⚡ TL;DR — What You Need to Know Today
📍 Council commits ≈ $12.4 M to shelter operations + South Austin Navigation Center (approved 8-3)
📍 AISD faces crowds over 13 school closures — final vote Nov 20 (6 PM)
📍 Council greenlights $28.5 M Fire/EMS station at Slaughter Ln & Thaxton Rd (Easton Park Area)
📍 City Budget Office reports $32 M mid-year variance (~0.5 % of $6.3 B budget)
📍 TxDOT to close I-35 Holly St ramp for 6 months starting Nov 1
📍 Early Voting for Nov 4 election begins Oct 20

Austin City Council on Oct 9 approved two linked actions totaling ≈ $12.4 million:
1️⃣ Purchase of 2401 S I-35 (1.39 acres + 12,313 sq ft building) for up to $4.375 M as a future Navigation Center site, and
2️⃣ A 12-month emergency agreement with Family Endeavors ($8.031 M) to operate the ARCH and Eighth Street Women’s Shelter.

The votes passed 8-3, with Council Members Duchen, Qadri and Velásquez opposed (Agenda Items 16 & 17).

Why It Matters: Secures continuity of shelter services and creates a City-run South Austin hub for housing navigation.
Engagement: Track updates → austintexas.gov/homeless-strategy ✅

Hundreds attended the Oct 9 Board meeting to oppose closure of 13 schools and boundary changes for 98 % of campuses. At least 70 people signed up for public comment. The final vote is set for Nov 20 (6 PM) at AISD HQ.
Engagement: Review maps & feedback portal → austinisd.org/consolidation ✅

Council authorized a $28.5 M design-build contract for a joint Fire/EMS station serving Southeast Austin near Slaughter Lane and Thaxton Road. Average response times now exceed 11 minutes; the new facility is expected to cut that by 3–4 minutes when operational in late 2027.

Audit & Finance Committee briefed Oct 9 on a $32 M general-fund shortfall from -2.1 % sales-tax growth and +7.4 % public-safety overtime. A revised FY 26 forecast is due Nov 7.
Impact: Potential hiring freezes or reserve use this winter.

TxDOT Austin District confirmed a six-month closure of the northbound Holly Street entrance ramp starting Nov 1 for Capital Express Central construction. Drivers should use Cesar Chavez or 6th Street on-ramps.

Approved Oct 9 (Item 20) to honor tech leader Pike Powers; address and signage updates to follow.

Council directed staff (Item 24) to study Land Development Code barriers for small coffee shops in residential zones. Report due early 2026.

🍺 Austoberfest 2025 – Sat Oct 11 @ Scholz Garten (11 AM–7 PM) → austoberfest.com ⚠️
🎶 ACL Festival Weekend Two – Oct 10–13 @ Zilker Park → austintexas.gov/events ✅
🧑‍🌾 SFC Downtown Farmers Market – Sat Oct 11 (9 AM–1 PM) @ Republic Square → sustainablefoodcenter.org ✅
🎨 East Austin Studio Tour Preview Week – Begins Sun Oct 12 → bigaustin.org/east ⚠️

1️⃣ Navigation Center: Submit questions or feedback → austintexas.gov/homeless-strategy ✅
2️⃣ AISD Plan: Join community meetings and virtual sessions this month.
3️⃣ Transportation: Review Holly St detours before Nov 1 → my35capex.com ✅