Mayor Leffingwell delivers State of the City address, announces task force on aging

Leffingwell also said that if federal funds can be secured, he would like to implement improvements to the city's congestion problems. The longstanding issue of congestion, he said, can be blamed on years of failing to invest in infrastructure.

The need for innovation in ways to address the shortfall in state funding for schools was also addressed, and he emphasized a need for more affordable housing and energy rates.

"Affordability is not a 'nice to have,'" he said. "It is a 'need to have.'"

The mayor also announced plans to create a Task Force on Aging and a personal commitment to raise $50,000 to help fund the task force.

"We're changing from a population known as a young population and becoming an older, much more mature city," he stated.

The mayor said studies have shown that the Austin-Round Rock area is the third-fastest growing population in country for those 65 and older. He said the task force will study how to improve health and transportation needs, which are especially problematic when on a fixed income.

Leffingwell said he will be asking for others to help in the fundraising efforts, but as of yet, there are no further specifics outlined or an estimated timetable.

Special guests were also introduced—including James Moody, community activist and owner of Mohawk nightclub, along with local singers Troy Campbell and Gina Chavez—as he called creativity and compassion "the basic building blocks of Austin's DNA."

Throughout the speech, the mayor was optimistic about Austin's future.

"The state of the city is not just strong, but the state of city is stronger than it ever has been before, and it's getting stronger," Leffingwell stated. "In Austin, the possibilities always outnumber the problems."