Southwest Austin Dripping Springs Edition | April 2023

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SOUTHWEST AUSTIN DRIPPING SPRINGS EDITION

VOLUME 16, ISSUE 1 APRIL 29MAY 27, 2023

Rail plans up in air, state could force new vote

After costs for Project Connect ballooned to more than $10 billion, ocials scaled back the light rail plans. Five new options are now being considered. Rail reduced

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Included in all options

North Lamar Transit Center

Potential future extension Included in some options

8 new places for food and drinks in South Austin

BY AMANDA CUTSHALL

As Project Connect planners con- sider scaled back light rail designs due to spiking cost estimates, state legislators are considering a bill that could put the plan back on the ballot. Project Connect, originally esti- mated to cost $7.1 billion, was approved by voters in Novem- ber 2020 with a property tax rate increase of $0.0875 to fund the proj- ect. Early plans included 28 miles of light rail that would go to Aus- tin-Bergstrom International Airport, move through a downtown subway and cross Lady Bird Lake on two ele- vated bridges. The options in consideration this spring are less than half the scale of the original 28-mile vision, and include the tunnel or the airport con- nection or neither. The rest of Project Connect, which includes a rapid bus system and commuter rail, is also delayed, according to ocials. During an open house March 29, ocials with the Austin Transit

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Texas Capitol

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360 two over Lady Bird Lake were in the original plan. The new proposals only have one. BRIDGES A only included in one option, and in a di e r e nt c o n guratio n. SUBWAY B connection only included in one of the ve options. AIRPORT C

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AISD faces state oversight for special education

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Education

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SOURCE: PROJECT CONNECT COMMUNITY IMPACT

State troopers patrol Austin

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St. Elmo Public Market remains empty, for sale

Public safety

Education Pull the newest teaser from CC Libraries

BY ELLE BENT

Seven years after the announce- ment of the St. Elmo Public Market, the renovated warehouse was listed for sale in July 2022. Last promised by developers to open in 2021, the market has sat empty since its completion in 2022.

ILLUSTRATION BY JOSEPH VELOZ

The St. Elmo Public Market is on South Congress Avenue and Industrial Boulevard. ELLE BENTCOMMUNITY IMPACT

CONTINUED ON 32

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THIS ISSUE

MARKET TEAM GENERAL MANAGER Deeda Lovett EDITOR Darcy Sprague REPORTERS Elle Bent, Amanda Cutshall, Katy McAfee, Ben Thompson GRAPHIC DESIGNER Joseph Veloz ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Weston Warner METRO LEADERSHIP PUBLISHER Travis Baker MANAGING EDITOR Amy Denney COPY EDITOR Kasey Salisbury SENIOR ART PRODUCTION MANAGER Haley Grace CONTACT US 16225 Impact Way, Ste. 1, Pflugerville, TX 78660 • 512-989-6808 CI CAREERS communityimpact.com/careers PRESS RELEASES swanews@communityimpact.com ADVERTISING swaads@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 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. ABOUT US Owners John and Jennifer Garrett launched

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THIS MONTH

FROM DEEDA: When friends and neighbors learn where I work, the conversation that follows goes something like this: “Do you happen to know what’s going in the old [former business name] building?” It’s no secret our business announcements section is a reader favorite! For the past several months, I’ve fielded questions about the St. Elmo Public Market. In our front-page story, Reporter Elle Bent gives an update on the highly anticipated project. Keep the questions coming! We’re here for you. Deeda Lovett, GENERAL MANAGER

CORRECTION: Volume 15, Issue 12 On Page 30, The Hive has been part of 1-mile entertainment district since 2019. It offers a full cocktail bar, is always kid friendly and is open until 10 p.m. everyday but Monday. FROM DARCY: At a presentation on the new, scaled-back light rail options, a presenter said one option was tailored to the “airport or bust” people, while another was for those in the “subway or bust” camp. On Page 30, we laid out the five plans. Are you all in favor of one option? Or would you like to mix and match? Later this summer, we will see what transportation planners think. Darcy Sprague, EDITOR

"Our story is just beginning. " - JOHN GARRETT, COMMUNITY IMPACT CEO & FOUNDER, AS QUOTED BY TEXAS MONTHLY

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Check out Texas Monthly’s profile on Community Impact, featuring the story of our founders as well as a look at our business model, commitment to local journalism and future plans for CI Texas.

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IMPACTS

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

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market offers grocery needs and snacks along with breakfast, lunch and din- ner from the kitchen. 512-551-9409. www.corkandbrewmarket.com 4 Gourdough’s opened its newest location at 10700 Menchaca Road, Ste. B, Austin, on April 17. Owners Paula Samford Walker and Ryan Palmer offer handmade, fried-to-order dessert doughnuts, along with specialty savory sandwiches. Gour- dough’s has a sister location at 1503 S. First St., Austin. www.gourdoughs.com COMING SOON 5 LeRoy and Lewis Barbecue is set to open its first brick-and-mortar location in South Austin at 5621 Emerald Forest Drive, Austin, by the end of the year. The restaurant’s menu will be an expansion of what is offered at the food truck, such as beef cheeks, brisket, barbacoa, pulled whole hog and more. Its food truck at Cosmic Coffee + Beer Garden will remain open. www.leroyandlewisbbq.com 6 Local smoothie chain Juiceland , owned by Matt Shook, will open three new locations in South Austin in 2023. Stores at A 8601 S. Congress Ave., Ste. 205, Austin, next to Ramen Tatsu-ya, B 1807 Slaughter Lane, Ste. 225, Aus- tin, next to BookSpring are slated to open in late summer. A third store at C 600 E. Ben White Blvd., Ste. 400, Austin, will open in the fall. Each location will offer Juiceland’s full menu with fresh-pressed juices, smoothies, lattes and plant-based meals. www.juiceland.com 7 Granny’s Tamales will begin serving gourmet Tex-Mex tamales, desserts and more later this summer at 2110 W. 183

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dipped to order. The food truck offers 100% beef, pork, cheese or vegetarian corn dogs as well as treats from The CJ Cheesecake Experience, another local, woman-owned business. The original lo- cation is still open at Thicket Food Truck Park. www.thecorndogco.com 2 Mexico City-based restaurant La Popular opened its first Austin location in late April. The taqueria serves authentic Mexican food, including an extensive taco

list, ceviche, nachos and other starters. The drink menu features tequila, mezcal and other agave-based cocktails. La Pop- lar is located at 7415 Southwest Parkway, Bldg. 5, Ste. 100, Austin. 3 Cork and Brew Market opened a second location at 4410 Mencha- ca Road, Austin, on April 12. Cork and Brew is a specialty grocery and conve- nience store with a curated selection of wine and beer. The locally owned

1 The Corndog Co. ATX opened a second location at South Austin Beer Garden, 10700 Menchaca Road, Austin. The woman-owned and -operated food truck opened April 1. Owner Marlee Gu- bler said the batter is made from scratch each morning, and every item is hand-

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La Popular

LeRoy and Lewis Barbecue

COURTESY LA POPULAR

COURTESY LEROY AND LEWIS BARBECUE

From left: Operations manager Mark Farmer, owner Brian Smittle and bartender Steven Raczkowski

Slaughter Lane, Austin—formerly Little Caesars. Owners Jeannie and Edward Almeida said they are most proud of the original tamale, which is a family recipe with a brisket and pork mixture. Granny’s Tamales does not yet have a website or business phone number. 8 Pure Dermatology will open at 8701 Hwy. 71, Ste. 101, Austin. Opening day will be May 16, said co-owner Dr. Christopher Chu. His wife, Dr. Chelsey Straight, will also be a partner in the der- matology practice. Services provided will include medical and cosmetic treatments. www.puredermtx.com 9 Jo’s Coffee will open a new location at 5532 Menchaca Road, Austin, this spring. Jo’s is an Austin-based coffee shop that features specialty drinks such as the Iced Turbo and Belgian Bomber coffees. www.joscoffee.com 10 Sumthin’s Cookin Props will open this summer at 12100 FM 1826, Austin. The prop house specializes in furniture rentals for film, television commercial events, weddings and more. The rental service is owned by film production designer and set decorators Christo- pher Beltran and Marie Ely. Instagram: Sumthin’s Cookin Props RELOCATIONS 11 Corazon Latino Dance Studio relocated to Oak Hill at 6132 Hwy. 290 W., Austin, on March 11. The dance studio offers classes for all ages in salsa, bachata and cumbia. The studio also has fitness classes for zumba, hip-hop and total-body workouts. Corazon Latino hosts special events every week, such as

ELLE BENT/COMMUNITY IMPACT

FEATURED IMPACT NOW OPEN Thirsty Planet Brewing opened its taproom at 8201 S. Congress, Austin, on March 24. Ten beers are available on draft along with to-go six-packs. The brewing company began on South Congress in 2017 and is known for its Thirsty Goat Amber, Buckethead IPA, Spot On Pils and Fat Bat Hazy IPA. 512-579-0679. www.thirstyplanet.beer/thirsty-planet owning the company in January. The automotive shop at 9200 Brodie Lane, Austin, is a full-service auto repair facility performing services such as state inspections, complete engine replacements and more. 512-282-2886. www.cbac.com/brodie-lane 15 Moviehouse & Eatery by Cinépolis SW Austin in Lantana Place at 7415 Southwest Parkway, Bldg. 7, Austin, will celebrate five years of business in May. The dine-in movie theater includes 10 theaters with reclining seats and waitstaff. The lobby offers a full-service bar and concessions such as pizza, pop- corn, burgers and more. 512-572-0770 www.cinepolisusa.com 16 Bahama Buck’s will celebrate the fifth anniversary of its first Austin location at 105 E. Stassney Ln., Austin, on May 29. The Texas-based chain serves

Corazon Latino Dance Studio

COURTESY CORAZON LATINO DANCE STUDIO

Fuego Friday. It was previously located at 6132 Hwy. 290 W., Austin. 512-326-3000. www.corazonz.com 12 Austin Ear, Nose & Throat Clinic moved to a new South Austin location at 6503 Menchaca Road, Austin, from its previous location on James Casey Street on March 27. The clinic serves children and adults and treats ear, nose and throat conditions. www.austinent.com 13 Strait Music Co. will relocate from its Ben White Boulevard location to a larger, newer space at 3201 Bee Caves Road, Ste. 140, Austin, by late May. The company sells a wide range of instru- ments and offers rentals, repairs and lessons. Strait Music Co.’s north location will remain open. The family-owned music store has been in Austin since 1963. www.straitmusic.com ANNIVERSARIES 14 Mark and Sweta David, owners of Christian Brothers Automotive , cel- ebrated their five-year anniversary of

shaved-ice desserts and smoothies. The restaurant has over 100 locations, with four additional stores near the Aus- tin area including Leander, Bee Cave, Round Rock and Buda. 512-761-4870.

www.bahamabucks.com RENOVATIONS

17 Dominium, an affordable housing developer, announced the renovation and affordable housing status renewal of Woodway Square Apartments at 1700 Teri Road, Austin. The apartment complex was constructed in 2003 and includes 240 units. Dominium will conduct an $11.3 million rehabil- itation of the property. The property will be renamed to Capitol Crossing. www.woodwaysquareaustin.com

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IMPACTS

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

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Firehouse Animal Health Center

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year. Chipotle specializes in bowls, tacos and burritos made to order in front of the

Ste. C700, Austin. The tanning salon has four additional locations and oers sunbed tans, spray tans and spa services. Tan it All added a new infrared sauna with bikes for customers to work out on. After discon- tinuing airbrushing services during the pandemic, the salon has recently brought the service back. www.tanitall.com 6 Burke Center for Youth celebrated 50 years in April at 20800 FM 150 W., Driftwood. Burke Center provides a residential treatment program on a ranch in Driftwood for 10-17 year old boys. The Burke Center also provides foster and adoption services to Texas children. The center celebrated their anniversary with an open house and community picnic on April 15. www.burkecenterforyouth.org

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customer. www.chipotle.com ANNIVERSARIES

DRIPPING SPRINGS COMING SOON 1 AAA Storage will oer Dripping Springs a storage facility at 1300 E. Hwy. 290. The storage facility will oer ve buildings consisting of climate controlled units and on-site management. Units will vary in size and are available to rent at a monthly price. Construction on the facility began this year and is expected to be completed by early summer. www.aaastorage.com

2 Panda Express will open in the Ledgestone Development at 12680 W. Hwy. 290, Ste. 300, Austin. The location is expected to open this year. Panda Ex- press is a fast-food restaurant founded in California that specializes in American Chinese food with over 2,000 locations. The menu includes dishes such as Honey Walnut Shrimp and Orange Chicken. www.pandaexpress.com 3 Chipotle Mexican Grill will open a new location at 12400 Hwy. 290, Austin in the Ledgestone Development. The location is scheduled to open before the end of the

4 Firehouse Animal Health Center in Belterra will celebrate its fth anniversa- ry in May. Located at 166 Hargraves Drive, Ste. C100, Austin, the animal hospital opened in 2018 and treats dogs, cats and exotics. Services oered include new-pet care, yearly checkups, emergency care and end-of-life care. 512-645-1000. www.rehousebelterra.com 5 Tan it All celebrated ve years of busi- ness in Belterra at 166 Hargraves Road,

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TODO LIST

May events

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artists. Festival proceeds are donated to Austin nonprots. 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Free. Historic Sixth Street District. www.pecanstreetfestival.org 17 ENJOY LIVE MUSIC Alternative rock band Backseat Lovers will bring its Waiting to Spill world tour to Austin. 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $60. The Moody Center, 2001 Robert Dedman Drive, Austin. www.thebackseatlovers.com 19 THROUGH 20 LAUGH AT A COMEDY SHOW Steve Martin and Martin Short will bring their “You Won’t Believe What They Look Like Today!” show to Austin. The pair met in 1986 on the set of a lm and have been touring as a comedy duo since 2015. 8 p.m. $89.50-$500. Bass Concert Hall, 2350 Robert Dedman Drive, Austin. www.texasperformingarts.org 21 HAVE A MIMOSA PARTY The second annual Mimosa Fest will feature live music, food trucks, vendors and mimosas at Wanderlust Wine Collective. The event celebrates National Mimosa Day. The celebration includes a mimosa contest, and attendees can nominate their favorite restaurant or bar in Austin. The event is 21+. 12 p.m.-4 p.m. $100. Wanderlust Wine Collective, 702 Shady Ln, Austin. www.mimosa-fest.com

Bazaar, 6100 Airport Blvd., Austin. www.bluegenieartbazaar.com THROUGH MAY 31 DRINK BEER FOR DOGS Divine Canines’ annual fundraiser, Barks for Beers, supports more than 140 active dog-handler teams equipped to provide free therapy dog services for older adults and hospitalized patients. For $30, participants can purchase the 2023 Divine Canines pint glass and “pawsport,” which can be used for one pour at each participating brewery. www.divinecanines.org/barksforbeers 05 THROUGH 07 JOIN A BIKER RALLY The Republic of Texas Biker Rally is the state’s largest motorcycle gathering, attracting thousands of bikers since 1995. The ROT Rally includes shows, vendors, food trucks, live music and more. Free. Times vary. Austin Speed Shop, 3507 Chapman Lane, Austin. www. republicoftexasmotorcyclerally.com 06 THROUGH 07 WALK A STREET FESTIVAL The Pecan Street Spring Arts Festival is a free two-day festival held twice every year in Austin’s Sixth Street Historic District. The festival features vendors selling items from art to food as well as live music from Austin

THROUGH MAY 27

DO YOGA WITH GOATS JESTER KING BREWERY

A crowd gathers at UTOPiAfest in Burnet.

MAY THROUGH MAY 29 SHOP SOME LOCAL ARTISTS The third annual May Market will run every Friday and Saturday through May. Blue Genie Art Bazaar consists of over 100 regional artists and artisans. The event is family friendly. 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Free. Blue Genie Art Jester King Brewery will host Doom Metal Goat Yoga sessions every Saturday with Oak + Lotus Yoga. 10-11 a.m. $25. 13187 Fitzhugh Road, Austin. www.destinationdrippingsprings.com

WORTH THE TRIP UTOPiAfest is a family-friendly music festival in Burnet, Texas. This year’s festival, May 5-6, is the nal UTOPiAfest. The festival features two main stages as well as camping, hiking, mountain biking, horse riding, and other workshops and activities. Nearby the festival is access to the Highland Lakes. The full lineup of artists is available and includes rock band Tauk and Austin local Vincent Antone. Times vary. $15-$189. Reveille Peak Ranch, 1996 CR 115, Burnet. www.utopiafest.com

Find more or submit Southwest Austin and Dripping Springs 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.

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DEVELOPMENT

Dripping Springs community to break ground in September

BY DARCY SPRAGUE

in-house homebuilding group, with a focus on high-end, luxury nishes and materials. Additionally, Lunaroya will feature a community center with river access. The name is a combination of the Latin word “luna” for moon and part of the Spanish word “arroyo,” or owing water. The project was announced in Jan- uary 2022 and is the company’s rst Hill Country project. The company, based in Nashville, also announced it would expand into Hays, Burnet, Comal and Travis counties in October 2021. “Another reason we are so excited about Lunaroya is simply being part of Dripping Springs, as well as being near Austin,” Lefever said. “The culture and outdoor activity opportu- nities in the area are incredible.” Prospective homebuyers can learn more at www.lunaroya.com.

Construction on a set of luxury homes in northern Dripping Springs is set to begin in September. The rst homes in the commu- nity, recently named Lunaroya, are expected to be completed in late 2024. It will be located on Silver Creek Road near Treaty Oak Distilling and Solaro Estate Winery. Jenna Lefever, director of public relations for Southern Land Co., said the project was designed to compli- ment the beauty of the surrounding Hill Country. There will be 28 homesites in the community: 10 that will be 1.5 acres and 18 that will be 2 acres. According to Lunaroya developer Southern Land Co., 20 of the homesites will back up to Barton Creek. The homes will be built by SLC Homes, Southern Land Co.’s

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Lunaroya

Lunaroya will be located in the Hill Country.

BUILDING HOMES Southern Land Co. will oer luxury homes in Dripping Springs.

28 homes

1.5-2 acres each

20 homes on Barton Creek

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SOUTHWEST AUSTIN DRIPPING SPRINGS EDITION • APRIL 2023

News from Austin & Dripping Springs ISDs EDUCATION BRIEFS AISD faces TEA oversight due to special education concerns

HIGHLIGHTS AUSTIN ISD Less than a week after finalizing a superintendent profile for Austin ISD’s search firm hired to find a full-time leader, trustees voted March 30 to slow the search and extend the contract with interim Superintendent Matias Segura to June 30, 2024. DRIPPING SPRINGS ISD As of April 19, Dripping Springs ISD was short 20 of 53 bus drivers. The shortage comes amid rapid growth in the district. Last summer, DSISD implemented no-service zones for each campus. The district is considering after-school care for students, double runs—meaning a bus driver would take two trips—or alternating no-service zones if it is unable to hire enough drivers. It is also looking at pay and bonus increases for drivers.

AUSTIN ISD On April 17, Austin ISD officials announced they would challenge the state’s decision to install conservators—or state-ap- pointed individuals with binding decision powers—due to concerns with the district’s special education evaluation backlog. What’s new: AISD requested an infor- mal review by the Texas Education Agency’s plan. If the TEA assigns a conservator following that process, the district will have an opportunity to file a petition for review with the State Office of Administrative Hearings, AISD Board President Arati Singh said. How we got here: If a family believes their student may have a learning disability, they can request an evaluation through the district. The state mandates how quickly the district must complete each step in the process. A TEA report found BY AMANDA CUTSHALL & DARCY SPRAGUE

SPECIAL EDUCATION BACKLOG

Austin ISD is facing possible state conservatorship over its backlog of special education evaluations.

More than 4,000

evaluations and re-evaluations were overdue as of March 20. 1,808

evaluations have been requested since January. 1,263

evaluations were completed between May 2022 and March 2023.

SOURCE: AUSTIN ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

Austin ISD experienced significant delays and failed to meet the timeline in dozens of cases. Austin ISD interim Superintendent Matias Segura said several issues led to this: • During COVID-19 virtual learning, the district could not conduct evaluations. • Only 21 of AISD’s 72 positions for special education diagnosticians were filled as of March 31. There are only about 250 people licensed to provide those services in Central Texas, Segura said.

Quote to know: “This would not be a takeover of the school district as is currently happening in Houston ISD,” Singh said. The plan: The district is considering significant wage increases for these positions as part of its 2023-24 budget, Segura said, along with: • Up to $20,000 in annual incentives • Centralized evaluations tracking system • Help from outside experts • Committee of board leadership to monitor progress

MEETINGS WE COVER

Austin ISD will meet May 18 at 6 p.m.

4000 S. I-35, Austin www.austinisd.org Dripping Springs ISD will meet May 15 at 6:30 p.m. and May 22 at 6 p.m. 510 W. Mercer St., Dripping Springs www.dsisdtx.us

512-232-5000 EdServices@austin.utexas.edu

E nroll anytime in UT's online high school courses to catch up or get ahead. Full-time d iploma p rogram and single courses available including Honors and A P TM subjects .

For more informatio n visit highschool.utexas.edu /hs_courses

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

AT THE CAPITOL

News from the 88th legislative session

QUOTE OF NOTE

Texas Senate approves package for $16.5B in property tax relief

TAX RELIEF TRIO Three bills aimed at property tax relief have passed in the Texas Senate. Senate Bill 3 • Increases the portion of a home’s value that cannot be taxed from $40,000 to $70,000 • Increases exemption for people over age 65 and the disabled from $10,000 to $30,000 Senate Bill 4 • Cuts school property tax rates by $0.07 per $100 valuation • Has the state of Texas pay school districts at least $5.38 billion to make up for lost revenue Senate Bill 5 • Increases the portion of a business’ property that cannot be taxed from $2,500 to $25,000 • Provides businesses with a 20% tax credit for inventory and property Texas House, which crafted its own property tax relief package. If both chambers and the governor pass either package, Texas voters will decide on the matter in November. ? WHAT’S NEXT? The bills were sent to the

Sign up for our newsletter at communityimpact.com for daily updates throughout the session. SUBSCRIBE TODAY House Bill 2390 Referred to the Elections Committee on March 9, would prohibit polling place locations on higher education campuses. REP. CARRIE ISAAC District 79 • Republican • Elected 2022 House Bill 1048 Referred to the Business & Industry Committee on March 2, this bill would require landlords to provide tenants with notification of any planned rent increase no later than seven days before a tenant would be required to provide notice to vacate. REP. GINA HINOJOSA District 49 • Democrat • Elected 2016 “TRANS ATHLETES IN COLLEGIATE COMPETITIONS ARE RARE. WHEN THEY DO SEEK TO COMPETE, THE NCAA HAS ALREADY EXHIBITED AND WILL CONTINUE TO EXHIBIT THE EXPERTISE TO LEVEL THE PLAYING SEN. SARAH ECKHARDT, D-AUSTIN, COMMENTING ON SENATE BILL 15, WHICH, IF PASSED, WOULD REQUIRE COLLEGE STUDENTS TO COMPETE ON SPORTS TEAMS BASED ON THEIR SEX ASSIGNED AT BIRTH UPDATES FROM LOCAL LEGISLATORS FIELD ON A CASE- BY-CASE BASIS.”

BY HANNAH NORTON

bill would increase the portion of a home’s value that cannot be taxed from $40,000 to $70,000, which lawmakers have said would save the average homeowner $341 annually. SB 4, which is also by Bettencourt, would cut school property tax rates by $0.07 per $100 valuation. The bill states Texas would provide school districts with at least $5.38 billion to make up for the lost revenue. SB 5 was filed by Parker, a freshman senator. The bill is intended to save business owners money by increasing the business personal property tax exemption—or the portion of a busi- ness’ personal property that cannot be taxed—from $2,500 to $25,000. Business owners would also receive a 20% credit for the taxes they pay on inventory and property. Parker said the goal of SB 5 is to give money back to Texans. The bills have been sent to the Texas House.

In a unanimous vote, Texas senators passed a $16.5 billion property tax relief package on March 22. Cutting property taxes for home- owners and businesses has been listed as a top priority for Republicans this session, including Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Gov. Greg Abbott. The package aims to save Texans money on their property tax bills by increasing the state homestead exemption, cutting school district property tax rates and limiting how much businesses can be taxed for their personal property. Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, authored two of the bills alongside Sen. Tan Parker, R-Flower Mound. The first component of the package, Senate Bill 3, would impact the state’s homestead exemption, which is a reduction in a portion of a home’s value for tax purposes. The

SOURCE: TEXAS LEGISLATURE ONLINE/ COMMUNITY IMPACT

$120M set for state broadband expansion

GETTING THE GRANT The state's Broad- band Development

BY HANNAH NORTON

speeds of 100 megabits per second. The application will be open until May 5, at which point all eligible appli- cations will be posted online for public review, according to Hegar’s office. The Broadband Development Office was formed in 2021 to create a statewide broadband development plan and publish a map highlighting areas in Texas that are eligible for broadband expansion, among other initiatives.

The Texas Broadband Development Office will award $120 million in grants to governments, school districts and internet providers bringing broadband access to underserved communities, Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar said. Applications opened April 3 for the Bringing Online Opportunities to Texas program. Eligible projects must be designed to provide internet service that “reliably meets or exceeds”

Office is offering local entities an opportunity to apply for a portion of $120 million in grants for internet expansion.

For more information and to access the application form, scan the QR code:

SOURCES: OFFICE OF THE TEXAS COMPTROLLER, TEXAS BROADBAND DEVELOPMENT OFFICE/COMMUNITY IMPACT

Summer Camps - Grades 1-9 Friday Summer Workshops

Private lessons Birthday parties

Building confidence, friendships, & talent!

SOUTHWEST AUSTIN - DRIPPING SPRINGS EDITION • APRIL 2023

ONE SMART NEIGHBOR

As lake levels continue to drop in the face of drought this summer, it’s important that we all help conserve our precious resource. The new My ATX Water Program provides the tools to help you save water and money. Your new City of Austin water meter, along with the My ATX Water Customer Portal , will give you access to near- real-time water use data so you can maximize the savings.

Benefits of My ATX Water 6 Continuous usage and leak notifications 6 Personalized alerts 6 Water budgeting features

6 Customized water-saving tips and rebate information Don’t have your new meter yet? Don’t worry!

You can still join the My ATX Water Customer Portal now to access monthly water use data and other benefits at myatxwater.org .

austinwater.org

PUBLIC SAFETY

State troopers patrolling Austin

RISING RESPONSES

Austin’s police stang has trended downward in recent years. POLICE STAFFING BUDGETED OFFICERS 1,959 April 2020 1,806

Due to short-stang and long 911 wait times, the Austin Police Department partnered with state law enforcement starting March 30. The APD says response times have dropped since the operation began. April data wasn't available as of press time.

Average priority response time

Target priority response time

BY BEN THOMPSON

April 2021 1,708

Winter Storm Uri

10 11

Texas Department of Public Safety troopers and special agents are patrolling Austin streets through a new public safety partnership with the Austin Police Department. The operation, which kicked o March 30 and comes at no cost to the city, is aimed at violent crime and trac enforcement while local police are understaed and taking longer to respond to calls for service. Mayor Kirk Watson worked with state leaders to start the program and said its goal is making residents feel safer and supplementing local police; APD Chief Joseph Chacon said his ocers will still handle most calls for service. The police department has pointed to success so far with violent crimes, 911 calls and police response times all dropping in the program’s rst two weeks. DPS pulled over more than

BUDGETED OFFICERS 1,809

DPS Partnership starts

APD updated its target response times.

April 2022 1,604

0 9 8 /

BUDGETED OFFICERS 1,809

April 2023

84.11%

1,490

2020

2021

2022

2023

BUDGETED OFFICERS 1,812

NOTE: BUDGETED OFFICERS REFERS TO THE TOTAL NUMBER OF SWORN POSITIONS APD HAS FUNDING FOR EACH YEAR.

Oct. Dec.

Feb.

April

June

Aug.

Oct.

Dec.

Feb.

April

June

Aug.

Oct.

Dec.

Feb.

April

SOURCE: AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENTCOMMUNITY IMPACT

said they have seen a disparity in DPS presence between east and west Austin and aggressive patrolling in their dis- tricts. Police ocials said the APD’s 911 call data alone is guiding patrols, and that more demographic information has been requested from DPS. The terms of the operation also remain unclear. Watson launched the partnership without council involve- ment or approval, there is no written

agreement governing the operation, and no details on a potential exit strategy have been shared. “We have talked about, just a little bit, how long will this last? And the short answer is, right now we just don’t know,” Chacon said. “We’re trying to give it time to work.” Regular data reports and further council review of DPS work are expected as the operation continues.

4,000 drivers and ticketed about 1,000 through April 13. Troopers also made more than 150 arrests and seized drugs, guns and vehicles. Several city ocials have raised concerns about who DPS might be targeting, where troopers patrol, and how to address questions about oversight and the program’s future. During an April 18 brieng on the operation, some council members also

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

CITY & COUNTY

News from Austin, Dripping Springs, Hays & Travis County

Austin City Council will meet May 2 and 16 at 9 a.m. and May 4 and 18 at 10 a.m. 301 W. Second St., Austin www.austintexas.gov/ austin-city-council Travis County Commissioners Court will meet May 2, 4, 9, 16, 18 and 23 at 9 a.m. 700 Lavaca St., Austin www.traviscountytx.gov/ commissioners-court Dripping Springs City Council will meet May 2 and 16 at 6 p.m. 511 Mercer St., Dripping Springs www.cityofdrippingsprings.com/ city-council MEETINGS WE COVER HIGHLIGHTS TRAVIS COUNTY Commissioners are eyeing a second salary increase for correction ocers as the department is down about a third of its sta with more than 260 vacancies. The county’s corrections department has seen a 129% increase in vacancies since March 2022. The potential pay increase is still undecided with more discussion expected to come this spring. AUSTIN The city is recruiting East Austin residents to link their neighbors with resources to help them stay in their homes. The new displacement prevention program will bring on 15 Colony Park and Dove Springs residents for part-time work sharing city housing support services. After a one-year pilot, the program could be extended and expanded. DRIPPING SPRINGS The Texas Housing Foundation, a regional housing authority that develops, manages and provides services to aordable housing projects in Texas, will bring multifamily housing options to lower-income city residents. City Council adopted a resolution declaring a need for a regional housing authority and entered into an agreement with the THF on April 4.

City seeks to add new wastewater pond

POND PROJECT A new wastewater facility will be constructed in the city. Wastewater treatment plant New pond

BY ELLE BENT

property. The city aims to use benecial reuse—repurposing treated wastewa- ter for irrigation—and avoid discharg- ing treated wastewater into creeks, deputy city administrator Ginger Faught said. A new pond would add to the city’s benecial reuse facilities, supplementing an existing 12-mil- lion-gallon pond in Caliterra. The city received a permit allowing for the release and reuse of wastewa- ter in December after the issue was tied up in court for years.

DRIPPING SPRINGS The city is moving to build a 15-million-gallon treated euent pond just south of its existing wastewater treatment plant thanks to a deal with landowner Cuncasha LLC. Based on a wastewater facilities agreement approved April 4, Cunca- sha will give up land and easements for the pond and construction work. The city will convey the same amount of land and provide $10,000 for the relocation of a gate on the

OAK SPRINGS DR.

150

SOURCE: CITY OF DRIPPING SPRINGS COMMUNITY IMPACT

BY KATY MCAFEE TRAVIS COUNTY Commissioners unanimously voted for a third-party performance audit of Central Health, the county’s hospital district for low-income residents, on April 4. Mazars USA will begin the audit in May, compile a draft report by November and present the nal report next January at a cost of $845,200. The audit will assess Central Health’s work on meeting the needs of the county’s poor population, its nancial accountability, its public transparency and record-keeping; and its legal compliance. Central Health CEO Mike Geeslin voiced concern regarding the audit’s price tag, saying the district only budgeted up to $350,000 for an audit. Ted Burton, Central Health’s vice president of communications, said it is unclear if the audit will aect property owners within the Central Health taxing district. Burton also said Central Health undergoes annual nancial audits that have come out clean since 2005. The third-party audit comes after local activists, attorneys and community groups called for increased scrutiny of Central Health and alleged the hospital district lacked nancial and operational transparency. Central Health audit on tap

ENERGY UNDERGROUND Much of Austin’s power grid is already located below ground, and city ocials are interested in burying more lines going forward to improve resiliency.

5,000 MILES of lines are above ground

7,000 MILES of lines are below ground

Buried lines could cost 10 TIMES more per mile.

SOURCE: AUSTIN ENERGYCOMMUNITY IMPACT

Austin weighs burying power lines

BY BEN THOMPSON

AUSTIN City Council voted to consider moving more of Austin’s power lines underground in the wake of February’s ice storm and related widespread power outages. Two resolutions approved March 23 ask city sta to weigh moving power lines underground as part of other ongoing city projects and to draft a feasibility study with cost esti- mates for burying more lines in other high-priority areas. The new study does not yet have an estimated cost and will likely take several months.

We currently serve children 8 weeks - 12 years

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ADOLESCENT PROGRAM (Ages 12-15)

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MARIPOSA MONTESSORI SCHOOL, 3338 PAISANO TRAIL, AUSTIN, TX (512) 428-4280

SOUTHWEST AUSTIN DRIPPING SPRINGS EDITION • APRIL 2023

GOVERNMENT

Austin Water taking on audit proposals

AUSTIN WATER ACTIONS

Most changes at Austin Water proposed in a January audit are complete or in the works.

Example recommendation: Incorporate new training positions and make training consistent for all staff. Result: Trainer positions are filled; a new training program was launched in February. Example recommendation: Identify and find solutions for scenarios that would challenge water quality and treatment ops. Result: Emergency response planning is underway and will be complete in October. Example recommendation: Confirm how AW responds to emergencies and take on related analyses. Result: Reviews are underway, and major facilities will be stress tested this summer. Example recommendation: Have Austin Water report directly to the city manager. Result: AW and city leaders do not agree; AW reports to interim Assistant City Manager Robert Goode.

14 COMPLETE

23 UNDERWAY

BY BEN THOMPSON

Austin Water is progressing on the recommended fixes laid out in a third-party review following a series of high-profile water quality incidents. City Council directed an external evaluation of Austin Water in 2022 in the wake of the February citywide boil-water notice. The University of Texas Center for Water and the Environment took on the review, released in January, for about $816,000. The review found AW has solid infrastructure and generally produces safe drinking water for the city, but also had staffing, management and operations issues to address. City leaders were most recently briefed on the evaluation and dozens of fixes pro- posed by UT during a March 29 committee meeting. Austin Water Director Shay Ralls Roalson, who took the helm at the water utility in January, said AW has already finished responding to 14 of UT’s 53 proposals with most of the remainder now in the works. AW did not agree with four proposals covering the utility’s reporting structure and human resources work, and does not plan to address those.

12 PLANNED 4 NOT TAKING PLACE

53 TOTAL PROPOSALS

SOURCE: CITY OF AUSTIN/COMMUNITY IMPACT

“We are more robust and resilient than we have ever been, but we are also facing threats that we’ve never seen in our history. Implementing the recommendations from this report will make Austin Water stronger and better positioned to face climate change and extreme weather events,” Roalson said in a statement. The key issue of staffing remains a priority for AW as the utility’s vacancy rate sits around 13%. To address the staffing shortfall, most of AW’s 200 vacant positions have either been filled or posted for interested applicants. Roalson said AW’s recruitment push is now going “very well.” So far, AW’s response to the audit earned a

positive response from council members overseeing the process. “You clearly are taking this review and the charge that we’ve given you as a council seriously, and demonstrated a lot of forward movement,” District 10 Council Member Alison Alter told Roalson during the March 29 meeting.

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