📰 CivicIn7 Austin | Thursday, October 16, 2025
⚡ Be the most informed neighbor in Austin —in 7 minutes or less.
⚡ TL;DR — What You Need to Know Today
Austin Audit & Finance Committee meets ~10 a.m. for City Auditor interviews (AFC001/AFC002); public comment allowed.
Leander Mayor Christine DeLisle’s final meeting is tonight; special election set for Feb 7 2026 (filing Nov 10–Dec 8).
AISD hosts second consolidation Q&A (6–7:30 p.m., virtual).
Texas voters decide 17 state constitutional amendments Nov 4.
Austin launches 911 mental-health pilot (“Austin FIRST”) pairing clinicians with first responders.
Bastrop expands $3.5 M Agnes Street extension; home sales rise 6.7 % in Sept.
H-E-B Manor opening & COTA Grand Prix highlight weekend events.
🧠 Lead Story
City Auditor Interviews Begin; Leander Mayor Steps Down Tonight
Confidence: High
Austin’s Audit & Finance Committee meets this morning (~10 a.m.) to recommend candidates for City Auditor interviews (Items AFC001/AFC002). The Auditor is Council’s independent watchdog over spending and performance — an appointment that shapes City oversight for years to come. Public comment is open via the City Clerk portal.
Meanwhile in Leander, Mayor Christine DeLisle delivers her farewell address tonight before stepping down after four years of service. A special mayoral election is set for Feb 7 2026, with candidate filing from Nov 10 to Dec 8.
Direct Impact (Austin): Determines who audits department efficiency and contract integrity.
Direct Impact (Leander): Leadership shifts in one of the region’s fastest-growing cities. The mayor’s position remains unpaid, which some officials say limits full-time dedication to rapid-growth issues.
Engage: Register to speak via City Clerk portal · Attend Leander Council meeting · Candidate info: leandertx.gov/elections
📈 The Rundown
1️⃣ AISD Consolidation Q&A (Tonight 6–7:30 p.m.) — North Austin Focus
Second in a series of virtual Q&As on the district’s plan to close 13 schools and redraw boundaries. Board vote slated Nov 20.
➡️ Register: austinisd.org/calendar
2️⃣ Texas Voters to Decide 17 Constitutional Amendments on Nov 4
Early voting runs Oct 20–31 (Travis County) — the most amendments on a ballot since 2007. Highlights include Prop 2 (banning a state capital gains tax), Prop 3 (requiring judges to deny bail for violent felonies), property-tax authority, and water / infrastructure investments.
➡️ Read the Texas Legislative Council’s 99-page analysis or view sample ballots at votetravis.com.
3️⃣ Travis County Approves Women’s Residential Treatment Program
Commissioners Court approved a $469,559 contract with Santa Maria Hostel, funded by opioid-settlement dollars. Santa Maria Hostel will provide local inpatient care for low-income women — the first such facility in Austin since 2019, filling a critical gap in substance-use treatment and reducing ER strain.
➡️ Contract details: traviscountytx.gov/commissioners-court
4️⃣ Texas School Cell Phone Ban Hits One-Month Milestone
HB 1481 took effect Sept 1 (deadline Sept 18). Districts received $20 M in TEA grants for secure storage solutions (~$8.50 per student). Educators report fewer distractions; some parents still voice safety concerns.
➡️ Guidance: TEA HB1481 Portal
5️⃣ Round Rock ISD Upgrades Stadium Lighting to LED
$1.33 M project approved ($519,960 from 2018 bond + $811,020 from 2024 bond). LED systems cut energy use and improve visibility for evening events.
🧵 Brief Mentions
Austin 911 Mental-Health Pilot (“Austin FIRST”) — teams clinicians with EMS and police for mental-health calls.
Bastrop Agnes Street Expansion ($3.5 M change order) — adds drainage and sidewalk improvements.
Central Texas Housing Market: September home sales up 6.7 %; median price down 1.8 %.
Local Artisan Markets Growing in NW Austin & Cedar Park after Bell Market relocation.
Austin Proposition Q: City ballot measure seeking a 5¢ per $100 valuation property-tax increase (≈ 20 % above current rate) to fund homelessness services, public safety staffing, and parks improvements. Early voting Oct 20–31. ➡️ City Ballot Info
📊 By the Numbers
17 — Texas constitutional amendments on the Nov 4 ballot, the most since 2007.
🎡 Community Events & Highlights
Oct 19 · United States Grand Prix at COTA — Race Day
Oct 19 · “School-tastic Book Fair for Grown-Ups” at Baker Center
Oct 22 · H-E-B Grand Opening — Manor Store
Nov 14 – 16 · Panda Fest at Republic Square (Austin Asian food & culture festival)
📅 Civic & Community Events Near You
🧭 Civic Meetings & Deadlines
Thu Oct 16 · Austin Audit & Finance (Special Called) ~10 a.m. — City Auditor Interviews
Thu Oct 16 · AISD Consolidation Q&A (Virtual) 6 – 7:30 p.m.
Thu Oct 16 · Leander City Council — Mayor DeLisle’s final meeting
Oct 20 – 31 · Early Voting (Travis & Williamson Counties)
Thu Oct 23 · PUCT Open Meeting 9:30 a.m. | Austin City Council 10 a.m.
Nov 4 · Election Day — 17 State Amendments + Austin Prop Q
Nov 20 · AISD Board Vote on Consolidation
