Dear Neighbors,
As Austin Water ratepayers, we deserve safe and reliable water service. That’s why after the February 2022 boil water notice, I initiated an external audit of Austin Water to identify what went wrong, how to prevent future failure, and how to improve the overall resilience of our utility. This effort was co-sponsored by Council Members, Tovo, Fuentes, Ellis, Pool, and Kelly, and unanimously approved on February 17th, 2022. The audit, completed by the UT Center for Water and the Environment under the supervision of the City Auditor, was released on January 11th, and I invite you to review it here. On January 18th, I chaired a Council Audit and Finance Committee meeting, where the UT review team presented the audit findings and answered initial questions. You can watch the presentation here and review the slides here. On Wednesday, March 29, Austin Water will present their response to the audit and their plans for implementing the expert recommendations–more on that later in this letter.
Our community has been through a lot over the past few years, and this report is an important step towards rebuilding trust in our utility. The report offers a roadmap to where we need to invest our resources and how we must adapt to be more resilient in the face of climate challenges.
The External Review focuses on several areas of Austin Water functioning: hiring/compensation, organizational structure, operations/training, culture, and emergency management. The report found our water treatment plants to be capable of providing safe and reliable water service more than 99% of the time. The External Review also affirmed some of Austin Water’s current operations, including the water treatment process and equipment, and updates to power resiliency made after Winter Storm Uri. Much of the report discusses what Austin Water needs to do to be resilient during extreme conditions. Significantly, the audit emphasizes improvements to management and organization, rather than large infrastructural investments–see more in this coverage by Fox 7 News and the Austin Statesman.
It is my understanding that throughout the project, Austin Water worked with the Office of the City Auditor and the UT review team to provide access to facilities, documentation, and personnel, and that Austin Water is working on an implementation plan for 49 of the 53 recommendations, with 19 already underway. Austin Water also has committed to providing regular updates to the Audit and Finance Committee and to the Austin Water Oversight Committee. It is worth noting that this work complements steps Austin Water has already taken to prevent future incidents (listed in report Appendix 2B [see page 106].
After conversations with our new Austin Water Director Shay Ralls Roalson, I am heartened by our utility’s initial reaction to the audit. Re-thinking our approach to emergency planning and stewardship of our resources is not easy, but I believe that our community can emerge from this process more prepared and more resilient. In my view, that starts with transparency and accountability as Austin Water implements these recommendations.
Austin Water will present their full response to the audit and their implementation timeline on Wednesday, March 29th at 1:30 p.m. during a joint meeting of the Council Audit and Finance Committee and the Austin Water Oversight Committee (more info will be posted here). This meeting will be open to the public, and you can join us at City Hall or watch it (live or recorded) on ATXN.
As we work to restore faith in our utility, I hope that we can embrace new ways of thinking about our organizational structure, resource management and emergency planning–in Austin Water, and in other City departments. We must better prepare for water quality and supply events that we can’t fully anticipate, but that more and more cities are grappling with as the climate crisis worsens. I hope that one day, Austin can serve as an example for other cities facing these challenges.
In closing, I want to emphasize that this External Review is more than a list of recommendations. It highlights the need for systemic change. Many of the management challenges our water utility is facing echo reports of issues other departments across the City are navigating: delays in hiring and training, a need for additional scenario planning, low employee morale, and limited communication between executive leadership and staff. Unfortunately, these challenges aren’t isolated to Austin Water. Looking forward, I will continue to prioritize addressing these systemic issues with Interim City Manager Garza and his eventual successor.
In the remainder of this newsletter, you will find updates on brush pickup efforts, improvements to APD’s online reporting system, and more. Thanks in advance for your patience - we have a lot of updates to share!
Regards, | | Council Member, District 10 | | Updates on City Services Storm Debris Removal Including Updates for ETJ and ESD4 Improvements to APD’s Online Reporting System Register for Summer Camps Update on Pool Openings and Lifeguarding Opportunities Spring and Summer Library Programming Reminder: Household Hazardous Waste Pickup Pilot
Service and Public Input Opportunities Complete the Pease Park Community Input Survey Three Draft Mobility Plans Open for Public Review and Comment Public Feedback: Improvements Along Bull Creek from Hancock to Jefferson
Council Member Alter in the Community Thank You, Commissioner Lewis H-E-B Opening in District 10 Speaking to LASA Students Chairing Joint Discussion on School Funding and Childcare Speaking at Bridging the Seas Art Exhibit Network of Asian American Organizations 25th Anniversary Celebration Ascension Seton Women’s Tower Coming to District 10
Announcements | | | | 2023 Committee Assignments I am pleased to share the committees and intergovernmental organizations I’m serving on this year:
Audit and Finance Committee (as Chair) Austin Water Oversight Committee Austin Energy Oversight Committee Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) City of Austin/AISD Board of Trustees/Travis County Commissioners Court Joint Committee (focuses on public schools) Hate Crimes Task Force
Update on Police Contracts You can read my explanation of my support for a four-year police contract in this recent newsletter. As you may recall, after a majority of my colleagues voted to pursue a one-year option, the Austin Police Association left the negotiating table. Last week, Interim City Manager Jose Garza brought forward a police compensation and retention plan as the result of an ordinance I co-sponsored last month. The plan is summarized here. I will keep you updated as the contract negotiations resume.
Expanded Access to Medical Care I am proud that during Winter Storm Mara, two programs I created under the Office of the Chief Medical Officer–the Paramedic Practitioner Program and the Collaborative Care Communication Center– enabled Austin-Travis County EMS to treat non-emergent patients in their homes, helping them to avoid costly ER trips on icy roads.
Additionally, due to a budget amendment I co-sponsored with Council Member Fuentes, EMS medics are now stationed at the Austin Airport.
Expansion of Utility Customer Assistance Program A budget rider I authored in 2020 that directed Austin Water to develop a multifamily Customer Assistance Program billing discount is now in full effect, and renters without dedicated water meters and accounts can now benefit from this utility customer assistance program. Learn more about utility bill discounts here.
While I sent out a number of email alerts in February, Council has met several times since my last regular newsletter. Here are some highlights from each meeting:
January 26th: Together with Council Member Fuentes, I co-sponsored an item advancing an economic development program for affordable child care operations and initiating amendments to the City Code to increase the availability of child care services. This item builds on a 2018 resolution authored by then Council Member Delia Garza, which I co-sponsored, and ties into my previous work allocating American Rescue Plan funds and other financial aid to childcare centers during the pandemic and beyond.
February 9th: Item 16 authorized a parkland acquisition in north-central Austin. Item 33 authorized an agreement to provide health education and navigation services prioritizing the Austin Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. Item 35 accepted and appropriated $555,426 in grant funds for Monkeypox response. Item 36 authorized a contract for toxic algae screening in our reservoirs and surface waters. Item 38 approved a construction contract for the second phase of Waterloo Greenway, the Confluence. This next step in what will eventually be a 35-acre connected greenspace stretches from 4th St. to Lady Bird Lake. Construction begins this spring! Items 77-9 waived certain permit requirements and fees and extended the Local Disaster Declaration in response to ongoing storm recovery efforts.
February 23rd: Item 12 authorized the award of more than $3.9 million to 36 local arts non-profit organizations through the Thrive grant. Several of these non-profits are led by constituents or headquartered in District 10, including the Asian-American Film Festival, the Austin Chinese-American Network (ACAN), Imagine Art, the Indian Classical Music Circle of Austin, and the Mexic‐Arte Museum. Congrats!
Item 40 expanded an agreement with UT for a community-based crime reduction program.
| | | | | | Storm Debris Removal Including Updates for ETJ and ESD4 Austin Resource Recovery has collected over 123,000 tons of storm debris, and is updating this map to show their progress in each neighborhood. If you see others in your neighborhood served before you, this is for one of three reasons: 1) They may be moving to a smaller load due to limited space left in the truck. Leftover loads will be collected on a separate run; 2) Branches in a pile that exceed truck length requirements (15 ft); and 3) Your debris pile is a mix of brush and bulk items (such as fence panels). Those skipped due to length or bulk requirements will be notified.
Residents in the ESD4 service area and ETJ can request free debris pickup from Travis County by calling 512-854-9433 or emailing your street name to tnr.dispatch@traviscountytx.gov.
| | | Improvements to APD’s Online Reporting System Austin Police Department has launched a new non-emergency reporting system at IReportAustin.com. This platform reduces wait times and speeds up the investigation process, and supports multiple languages, including English, Arabic, French, Hindi, Korean, Simplified, and Traditional Chinese, Spanish, and Vietnamese. To file a report online, the following guidelines must be met:
No immediate danger to people or property The suspect is no longer on-scene The reporting party must be 17 years old or older and have a valid email address
| | | | | | Update on Pool Openings and Lifeguarding Opportunities Swim season is almost here! Pool/splash pad opening dates and hours will be posted here. Know anyone in need of a job? Spring break is a great time to get certified for summer lifeguarding. Learn more at LifeguardAustin.com. | | | Spring and Summer Library Programming Our libraries are fully open and ready for visitors this spring break! Learn more about the youth and adult programs at Central/Northwest Austin’s Howson, Old Quarry, Spicewood Springs, Milwood, and Yarborough branches at Library.AustinTexas.gov/Events. | | | Reminder: Household Hazardous Waste Pickup Pilot If you live in the Austin Resource Recovery (ARR) service zone in District 10, you can safely dispose of paint cans, oils, lightbulbs, batteries, and more by scheduling a home pickup through ARR’s household hazardous waste pickup pilot. See the full list of items and schedule your pickup here. To learn more about the pilot and my work to help us meet our zero waste goals, check out this recent newsletter. Help spread the word–the more neighbors participate in this program, the more likely it is to become permanent! | | | | | | Complete the Pease Park Community Input Survey District 10’s Pease Park Conservancy is seeking input from Austin community members about Pease Park and our local parks and green spaces. Complete this survey through mid-March to help shape initiatives for stewarding Pease Park for the enjoyment of all. | | | Three Draft Mobility Plans Open for Public Review and Comment You’re invited to review and comment on the Urban Trail; Bicycle; and/or Sidewalks, Crossings, and Shared Streets draft plans through March 20th. These plans will guide how we build urban trails, bikeways, sidewalks, and crosswalks for years to come. All three draft plans can be found online at PublicInput.com/ATXWBR. | | | Public Feedback: Improvements Along Bull Creek from Hancock to Jefferson Construction on a sidewalk along Bull Creek Road between 45th Street and Hancock Drive will begin later this Spring. This project will include pedestrian safety improvements at the intersection of 45th St.
Austin Transportation Department is opening a community conversation to discuss options for additional pedestrian crossings and a bikeway, as well as future planned work to add a bikeway between 39th Street and Jefferson Street and to build the missing sidewalk from Jefferson Street to 39th Street. Check out the project webpage and visit the virtual open house here.
| | | | | | Thank You, Commissioner Lewis Special thanks to my outgoing Parks and Recreation Board appointee, Dawn Lewis, for her years of service. | | | H-E-B Opening in District 10 On Valentine’s Day I was thrilled to cut the ribbon as we opened the new Lake Austin H-E-B! This is the first multi-level H-E-B in Austin, complete with a barbecue restaurant and a coffee shop, and it is now open for everyone to enjoy. | | | Speaking to LASA Students Survivor-advocate Hanna Senko and I spoke to over 200 students at The Liberal Arts and Science Academy about our work to improve Austin’s sexual assault response system. We had a difficult, but important, conversation about the nature and prevalence of sexual assault in our community, options for survivors of assault seeking justice and healing, and the policy changes I’ve championed to make these systems more survivor-focused. | | | Chairing Joint Discussion on School Funding and Childcare On February 17th, I chaired a joint subcommittee meeting with leaders from the City of Austin Government, Travis County, Texas - Government, and Austin ISD. See more from our discussion about school funding and childcare in this recent KXAN story and this news article. | | | Speaking at Bridging the Seas Art Exhibit I’m proud to have helped establish Austin’s Sister City relationship with Pune, India. I had the honor of kicking off the “Bridging the Seas” exhibit, which showcases artwork by Indian artists living in ATX. These works are on display through 4/1 at the Asian American Resource Center. | | | Network of Asian American Organizations 25th Anniversary Celebration Congratulations and thank you to the Network of Asian American Organizations on reaching 25 years of bringing our community together! These 13 member organizations enrich and strengthen Austin. | | | Ascension Seton Women’s Tower Coming to District 10 Last week, on the first day of Women’s History Month, we broke ground on the new Ascension Seton women’s tower in my district! With this tower, Seton will increase patient capacity and expand women’s access to healthcare by providing life-saving clinical services, academic programs, and subspecialties. | | | | | | | | Youth Artwork and Video Contests K-8th grade students are invited to submit artwork for Austin Homeland Security and Emergency Management’s 2024 calendar contest. Students are encouraged to create artwork that contains a safety message about a specific hazard, or that relays emergency preparedness actions. The deadline for submission is 11:59 p.m., Friday, March 31. For other contest guidelines and information, visit austintexas.gov/hsemcalendar.
Additionally, Austin Watershed Protection Department is launching a flood safety video contest for 6th-12th graders. Videos must be 30 seconds or less and should encourage drivers not to drive on flooded roads. Contest winners will receive a $100 gift card, and the top videos may be aired on local news stations. For more details about the contest, visit austintexas.gov/flood-safety-contest.
| | | New City Parking Options The Way.com app is now available for on-street parking, in addition to off-street parking. You can use the app to find nearby parking by location, and then enter vehicle info, purchase parking time, and view receipts.
Additionally, the Park ATX app offers remote parking session management. You can access two free 15-minute free sessions per day by using codes "FREE15ATX1" and "FREE15ATX2”. | | | Zero Waste Rebate Application Open to Businesses The City of Austin’s Zero Waste Business Rebate Program is offering eligible businesses up to $3,000 for improving their waste reduction and diversion practices. Businesses can qualify for rebates by:
Expanding food donation programs Replacing Single-Use Plastics and Foams Starting or expanding a composting program Increasing recycling and shared-use diversion programs
Learn more at AustinTexas.gov/ZWBizRebate.
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