1. CodeNEXT meetings start
CodeNEXT maps, which show how Austin's land development code rewrite might affect area neighborhoods, were released April 18 in draft form. This week the city will begin a series of public meetings in each Austin City Council district to cover the proposed code updates.
In Northwest Austin, a meeting for Council Member Jimmy Flannigan's District 6 is scheduled from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Monday at Spicewood Springs Library, 8637 Spicewood Springs Road, Austin. District 10 constituents, represented by Council Member Alison Alter, can attend a meeting from 2-4 p.m. Saturday at Anderson High School, 8403 Mesa Drive, Austin.
Meetings for District 4, represented by Council Member Greg Casar, and for Council Member Leslie Pool's District 7, will take place in May with times and locations to be determined.
2. Early voting in Round Rock ISD bond
RRISD voters will decide if they will let the district's board of trustees raise taxes over the coming years to pay for $572.09 million in bond projects. Election day is May 6, but voters can cast ballots early beginning Monday. Early voting runs April 24-29 and May 1-2. Voters in Travis County can also cast ballots on April 30. Here is more information on polling locations for Travis County voters and for Williamson County voters.
3. School funding fix moves forward
The Texas House of Representatives gave preliminary approval April 19 to House Bill 21, which would increase Texas school funding by $1.65 billion and provide millions of additional dollars to Austin, Pflugerville and Round Rock ISDs’ annual budgets. The school finance overhaul, led by Rep. Dan Huberty, R-Houston, would still need full House and Senate approval. Read more here.
4. Free rabies vaccines for pets
Austin Animal Center hosts a free rabies vaccination clinic for pets from 8 a.m.-noon Saturday at Richard Moya Park, 10001 Burleson Road, Austin. The vaccinations are for dogs and cats 12 weeks and older. Texas law requires owners or handlers of dogs or cats to get their animals inoculated with the rabies vaccine, according to the city of Austin's Animal Services Office. www.austinanimalcenter.org
5. Is Austin losing appeal?
Longtime Austin resident Peter Zandan released his 2017 Zandan Poll on April 20, which showed the majority of the 813 people surveyed in March feel Austin might be losing its appeal because of the rising cost of living. The poll also found Austinites are cutting back on spending, although Zandan said the study shows Austinites are more positive than the last time he surveyed them in 2015. Read more here.
