As we enter the summer “break” here at City Hall, I thought it would be a good time to provide some thoughts and updates on where we are on some key initiatives.

First, I’d like to welcome Kathie Tovo to the Austin City Council.

I’ve already chatted with Kathie and I’m excited to have her perspective on the Council. Likewise, I’d like to thank Randi Shade for her service over the past few years – she has been a valuable sounding board for me and for our staff as we’ve navigated the complex issues we’ve faced here in Austin.

Over the past year, I’ve used this space to encourage involvement in a number of important initiatives – ones that are helping to shape Austin’s future, and are helping to define Austin as both “most livable” and “best managed.” Hopefully we’re all taking some time to spend with family and loved ones during the summer break, but here at City Hall, work continues on some key projects where you can help:

Code for America – Much attention has been focused on Austin’s website. I think we can all agree that it’s time for a major overhaul, and that process is well underway. As our Web team works to build the new site, we have a unique opportunity to involve local programmers through Code for America. The program has been described as a sort of AmeriCorps for techies – you give a year of paid service toward developing technology solutions for local government, and those innovations are in turn shared with governments around the country. As a finalist for the 2011-2012 program, I encourage you to consider applying for one of their fellowships.

2011 CityWorks Academy – Now in its third year, the CityWorks Academy has been a great success, giving residents an in-depth orientation to all of the services we provide as a city government. Graduates continue to be involved across the organization, and I encourage you to apply for the next session. We’re accepting applications through the beginning of August.

Imagine Austin – We anticipate receiving the first draft of our revised comprehensive plan in August. Since I arrived here, we’ve talked about the importance of updating our current plan. The plan is vital in helping to shape the community we want to see Austin become as we continue to grow and evolve. That discussion will continue in the late summer and early fall as we refine the draft plan, which has been the result of thousands of public comments and the work of hundreds of residents involved in working groups around key issues.

These are just a few of the initiatives at the front of our minds this summer. Of course, projects like the Waller Creek Tunnel, Water Treatment Plant #4, a new Main Library, Barton Springs Pool repairs, a new Austin Animal Center and dozens of others continue as well. You can expect an update on all of our active projects soon from our Capital Planning Office. Until then, be safe this summer, and thanks for all of your interest and involvement on behalf of Austin.