🗞️ CivicIn7 Austin | Thursday, October 30, 2025
⚡ Be the most informed neighbor in Austin — in 7 minutes or less.
TL;DR
Austin ISD heads to a Nov 20 vote to close 13 campuses and redraw most boundaries; adopted deficit $19.7 M; separate facility-naming pathway now live. (✅ Austin ISD — austinisd.org)
City Council (Oct 23) authorized $650 M Convention Center bonds + up to $475 M Austin Energy refunding; $450 M amendment brings CMR max to $1.65 B. (✅ City of Austin — austintexas.gov)
CapMetro approved Transit Plan 2035 (routes 61 → 55, more frequency) — phased from 2026. (✅ CapMetro — capmetro.org)
Parks: citywide burning restriction in effect — no fires or charcoal in any park. (✅ City of Austin — austintexas.gov)
Public safety: Austin FIRST mental-health 911 pilot launched. (✅ City of Austin — austintexas.gov)
⚡ TODAY’S FOCUS (Lead Story) — Priority High | Confidence MEDIUM
Austin ISD consolidation vote Nov 20; district activates facility-naming pathway
Austin ISD’s draft plan would close 13 campuses and redraw most attendance boundaries beginning 2026-27. The adopted FY 2025-26 budget carries a $19.7 M deficit, and leaders say right-sizing facilities and expanding revenue tools are key to stabilizing operations. AISD’s facility-naming program permits sponsorships for major venues — for example Burger Stadium, House Park, and the Performing Arts Center — with each deal requiring Board approval. (✅ Austin ISD — austinisd.org)
Key Data Points
13 closures listed — AISD Consolidation Hub (✅ austinisd.org/consolidate)
98 % boundary change impact — AISD announcement (✅ austinisd.org)
Board vote Nov 20 — AISD Board agenda (✅ austinisd.org)
Adopted deficit $19.7 M (FY 2025-26) — Board budget deck (✅ austinisd.org)
Facility-naming program — policy page (✅ austinisd.org/naming)
Projected savings: $25 M+ ⚠️ [VERIFY] pending official memo
Direct Austin Impact Families at affected schools should prepare for 2026-27 reassignments and check AISD’s online map. Venue names may change only after public Board votes.
Civic Engagement Comment at austinisd.org/consolidate and watch Board sessions Nov 13 (info meeting) and Nov 20 (vote).
Redundancy Update (new vote date + budget figure).
🧭 THE RUNDOWN — Priority Medium
1️⃣ City Council approves $650 M Convention Center bonds + $475 M AE refunding; contract max $1.65 B | Confidence HIGH
On Oct 23, Council approved issuance of Special Tax Revenue Bonds ($650 M) for the Convention Center and Electric Utility System refunding (up to $475 M), plus a $450 M amendment raising the construction-manager-at-risk limit to $1.65 B. Convention Center debt is paid from hotel tax revenues, not property taxes. (✅ City of Austin — austintexas.gov)
2️⃣ CapMetro adopts Transit Plan 2035 (routes 61 → 55, higher frequency) | Confidence HIGH
Approved Oct 20 after 10 000+ community inputs; phased service changes begin 2026 with three updates per year. Plan aligns bus network with Project Connect light-rail build-out. (✅ CapMetro — capmetro.org)
3️⃣ Citywide Parks Burning Restriction (Oct 29) | Confidence HIGH
The City’s Parks and Recreation Department banned fires and charcoal grilling at all parks due to “Very High” fire danger. Only propane stoves in designated areas are permitted; fines $300–$500. (✅ City of Austin — austintexas.gov)
4️⃣ Austin FIRST mental-health 911 pilot | Confidence HIGH
A City memo (Oct 10) details the Austin FIRST program — a co-response team (APD officer, ATCEMS paramedic, Integral Care clinician) handling mental-health crisis calls. Six-month pilot results will go to the Public Safety Committee in April 2026. (✅ City of Austin — austintexas.gov)
🔎 BRIEF MENTIONS — Priority Low
Austin Energy names Stuart Reilly GM (start Nov 2). (✅ Austin Energy — austinenergy.com)
Austin Energy signs 100 MW battery storage deal with Jupiter Power (goal 125 MW by 2027). (✅ Austin Energy — austinenergy.com)
Joan Means Khabele Bathhouse (Barton Springs) partially reopened Oct 28. (✅ City of Austin — austintexas.gov)
Whooping Cough: Lamar MS (6201 Wynona St 78757); update Tdap boosters and watch APH advisories. (⚠️ Austin Public Health / media)
🗓️ CIVIC CALENDAR (official sources)
Fri Oct 31 | 7 AM–7 PM (select sites to 10 PM) — Travis County Clerk — Elections Last day of Early Voting (✅ elections.traviscountytx.gov)
Tue Nov 4 | 7 AM–7 PM — Travis County Elections Election Day (Prop Q + 17 amendments) (✅ elections.traviscountytx.gov)
Thu Nov 6 | 9:30 AM — Public Utility Commission of Texas Open Meeting (✅ puc.texas.gov)
Thu Nov 6 | 10:00 AM — Austin City Council Regular Meeting (✅ austintexas.gov)
Mon Nov 17 | 12:00 PM — CapMetro Board Meeting (✅ capmetro.org)
Thu Nov 13 | 6:00 PM — AISD Board Information Session (✅ austinisd.org)
Wed Nov 20 | TBA — AISD Board Voting Meeting on school consolidation (✅ austinisd.org)
📣 HAPPENING NEAR YOU
Barton Springs: Khabele Bathhouse restrooms + showers open; construction ongoing. (✅ austintexas.gov)
Parks Reminder: No charcoal/wood fires under current restriction — use propane only. (✅ austintexas.gov)
📊 BY THE NUMBERS
$1.65 B — Max Convention Center contract after $450 M amendment (✅ City of Austin — austintexas.gov)
76 446 MW — ERCOT Oct 2 peak (October record; preliminary, unofficial until settlements) (✅ ERCOT — ercot.com)
13 schools — AISD campuses proposed for closure in Nov 20 vote (✅ Austin ISD — austinisd.org)
