thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoy! Grace Dickens, EDITOR gdickens@communityimpact.com

Meet Travis Baker

Austin Metro Publisher

What’s your typical day as a CI Publisher? TB: One thing I love about my job is that no two days are the same, each lled with new challenges and opportunities. On average, my day starts with some internal meetings. Next, I am in the eld riding along with a sales rep to help pitch a local business as to why our advertising portfolio is the best investment they can make. Then I’m at a chamber networking event, and throughout the day I may be mixing in some editorial decisions on late breaking content, scheduling future stories, etc. Each day my calendar is booked, but rarely is there a day playing out as planned.

What’s your favorite memory working for CI? TB: I’ve had many great memories over my 13 years. One that sticks out the most is when we launched a paper in my hometown of New Braunfels and saw the emails ooding in after our rst delivery. I started documenting them, and when I got to page seven or eight, I realized it was never going to end. The launch was rewarding for myself and also the community.

Where might CI expand to next in your metro? TB: Good question. We have quite a few fans out there, and they are not shy to let us know where we’re needed. I’ve heard from people in Waco, Killeen, Temple, Bastrop and Highland Lakes, to name a few. I look forward to the day that every community across Texas has Community Impact serving it.

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Businesses that have recently opened or are coming soon, relocating or expanding

WELLS BRANCH PKWY.

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The Happy Cat Hotel & Spa

COURTESY HAPPY CAT HOTEL & SPA

Austin, on March 26. LaundroLab offers drop-off laundry services with attendants who wash, dry and fold laundry. Self-ser- vice laundry machines are also available in addition to commercial laundry services; flip services; and family-friendly ameni- ties, such as free Wi-Fi, a reading and play area, and an interactive gaming floor. 512- 284-7950. www.laundrolab.com 5 SuperBrows & Facial Spa opened in McNeil Crossing at 6001 W. Parmer Lane, Ste. 210, Austin, in April. The spa offers services such as eyebrow threading and tinting, body waxing, facials, lash ser- vices, and henna art. 512-774-7444. www.superbrowsaustin.com 6 Commercial construction firm W.E. O’Neil opened its office at 8868 Research Blvd., Ste. 500, Austin, on June 1. W.E. O’Neil builds retail, office, government, entertainment and technology spaces, among others. W.E. O’Neil serves the entire state but focuses on Greater Austin and Central Texas’ multifamily, hospitality and retail markets as well as aviation, health care, higher education and senior living. 512-454-9000. www.weoneil.com COMING SOON 7 The Happy Cat Hotel & Spa will open in its first Texas location at 13581 Pond Springs Road, Austin, this fall. The facility will offer short- and long-term stays for cats in 27 individually themed suites ranging from 30-60 square feet with climbing equipment, bedding, toys, fountains, windows, webcams and more. 512-400-0603. www.happycathotel. com/austintxnorth 8 Evangelical church Life.Church will

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W. CANYON RIDGE DR.

WALNUT CREEK PARK

GREAT HILLS TRL.

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HYRIDGE DR.

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NOW OPEN 1 Bandito Comics opened at 3509 Hyridge Drive, Austin, on June 7. Owners Paulette Jimenez and Josias Ocampo es- tablished Bandito Comics in June 2021 as an online store. The business sells a variety of comic books, action figures, Pokémon cards, Funko Pops, and anime and manga cards, such as “Sailor Moon,” “Dragon Ball Z,” “Cowboy Bebop” and “One Piece.” Jimenez and Ocampo also buy vintage

comic books and Pokémon cards from the community in addition to attending Comic-Cons and card shows across the state as vendors. 512-956-6954. www.banditocomics.com 2 Baylor Scott & White Health opened its Austin Tech Ridge Clinic at 500 Can- yon Ridge Drive, Bldg. C, Ste. 208, Aus- tin, on June 15. The clinic offers pediatric care, women’s health services, cancer screenings, sports injury treatment and physicals, preventive health services,

and general medical care. 512-654-7800. www.bswhealth.com 3 Biryani Garden opened at 12221 Riata Trace Parkway, Ste. 190, Austin, in May. The restaurant offers a variety of Indian dishes, such as curries; kababs; naan; and biryani, including Mandi biryani, an Arabic dish made with long-grain rice. 737-259- 4677. www.biryanigarden.com 4 LaundroLab opened its first Texas facility at 8868 Research Blvd., Ste. 704,

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Kesos Tacos

Mantra Wellness

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COURTESY MANTRA WELLNESS

Churro Co. Dessert Shop & Bakery serves churros, funnel cakes, drinks and more.

COURTESY GABRIELA’S GROUP

open its first Austin location at 13609 N. I-35 in spring 2024. In addition to weekend services, the church offers lives- treamed sermons, weekly youth groups, adult LifeGroups and the Life.Church Worship band. Until the site is open, the church will meet at Joe Lee Johnson Elementary School at 2800 Sauls Drive, Austin. www.life.church/austin 9 Austin-based taco restaurant Kesos Tacos will open a new location at 3901 Spicewood Springs Road, Austin. The location is slated to open sometime in early 2024, founder and CEO Jhonatan Aldama said. Kesos Tacos is known for its taco menu and for topping all of its tacos with queso. The restaurant also makes homemade salsas; serves burritos, breakfast tacos, nachos and churro bites; and offers a weekly happy hour. www.kesostacos.com 10 O’Reilly Auto Parts is opening a new location at 12489 Los Indios Trail, Austin, with a tentative opening date of July 29. O’Reilly Auto Parts offers a variety of auto services plus accessories and tools. www.oreillyauto.com 11 Sit Still Kids Salon will open its second local location in August at 8127 Mesa Drive, Ste. 200, Austin. The salon offers first haircuts for babies and cuts for kids with a variety of different hair types along with hair care products, accessories and toys. https://austin.sitstillkids.com RELOCATIONS 12 Toy and novelties retailer Toy Joy is moving its Airport Boulevard location to the former building for Karavel Shoes at 5501 Burnet Road, Austin. The projected

opening date is July 1. Its sister business— candy, coffee and ice cream shop Yummi Joy— will also relocate to the Burnet Road building and have more offerings. Both Toy Joy’s and Yummi Joy’s down- town locations will remain in place. www.toyjoy.com NAME CHANGES 13 Mantra Massage, located at 8127 Mesa Drive, Ste. C304, Austin, changed its name to Mantra Wellness in May. Marketing manager Joi Bell said the rebrand reflects the business’s addition of more services and specialities, such as holistic and natural forms of medicine, deep-tissue massage and LED light thera- py. Mantra Wellness started as a massage and yoga studio in 2015, offering a variety of skin care treatments; facials; and bou- tique items, such as skin care products, essential oils and herbal teas. 512-960-4660. www.mantrawellness.co CLOSINGS 14 Taco Shack , located at 3901 Spicewood Springs Road, Austin, closed June 12 after 23 years of service. The restaurant served a variety of tacos plus breakfast plates, enchiladas, burritos and more. The newer Taco Shack location at 1508 W. Anderson Lane, Austin, will remain open. www.tacoshack.com ANNIVERSARIES Favor , a Texas-based delivery service that was acquired by H-E-B in 2018, reached its 10-year anniversary June 5. The on-demand delivery service operates

FEATURED IMPACT NOW OPEN Churro Co. Dessert Shop & Bakery opened in early April at 11101 Burnet Road, Ste. A140, Austin. The new spot is the second for Churro Co., which has a food truck in Central Austin. Gabriela Bucio and her brother Arturo Bucio co-own Gabriela’s Group, which, along with Churro Co., has establishments across Austin, including Mala Vida, Revival Coee and Taquero Mucho. The siblings took over the Churro Co. food truck in 2022 and have expanded into a second larger physical location in North Austin, which Gabriela said has allowed the business to expand its oerings. Inspired by the siblings’ roots in Michoácan, Mexico, the menu includes a variety of churros and toppings plus funnel cakes; drinks, such as agua fresca and horchata; and Mexican baked goods, such as pan dulce and arroz con leche. “We just wanted to oer that to a community that maybe didn’t have that

here in North Austin,” Gabriela said. With Churro Co.’s new location next door to Taquero Mucho, customers can get something sweet to eat or drink after dinner, Gabriela said. Churro Co., along with many other Gabriela’s Group projects, is known for its all-pink interior aesthetic, wallpapers and neon sign detailing, which Gabriela said the team custom makes and designs. 512-215-9066. www.churrocoaustin.com

Austin, welcomed Steven Salyer as its new CEO in May. Salyer recently served as CEO of Watsonville Community Hospital in California and was formerly the chief operating officer for a Level II trauma hospital in Michigan. Salyer will work to build plans for the future of the facility to enhance radiological services in Central Texas. 512-453-6100. www.ausrad.com

in over 400 cities in Texas and has over 100,000 delivery drivers, or “runners.” www.favordelivery.com IN THE NEWS 15 Austin Radiological Association , located at 12554 Riata Vista Circle,

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NORTH - NORTHWEST AUSTIN EDITION • JUNE 2023

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TODO LIST

July & August events

COMPILED BY BRITTANY ANDERSON

JULY 2023

ENJOY FREE LIVE MUSIC RED RIVER CULTURAL DISTRICT

JULY 2629

SHOP SMART 1201 S. HEATHERWILDE BOULEVARD

The sixth Hot Summer Nights festival will take place across four days in the Red River Cultural District and feature hundreds of free music performances across a dozen participating venues plus special promotions and discounts at local restaurants and bars. 8 p.m.-2 a.m. Free. Fourth-15th streets. www.redriverculturaldistrict.org

The Just Between Friends pop-up sale will have name-brand items at 50%-90% o retail prices, including backpacks, lunch boxes, boys and girls clothes, shoes and more. Times vary by day. Free (July 29), $5 (general admission), $15-$20 (presale pass). 1201 S. Heatherwilde Blvd., Pugerville. 512-694-8031. www.austinnorth.jbfsale.com

Events for dogs and families will be held at Waterloo Greenway Park.

COURTESY WATERLOO GREENWAY

FEATURED EVENT GO TO A MOVIE ‘PAWTY’ Waterloo Greenway Park will host a “pawty in the park” at Moody Amphitheater on July 14 featuring an outdoor screening of “Best in Show” plus audience contests; live music; and family-friendly activities. The event will have an ice cream and pup cup vendor, a dog costume contest, local pet vendors and a special performance of Forklift Danceworks’ “Dances for Dogs and People Who Walk Them.” The event is part of Waterloo’s Dog Days of Summer series, and another movie party will be held Aug. 18 to screen “DC League of Super-Pets.” 6-10 p.m. Free. Waterloo Greenway Park 1401 Trinity St., Austin www.waterloogreenway.org

12 CATCH ’EM ALL A Pokemon-themed party will be held at North Village Branch Library with a variety of stations featuring Pokemon crafts, games and activities. The event is recommended for ages 6-10. 3:30-4:30 p.m. Free. 2505 Steck Ave., Austin. 512-974-9960. www.library.austintexas.gov 15 GET EMPOWERED Leander Pride and Cedar Park Pride are teaming up to keep Pride Month celebrations going with its Queer EmPower Conference and Festival at Live Oak Unitarian Universalist Church. The event will feature educational conference sessions and workshops; community speakers; market vendors; music and performers; local food trucks; and family- friendly activities such as arts and crafts, free chair massages, and a bounce house. Noon-7 p.m. Free (registration required). 3315 El Salido Parkway, Cedar Park. Eventbrite: Leander Pride and Cedar Park Pride Present: Queer EmPower 20 WATCH A DRUM SHOW Drum Corps International is bringing its drum corps show to Kelly Reeves Athletic Complex this summer on its multicity tour. The performance

JULY 08 AND 09

lineup includes Austin-based DCI corps Genesis. 8-11 p.m. $40-$45. 10211 W. Parmer Lane, Austin. www.dci.org/events/2023-dci-austin 29 CELEBRATE CULTURAL DANCE Ballet Folklórico de Austin will perform its show “Guelaguetza Oaxaqueña” at the Long Center. Guelaguetza is a Zapotec word meaning “active cooperation,” and the show is a Oaxacan festival with signicant historical and cultural roots. 6 p.m. $10-$35. 701 W. Riverside Drive, Austin. 512-474-5664. www.thelongcenter.org 30 GET A BIKE TUNEUP Viva Bikes Austin will hold a bike maintenance clinic at Wells Branch Community Library. During the workshop, attendees will receive a brief introduction into basic bike maintenance, followed by in-clinic bike adjustments, including simple gears and brake adjustments, at xing, and other maintenance advice. Viva Bikes Austin started as a nonprot project by a father-daughter duo who collects, repairs and gives away bikes in Austin. 2-3:30 p.m. Free (registration required). 15001 Wells Port Drive, Austin. 512-989-3188. Eventbrite: Bike Maintenance Clinic

HEAL YOURSELF Practitioners from a variety of psychic, metaphysical and holistic disciplines will join at Norris Conference Centers for a weekend of meditation, astrology, tarot, palm reading, coee cup readings, energy healing, aura photography and more. The expo will also feature interactive educational lectures; free door prizes drawn every hour; and market vendors with music, books, crystals, jewelry, salt lamps, divination tools, essential oils, tarot decks and more. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. (July 8), 11 a.m.-6 p.m. (July 9). $10 per day. 2525 W. Anderson Lane, Ste. 365, Austin. www.spirituallifeproductions.org 10 DO THE MONSTER MASH Children can get spooky in the summer and enjoy Halloween-themed crafts and activities at Little Walnut Creek Branch Library. Costumes are encouraged. The event is recommended for ages 6-10. 10:15 a.m.-noon. Free (registration required). 835 W. Rundberg

Lane, Austin. 512-974-9860. www.library.austintexas.gov

Find more or submit North-Northwest Austin events at communityimpact.com/event-calendar. Event organizers can submit local events online to be considered for the print edition. Submitting details for consideration does not guarantee publication.

NORTH NORTHWEST AUSTIN EDITION • JUNE 2023

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TRANSPORTATION UPDATES

Initial Project Connect light rail route approved by officials

ONGOING PROJECTS

RAIL REVISION The city of Austin, Austin Transit Partnership and Capital Metro officials approved a revised light rail plan.

183

ANGUS RD.

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BALCONES WOODS DR. RESEARCH BLVD.

BY BEN THOMPSON

Austin City Council, the Austin Transit Partnership board and the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Author- ity board signed off on a revised plan for Project Connect’s initial light rail lines this spring. The board of the ATP, the entity created in 2020 to manage Project Connect’s rollout, accepted the plans May 24 while council and CapMetro leaders voted in early June. The action clears the way for final development of the transit system outline. “The approval of the Austin light rail implementation plan is a huge step toward getting us to the day when we can start building,” Mayor Kirk Watson said June 1. The inaugural light rail network local leaders have now accepted is scaled back from the version presented to Austinites in 2020. It includes fewer stations, only one lake crossing, no downtown subway and miles less track overall. It will cover about 10 miles at street level with 15 stations between 38th Street to the north, Yellow Jacket Lane to the east and Oltorf Street to the south. The initial investment is expected to cost between $4.5 billion and $4.8 billion sourced from local tax collections and anticipated federal funding. If more funds become available in Phase 1, rail lines could stretch to the Crestview area and the airport.

AIRPORT BLVD.

Phase 1

Future extension Phase 1 priority extension

183 North Mobility Project expansion Work on the 183 North project includes temporary road closures to accommodate construction. Through July 31, the right lane of the north- bound US 183 frontage road will be closed 24 hours a day between Bal- cones Woods Drive and Angus Road. Timeline: January 2022-2026 Cost: $612 million Funding sources: Texas Department of Transportation, Central Texas Re- gional Mobility Authority

GUADALUPE ST.

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ALL INFORMATION ON THIS PAGE WAS UPDATED AS OF JUNE 14. NEWS OR QUESTIONS ABOUT THESE OR OTHER LOCAL TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS? EMAIL US AT NNWNEWS@COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM. Funding sources: city of Austin 2016 and 2020 mobility bonds, federal funds Walnut Creek Trail extension U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett announced May 19 that he secured $5 million in federal funding for the Walnut Creek Trail extension to help complete a 3.5- mile gap from Southern Walnut Creek Trail to Braker Lane. Once complete, Walnut Creek Trail will span 19 miles from East to North Austin. Timeline: total trail completion TBD Cost: total trail cost TBD

Mobility Authority budget plans for growth, improvements in FY 2023-24

BY BRITTANY ANDERSON

DRAFT BUDGET

years runs from July 1 to June 30. Some projects in the draft capital budget include $28.4 million for the capital budget for toll violation mitigation equipment and a future Mobility Authority headquarters, and $34.4 million for preliminary design or environmental work for future capital improvement projects. The board is expected to vote on the budget during its next meeting June 28, after press time.

Equipment enhancements, traffic studies and planning for projects are among the items on the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority’s draft fiscal year 2023-24 budget. The Mobility Authority’s board of directors received a presentation on the FY 2023-24 budget draft during its meeting May 31 from Mobility Authority Executive Director James Bass. The Mobility Authority’s fiscal

The Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority is looking at several items for its fiscal year 2023-24 budget. new building $28.4M Future project designs $34.4M Toll violation equipment,

$10.7M

Toll system replacement

$7.3M

Ongoing projects

SOURCE: CENTRAL TEXAS REGIONAL MOBILITY AUTHORITY/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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NORTH - NORTHWEST AUSTIN EDITION • JUNE 2023

EDUCATION BRIEFS

News from local schools

BY BROOKE SJOBERG First tax rate election in district history on horizon

New IDEA Public Schools partnership expands scholarships

IMPACT TO HOMEOWNERS Round Rock ISD officials could include a voter approved tax rate election, or VATRE, in a November election that could result in property owners paying 3% more in taxes. For the average homeowner who saw a 10% value increase from $350,000 to $385,000 in 2023, taxes would go up $116 if the VATRE is passed.

ROUND ROCK ISD Voters who live in Round Rock ISD’s bound- aries may be asked for the first time to approve a tax rate revenue increase in a voter-approved tax rate election, or VATRE. During a May 18 meeting, the RRISD board of trustees discussed the district-staff-proposed VATRE, which could result in property owners paying 3% more in taxes for fiscal year 2023-24. Maritza Gallaga, RRISD’s interim chief of public affairs and commu- nications, said the district has no record of a prior tax rate election, which is the mechanism by which Texas school districts can levy a higher tax rate to generate more property tax revenue. The tax rate election would be a balm to the district’s ongoing prob- lem of funding, as its recapture payments have ballooned the $14.9 million budgeted toward payment for the 2021-22 school year to

BY BROOKE MILLER

IDEA PUBLIC SCHOOLS A partnership agreement with Western Governors University and IDEA Public Schools will provide students, staff and alumni the opportunity to pursue multiple paths to higher education and professional development, according to a news release. The context: IDEA Public Schools is a charter school system with a location in Northwest Austin. WGU is an online university with a satellite loca- tion in Austin specializing in low-cost education and flexible degree plans. The overview: The partnership creates a new scholarship opportunity for IDEA students, staff and alumni. They are now eligible to receive a $2,500 scholarship from WGU to pursue higher education opportunities.

2022-23 taxes

2023-24 rate no VATRE

2023-24 rate with VATRE $1.0064

$1.0626 $0.9764

Tax rate

$3,719

$3,759

$3,875

Taxes due

SOURCE: ROUND ROCK ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

more than $85 million for 2022-23, according to the district. Without the VATRE tax rate, RRISD Superintendent Hafedh Azaiez said during the May meeting that the district will have to make difficult decisions about staffing, class sizes, electives avail- able to students, and athletic and fine arts programs, among others.

million more dollars.” The district levied a tax rate of $1.0626 for its 2022-23 fiscal year, and should the VATRE pass, will levy a tax rate of $1.0064. While it is technically a lower rate, it is expected to generate more revenue for the district as property values within its boundaries rise. Officials have not yet ordered a VATRE, but the first step was the passage of the district budget on June 20, RRISD Chief Financial Officer Dennis Covington said.

“As you know, 80% of our budget is in people,” Azaiez

said. “We’re really talking about eliminating positions. We need $12

THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE Mobility Authority

Navigating the tolling landscape can be complicated. We’re the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority, and we’re here to help you understand important pieces of the tolling puzzle, like what we do and how your toll bill works.

The Mobility Authority is not the only toll operator

Late payment fees do apply

Drivers without electronic tags will receive a Mobility Authority Pay By Mail (PBM) bill. For electronic tag holders, bills generated and mailed by the Mobility Authority are the result of declined responses after multiple attempts to post tolls to a customer’s electronic tag account. To avoid receiving a PBM bill, be sure to check with your electronic tag provider to make sure all of your account details are up to date.

The Mobility Authority is not TxTag

We accept a variety of electronic tags

There’s a reason you might get a bill in the mail even if you have an electronic tag

There are payment options everywhere

Keep your electronic tag account in good standing

We use your address on file with the Texas DMV for bills

Tag Account:

Learn what to do when you sell your car

Using the Pay By Mail program costs you more

WE’RE ALWAYS HERE TO HELP

To learn more fast facts about paying your Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority toll bill, visit us at MobilityAuthority.com/Tolling101.

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Austin Community College board of trustees Will meet July 10 and Aug. 7 at 3 p.m. at 5930 Middle Fiskville Road, Austin. 512-223-7613 www.austincc.edu Austin ISD board of trustees Will not meet in July for summer break. 4000 S. I-35, Austin 512-414-1700. www.austinisd.org Round Rock ISD board of trustees Will meet Aug. 17 at 5:30 p.m. at 300 Lake Creek Drive, Round Rock 512-464-5000 www.roundrockisd.org MEETINGS WE COVER NUMBER TO KNOW Round Rock ISD’s estimated recapture payment for 2022-23, up from $14.9 million in 2021-22 $85M HIGHLIGHTS ROUND ROCK ISD In May, work on an expansion of Westwood High School added math classrooms, an art studio, a new band hall, orchestra and choir rooms, and two large dance studios. The $32.28 million project was funded through the 2018 bond, according to the district.

Austin ISD approves ‘historic’ pay increase package for all staff

BUILDING A CAREER

The Make it Center will have several technological amenities, including:

A showroom where in-demand careers are displayed for students to look into

The simulation zone, which uses 3D and 4D models to mimic hands-on careers

The FabLab, where students can build things on-site

BY AMANDA CUTSHALL

AUSTIN ISD In what officials are calling a historic move, Austin ISD trustees unanimously approved May 18 a new compensation package that will provide 7% raises for teachers as well as pay increases for other staff throughout the district. The compensation package will require the district to spend up to $53 million of its reserve funds, according to a news release May 19. However, AISD board President Arati Singh said the investment is necessary. “There’s a little bit of risk with this budget, but there’s a real risk of not educating our students,” Singh said on May 18. “This is long overdue, so I’m excited to support it.” AISD will still have about $221 mil- lion in reserve funds despite having to spend around $53 million on the compensation package, officials said in a news release.

SOURCE: AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE/COMMUNITY IMPACT

ACC hands-on career center to open this fall

BY BROOKE MILLER

Highland Campus located at 6101 Highland Campus Drive, Austin. The release states the center will help students cultivate their passions while gaining exposure to new career opportunities. “There are so many pathways and opportunities out there that people aren’t aware of or haven’t heard of. The Make It Center helps them find an exciting career and allows them to earn a living wage in Central Texas,” ACC Chancellor Richard Rhodes said in the release. “We’re working to help people find their purpose and make a career out of their passion.”

AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE A new career center will open at Austin Community College’s Highland Campus in the fall of this year, according to a May 17 news release. It will offer students the opportunity to explore in-demand careers.

What’s happening? Called The Make It Center, the new

10,000-square-foot facility was built to give students hands-on experience with in-demand careers, the release states. Construction began March 21, 2022 inside ACC’s

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NORTH - NORTHWEST AUSTIN EDITION • JUNE 2023

AT THE CAPITOL

News from the 88th legislative session

QUOTE OF NOTE

Paxton impeachment trial to begin Sept. 5 in Senate

NUMBER TO KNOW have set aside in a 1,030-page budget, which will fund a variety of state programs for scal years 2024 and 2025. $321B That’s how much Texas lawmakers PETER LAKE, OUTGOING CHAIR OF THE PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION OF TEXAS. LAKE RESIGNED JUNE 2. “TODAY OUR GRID IS MORE RELIABLE THAN EVER. TOGETHER WE’VE OVERCOME INSURMOUNTABLE CHALLENGES AND DELIVERED ON OUR PROMISE TO TEXANS SOMETIMES SEEMINGLY THAT WE’D KEEP THE LIGHTS ON.” UPDATES FROM LOCAL LEGISLATORS

BY HANNAH NORTON

A TIMELINE OF THE IMPEACHMENT OF ATTORNEY GENERAL KEN PAXTON

After two days of discussions behind closed doors, the Texas Senate set a Sept. 5 start date for the impeachment trial of suspended Attorney General Ken Paxton and adopted rules governing the proceedings. The 31 state senators will serve as jurors, and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick will preside over the court, similar to a judge. Sen. Angela Paxton, RMcKinney, the attorney general’s wife, must be present for the trial, but is not allowed to participate or vote, according to a resolution adopted in a 25-3 vote June 21. The attorney general is accused of bribery, conspiracy, retaliation against former employees and more. The Texas House adopted 20 articles of impeachment against him with a 121-23 vote on May 27. Paxton was immediately suspended without pay follow- ing the House vote. The Senate will decide whether he will be reinstated or permanently removed from oce. Former secretary of state John Scott is serving as interim attorney general in the meantime. Paxton can plead guilty or not guilty to 16 articles of impeachment during the trial. A two-thirds vote is needed to convict him of any charges. Houston attorneys Tony Buzbee and Dan Cogdell will defend the attorney general during the trial. Dick DeG- uerin and Rusty Hardin, who are also based in Houston, will prosecute Paxton on behalf of the House.

FEB. 10 Paxton enters into a $3.3 million settlement agreement with four former employees who said they were wrongfully red in 2020. FEB. 21 Paxton asks the Texas Legislature to fund his settlement with taxpayer money. MARCH 820 House General Investigating Committee opens an investigation into Paxton and the proposed settlement. MAY 24 Attorneys present material from the investigation during a four-hour committee hearing. MAY 25 The committee unanimously adopts 20 articles of impeachment against Paxton. The articles and a full transcript of the hearing are shared with House lawmakers. MAY 31 Gov. Greg Abbott appoints former Secretary of State John Scott to serve as interim attorney general. MAY 27 After four hours of debate, Texas House votes 121-23 to impeach Paxton. He is immediately suspended from oce. SEPT. 5 The impeachment trial is scheduled to begin in the Texas Senate. State senators will serve as jurors and determine if Paxton is guilty of 16 individual charges. JUNE 21 After two days of deliberations, the Texas Senate adopts 31 rules governing the impeachment trial.

SOURCE: TEXAS LEGISLATURE ONLINECOMMUNITY IMPACT

VIKKI GOODWIN Democrat District 47 Elected: 2019

Texas lawmakers clash on property tax cuts

Texas Legislature expands rearm background checks

HOUSE BILL 59 A bill requiring all child care organizations to obtain written permission from parents that their child knows how to swim or needs a life vest before entering a body of water was signed into law June 2. Introduced by Goodwin, the bill is eective Sept. 1 and intends to curb the trend of preventable child drownings in Texas.

BY HANNAH NORTON

POTENTIAL EFFECTS OF TAX RELIEF PLANS

After the Texas Legislature ended its regular legislative session May 29, Gov. Greg Abbott quickly called lawmakers back to Austin for a 30-day special session to cut prop- erty taxes and increase penalties for human smuggling. The governor specied lawmakers should provide “lasting property tax relief for Texas taxpayers” by reduc- ing tax rates for public schools. The Texas House passed three bills May 30 that met the governor’s request and adjourned for the rest of the session. This left the Senate with two options: pass the House’s proposals or end the session without any bills being signed by the governor. Senators passed their own legislation but did not approve the House bills. All bills must be passed by both chambers to become law. Abbott said he would call a second special session to resolve the issue if lawmakers do not agree on a property tax proposal.

The Texas House and Senate advanced competing plans to cut property taxes May 30. Here’s what the two proposals could mean for homeowners. Both plans • Use $12.3B in state funds to compress school tax rates House Bill 1 • Reduce rates by $0.162 for every $100 of a home’s value Senate Bill 1 • Reduce rates by $0.10 for every $100 of a home’s value • Raise homestead exemption from $40,000 to $100,000 Homestead exemption : the portion of a home’s value that cannot be taxed Tax rate compression : state provides money to public school districts to reduce their tax rates

BY HANNAH NORTON

Under a new law, federal law enforcement can access informa- tion about Texans with potentially harmful mental health conditions during the routine background checks completed before someone can buy a rearm. Senate Bill 728 requires county clerks to notify the Texas Depart- ment of Public Safety if a court determines an adult with a mental illness or intellectual disability is unt to go to trial, is not responsi- ble for their own actions, or needs inpatient services or residential long-term care. State Rep. Je Leach, RPlano, said the law does not impact responsible gun owners but will “[keep] rearms out of the hands of dangerous Texans who do not need to have them.” Gov. Greg Abbott signed the bill June 2. It will become law Sept. 1.

SARAH ECKHARDT Democrat District 14 Elected: 2020

SENATE BILL 371 A bill relaxing the eligibility requirements for Reserve Ocers’ Training Corps scholarships was passed May 23 and will go into eect Sept. 1 to require one year of training instead of four for students to be eligible for the Texas Armed Services Scholarship. The bill

was authored by Eckhardt and Sen. Donna Campbell.

SOURCES: TEXAS COMPTROLLER OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS, TEXAS LEGISLATURE ONLINE COMMUNITY IMPACT

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

CITY & COUNTY

News from Austin & Travis County

Austin City Council Will meet July 18-19 at 9 a.m. and MEETINGS WE COVER program. The program will cost $114,000 in its first year and could later be extended by city officials. The technology will roll out with new guardrail policies in place, including limits on data sharing and retention. TRAVIS COUNTY A pilot program to divert people with mental illness accused of nonviolent crimes away from jail was unveiled June 5 as local leaders seek to launch a permanent mental health diversion center. The $6 million pilot was announced alongside a $2 million data sharing plan among Austin police, the Travis County Sheriff’s Office, medical entities and homelessness organizations to flag those with mental illness histories. HIGHLIGHTS AUSTIN All city libraries and recreation centers will now participate in the Safe Place hate crime response program following a council vote May 18. The move comes after a 2021 report found incidents of bias crimes are common in the LGBTQ community and may be severely underreported. Staff at relevant city facilities will soon be trained on procedures if hate crime victims seek assistance. AUSTIN City Council voted on June 8 to reboot the Austin Police Department’s vehicle-mounted license plate reader data collection

Unhoused population grows, city shoring up shelter AUSTIN The local unhoused popula- tion is growing, spreading out from the city center and living in more secluded areas, an effect observers linked to the city’s 2-year-old ban on public camp- ing. The Ending Community Home- lessness Coalition, a nonprofit leading the regional homelessness strategy, in May shared new insights about people BY KATY MCAFEE & BEN THOMPSON FOCUSING IN The Jan. 28 count served as a snapshot of the unhoused population on any given night. of homeless individuals were Black, despite making up 7.25% of Austin’s total population. 33% years old was the most common age group. 35-44 of people counted were veterans. 9.5% of people were counted in parks and other green space—up from 5.2% in 2020. 13.6% SOURCE: ENDING COMMUNITY HOMELESSNESS COALITION/COMMUNITY IMPACT

experiencing homelessness around Austin based on a Jan. 28 point-in- time count—the first in-person survey since the COVID-19 pandemic. Key findings: The recent count found 2,374 homeless individuals in Austin and Travis County, including 1,266 unsheltered. However, ECHO repre- sentatives said those totals may be undercounted. Separate ECHO data suggests more than 4,600 people are

now living unsheltered out of more than 5,455 total. Shelter strategy: City officials in May announced a renewed push to build up local shelter capacity by: • Planning to open a temporary shelter space at the Austin Conven- tion Center Marshalling Yard in East Austin, adding up to 300 beds

• Doubling capacity at the existing Northbridge and Southbridge shelters off I-35, adding 130 beds • Leasing The Salvation Army’s downtown shelter—following recent pushback over its permanent closure plans—and linking its operations with the adjacent Austin Resource Center for the Homeless, maintaining 150 beds KEY SHAKEUPS Officials said the changes target improved efficiency and services. Bob Kahn will serve as Austin Energy’s next general manager. Austin Resource Recovery Director Ken Snipes now leads the city’s emergency management office. Michele Middlebrook-Gonzalez is Austin’s new chief strategic communications and external relations officer.

Civic leadership changes continue

Employees rally against in-person work policy

BY KATY MCAFEE

BY BEN THOMPSON

AUSTIN Dozens of city staffers gath- ered June 1 to protest a new in-person work policy announced by interim City Manager Jesús Garza in May. City executives started working at the office five days a week in June. Other employees will be required to be in the office three days a week starting Oct. 1. Employees said the change could affect productivity and traffic congestion, since more than 50% of staffers are estimated to live outside city limits, according to a labor union for city employees.

AUSTIN Interim City Manager Jesús Garza in June shared the latest in a series of high-profile leadership changes since he took over the position at City Hall in February. “I am confident the changes announced today will strengthen the city of Austin as we continually work to improve the services we provide to our residents,” Garza said in a June 9 statement.

July 20 and 26 at 10 a.m. 301 W. Second St., Austin www.austintexas.gov

Travis County Commissioners Court Will meet June 29 and July 13 and 18 at 9 a.m. at 700 Lavaca St., Austin www.traviscountytx.gov/

commissioners-court Williamson County Commisioners Court

David Gray , assistant director at the Economic Development Department, is on special assignment reviewing homeless programs, policies and funding.

Will meet July 10, 18, 25 and Aug. 1 at the Williamson County Courthouse, 710 Main St., Georgetown. 512-943-1100. www.wilco.org

SOURCE: CITY OF AUSTIN/COMMUNITY IMPACT

Austin Habitat for Humanity

NORTH - NORTHWEST AUSTIN EDITION • JUNE 2023

Since our humble beginnings in 1952 as a solo practice to what is now The Austin Diagnostic Clinic, much has changed. What hasn’t changed is our commitment to caring for our community. With 20 locations throughout Central Texas providing primary and specialty care, we are proud to continue to grow and serve the area for many years to come. Celebrating 70 YEARS OF CARING

ADCLINIC.COM 512-901-1111

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

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