Central Austin Edition | February 2022

Austin City Council Meets March 1 and 22 at 10 a.m. and March 3 and 24 at 9 a.m. 301 W. Second St., Austin www.austintexas.gov/ department/city-council Travis County Commissioners Court Meets March 1, 8, 10 and 22 at 9 a.m. 700 Lavaca St., Austin www.traviscountytx.gov/ commissionerscourt MEETINGSWE COVER the lab again, the city must seek a waiver to reduce its police budget. AUSTIN On Feb. 3, City Council approved a $1.36 million contract with Integral Care to renovate and manage a new apartment complex for individuals experiencing homelessness. The new complex will be in North Austin at 13311 Burnet Road, which was formerly a hotel. AUSTIN City Council voted unanimously Feb. 17 to end library HIGHLIGHTS AUSTIN & TRAVIS COUNTY Mayor Steve Adler and Judge Andy Brown signed local disaster declarations following Winter Storm Landon, which brought freezing temperatures and icy conditions Feb. 3. The declarations, issued Feb. 4, will allow the municipalities to be reimbursed for storm-related costs. AUSTIN The city is seeking to once again shift Austin’s forensic lab from under Austin Police Department control in favor of civilian management. In 2020, City Council voted to move the lab through a larger cut to APD’s budget to increase its independence; however, it was restored in 2021 after the passage of a state law penalizing cities that cut police budgets. To remove nes for overdue books, which members said disproportionately aected low-income residents.

hours between Feb. 5-8. Greg Meszaros, Austin Water utility director for 15 years, also resigned Feb. 11. The notice went into eect after operator errors at Austin Water’s Ullrich Water Treatment Plant early Feb. 5 resulted in water quality concerns. Meszaros appeared before council for two brief- ings on the incident and Austin Water’s operations Feb. 15 and 17. “This was really about our operations of the

plant,” Meszaros said. “I’m just profoundly sorry that we had this event.” Meszaros and Austin Water have said since last week that the issue was a result of operator errors rather than actual contam- ination, and the notice was rolled out as a precaution due to state regulation. The utility said it has instituted safeguards to prevent a similar error from occurring. The external audit will cost $250,000-$1 million.

Outgoing Austin Water Director Greg Meszaros appeared before City Council on Feb. 15.

BEN THOMPSONCOMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER

AustinWater audit ordered BY BEN THOMPSON

into Austin Water after a boil-water notice was enacted for around 75

AUSTIN City Council called for an investigation

Travis County intends to establish paid family leave

BY GLORIE MARTINEZ

S. CONGRESS AVE.

TRAVIS COUNTY Commissioners moved one step closer to establishing paid family leave for all Travis County employees at a meeting Feb. 8. County commissioners approved a resolu- tion that directs a subcommittee to return to the court in 60 days with recommendations for a policy that guarantees all county workers between six and 12 weeks of paid family leave. Travis County Judge Andy Brown and Precinct 1 Commissioner Jerey Travillion sponsored the resolution. Travis County employees have access to unpaid family and medical leave, but they cannot take extended paid leave following the birth, adoption or foster placement of a child or to care for a seriously ill family member. With nearly 5,000 employees, Travis County is one of the largest employers in Central Texas.

The proposed South Central Waterfront development could include millions of square feet of residential, commercial and hotel space.

COURTESY CITY OF AUSTIN

Retail, residential and hotel space on Lady Bird Lakemoving forward

BY BEN THOMPSON AUSTIN The Planning Com- mission approved a proposal Feb. 9 to bring millions of square feet of residential and commercial space, including a hotel, to the former Austin American-Statesman location and the surrounding South Central Waterfront district.

Several tradeos were made, including granting the developer, Endeavor, dozens of stories of additional height. In exchange, the project will add aordable housing, parks, a bat observation area, an extension of Barton Springs Road and transportation improvements.

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CENTRAL AUSTIN EDITION • FEBRUARY 2022