Council Members Leslie Pool and Greg Casar present their mobility bond proposal June 14. Council Members Leslie Pool and Greg Casar present their mobility bond proposal June 14.[/caption]

City Council discusses mobility bond options

Austin | City Council discussed June 16 two agenda items related to calling for a mobility bond referendum in 2016 and/or 2018. Three proposals are on the table: a $720 million plan proposed by Mayor Steve Adler that focuses on major corridors on which the city has conducted studies, a similar $720 million plan proposed June 14 by council members Greg Casar and Leslie Pool that emphasizes local roads, and a $300 million proposal recommended June 14 by the council Mobility Committee that Council Member Ann Kitchen called “a starting point for discussion.” “Given the limited amount we can spend every year, this will make significant progress on corridors,” Kitchen said June 14. Adler stressed the need to “go big” when considering bond funding options for transportation needs. “I think our citizens expect us to act and act in a meaningful and substantial way,” Adler said. “I believe only if we go big do we see transformative change.” He said if council does not reach consensus on a bond package by the end of June, he does not think the city should call a bond election.

Council OKs updated sidewalk master plan

Austin | City Council approved an updated version of the sidewalk master plan, which seeks to encourage walking as a transportation mode as well as improve pedestrian safety and the ability to walk to and from transit stops. Council’s action June 16 will align the plan with the goals set forward by the city’s comprehensive plan, Imagine Austin, according to city documents. The sidewalk master plan also seeks to help control air pollution and traffic congestion, improve quality of life, provide mechanisms to help prioritize city sidewalk repair and construction, and better conform to standards outlined in the federal Americans with Disabilities Act.

Affordable housing directives pass

Austin | City Council approved a package of policy directives to increase and improve affordable housing June 16. The resolution includes recommendations to strengthen affordable housing requirements in homestead preservation districts, provide tools for low-income homeowners faced with high property taxes and explore ways to commit more funding to affordable housing initiatives. “I’ve heard for so long that our affordability crisis is getting worse and worse; community advocates have been ringing the alarm bells for years,” District 4 Council Member Greg Casar said in a news conference the morning of June 16.

Travis Co. approves after-school funding

Travis county | Commissioners approved more than $8,700 for after-school programs in four Austin-area charter schools during a Commissioners Court meeting May 24. Travis County, through its CAPITAL AmeriCorps Project, will provide $1,536 to NYOS Charter School Inc. In addition, the county will increase funding for Eden Park Academy to $3,488 and for Cedars International Academy to $3,704. NYOS Charter School has two locations in North Austin; Eden Park Academy is in Southwest Austin, and Cedars International Academy is in North Austin. The project has helped more than 20,000 children to date. Students who participate in after-school programs have fewer behavioral problems and show better academic performance, according to Travis County.

Warren wins Pct. 1 primary runoff race

Williamson County | According to official May 24 election results, Landy Warren will be the Republican nominee in the Williamson County commissioner Precinct 1 race and face Democrat Terry Cook in the November general election. Warren, a banker and businessman, earned 55.9 percent of the vote versus opponent Donna Parker, who earned 44.1 percent. Parker and Warren headed into the primary runoff election because none of the Republican candidates in the March 1 primary garnered at least 50 percent of the vote. Parker and Warren were the top two vote-getters. Incumbent Lisa Birkman is not seeking re-election to Precinct 1, which includes portions of Northwest Austin west of US 183.