Nursing cats and dogs and puppies and kittens are provided with food. Adult dogs and cats - due to their unique dietary needs - are not provided food. All vet care is provided by the shelter while it remains in foster care. Toys, bedding, litter and liter boxes, bowls, crates, etc are expected to be provided by the foster home.

LATM does provide a process for addressing cut-through traffic.  However since this process is so new and the process to evaluate cut-through traffic is so lengthy, LATM is not addressing cut-through traffic issues at this time.

The optimal length for a street segment to be considered for speeding mitigation is no longer than a half mile.  Please try to limit street segments to that length or less.

At this time, only hard copy applications are being accepted.

This is a two-part answer:

This first part is that the street must be eligible.  For a street to be eligible, it must meet several criteria, including:

• It must be a City of Austin street

 • It is not a major arterial

• If a minor arterial, it must have 60% front facing residential, schools or parkland

• The measured 85 percentile of traffic exceeds the posted speed by 3 miles per hour or more

• The requester must live along street/segment

• It has a speed limit of 40 mph or less

• It must be paved

• It can not be a duplicate request

• Any previously installed devices have been in place for at least 2 years

• It is not an alley

• It has no more than one lane of moving traffic in each direction.  A continuous center turn lane is not considered a travel lane for this evaluation.

The second part of the answer is that not all eligible requests will be funded.  All eligible requests will be compared to identify the most needy cases.  This comparison is based on the following weighted criteria:

• Speed Factor – number of cars exceeding speed limit +5, and not less than 35 mph

• Truck Traffic

• Number of auto crashes in the last 12 months

• Institutional (school or park) proximity

• Number of Auto/Pedestrian and Auto/Bicycle Crashes in the past 12 months

• Absences of sidewalks

• Residential Land Use

• Bicycle Route

• Front Facing Residential

• Evidence of Support (petition)

• Whether the street is within an Environmental Justice area

• Diversion of traffic

Each eligible request will be ranked for funding according to the criteria above.  The higher the ranking for funding number, the more likely a request is to be funded.

Yes, if you have a disabled hangtag or license plate you don’t have to pay the parking meters and there is no time limit on the time zones.

On-street parking is intended for visitors seeking short-term convenient parking. Time limits are set to encourage turnover of these parking spaces in order to allow other visitors an opportunity to find convenient parking.

Drivers are restricted from “feeding” the meters and are encouraged to park off-street if a longer visit is anticipated. Moving long-term parkers into off-street parking allows patrons to enjoy convenient parking for shorter-term trips.  

Public Parking Locations (pdf)

Parking costs $1 at all City parking meters

If you choose to leave your car overnight and forget to buy extra hours, you could have your ticket dismissed with proof of receipt that you chose an alternate mode of transportation home (e.g. bus or taxi). Contact Parking Enterprise at 3-1-1 by 4 p.m. the following day to take advantage of this offer.

Yes. If you have a disabled hang tag or license plate, you don’t have to pay the parking meters, and there is no time limit on the time zones.

Drivers can buy additional time into the next day the night before by pressing the yellow "next day purchase" button on the paystation. Place the pay station receipt on your windshield showing pre-payment.

• Sound Permit – for any amplified sound
• Health Permit – for any food products
• Alcohol Permit - Texas Alcohol and Beverage Commission – for sale or consumption of alcoholic beverages
• Park Permits – Any activities that take place in a city park
• Temporary Use Permit – Any activity that changes the use of the property (i.e. – parking lot into a festival venue)
• Tents
• Temporary Structures
• Events held in a structure with 49 or more attendees

Applicants can start the process by applying online through ROWMAN no more than a year in advance. 

Once your ROWMAN is complete, you will be emailed an application packet.  Applications are due no later than 180 days prior to the event along with the nonrefundable application fees. Please review Ordinance 14-8 for all requirements.

Make an appointment with the Special Events Office to attend a Special Event Team Meeting - 974-6501 or SpecialEvents@austintexas.gov.  Meetings are scheduled every Tuesday at 10 a.m. at One Texas Center, 505 Barton Springs Road, Austin, Texas 78704.

No. Traffic control must be contracted through a licensed company. Only certified, competent persons trained in traffic control may set traffic control devices.

You will be required to mail notification letters to all affected businesses and residences inside and along street closures.  The City of Austin will provide you with a mailing list, but you must print out the required documents and provide the postage.  Affected persons do have the ability to object to a particular closure and if 20% or more object within one block of the closure, you may be required to change and/or modify the route/event or possibly cancel the event.

Click here for our 2011 and 2012 Pedestrain Project List (pdf).  You can also visit our Pedestrian Program page for more information.

• All projects must be done on City-owned property or in City right of way.
• Qualified applicants include:
  • A Neighborhood Association registered with the City of Austin, including subgroups endorsed by the parent organization
  • A Neighborhood Plan Contact Team
  • A Community-based organization
  • Educational, ethnic, or religious organizations

A Cost-Shared Project is one in which the City allows the applicant to share the actual cost. Cost sharing can be achieved through:

• Cash contributions
• In-kind contributions (established at market value)
• Donated labor (sweat-equity)

A Grant Assistance Project is one in which the City applicants apply for matching funds for external grant opportunities.

Credit Bureaus:

• Trans Union Fraud Victim Assistance 800-680-7289
• TRW/Experian Consumer Fraud Assistance 800-301-7195
• Equifax Consumer Fraud Unit 800-525-6285 Check Verification Companies:
• TeleCheck 800-366-2425

National Processing Co. 800-526-5380 *** Make ALL your notifications by telephone, and in writing.

Make a police report as soon as possible and have any affected accounts closed.  The portion of your report involving the actual theft of the items will be handled by the investigative unit located in the area where the theft occurred.  If the cards/checks were used fraudulently, our office will handle that portion of the investigation.

You may reduce your risk of being victimized if you do the things listed below. Charge or Credit Account:

• Immediately contact the issuer of the credit (ie: a credit card company such as American Express or Visa; a department store; a bank).  Whenever possible, ask to speak with someone in the fraud investigations division.

• When your credit card is used to purchase merchandise, you should also contact the store where the card was used. Contact someone who works in fraud investigations or loss prevention for the store. 

• Contact all three (3) of the credit reporting companies and report the incident to each of them. (Please refer to phone numbers provided below)
   

Yes, you have 120 hours (5 days) to have a sexual assault forensic exam (SAFE) and ten years (statute of limitations on sexual assault) to make the report. We encourage victims to report the sexual assault even if it is past the statute of limitations.  Your case cannot go forward with prosecution, but it is important to document the assault and the perpetrators who commit them.

(Violence Against Women Act 2005) As of Jan 2009, victims of sexual assault may have a sexual assault forensic exam without reporting it to law enforcement.  State law allows you to have the exam up to 96 hours after the sexual assault.

You will not have to make a decision until further along in the investigative process. You will be given all of the information you need to make an informed decision about what is best for you.

Yes.

The definition of an abandoned vehicle is one that is either A) parked illegally because it is:

    * more than 18” from the curb
    * facing the wrong way on the road “Left Wheel to Curb”
    * parked on city easement, left unattended on a controlled access highway
    * an unattached trailer on the street
    * an overweight vehicle whose gross weight exceeds 9,000 lbs on a street with 30 mph speed limit or less
    * for sale on the street

Or B) is mechanically inoperable on the street with characteristics that include:

    * up on jack stands
    * flat tire(s)
    * wrecked
    * health
 

You cannot move a vehicle without permission from the owner.  Any reputable wrecker company will not tow a vehicle unless they have permission from the titled owner of the car.  Please call 512-974-8119 and request APD to tag and tow the vehicle.  We will ask you to fill out a Private Property Affidavit with the description and location of the vehicle.  This notarized form gives APD permission to come onto the property and tag the unwanted vehicle.  After the vehicle is tagged, the officer will return after 48 hours and if it is still on scene, a pick up order will be issued to the wrecker company to impound the vehicle.  There is no charge to the owner of the property or the owner of the vehicle.  Certified letters will go out to the registered owners notifying them that the vehicle has been impounded and will be sold at auction if not redeemed.

City Ordinance allows one vehicle per licensed driver.  Code Enforcement enforces this ordinance and they can be reached by calling 311 or (512) 974-5750.

It has to be “visibly” inoperable and the courts have decided that expired tags or inspections make no bearing on that.  Additionally, there is no law or ordinance that prevents a car from being legally parked indefinitely.

If a vehicle is left on the street in violation it can be tagged immediately.  Once tagged, the vehicle is left for 48 hours for the owner to fix the problem or remove the vehicle from the street.

The most reliable information about alcohol involvement comes from fatal crashes. In 2007, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimated that 32 percent of all traffic deaths occurred in crashes in which at least one driver had a BAC at or above 0.08 percent and that some alcohol was present in 37 percent of drivers involved in all traffic fatalities. 4 Thirty-five percent of pedestrians killed in crashes also had BACs at or above 0.08 percent. Such statistics do not mean that a third or more of all fatal crashes are caused solely by alcohol, because alcohol may be only one of several factors that contribute to a crash involving drinking drivers. A 2007 Institute study estimated that 13,452 of the approximately 15,000 alcohol-related crash deaths in 2005 were directly attributable to alcohol. These lives could have been saved if all drivers had been restricted to no blood alcohol. About 8,900 lives could have been saved by reducing BACs to less than 0.08 percent, and 11,100 lives could have been saved by reducing drivers' BACs to less than 0.05 percent.5 It has also been estimated that 15 percent of all crashes occurring between 4pm and 2am would be avoided if no driver had a BAC of 0.05 or above.6 Alcohol involvement is much lower in crashes involving nonfatal injuries and lower still in crashes that do not involve injuries at all. A study conducted during the 1960s estimated that 9 percent of drivers in injury crashes and 5 percent of drivers in non-injury crashes in Grand Rapids, Michigan, had BACs at or above 0.10 percent.7 A 1977 study found that 12 percent of drivers in injury crashes in Huntsville, Alabama, and San Diego, California, had BACs at or above 0.10 percent, compared with 1 percent of a sample of drivers not involved in crashes.8 According to a research review conducted during this same period, studies of fatally injured drivers found that 40-55 percent had BACs at or above 0.10 percent.9

The incidence of alcohol-impaired driving has been reduced but remains a major problem. NHTSA and the Institute undertook a national roadside breath survey in 1996, patterned after 1986 and 1973 surveys, and found that 83 percent of drivers had no measurable alcohol, a significant increase in nondrinking drivers above the rates of 74 percent in 1986 and 64 percent in 1973.10 In 1996, 7.7 percent of drivers had BACs at or above 0.05 percent, compared with 8.4 percent in 1986 and 13.7 percent in 1973. The proportion of drivers with BACs at or above 0.10 percent was 2.8 percent in 1996, 3.2 percent in 1986, and 5 percent in 1973.

Crashes among male drivers are much more likely to involve alcohol than those among female drivers. Among fatally injured male drivers of passenger vehicles in 2007, 40 percent had BACs at or above 0.08 percent. The corresponding proportion among female drivers was 21 percent. Alcohol involvement in fatal crashes was highest for males ages 21-40. Between 1982 and 2007, the proportion of fatally injured passenger vehicle drivers with BACs at or above 0.08 percent declined from 56 to 40 percent among males and from 33 to 21 percent among females. According to national roadside breath surveys, females are increasingly driving at night. The proportion of females in weekend nighttime samples of drivers increased from 16 percent in 1973 to 26 percent in 1986 and 31 percent in 1996.10 The increase between 1973 and 1986 was accompanied by a reduction from 3 to 1.3 percent in the proportion of female drivers with BACs at or above 0.10 percent. However, between 1986 and 1996, the percentage of female drivers with high BACs increased slightly from 1.3 to 1.5 percent, compared with a decline from 3.9 to 3.5 percent for male drivers.

They happen at all hours, but alcohol involvement in crashes peaks at night and is higher on weekends than on weekdays. Among passenger vehicle drivers who were fatally injured between 9 pm and 6 am in 2007, 60 percent had BACs at or above 0.08 percent compared with 20 percent during other hours. Forty-seven percent of all fatally injured drivers on weekends (6 pm Friday to 6 am Monday) in 2007 had BACs at or above 0.08 percent. At other times the proportion was 26 percent.

The term was coined to refer to people who repeatedly drive while impaired and are resistant to changing their behavior despite previous sanctions, treatments, or education. The underlying premise is that many, if not most, of these people are problem drinkers.11 The term is not precisely defined, although two criteria commonly used to identify hard-core drinking drivers are prior alcohol-impaired driving convictions and very high BACs (0.15 percent or higher) at the time of arrest for alcohol-impaired driving. Hard-core drinking drivers have drawn extra attention in recent years as policymakers have tried to renew progress against alcohol-impaired driving. The concept of hard-to-change chronic heavy drinking drivers ignores many who account for a large portion of alcohol-impaired driving crashes. These include drivers who drink heavily on occasion and drivers who drink at more moderate levels that elevate crash risk. Some countermeasures aimed at the hard-core group have been effective in reducing recidivism, but attention and resources also need to be given to general deterrent initiatives (e.g. sobriety checkpoints, administrative license suspension).12

There are a number of common patterns for luring victims into situations of human trafficking, including:

    * A promise of a good job in another country
    * A false marriage proposal turned into a bondage situation
    * Being kidnapped by traffickers
 

As you go about your daily activities we encourage you to "look beneath the surface" and watch for indicators of modern-day slavery such as the following: Evidence of being controlled,  Inability to move or leave a job,  Bruises or other signs of physical abuse,  No passport or other identification documents,  Recent arrival to the U.S. ,  Unaware of what city or state they are in,  Strong sense of fear or distrust.

Complaints against employees of the Austin Police Department may be made by phone, by letter, or in person. In order to file a complaint you must first contact the Office of Police Monitor who will then assist you in filing your complaint to the Internal Affairs Division. The address and telephone number for making complaints is:

Office of Police Monitor

1520 Rutherford Lane Austin, TX 78754

Main number (512) 974-9090

Officer Misconduct Number (512) 974-5200

State law requires complaints involving police officers be sworn under oath and notarized. If you are unable to go to the Office of Police Monitor to formally file your complaint, a detective from the Internal Affairs Intake Office and a Compliance Specialist from the Office of Police Monitor can come to your location to take and notarize your complaint.

The law requires all involved parties to give their information.  Transportation Code section 550.023 Duty to Give Information and Render Aid.

The operator of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting in the injury or death of a person or damage to a vehicle that is driven or attended by a person shall:

1. give the operator's name and address, the registration number of the vehicle the operator was driving, and the name of the operator's motor vehicle liability insurer to any person injured or the operator or occupant of or person attending a vehicle involved in the collision;
2. if requested and available, show the operator's driver's license to a person described by Subdivision (1);  and
3. provide any person injured in the accident reasonable assistance, including transporting or making arrangements for transporting the person to a physician or hospital for medical treatment if it is apparent that treatment is necessary, or if the injured person requests the transportation.
    

Officers investigate crashes with the information available at the time. To issue a citation there must be probable cause which is a much higher standard than any civil litigation. It is the individual officer that has to decide whether enough evidence exists to issue a citation. Any questions should be addressed with the investigating officer’s supervisor.

Many of the cases involve someone who is scared because they do not have a license or believe they will be arrested because they caused the crash.  It is far worse to leave the scene than receive a ticket at the scene. We have seen cases in which the party that left was not a contributing factor in the crash and would not have even received a ticket but now had to be responsible for the crime.  Since Leaving the Scene of a crash is a crime there will likely be consequences.  It is recommended that you contact the police to provide your information.  If you are working with a detective, arrangements can be made to turn yourself in and you do not have to be afraid that you will be arrested unexpectedly. 

Police investigate crashes to provide relief for the injured and clear the roadways as soon as practical.  Once the parties have exchanged information and complied with the law the Police are no longer involved. Crashes are civil incidents and any remedies for wrongdoing should be addressed in Civil Court.

The City of Austin works under a Zone Program.  This allows the Police Department to remove vehicles from major roadways (IH 35, Mo-Pac Expressway, US Hwy 183) that could potentially cause hazards.  Wrecker companies are stationed on these major roadways during rush hour times Monday – Friday from 6am-9am and 4pm-7pm, except for City of Austin Holidays.  If a vehicle is left unattended during this time, the vehicle will be removed immediately.  Any vehicle left unattended on IH-35 will be impounded as a traffic hazard because of the high volume of traffic on this road at any hour.  Otherwise, vehicles left unattended on the roadways that do not pose as a traffic hazard will be tagged as abandoned and impounded after 48 hours, if still on scene.

If your car was towed from a parking lot, red & white signs should be posted at the entrance/exit with the name and phone number of the wrecker company who tows from that lot.  Please call that number for more information about your vehicle.  For vehicles towed from a public road, please call 3-1-1 or 512-974-8110 with your vehicle information, and we can look up its location.

We monitor the quality of the participants in order to ensure public safety, so we do require that any wrecker who services a call while APD is on scene be part of our approved roster of companies. 

Officers may have tattoos. However, if the tattoos are offensive in nature, they must be covered up by clothing or arm bands.

The number of cadets hired will depend on the amount of vacancies the Police Department has. Past class sizes have ranged from 35 to over 100.

No. Required documentation must be the original or a certified copy. However, if you bring the originals to the recruiting office, we will make certified copies and return your originals.

This will depend on the time of the last usage of marijuana or drugs/narcotics. Please refer to our minimum requirements to review the list of disqualifiers. You will be required to take a drug test screening.

The number of academies held each year depends on how many vacancies the department needs to fill. In the past, we have had 1-3 cadet classes per year.

You should apply approximately one year before the academy begins or one year prior to exiting the military or graduating college.

If an applicant wishes to get physically assessed prior to their scheduled testing dates please email the Recruiting Unit at: email

A Recruiting Officer will contact you to schedule a date to test your ability to conduct the proper push-ups, sit-ups and vertical jump to be successful in passing our initial physical ability testing.  After your assessment is completed the Recruiting Officer will offer suggestions for improvement if needed for the applicant.

Applicants are also encouraged to view the following links to help with physical fitness that the Austin Police Department promotes for its employees.  This program utilizes high intensity training techniques and principals. Please visit our Twitter and Facebook pages to view these workouts. 

Honesty and integrity are important values found in Austin police officers. If you are found omitting important information or being deceptive, you will be permanently disqualified from the hiring process. You must successfully complete a background investigation and polygraph in order to continue in the hiring process.

Email the Recruiting Unit with your name and the reason for withdrawing. If you need to re-schedule the test date, please ask a recruiter to contact you by telephone or email. Please make sure to re-schedule within 15 days of your testing dates, or you will be subject to penalization.

The hiring process takes approximately 6-12 months, depending on the start date of the academy.

Applicants from out of state or outside a 250-mile radius of Austin will be required to visit Austin twice during the hiring process.

In Phase 1, you will be required to be in Austin for two days of initial testing. Day 1 will be the entrance and physical ability tests. Day 2 will be psychological testing and formal oral board interviews.

After the successful completion of your background investigation, you will be asked to return (within one to four months) for a three-day testing process. Phase 2 will consist of polygraph and psychological interviews, a medical screening and a drug test. If the applicant passes Phase 2, they will be placed on the eligibility list for hire in the next scheduled cadet class. See Hiring Process.

The Austin Police pay schedule is one of the highest in the state of Texas and the nation. In addition, many officers increase their salary with pay incentives for specialties they obtain, such as bilingual pay, field training officer pay and crisis intervention officer pay. Officers also receive educational incentive pay, shift differential pay and military benefits, such as the G.I. Bill incentives earned for the first 11-12 months, if eligible.

Two. The first visit is for the initial entrance test, obstacle course and oral board interview. The second trip is for polygraph, psychological, medical assessment and drug testing. See APD Hiring Process

Yes. College credits or prior police service will not be required if you have served 24 months in the United States military (Active Reserve or National Guard) with an honorable discharge. A general discharge under honorable conditions is also acceptable but reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Yes. Many officers supplement their income with overtime assignments from special events or patrol functions. Off-duty overtime is also available for many officers at different locations within the City. Probationary officers are not allowed to work off-duty overtime during the 15-month probationary period, but overtime is made available to them once they are off the field training program.

No waivers are allowed at any time.

Inside the City Limits (full purpose annexation) – Zoning, Subdivision, Site plan, Building, Trade and Concrete permits required.

If your property is totally within the City of Austin and you are erecting, constructing, enlarging, altering, repairing, improving, removing, converting, moving, demolishing any building or structure, you are required to obtain a City of Austin Building Permit and a site plan approval or site plan exemption. Depending on the extent of your work, you may be required to obtain one or more of the following permits

• Building
• Electrical
• Mechanical (heating/air conditioning)
• Plumbing
• Concrete
• Development

Inside the City Limits (limited purpose annexation) – The same rules above apply to requirements for building permits and site plan and/or development permit approvals and exemptions for the City. City of Austin plumbing, electrical, concrete and mechanical permits are required. In addition to the City permits, Travis County requires development permits, building permits and driveway permits.

Extra-territorial Jurisdiction (not limited purpose annexation – The extra-territorial jurisdiction (ETJ) is that area extending five miles outside the City of Austin corporate limits. All development in the ETJ is required to obtain site plan (development permit) approvals or site plan exemptions from the City. In addition, plumbing and/or electrical permits may be required if the project is served by City utilities (ETJ fees will be assessed in addition to the permit fees). Development and driveway permits are required by Travis County and Hays County.

All areas inside the city limits and/or ETJ (other commonly required approvals): • Austin/Travis County Health Department permits, if the project needs a septic system or if it is a sanitary land fill or salvage yard. LCRA has jurisdiction for permits for septic tanks adjacent to Lake Travis. • US Fish and Wildlife Service permits for endangered species habitats • Texas Water Commission permit for projects over the Edwards Aquifer • Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Corps of Engineers approval for drainage modifications • Projects involving single family boat docks, earthwork, site clearing, utilities, and street and drainage improvements require a site plan (development permit) or site plan exemption. Boat docks also require building and electrical (if lighted) permits along Lake Austin.  Call the Planning and Development Review Department for other requirements at 974-2380.Inside the City Limits (full purpose annexation) – Zoning, Subdivision, Site plan, Building, Trade and Concrete permits required.

If your property is totally within the City of Austin and you are erecting, constructing, enlarging, altering, repairing, improving, removing, converting, moving, demolishing any building or structure, you are required to obtain a City of Austin Building Permit and a site plan approval or site plan exemption. Depending on the extent of your work, you may be required to obtain one or more of the following permits

• Building
• Electrical
• Mechanical (heating/air conditioning)
• Plumbing
• Concrete
• Development

Inside the City Limits (limited purpose annexation) – The same rules above apply to requirements for building permits and site plan and/or development permit approvals and exemptions for the City. City of Austin plumbing, electrical, concrete and mechanical permits are required. In addition to the City permits, Travis County requires development permits, building permits and driveway permits.

Extra-territorial Jurisdiction (not limited purpose annexation) – The extra-territorial jurisdiction (ETJ) is that area extending five miles outside the City of Austin corporate limits. All development in the ETJ is required to obtain site plan (development permit) approvals or site plan exemptions from the City. In addition, plumbing and/or electrical permits may be required if the project is served by City utilities (ETJ fees will be assessed in addition to the permit fees). Development and driveway permits are required by Travis County and Hays County.

All areas inside the city limits and/or ETJ other commonly required approvals: • Austin/Travis County Health Department permits, if the project needs a septic system or if it is a sanitary land fill or salvage yard. LCRA has jurisdiction for permits for septic tanks adjacent to Lake Travis. • US Fish and Wildlife Service permits for endangered species habitats • Texas Water Commission permit for projects over the Edwards Aquifer • Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Corps of Engineers approval for drainage modifications • Projects involving single family boat docks, earthwork, site clearing, utilities, and street and drainage improvements require a site plan (development permit) or site plan exemption. Boat docks also require building and electrical (if lighted) permits along Lake Austin.  Call the Planning and Development Review Department for other requirements at 974-2380.

A "near term annexation area” is a tract of land within Travis County and within the City of Austin’s limited purpose or extraterritorial jurisdiction where the City of Austin has exclusive authority to issue variances or waivers and extend preliminary plans. A near-term annexation area must meet one of the following criteria:

1. It is in the City’s municipal annexation plan.
2. It has been annexed for limited purposes and the landowners have NOT waived the requirement to annex for full purposes in three years.
3. It is the subject of an agreement between the City and County regarding infrastructure design, construction, and maintenance.
4. It is listed in Exhibit A of the First Amendment to the Agreement on Subdivision Platting in the Extraterritorial Jurisdiction between Austin and Travis County, adopted by Ordinance 030515-25.

An area that is classified as “near term” is not necessarily planned for imminent annexation. Contact staff if you have questions about when the City will annex a particular property.

Immediately upon annexation, the City of Austin will provide police and fire protection, emergency medical services, garbage and recycling collection, and maintenance of roads and existing street lighting. Residents will enjoy full voting privileges in all mayoral, council, bond, and charter amendment elections.

In addition, centralized water and wastewater collection (sewer) will be extended to lots with septic tanks and wells. Access to a centralized system provides greater reliability and higher capacity with fewer maintenance requirements.

Furthermore, the City of Austin conducts many other programs for public benefit including zoning and development review, code compliance, libraries, health and human services, recreation programs, and small business assistance.

A prosecutor evaluates each case and sends a subpoena to witnesses that are needed to testify during trial. Without your presence, the case may not be able to proceed. The date and trial location (courtroom number) will be printed on each subpoena as well as a phone number and an email address. It is important to call the listed phone number or send an email to the listed person as directed on the subpoena to confirm your appearance and ensure the trial has not been reset to another date.

A payment plan can only be offered only after a plea has been entered. Please contact the Municipal Court regarding this option.

You will need to contact the court at www.austintexas.gov/court.

You will need to make this request at the Municipal Court, 700 E. 7th Street, Austin. A copy of the complaint paperwork may be obtained from the Municipal Court website at www.austintexas.gov/court. You may fill out the paperwork before hand, but please do not sign it until you are at the court where a Deputy Clerk can witness your sworn statement.

You may contact the Austin Tenants’ Council,1640B East 2nd Street, Suite 150 Austin, TX 78702, (512) 474-1961, www.housing-rights.org.

You will need to make this request at the Municipal Court, 700 E. 7th Street, Austin. A copy of the complaint paperwork may be obtained from the Municipal Court website at www.austintexas.gov/court. You may fill out the paperwork before hand, but please do not sign it until you are at the court where a Deputy Clerk can witness your sworn statement.

You may contact the Austin Tenants’ Council,1640B East 2nd Street, Suite 150 Austin, TX 78702, (512) 474-1961, www.housing-rights.org.

You must make a written motion for discovery requesting all evidence and file it with the Municipal Court, either in person or via fax at (512) 974-4684.

Contact the Department of Public Safety at http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/.

None of the lawyers with the City of Austin Law Department can provide legal advice to citizens. Our sole function is to prosecute people who violate criminal misdemeanor laws and to provide legal representation to the city, its agents, and employees.

You may contact the Public Works Department or dial 3-1-1 to report conditions that may require a city response.

You may contact the Code Compliance Division of the Department of Planning and Review by dialing 3-1-1, or you can file a report online.

A summary of the customer's rights and the City's responsibility shall be provided with the first bill to each customer, and at least every two years thereafter.  Billing and customer service questions can be directed to Austin Energy, who also sends out bills for Austin Water Utility.  (512) 494-9400, or click here.  For more information, click here.

Service extensions can be requested by contacting Austin Water Utility's Service Extension Request Program at (512) 972-0207.

For water/wastewater emergencies, contact (512) 972-1000; this number is answered 24 hours a day.

A nonconforming use is the use of any land, building or structure that does not conform with current applicable use regulations but complied or was not under requirements to comply with regulations at the time the use was established.

Specific requirements govern the discontinuance of nonconforming uses. Also, specific code requirements address damages and the ability to make major substantial changes to structures designated as nonconforming uses.

A Traffic Impact Analysis (TIA) provides information on the projected traffic expected from a proposed development. A TIA also evaluates the impact of proposed development on the roadways in the immediate proximity of the proposed development. The TIA should identify any potential traffic operational problems or concerns and recommend appropriate actions to address such problems or concerns. 

A traffic impact analysis shall be consistent with the code requirements and the Transportation Criteria Manual. The geographic area to be considered in the TIA shall be established by the Director. The TIA should consider and account for the potential traffic to be generated by other undeveloped sites within the established study boundaries.

A neighborhood traffic analysis is a simplified TIA that assesses the impact of a proposed project on residential streets. A neighborhood TIA is limited to an evaluation of existing and projected operating levels of residential streets and an identification of mitigation measures needed to minimize traffic impacts.

TIA requirements apply to each individual lot when an application is made to zone or rezone the lot or for site plan approval to develop the lot.

Generally modifications to an application may include but are not limited to:

1. A reduction in the number of projected vehicle trips per day.
2. Dedication of additional right-of-way.
3. Rerouting of traffic and of proposed access and egress points serving the proposed project;
4. Participation in the funding of traffic signal and /or intersection improvements.

Vehicle Trip Thresholds A local or collector street means any roadway not designated as an arterial street. A residential local or collector street is one along which 50% or more of the frontage within 1,500 feet of the proposed project's property lines (or the nearest arterial, whichever distance is less) is zoned SF-5 or more restrictive uses.

• A TIA is required if the expected number of trips generated by the project exceeds 2,000 vehicle trips per day.
• A neighborhood traffic analysis is required if the project has access only to a residential local or collector street and the expected number of vehicle trips generated by the project exceeds 300 vehicle trips per day over the existing uses.

A zoning change can be requested by submitting an application to the Intake division of the Planning and Development Review Department. Please contact (512) 974-7208, 974-2681 or 974-2350 to schedule an appointment. A pre-application conference with planners in the Development Assistance Center is encouraged.

The Applicant and his designated agent, as well as property owners, renters and utility account holders, registered neighborhood associations, community groups and environmental interest groups located within 500 feet of the zoning change are mailed an initial notice of filing within 14 days of application submittal. The notice includes the applicant's contact information, descriptions of the existing and proposed zoning, and Staff contact information. Subsequent notice(s) identifying the date and time of the Land Use Commission and City Council meetings are also mailed prior to these public hearings. Signs which identify the case number are also posted on all properties under zoning review.

Conditional Overlays are combined with base zoning districts on specific properties to further restrict a zoning classification or land use. The CO is intended to provide flexible and adaptable use or site development regulations by requiring standards tailored to individual properties. A conditional overlay may be applied to any base zoning district. A CO may be applied to do the following:

• Prohibit permitted, conditional and/or accessory uses otherwise allowed in a base district
• Make a permitted use a conditional use
• Decrease the density that may be constructed
• Decrease building heights
• Increase minimum setback requirements
• Decrease maximum impervious or building cover requirements
• Restrict access to adjacent roads and require specific design features to minimize the effects of traffic.

The protest provisions contained in Section 25-2-284 are commonly referred to as "petition rights." This provision generally provides that when the Land Use Commission has not recommended approval of a request for rezoning to a planned unit development (PUD) district, or when a written protest against a proposed rezoning is signed by 20% or more of either the area of the lots or land included in such proposed change, or of the lots or land immediately adjoining the same and extending 200 feet, such rezoning shall not become effective except by the favorable vote of three-fourths of all members of the Council. In computing the percentage of land area, the area of streets and alleys shall be included in the computation. Zoning Petition

Applicants must be incorporated, tax-exempt organizations residing in Austin or its Extra Territorial Jurisdiction. Other organizations and individuals must apply under the umbrella of a 501c3 organization. Click on the specific programs listed below for more information.

Core Funding Programs

Community Initiatives Program

Cultural Expansion Program

If the work is being performed by City employees, there is no requirement for wage posters. It is also possible that the wage posters were displayed in an area not visible to the public, but to the workers only. However, if you have cause for concern, you may contact the City staff listed in this FAQ and they will follow up on the matter (please be prepared to notify staff of the project’s specific location or the project name).

If you suspect that a wage violation has occurred on a City project, please contact the City staff listed in this FAQ, with the following information:

• The name(s) of the affected worker(s) and the type of apparent wage violation
• The name of the worker’s employer (company name)
• The name or specific location of the City project

Be prepared to leave your own contact information if you would like the City staff to follow up with you regarding their findings.

Yes. In July of 2010, the City Council passed Ordinance No. 20100729-047, amending Title 4 of the City Code to include a section regarding Working Conditions at Construction Sites. This Ordinance applies not only to City construction sites, but to any construction at “a site or structure for which a building permit or site plan has been issued under Title 25 (Land Development Code) for an existing or proposed use.” Signs for the ordinance must also be displayed at the work site(s).

-For more information on the Rest Break Ordinance and its requirements, click here.
-For copies of the Rest Break signs, click here.

If you wish to file a formal complaint regarding a violation of the Rest Break Ordinance, please call 3-1-1.

Russell Kyle (512) 974-1404  --or--  Andrea Pimentel (512) 974-9377

You can not simply state you will follow the code of the City of Austin’s Section 5-4-2.  You must print out the statement from Form B, which includes all requirements listed in Section 4-2, on your company letterhead. You must also have it signed by a company official. This ensures everyone is aware of the requirements at the time the contract is executed and provides a baseline for future changes.

The City of Austin Quality Control Plan Requirements (Attachment 4) will be included in the contract.  The QCP submitted after execution will be reviewed using the requirements in Attachment 4.

Please provide three (3) copies of the Professional Service Agreement (PSA) Documents: Original signature page, General Terms and Conditions, Supplemental Terms and Conditions, and Attachments 1 -5.

- No later than 2 weeks after the consultant's Professional Service Agreement (PSA) is executed, a corporate (generic for the entire rotation list) QCP shall be submitted to Jay Ulary (jay.ulary@austintexas.gov) for review. 

- No later than 14 calendar days after an assignment Notice to Proceed (NTP) is issued, the QCP shall be submitted to Jay Ulary (jay.ulary@austintexas.gov) for review. 

- Attachment 4 of the Professional Services Agreement provides an outline of QCP required content.

Because the City of Austin requires similar types of consultant services on a regular basis, rotation lists (RLs) have been created to provide a group of consultants for expedited selection and work assignment. Firms are selected through the Request for Qualifications (RFQ) process. When a Project Manager (PM) needs a particular type of consultant, the PM contacts the rotation list manager (RLM) of the appropriate Rotaton List for assignment of the next firm in rotation. Using a Rotation List consultant allows a PM to move forward without spending 5-6 months to hire a consultant through the RFQ process.

You can find SMBR forms at their MBE/WBE Contract Compliance page, available here.

The City of Austin requires a permit for any person, firm or corporation to erect, construct, enlarge, alter, repair, improve, remove, convert, move or demolish any building or structure within the City’s zoning jurisdiction or in a Municipal Utility District (MUD) if the consent agreement between the MUD and the City requires insurance of a permit prior to construction. Unless specifically exempted by the City Code, permits are required within the City’s zoning jurisdiction; in MUDs or for electrical and plumbing work in other areas outside the City’s zoning jurisdiction where City utilities are provided. A separate permit is required for each building or structure where work occurs. NOTE:  Non-structural repairs to a residence do not require a permit.

A permit expires on the 181st day if the project has not scheduled nor received an inspection.  A  “Canceled” and/or “Failed/No Work Performed” inspection result does not extend the expiration date.  

You can provide feedback on the conservation measures that the City is currently evaluating for our new Habitat Conservation Plan. The conservation measures are the specific steps that the City will perform over the next 20 years to protect the Barton Springs Salamander and mitigate any adverse impacts from City activities. Download the documents below, and email any questions or comments to salamander@austintexas.gov.

The newly proposed DRAFT conservation measures that the City is considering are here. Please note that these DRAFT measures are provisional, have NOT been approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife, and are subject to change as the final text of the Habitat Conservation Plan is developed. Proposed Conservation Measures (Draft)

For comparison, the current conservation measures, developed in 1998 and expiring in 2013, are here: Current Conservation Measures

For convenience, this document is a cross-reference between the current measures in the expiring Habitat Conservation Plan and their replacements in the new Habitat Conservation Plan. Cross Reference (Current/Proposed Replacements)

www.austintexas.gov/page/captive-breeding

Learn more at www.austintexas.gov/department/austin-blind-salamander

Learn more at www.austintexas.gov/department/barton-springs-salamander

Learn more at www.austintexas.gov/department/jollyville-salamander

A low impact development (LID) technique for reducing the impact of stormwater is to "disconnect" impervious areas by routing runoff to a vegetated filter strip. This will promote infiltration, sediment deposition, and filtration of pollutants.

This water quality control is similar to vegetative filter strips described in Section 1.6.7.B of the Environmental Criteria Manual . It will however typically be smaller in order to fit into spaces too small for a full-sized water quality control, but still large enough to provide some treatment. The amount of water quality credit will vary with the size of the filter strip and its drainage area characteristics (size and impervious cover). Vegetative filter strips for treatment of disconnected impervious cover can provide partial treatment equivalent to a sedimentation/filtration system but are not acceptable as a primary method in Barton Springs Zone (BSZ) watersheds, where a non-degradation treatment level is required.

As with other vegetative water quality controls an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Plan is required.

Design guidelines for this control can be found in Section 1.6.7.F of the Environmental Criteria Manual.

Using physical and biological treatment mechanisms, biofiltration uses an organic filtration media with vegetation to remove pollutants. As with sedimentation/filtration systems, runoff is first diverted into a sedimentation basin, where particulate pollutants are removed via gravity settling. This is followed by filtration through an 18" layer of vegetated media.

Biofiltration systems are considered to provide a level of treatment equivalent to sedimentation/filtration, and also provide extended detention that enhances baseflow and reduces stream erosion. Biofiltration systems are not allowed in Barton Springs Zone (BSZ) watersheds as a stand-alone water quality control, as they are not capable of achieving a non-degradation level of treatment.

Because of the vegetation, biofiltration systems can be aesthetic amenities and may be eligible for landscape credit (unlike sedimentation/filtration systems). To ensure proper management of the pond system, filtration media, and vegetation, an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Plan is required.

The current design criteria is similar to that for sedimentation/filtration systems, and two design alternatives are available. In “full” sedimentation/filtration systems the entire water quality volume is held in the sedimentation basin, which then slowly discharges runoff to the filtration basin via a perforated riser pipe. The alternative “partial” sedimentation/filtration design foregoes the perforated riser pipe, and distributes the water quality volume between the filtration basin and a sediment chamber, the latter separated from the filtration bed by a vegetated hedgerow. The “full” design is required when the City of Austin is responsible for maintenance.

Design guidelines for biofiltration can be found in Section 1.6.7.C of the Environmental Criteria Manual. For information on the biofiltration media, go to biofiltration media guidance. Also available is a list of potential suppliers.

Integrated pest management (IPM) is an environmentally-sound method of controlling pests (weeds, diseases, insects or others). Pests are identified, action thresholds are considered, all possible control options are evaluated, and selected control(s) are implemented. Control options used to prevent or remedy unacceptable pest activity or damage include:

• Biological - recognize, encourage, and/or introduce beneficial predators in your landscape • Cultural - plant native, pest-resistant plant varieties, and give them proper light, water and nutrients • Mechanical - hand-pick insects, or use traps, barriers, or water blasts to infected areas • Chemical - use botanical, mineral, and insecticidal soap or synthetic chemicals

Choice of control option(s) is based on effectiveness, environmental impact, site characteristics, worker/public health and safety, and economics. IPM takes advantage of all appropriate pest management options.

A vegetative filter strip is an innovative water quality control in which runoff is routed as sheet flow through a mildly sloped, well-vegetated area, thus promoting infiltration, sediment deposition, and filtration of pollutants. Because of the need to maintain sheet flow, filter strips are typically used to treat small drainage areas, or areas with low impervious cover. These treatment systems can be used in both Barton Springs Zone (BSZ) and non-BSZ watersheds, but those in BSZ watersheds must be larger. To maintain the proper functioning of these systems the vegetation must not be cut too short (minimum 3” for turfgrass and 18” for bunchgrass), grass clippings must be removed out of the filter strip, and an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) plan is required. Design guidelines for vegetated filter strips are provided in the Environmental Criteria Manual (Section 1.6.7 Alternative Water Quality Controls)

A vegetative filter strip is an innovative water quality control in which runoff is routed as sheet flow through a mildly sloped, well-vegetated area, thus promoting infiltration, sediment deposition, and filtration of pollutants. Because of the need to maintain sheet flow, filter strips are typically used to treat small drainage areas, or areas with low impervious cover. These treatment systems can be used in both Barton Springs Zone (BSZ) and non-BSZ watersheds, but those in BSZ watersheds must be larger. To maintain the proper functioning of these systems the vegetation must not be cut too short (minimum 3” for turfgrass and 18” for bunchgrass), grass clippings must be removed out of the filter strip, and an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) plan is required. Design guidelines for vegetated filter strips are provided in the Environmental Criteria Manual (Section 1.6.7 Alternative Water Quality Controls)

• Non-Structural Controls are Best Management Practices (BMPs) that do not involve a structured, or engineered solution. They include such measures as education, site planning, and stormwater management regulations. Because it is usually easier and more effective to prevent pollution before it occurs, non structural BMPs are very cost-effective. These measures limit or eliminate pollutants before they end up in the stormwater.
• Non-structural controls include:  non-required vegetation, vegetated filter disconnect, integrated pest management, and regulations.

• Drainage Criteria Manual
• Environmental Criteria Manual
• Land Development Code
• Watershed Ordinances
  • Table

Combined products are usually not a good mix – the best time to treat weeds is NOT usually the best time to fertilize

• Spreading weed killer over the entire lawn is usually overkill
• Some lawn weed killers can stress and damage turf if applied during warm   weather
• Using an herbicide over the entire lawn can harm nearby trees
• Herbicides can be tracked into the house by pets or on shoes

The Stream Restoration Program’s objective is to create a stable stream system that decreases property loss from erosion and increases the beneficial uses of our waterways.  In this context a stable channel is one that maintains its plan form, profile and channel geometry without excessive erosion or deposition. 

The stream assessment is used to determine the key factors causing the stream instability. This identification may be used to assess whether a long-term solution may be provided on a site-specific, reach based or watershed-scale approach. Constraints such as budget, land availability and temporal factors also significantly affect the type of solution envisioned.

The Stream Restoration Program utilizes hydrologic and hydraulic models for estimating runoff quantities, rates and the hydraulic forces impacting a reach of stream. These analyses provide parameters for use in stable channel design. For projects within an existing floodplain, generally the existing FEMA hydrology and hydraulic models are used. For smaller projects models are developed for each specific project. Common models used are:

Hydrology:   HEC-1   TR20   FFAHydraulics:   HEC-2   HECRAS (HECGEORAS)   WSPRO   Manning’s Equation

Results from the H&H analyses are used to estimate channel boundary shear stresses and sediment transport capacities, which allow for prediction of future short- and long-term channel erosion and provides data for design of channel stabilization measures.

• Topographic and Bathymetric Survey
• Bed Material Pebble Counts and/or Sieve Analyses
• Geotechnical Borings and Soil Strength Testing \
• Historical Aerial Photography
• Historical Comparative Channel Cross Sections and Profiles
• Existing Hydraulic and Hydrology Models and Floodplain Information
• Watershed Mapping (GIS)

The amount and type of data obtained for a stream stabilization project depends of the extent of the problem, the geomorphic physical process affecting the system, variability within the problem area and the type of solution envisioned for the project.

Fluvial geomorphology is the science dealing with the physical processes and characteristics of rivers and streams:
Some geomorphic factors considered during stream assessment are:

• Lateral and Vertical Channel Variability
• Bed and Bank Material Type, Composition and Stratigraphy
• Bed Forms
• Channel Cross Section Shape
• Channel Gradient
• River Valley Conditions
• Floodplain Conditions
• Riparian Vegetation
• Upstream Watershed Conditions (impervious cover, soils, vegetation)

You can mail your application and necessary information to:
ATTN: Composting Rebate Program
City of Austin-Austin Resource Recovery
P.O. Box 1088
Austin, TX 78767

You can also email your application and receipt.

A check will be mailed to the address specified on your rebate application. Please allow 6-8 weeks for rebate processing.

To sign up for a composting class, review the schedule of upcoming classes on the Home Composting Challenge webpage and click on the "Register Online" link.

To be eligible, you must be an Austin Resource Recovery customer that receives residential collection services including trash, recycling and yard trimmings collection.

Participating city departments include:

• Office of Sustainability: Climate Protection
• Austin Energy: Green Building
• Austin Water Utility: Water Conservation and Dill Dirt
• Parks and Recreation Department: Urban Forestry and Zilker Botnical Garden
• Planning and Development Review: City Arborist
• Watershed Protection Department:  Grow Green

Program Partners:

• Travis County AgriLife Extension
• Texas A&M
• LCRA
• Grow Green Nurseries

Funding Provide by

• Austin Water Utility
• Environmental Protection Agency
• Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
• Watershed Protection Department

Grow Green offers 23 fact sheets that help you identify and solve pest and disease problems and that provide general landscaping design, installation and maintenance recommendations. It offers a Native and Adapted Plant Guide that recommends 200 plants that not only survive, but thrive in Central Texas. It also provides workshops and technical information to nursery sales associates so that they can better serve their customers. All materials are offered free to Austin citizens and the garden centers.

Using earth-wise practices can save you time, energy, and money while helping to protect our precious water resources – our streams, lakes, and aquifers.

February 1, 2012

Matt Hollon - New Commercial Landscape Ordinance

• PowerPoint
• Handout

John Gleason - Rain Gardens

• PowerPoint
• Rain Garden Grow Green Fact Sheet  Six Easy Steps to Build a Rain Garden

Kristin Carlton - Inspections

• PowerPoint

February 8, 2012

Dr. Mark Simmons - New Turf article from Ecological Engineering

• Handout

Matt O'Toole - MOST WANTED: Top 24 Invasive Species

• Handout

Michael Embesi

• Native Tree Growing Guide for Central Texas - Handout
• Fruit & Nut Tree Growing Guide for Central Texas - Handout

February 15, 2012

Brian Bomer

• Green Building & Landscaping - PowerPoint

Drema Gross

• Drought Contingency Plan - PowerPoint

February 22, 2012

Troy Nixon

• Installation -  PowerPoint

Woody Raine

• Site-Recycling on Contstruction Sites - PowerPoint
• Contstruction & Demolition Materials and Resources -  Handout

Alan Watts

• Compost Techniques for Stormwater Quality - PowerPoint

Doug Christensen

• Irrigation Technologies and Alternative Water Sources - PowerPoint
• Irrigation Application Technologies - Handout
• Alternative Irrigation Water Sources - Handout

February 29th, 2012

Dick Peterson

• Rainwater Harvesting - PowerPoint

Stacy Neef

• Reducing Our Nation's Dependence on Foreign Oil Through Landscape Initiatives - PowerPoint
• Commercial Mower Incentive Program Guidelines - Handout
• Pre-Incentive Mower Survey - Handout

Daphne Richards

• Non-Traditional Soil Additives -  Handout
• What Happens to Nitrogenin Soils - Handout

March 7, 2012

Dr. David Chalmers

• Turfgrass Selection for Texas - Handout
• Turfgrass Establishment in Texas - Handout
• Lawn Fertilization in Texas - Handout

The program is an alternative to on-site detention for flood control purposes that uses a watershed wide approach to analyze potential flooding problems and to identify appropriate mitigation measures.

Funds for the program are obtained from fees paid by land developers in lieu of providing on-site detention.

The Regional Stormwater Management Program was created to allow a mutually beneficial public-private partnership to fund flood hazard mitigation for the community. A regional approach to control stormwater flows is generally more economical and effective than if flows are controlled on a site by site basis.

Public benefits are private funding of projects, more comprehensive planning, better control of projects, and more overall effectiveness of improvements to reduce flood hazards.

Private benefits are less overall costs to develop a site without harming other property owners. It allows more flexibility in the development layout, savings in the design, permitting, and construction costs associated with the on-site facility and avoidance of operation and maintenance costs for commercial and multifamily development facilities. Therefore, developers may desire to pay fees to the program for the construction of public regional projects in lieu of constructing private on-site stormwater management facilities for flood control purposes.
 

Aphids

Bacterial Leaf Spot

Problem Leaves yellow and may drop. Plants lose vigor and produce less chlorophyll. Bacterial Leaf Spot is caused by wet plant foliage and injury.

• Greens
• Turnips
• Cauliflower
• Cabbage
• English Ivy
• Tomatoes
• Fruit trees
• Several ornamental shrubs and trees

Least Toxic Solutions

• Avoid wetting foliage when watering. • Space plants to allow adequate air flow. • Do not injure foliage. Bacteria enter plants through wounds or natural openings. • Remove infected plant sections. • Carefully consider use of chemical controls— they are often only marginally effective. • If you must use a chemical control, apply a copper hydroxide product such as Kocide®.

Bettles

Caterpillars

Cotton Rot/Root Rot

Description: Fungal plant disease that attacks the roots of plants, turning them brown rather than a healthy white. Cotton root rot is common in soils with a pH over 7.2 and in areas with high summer temperatures.

Problem: Plants wilt, dieback and lose vigor. Control is difficult because symptoms normally appear after damage to the stem or root is severe. Cotton Root Rot moves through the soil from plant to plant, with symptoms usually occurring in July and August.

Attacks: More than 2,000 species of plants including:

• Cotton
• Ornamentals
• Fruit trees
• Nut trees
• Shade trees
• Most landscape plants

Least Toxic Solutions

Cotton Root Rot

• No treatment available once plant is infected.
• Mulch plants to keep soil cool.
• Add organic material to clay soils.
• Use resistant plants, natives and grasses.
• When practical, acidify soil in the root zone of the plant.

Root Rot

• Ensure proper drainage and allow excessively wet soils to dry.
• Plant in raised beds if drainage is marginal.
• Avoid crowding plants in beds.
• Place plants at the same soil depth as they were in the container you purchased them in.
• Because there are several different fungi that cause root rots, have the disease diagnosed at the Texas A & M Plant Disease Lab or by Extension personnel before applying fungicide.

Cycad ScaleFire Ants

Fire Blight

Description: Bacterial disease that causes rapid blackening and desiccation of blooms and foliage. Affected shoots bend at the tip in a "shepherd's hook". Black, sunken twig and branch cankers develop later.

Problem: Fire Blight causes twig dieback and blossom blight in up to 2-24 inches of twig length. The bacterium stays in the cankers over winter and in the spring, oozes from the cankers and is carried by wind, rain and insects to healthy foliage.

Attacks:

• Pears
• Apples
• Pyracantha
• Quince
• Loquat
• Indian Hawthorne
• Photinia

Least Toxic Solutions

• Avoid high nitrogen levels and excessive pruning. Vigorous growth is much more susceptible to fire blight.
• Prune four inches below visible cankers.
• pruning equipment between cuts with one part household bleach to nine parts of water. Clean and oil equipment after pruning.
• Select fire blight resistant varieties and species. Contact the Extension office at 854-9600 for a list.
• With the exception of Kocide® and streptomycin sulfate, chemical controls are usually ineffective.

Fleas

Galls

Lawn Problems

Lawn Problems Spanish

Oak Wilt Prevention

Oak Wilt

Description Fungus that plug water-conducting vessels, reducing flow of water up the stem of the tree. Often causes leaves to wilt and fall prematurely.

Live Oaks: Tree appears weakened. One area of the tree dies at a time. Areas around leaf veins are often brightly colored.

Red Oaks: Die in a flash of fall color in early summer.    

Problem Disease spread by beetles feeding on tree wounds. Also can travel from tree to tree through interconnected roots. Oak Wilt travels 75 feet per year in all directions. Live Oaks die quickly one tree at a time.  

Attacks:

• Blackjack Oak
• Live Oaks
• Schumard Oak
• Spanish Oak/Texas Red Oak

Least Toxic Solutions:

• Prune oak trees only in the coldest part of winter and hottest part of summer.
• Use a pruning paint to protect cut or wounded areas immediately after pruning or wounds are discovered. Sterilize tools after pruning.
• Contact Chris Dolan, City of Austin Oak Wilt Suppression Program at 974-1881 for information.
• Trench 4' deep and at least 100 feet from infected and susceptible trees to sever root connections.
• Only use old, dry wood if you use oak firewood.
• Certified applicators can inject ALAMO® into tree roots. This method is best used as a preventative.

Poison Ivy
Spider Mites
Scale
Snails
Stink Bugs
Thrips
Description
To the naked eye, they look like tiny threads; with a hand lens, their narrow, fringed wings are visible. When holding an infested rose bloom you can see that they are very active. They may even bite!

Infestation
Tattered flowers, deformed flowers, silvery spots or streaks on
leaves - by the time damage is visible the infestation is already severe.
 
Attacks:

• Roses
• Daylilies
• Iris
• other flowers

Lifecycle
Adults lay hundreds of eggs in plant tissue. In Roses, the eggs hatch inside the flower bud. The resulting nymphs scrap plant tissue, then, suck the sap, damaging the flower before it opens. There are many generations per year.

Least Toxic Solutions:
Thrips are notoriously very difficult to control, so early detection is important when trying to keep the populations in check.

• Aim for control rather than eradication. The only way to completely get rid of thrips is to destroy the infested plants - not an option most want to consider
• Remove and dispose of infested blooms
• Clean up leaf litter
• Always read and follow pesticide labels
• Alternate the following treatments:
  • o Spray with Neem oil. For best results the spray needs to come in contact with the insect, but Neem oil is also slightly systemic; meaning some of it will absorb into the plant tissue and help weaken the insect after it feeds on the plant
  • Dust plants and immediate area with diatomaceous earth
  • Use a light weight horticultural oil

Viruses
Description:
Sub-microscopic infectious particles that multiply only inside living cells. Viruses enter plants through wounds and by insects that feed on plants. Symptoms vary but include abnormal color, vein patterns, shape, mottling, ring spots and mosaic patterns in leaves; Can include abnormal flower color and fruit size, shape and color.
 
Problem:
Seldom lethal to plants, but severely affect the quantity, quality and longevity of the host plant.
 
Attacks:
Many types of plants.

Least Toxic Solutions:

• Chemicals do not effectively control virus diseases.
• Select plant stock that is free of viruses.
• Cover susceptible annual garden plants with a row cover fabric   to keep sucking insects away from healthy plants.
• Diseased plants should be removed and destroyed to prevent  infection of other plants by sucking insects that move from   plant to plant.

 
Weeds

Biting & Stinging Insects (Texas A&M)
Choosing an Insect Repellent (EPA)
Mosquitos
Mosquito Safari (Texas A&M)
Poison Ivy

You can look this up on our interactive floodplain map. Or you can call our floodplain hotline at 512-974-2843 or email floodpro@austintexas.gov.

You can look this up on our interactive floodplain map. Or you can call our floodplain hotline at 512-974-2843 or email floodpro@austintexas.gov.

Call 3-1-1. The Watershed Protection Department will send someone to document the flooding. This helps us understand where projects are necessary.

Call your homeowners insurance company and follow their instructions to file a claim and repair your house. A separate flood insurance policy is required to cover damages due to flooding. Here are some precautions: • Check for structural damage before entering your house. Don’t go in if the building might collapse. • Do not use matches, cigarette lighters, or any other open flames, since gas may be trapped inside. Use a flashlight. • Keep power off until an electrician has inspected your system for safety. • Look out for snakes and other animals. • Be careful walking around. Look for nails, broken glass or other hazards. Floors may be slippery due to mud. • Document the damage with photographs. • Clean right away. Throw out food and medicines that may have come in contact with flood water. • Boil water vigorously for five minutes until local authorities proclaim your water supply is safe. • Before you start repairs, contact the Development Assistance Center at 512-974- 6370 about possible permitting requirements.

Download this FEMA publication to find out more about repairing your home: Repairing Your Flooded Home.

Turn Around - Don’t Drown. Approximately 75% of flood fatalities occur in vehicles. Try to avoid driving during heavy rainfall. If you must drive, look for water over the road, avoid low water crossings, and turn around if a road is barricaded or if there is water over the roadway. Keep in mind that at night, during heavy storms, it may be difficult to see that a road is flooded.

There are many other dangers during a flood as well. In general, stay away from creeks and drainage infrastructure during rainfall.  

There is more information about flood safety on our Flood Safety and Preparedness page.

Turn Around - Don’t Drown. Approximately 75% of flood fatalities occur in vehicles. Try to avoid driving during heavy rainfall. If you must drive, look for water over the road, avoid low water crossings, and turn around if a road is barricaded or if there is water over the roadway. Keep in mind that at night, during heavy storms, it may be difficult to see that a road is flooded.

There are many other dangers during a flood as well. In general, stay away from creeks and drainage infrastructure during rainfall.  

There is more information about flood safety on our Flood Safety and Preparedness page.

The 100-year storm is an event that has a 1% chance of occurring in any given year. To put that in perspective, during the span of a 30-year mortgage, there is a 26% chance that a 100-year event will occur.

The amount of rainfall necessary to produce a 100-year storm is partially dependant on the duration of the storm. If the rain falls over the course of 3 hours, it takes about 6 inches for it to be classified as a 100-year rainfall. But if those same 6 inches fall over the course of 3 days, it would be considered a much smaller rainfall event. The standard 100-year design storm for the City of Austin has a duration of 24-hours and produces a total rainfall of over 10 inches. To learn more about rainfall return periods in Austin, see section 2 of the Drainage Criteria Manual.

 During a large storm, it is normal for the intensity to vary widely across the city. In September 2010, Tropical Storm Hermine produced rainfall totals equivalent to a 100-year storm over portions of the Bull Creek watershed. However, other areas of Austin did not experience as severe a storm. Keep in mind that even if a large storm has recently occurred, there is the same percent chance of an equally large storm occurring the following year.

The 100-year storm is an event that has a 1% chance of occurring in any given year. To put that in perspective, during the span of a 30-year mortgage, there is a 26% chance that a 100-year event will occur.

The amount of rainfall necessary to produce a 100-year storm is partially dependant on the duration of the storm. If the rain falls over the course of 3 hours, it takes about 6 inches for it to be classified as a 100-year rainfall. But if those same 6 inches fall over the course of 3 days, it would be considered a much smaller rainfall event. The standard 100-year design storm for the City of Austin has a duration of 24-hours and produces a total rainfall of over 10 inches. To learn more about rainfall return periods in Austin, see section 2 of the Drainage Criteria Manual.

 During a large storm, it is normal for the intensity to vary widely across the city. In September 2010, Tropical Storm Hermine produced rainfall totals equivalent to a 100-year storm over portions of the Bull Creek watershed. However, other areas of Austin did not experience as severe a storm. Keep in mind that even if a large storm has recently occurred, there is the same percent chance of an equally large storm occurring the following year.

Keep monitoring the situation and get ready to potentially evacuate. The flooding may get much worse very fast. In Austin, our creeks can rise several feet in just a few minutes. Keep in mind that the road providing access to your home may become impassible before water enters your house. Leave before the road is flooded.

If there’s time, the following steps can help limit damage:

• Turn off all utilities at the main power switch and close the main gas valve if evacuation appears necessary. • Move valuables, such as important papers, jewelry, and clothing to upper floors or higher elevations. • Fill bathtubs, sinks, and plastic soda bottles with clean water. Sanitize the sinks and tubs first by using bleach and rinsing. • Bring outdoor possessions, such as lawn furniture, grills, and trash cans inside, or tie them down securely.

For guidance in how to prepare an evacuation kit or stock emergency supplies ahead of time, visit Homeland Security and Emergency Management.  

Keep monitoring the situation and get ready to potentially evacuate. The flooding may get much worse very fast. In Austin, our creeks can rise several feet in just a few minutes. Keep in mind that the road providing access to your home may become impassible before water enters your house. Leave before the road is flooded.

If there’s time, the following steps can help limit damage:

• Turn off all utilities at the main power switch and close the main gas valve if evacuation appears necessary. • Move valuables, such as important papers, jewelry, and clothing to upper floors or higher elevations. • Fill bathtubs, sinks, and plastic soda bottles with clean water. Sanitize the sinks and tubs first by using bleach and rinsing. • Bring outdoor possessions, such as lawn furniture, grills, and trash cans inside, or tie them down securely.

For guidance in how to prepare an evacuation kit or stock emergency supplies ahead of time, visit Homeland Security and Emergency Management.  

We look at a number of factors, including safety and cost. Some questions we ask are: 

• What is flooding? Is it a house, a yard or a street that is flooding?
• Are there multiple properties in the same area that are flooding?
• Is there a safe way in and out of the neighborhood during a flood?
• Could improvements to the City’s infrastructure help with this problem? Would increasing the capacity of the storm drain system or raising the roadway help?
• Is there a cost-effective solution?
• Is the problem potentially life threatening?
• Is there a nearby erosion or water quality issue that could also be addressed with a project?
• Is the flooding likely to happen again?

In the right circumstances, almost any road can flood. The ones listed below are the ones that flood most frequently:
• W. 12th St. from Lamar to Shoal Creek Blvd.
• W. 32nd St. at Hemphill Park
• E. 38 1/2 St. between Grayson and Airport Blvd.
• Adelphi Ln. between Scribe Dr. and Waters Park Rd.
• E. Alpine Rd. between Willow Springs and Warehouse Row
• Burleson Rd. between U.S. 183 and FM 973
• Carson Creek Blvd. between Cool Shadow Dr. and Warrior Ln.
• Colton-Bluff Springs Rd. by Alum Rock Dr.
• Convict Hill Rd. between Flaming Oak Place and MoPAC
• David Moore Dr. north of Sweetwater River Dr.
• Delwau Ln. at Shelton Rd.
• W. Dittmar between Loganberry and S. Congress
• Joe Tanner Ln., near Hwy. 290
• Johnny Morris Rd. between FM 969 and Loyola Ln.
• Lakewood Dr., 6700 block
• W. Monroe St. between S. First and Roma St.
• McNeil Dr. between Camino and Burnet
• Nuckols Crossing at Teri Rd.
• Parkfield Dr. from Thornridge to Mearns Meadow
• Possum Trot between Inland Place and Quarry Rd.
• Old Bee Caves Road, near Hwy. 290
• Old San Antonio Rd. between FM 1626 and IH 35
• Old Spicewood Springs Road, between Loop 360 and Spicewood Springs Rd.
• O’Neal Ln., between MoPAC service road and Waters Park Rd.
• Posten Ln., 7900 block
• River Hills Rd., off Cuernavaca
• Rogge Ln. between Ridgemont and Delwood Dr.
• Rutland from Mearns Meadow to N. Lamar
• Spicewood Springs Road, between Loop 360 and Old Lampasas Trl.
• Springdale Rd. from Ferguson to Breeds Hill Dr.
• Wasson Rd. near S. Congress Ave.
• Waters Park Rd. between 183 and MoPAC

Creek flooding occurs when the water rises in a creek and starts flowing out of the banks. Local flooding is not directly associated with a creek. It occurs before the water gets to a creek when runoff from heavy rainfall overwhelms the existing storm drainage system. The stormwater may flow through streets, yards and structures as the water seeks a path to a creek. This may happen because there are not enough ditches or storm drains or because there is something blocking the flow of water. 

A drainage easement is a part of your property where the City has limited rights of access and/or use. Generally, you cannot make any improvements in a drainage easement. That means no fences, sheds, walls, trails or buildings. You should avoid planting trees or much landscaping as well.

A drainage easement has two possible purposes. It may be needed for the flow of storm water. For example, drainage ditches and creeks are typically within a drainage easement. In this case, anything that prevents the flow of water; that might catch debris; that might be washed away; or that might cause a dam-like effect is problematic.

Alternatively, the easement may be needed to access drainage infrastructure. In this case, anything that might make it difficult to drive a truck through or dig up an underground pipe is problematic.

It’s a good idea to determine the risk your property has of flooding. Is your house next to a creek or storm drain channel? Is it located at the low-point of a roadway or at the bottom of a hill? These are indications that flood insurance may be a good idea.

Mortgage companies usually require flood insurance for homes and businesses in the floodplain. Homeowners insurance policies do not cover flooding caused by stormwater.

Keep in mind that people outside of floodplain areas file more than 20% of flood insurance claims and receive about one-third of disaster assistance, when it is available.

For more information about who must purchase flood insurance, download FEMA’s Mandatory Purchase of Flood Insurance Guidelines booklet.

In regard to lowering your premium, you may already be getting a 20% discount because of the steps Austin takes to guard against flooding. In addition, there may be some improvements that you can make to protect your house or business from flooding. For more information, call our hotline at 512-974-2843 or email floodpro@austintexas.gov.

An elevation certificate may also be helpful. Prepared by a surveyor or engineer, elevation certificates show the elevation of your home in comparison with the expected elevation of floodwaters. If the certificate shows that the lowest floor elevation in your house is above the expected inundation levels, it should lower your insurance premium. The City may already have one on file for your house or business, but we cannot guarantee the accuracy. Please call or email us to find out.

Download these FEMA publications to find out more about protecting your property:

• Protecting Manufactured Homes from Floods and Other Hazards
• Homeowner’s Guide to Retrofitting: Six Ways to Protect Your Home from Flooding
• Engineering Principles and Practices for Retrofitting Flood-Prone Residential Structures
• Above the Flood: Elevating your Floodprone House
• Protecting Building Utilities from Flood Damage

It’s a good idea to determine the risk your property has of flooding. Is your house next to a creek or storm drain channel? Is it located at the low-point of a roadway or at the bottom of a hill? These are indications that flood insurance may be a good idea.

Mortgage companies usually require flood insurance for homes and businesses in the floodplain. Homeowners insurance policies do not cover flooding caused by stormwater.

Keep in mind that people outside of floodplain areas file more than 20% of flood insurance claims and receive about one-third of disaster assistance, when it is available.

For more information about who must purchase flood insurance, download FEMA’s Mandatory Purchase of Flood Insurance Guidelines booklet.

In regard to lowering your premium, you may already be getting a 20% discount because of the steps Austin takes to guard against flooding. In addition, there may be some improvements that you can make to protect your house or business from flooding. For more information, call our hotline at 512-974-2843 or email floodpro@austintexas.gov.

An elevation certificate may also be helpful. Prepared by a surveyor or engineer, elevation certificates show the elevation of your home in comparison with the expected elevation of floodwaters. If the certificate shows that the lowest floor elevation in your house is above the expected inundation levels, it should lower your insurance premium. The City may already have one on file for your house or business, but we cannot guarantee the accuracy. Please call or email us to find out.

Download these FEMA publications to find out more about protecting your property:

• Protecting Manufactured Homes from Floods and Other Hazards
• Homeowner’s Guide to Retrofitting: Six Ways to Protect Your Home from Flooding
• Engineering Principles and Practices for Retrofitting Flood-Prone Residential Structures
• Above the Flood: Elevating your Floodprone House
• Protecting Building Utilities from Flood Damage

It’s a good idea to determine the risk your property has of flooding. Is your house next to a creek or storm drain channel? Is it located at the low-point of a roadway or at the bottom of a hill? These are indications that flood insurance may be a good idea.

Mortgage companies usually require flood insurance for homes and businesses in the floodplain. Homeowners insurance policies do not cover flooding caused by stormwater.

Keep in mind that people outside of floodplain areas file more than 20% of flood insurance claims and receive about one-third of disaster assistance, when it is available.

For more information about who must purchase flood insurance, download FEMA’s Mandatory Purchase of Flood Insurance Guidelines booklet.

In regard to lowering your premium, you may already be getting a 20% discount because of the steps Austin takes to guard against flooding. In addition, there may be some improvements that you can make to protect your house or business from flooding. For more information, call our hotline at 512-974-2843 or email floodpro@austintexas.gov.

An elevation certificate may also be helpful. Prepared by a surveyor or engineer, elevation certificates show the elevation of your home in comparison with the expected elevation of floodwaters. If the certificate shows that the lowest floor elevation in your house is above the expected inundation levels, it should lower your insurance premium. The City may already have one on file for your house or business, but we cannot guarantee the accuracy. Please call or email us to find out.

Download these FEMA publications to find out more about protecting your property:

• Protecting Manufactured Homes from Floods and Other Hazards
• Homeowner’s Guide to Retrofitting: Six Ways to Protect Your Home from Flooding
• Engineering Principles and Practices for Retrofitting Flood-Prone Residential Structures
• Above the Flood: Elevating your Floodprone House
• Protecting Building Utilities from Flood Damage

It’s a good idea to determine the risk your property has of flooding. Is your house next to a creek or storm drain channel? Is it located at the low-point of a roadway or at the bottom of a hill? These are indications that flood insurance may be a good idea.

Mortgage companies usually require flood insurance for homes and businesses in the floodplain. Homeowners insurance policies do not cover flooding caused by stormwater.

Keep in mind that people outside of floodplain areas file more than 20% of flood insurance claims and receive about one-third of disaster assistance, when it is available.

For more information about who must purchase flood insurance, download FEMA’s Mandatory Purchase of Flood Insurance Guidelines booklet.

In regard to lowering your premium, you may already be getting a 20% discount because of the steps Austin takes to guard against flooding. In addition, there may be some improvements that you can make to protect your house or business from flooding. For more information, call our hotline at 512-974-2843 or email floodpro@austintexas.gov.

An elevation certificate may also be helpful. Prepared by a surveyor or engineer, elevation certificates show the elevation of your home in comparison with the expected elevation of floodwaters. If the certificate shows that the lowest floor elevation in your house is above the expected inundation levels, it should lower your insurance premium. The City may already have one on file for your house or business, but we cannot guarantee the accuracy. Please call or email us to find out.

Download these FEMA publications to find out more about protecting your property:

• Protecting Manufactured Homes from Floods and Other Hazards
• Homeowner’s Guide to Retrofitting: Six Ways to Protect Your Home from Flooding
• Engineering Principles and Practices for Retrofitting Flood-Prone Residential Structures
• Above the Flood: Elevating your Floodprone House
• Protecting Building Utilities from Flood Damage

It’s a good idea to determine the risk your property has of flooding. Is your house next to a creek or storm drain channel? Is it located at the low-point of a roadway or at the bottom of a hill? These are indications that flood insurance may be a good idea.

Mortgage companies usually require flood insurance for homes and businesses in the floodplain. Homeowners insurance policies do not cover flooding caused by stormwater.

Keep in mind that people outside of floodplain areas file more than 20% of flood insurance claims and receive about one-third of disaster assistance, when it is available.

For more information about who must purchase flood insurance, download FEMA’s Mandatory Purchase of Flood Insurance Guidelines booklet.

In regard to lowering your premium, you may already be getting a 20% discount because of the steps Austin takes to guard against flooding. In addition, there may be some improvements that you can make to protect your house or business from flooding. For more information, call our hotline at 512-974-2843 or email floodpro@austintexas.gov.

An elevation certificate may also be helpful. Prepared by a surveyor or engineer, elevation certificates show the elevation of your home in comparison with the expected elevation of floodwaters. If the certificate shows that the lowest floor elevation in your house is above the expected inundation levels, it should lower your insurance premium. The City may already have one on file for your house or business, but we cannot guarantee the accuracy. Please call or email us to find out.

Download these FEMA publications to find out more about protecting your property:

• Protecting Manufactured Homes from Floods and Other Hazards
• Homeowner’s Guide to Retrofitting: Six Ways to Protect Your Home from Flooding
• Engineering Principles and Practices for Retrofitting Flood-Prone Residential Structures
• Above the Flood: Elevating your Floodprone House
• Protecting Building Utilities from Flood Damage

The dam safety rules can be found in the Drainage Criteria Manual Section 8.3.4.B.

Click to dowload the City’s Integrated Pest Management Plan for Stormwater Ponds (4.7 MB PDF). (link: http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/watershed/downloads/spdsp_ipm_web.pdf)
creek
 

It’s a good idea to determine the risk your property has of flooding. Is your house next to a creek or storm drain channel? Is it located at the low-point of a roadway or at the bottom of a hill? These are indications that flood insurance may be a good idea.

Mortgage companies usually require flood insurance for homes and businesses in the floodplain. Homeowners insurance policies do not cover flooding caused by stormwater.

Keep in mind that people outside of floodplain areas file more than 20% of flood insurance claims and receive about one-third of disaster assistance, when it is available.

For more information about who must purchase flood insurance, download FEMA’s Mandatory Purchase of Flood Insurance Guidelines booklet.   

This question is impossible to answer except in hindsight. When someone dies, there is a temptation to think the result might have been different if they had just stayed in the car or had just managed to get out of the car. Calling 9-1-1 when your vehicle first stalls has helped some people survive. The best thing is to avoid this situation, by turning around if a road is flooded. Better yet, avoid driving in heavy rainfall, since sometimes visibility is so poor, it is hard to see that a road is flooded. 

Yes, it is a Class B misdemeanor in Texas to drive around a barricade at a flooded road. This is the same as a DWI. If caught, you may be arrested, have your car impounded, spend up to 180 days in jail and/or be fined up to $2000. You may also be charged for the cost of your rescue.

Yes, it is a Class B misdemeanor in Texas to drive around a barricade at a flooded road. This is the same as a DWI. If caught, you may be arrested, have your car impounded, spend up to 180 days in jail and/or be fined up to $2000. You may also be charged for the cost of your rescue.

If a road is flooded, turn around and find an alternate route. Don’t risk drowning by trying to cross it. Most flood fatalities occur in vehicles. 

Depending on how much rain there’s been, Austin’s creeks may be bone dry, gently flowing with water or a raging torrent. The floodplain is the area of land that is likely to be under water when the creek rushes over its banks. In a sense, the floodplain is the full extension of the creek. 

The 100-year floodplain is the land that is predicted to flood during a 100-year storm, which has a 1% chance of occurring in any given year. You may also hear the 100-year floodplain called the 1% annual chance floodplain or base flood. Areas within the 100-year floodplain may flood in much smaller storms as well. The 100-year floodplain is used by FEMA to administer the federal flood insurance program and the City of Austin to regulate development.

Our current studies will follow the FEMA process for revision of floodplain maps.

• Information Gathering: Surveyors and engineers collect information in the field and from construction plans.
• Engineering and Mapping: Engineers and technical staff will then incorporate the new survey data into the current floodplain models to produce draft floodplain maps.
• Stakeholder Meetings: The draft floodplain maps and supporting engineering data are presented to community and stakeholders.
• Production and Distribution of Preliminary Maps: Based on comments received during stakeholder meetings, the City produces preliminary floodplain maps and prepares them for distribution to the community.
• Public Meetings and Appeal Period: The preliminary maps are made available to the public. There will be an opportunity for the public to review and formally appeal the maps.
• Production of Final Maps: Appeals and protests are reviewed and revisions made to the maps if justified.
• Adoption of Revised Maps: Maps are officially adopted by FEMA and the City of Austin.

Please call our hotline at 512-974-2843 or email floodpro@austintexas.gov.

The 100-year floodplain is the land that is predicted to flood during a 100-year storm, which has a 1% chance of occurring in any given year. You may also hear the 100-year floodplain called the 1% annual chance floodplain or base flood. Areas within the 100-year floodplain may flood in much smaller storms as well. The 100-year floodplain is used by FEMA to administer the federal flood insurance program and the City of Austin to regulate development.

• FEMA
• Travis County Floodplain Management
• Williamson County Floodplain Management
• Bastrop County Floodplain Management

• Risk of Property Damage: If your home is in the 100-year floodplain, it has a 26% chance of being flooded over the course of a 30-year mortgage. There are steps you can take to reduce property damage. For more information, visit www.floodsmart.gov, explore our FAQs or call our hotline at 512-974-2843.

• Safety: Flooding can be deadly. Monitor the weather, consider purchasing a NOAA Weather Radio and prepare a family disaster plan. Learn more about where the floodplain is located on our interactive floodplain map. For more information about flood safety, visit our Flood Safety and Preparedness page.

• Restrictions: Stricter permit regulations apply for any building, remodeling, construction or other development on properties in the floodplain. In some cases, it may be impossible to get a permit. For more information on restrictions, go to Floodplain Development Information.

We usually receive grant funding for buyouts, and the process depends on the type of grant. We will first get an independent appraisal. We will use this to make an offer based on fair market value. If the property owner accepts the offer, we will then help locate comparable housing. After closing, we will demolish the house that was bought and maintain the land as open space. There will be no future development on that piece of land. 

You do not have to sell your home at this time for the Onion Creek buyouts. We will skip over property owners who do not want to sell until the project’s end, which may be years away. However, at the end of the project, we will return to those who did not want to sell.  At that time, we will explain the eminent domain process. Please call Elaine Verver at 512-453-5501 for more information.

Our real estate agents will help you find comparable housing outside of a floodplain. The buyout includes funding for relocation costs. This will help cover any difference in cost between your current home and the comparable ones. The families who have already been bought out have told us that this process worked well for them, and they were happy with their new homes.

Austin has over 900 miles of storm drains, over 30,000 inlets, and about 200 miles of drainage ditches.

The formula for employees with five (5) and up to seven (7) years is:
Completed years of uninterrupted service (up to seven years) X .0025 X hourly rate X scheduled work week (e.g., 40) X 52 (weeks of the year) OR $500, whichever is less.
For employees with seven (7) and up to fifteen (15) years:
Completed years of uninterrupted service (up to fifteen years) x .0025 x hourly rate x scheduled work week x 52 weeks of the year OR $1000, whichever is less.
The formula for employees with more than fifteen (15) years of service is:
Completed years of uninterrupted service x .0025 x hourly rate x scheduled work week x 52 weeks OR $1500, whichever is less.

Pay for Performance is a pay strategy developed by the City of Austin to reward employees who meet or exceed job expectations. Pay for Performance is based on the Success Strategy Performance Review (SSPR), a tool that tells employees how well they are doing in their jobs. SSPR evaluation results determine who is eligible for pay increases under the program.

To find out who your Human Resources Liaison is for your specific department, please call or e-mail Compensation. hrd.compensation@ci.austin.tx.us

A salary survey is a gathered sample of data regarding fixed compensation for services, paid to a person on a regular basis.

Once a Sister City is approved, citizens then form a volunteer-run Sister Cities committee, a 501 (c) 3 organization. This committee is responsible for maintaining the partnership, and each Sister City relationship is unique. Sister City committees have hosted exhibitions of art from Sister Cities, organized educational exchanges, contributed to charitable organizations in the partner city, created international business development offices for Austin companies, established training exchanges for city workers, organized cook-offs featuring traditional cuisine, and more. For more information about specific Sister City exchanges or events, visit the individual Sister Cities pages.

Contact the Sister Cities/International Program Coordinator at 512-974-6418 or the chair of the Sister City Committee you are interested in. Contact information for committee chairs is available on the individual Sister City pages.

Complete the registration form on the professional training webpage and submit payment following instructions on the registration form.

• Landscapers – 15 credits were approved
  • Texas Nursery and Landscape Association Certification Renewal Requirements
• Pesticide Applicators – 6  credits were approved
  • Texas Department of Agriculture Pesticide Applicator CEU Information
• Some certifications are self-documenting
• Arborists  - see the post approval process
  • International Society of Arboriculture CEU Information
• Irrigators can not receive any CEUs at this training, but check with the City of Austin Water Conservation Division about upcoming seminars for irrigation contractors
  • Texas Irrigation License Renewal Information
• Landscape Architects – per TABE, CEU credit interpretation is left up to the individual; however, our interpretation is the lectures on the first day would qualify for two sustainable and one structured category credit,
  • Texas Board of Architectural Examiners CEU Information

After evaluating the program, it was determined the classes do not justify the term "Certified." The City's Grow Green program does not have the authority to provide landscaping certifications. All of the benefits will remain the same - only the name has changed.

Participants will continue to receive educational classes on a variety of timely topics, recognition on the Grow Green webpage, CEUs and the right to link to the Grow Green webpage from their businesses websites.

Those eligible for the training include landscape contractors and developers based in Austin, as well as City of Austin employees involved with landscape design, installation or management responsibilities.

Native and Adapted Landscape Plants Guide - (Downloadable)

Native and Adapted Landscape Plants Guide - (Searchable)

Grow Green Resources

Send the following information to the program coordinator:

• The number of people who will mark drains (and note if any participants are under age 18)
• The area of town most convenient for you (name a street intersection) or if you are willing to work anywhere there is a need
• Possible times/dates to set up a 5-10 minute appointment to review the process and sign paperwork.

1. Read through all of the action items and give yourself points for those you make a habit.
2. Tally your points
   • Green Neighbor
   • Green Heigborhood
3. When you reach the goal, YOU WIN!   Fill out, print, and submit your Green Tally Sheet.

There are several ways you can help, such as:

• Marking storm drains
• Volunteering for a clean-up

Yes. AHFC will also accept the class certificate from these local organizations:

• Business & Community Lenders of Texas, 512-383-0025 ext. 100, www.bclhomeownershipcenter.org
• Foundation Communities, 512-215-1295, www.foundcom.org
• Frameworks CDC, 512-385-1500, www.frameworkscdc.org

The Home Buyer Education Certificates are acceptable for one year after class completion. The above three organizations use the same curriculum as Housing Smarts with Austin Housing Finance Corporation. However, please note that they may charge a registration fee.

We calculate your DPA check amount based on how much you actually need, or your “demonstrated financial gap.” First, we look at the actual costs: your home sales price plus your estimated closing costs. Next, we look at actual money being paid towards purchase the home: the loan amount your lender has approved for you, plus any money the seller is contributing, plus the earnest money you contributed when you signed your sales contract, plus certain lender required costs that you paid for in advance that, plus gift funds received. We help with the gap between the actual costs and the actual money being paid towards the purchase of the home. Not all closing costs are covered by DPA. A list of eligible costs are posted on the application. Program guidelines will allow AFHC to cover certain types of closing costs.

Be cautious in making sure that your Realtor and Lender are familiar with Foreclosures and dealing with Foreclosure Sellers. Sometimes, Sellers of foreclosed properties are uncomfortable signing DPA documents. Additionally, often times, foreclosed properties may be considered “fixer upper” properties which may result in a failed HQS inspection. AHFC requires all failed inspection issues to be repaired or replaced prior to closing the loan transaction. Often times, sellers of foreclosed properties prohibit repairs prior to closing. Finally, all utilities must be on and verifiable as working properly in addition the property being considered readily habitable and safe according to the HQS Inspection criteria in order to pass inspection.

On our website under “First Time Home Buyer Down Payment Assistance” we have posted instructions for using a city mapping site to see if a property address is inside Austin City Limits and is eligible for DPA. Follow the steps to verify an address, or you can call our staff to help you. Remember that just because a property has an Austin mailing address, it does not mean that it is inside the city limits. Also, some neighborhoods in Del Valle, Pflugerville, and other outlying areas actually fall within the Austin City Limits and could be eligible for DPA.

Sign up for free homebuyer education classes as soon as possible. Call Janice Kinchion at 512-974-6001 or visit the Homebuyer Counseling page for more information about free classes called “Housing Smarts.”  The classes are required for anyone interested in Down Payment Assistance. After you complete the classes, then get approved for a mortgage loan through one of the DPA Participating Lenders posted on our website. Your lender will later complete a DPA application for you and submit it to us about 3 to 4 weeks before your closing.

Your household must meet all program requirements and criteria. In addition, your household must meet or fall below the annual income and asset limits set forth by program guidelines. Furthermore, the property you purchase must pass the HQS Inspection and finally, your first lien mortgage loan must also meet program guidelines. First, you must be a first-time homebuyer (as defined in the DPA brochure and application) who has not owned any property in the last three years or has been displaced as a result of divorce. Households cannot have more income and assets than the limits posted for your household size on the DPA application. Then, your lender must make sure the details of your mortgage loan fit within certain criteria set forth by DPA program guidelines. See the DPA application for more information and additional requirements.

Your DPA Participating Lender will turn in your DPA application package to us about 3 to 4 complete weeks* before your closing. We only accept it if everything listed in the checklist in the front of the application is provided. That gives the City enough time to review it, inspect the house, and print a check and closing documents for your title company. *Depending on underwriting review of the application and supporting documentation, there is a possibility of the requirement for clarification of information or additional documentation. Therefore, processing times do vary and can take longer than the typical 3 to 4 weeks.

No. The DPA Programs are not credit score driven. However, Down Payment Assistance is to be used in combination with a Mortgage Loan. Your Mortgage Lender may have credit score requirments.

The DPA Participating Lenders listed on our website are the only professionals who have attended training and committed to a Participating Lender Agreement. Therefore, they are the only Lenders who are authorized to submit DPA applications on your behalf. If the lender and loan officer you are currently working with are not on the DPA Participating Lender list, they are not authorized to submit any DPA applications until they have been trained and approved to do so. Lenders can visit the DPA website to learn of future training sessions so they may become Participating Lenders. The Participating Lender list is subject to change without notice and based on the discretion of AHFC.

Yes. Federal regulation determines one to be a first-time home buyer if they have not owned real estate in the most recent three complete years or if they were displaced from their home due to a divorce.

Although AHFC does not require Real Estate Agents to attend training for DPA before helping you, it is highly recommended. As a courtesy to you, a list of all Real Estate Agents who have attended training in the last fiscal year is posted on the DPA website. Applicants are not required to enlist the assistance of the Real Estate Agents listed on our website. The Participating Agents list is subject to change without notice and based on the discretion of AHFC.

Check with your lender to see if homebuyer education certification requires that both of you attend.

There is no fee and the textbook is included.

You can sign up for the post-purchase class, as a refresher and your certificate will be extended for another year.

You can take homebuyer education through any number of our partners including Frameworks CDC 512-385-1500, CCCS of Austin 512-447-0711 each are certified housing counselors and each has flexible schedules.

Because this is large class that meets at night for three hours, we ask that you find child care while you are in attendance.

Your eligibility to buy a home will be determined by your lender, this class only guarantees that you have met the requirements for homebuyer education.

DBRA is a set of laws enacted to provide labor standards on certain federally-funded projects.  DBRA specifies the minimum wage a worker in a certain trade should receive, requires that workers be paid weekly, requires that they receive 1.5 times their hourly wage for any hours worked over 40 hours in a single week, and makes unauthorized payroll deductions or kickbacks to employers illegal.  Locally, a Labor Standards Officer (LSO) will be appointed to a particular project, and the LSO is responsible for reviewing weekly certified payrolls submitted by contractors and subcontractors.  The LSO ensures the requirements of DBRA described above are met.

“Section 3” refers to Section 3 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968 which requires that recipients of certain HUD financial assistance, to the greatest extent possible, provide job training, employment, and contract opportunities for low- or very-low income residents in connection with projects and activities in their neighborhoods.

On federally-funded projects, reporting is required if any contract or subcontract exceeds $10,000.  However, because the reporting form collects additional useful information, AHFC often requires it on non-federal contracts as well.

The process of providing weekly certified payrolls begins when construction begins. HUD’s Website for DBRA: http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/labor_relations...

“Section 3” refers to Section 3 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968 which requires that recipients of certain HUD financial assistance, to the greatest extent possible, provide job training, employment, and contract opportunities for low- or very-low income residents in connection with projects and activities in their neighborhoods.

On federally-funded projects, reporting is required if any contract or subcontract exceeds $10,000.  However, because the reporting form collects additional useful information, AHFC often requires it on non-federal contracts as well.

The process of providing weekly certified payrolls begins when construction begins. HUD’s Website for DBRA: http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/labor_relations...

AHFC provides a number of construction programs:

• ABR- To remove architectural barriers in the home
• HRLP- To address code related deficiencies in the home
• Holly Good Neighbor program- To make repairs to homes in their HGNP boundaries
• LeadSmart Program- To address lead based paint hazards in homes built before 1978

Applicants must reside within the City of Austin City limits.

You should begin the process at the earliest possible time if you believe federal funds may be used in the project.  The first thing to do is determine what level of review is necessary and follow the established procedures to achieve Environmental Compliance.

Mortgage Revenue Bonds are tax-exempt negotiable instruments that provide funding for mortgages.  The bonds are repayable from the mortgages, however the full faith and credit of the City or the AHFC is not pledged to repay them.

CHDO stands for Community Housing Development Organization, a special federal designation for non-profit affordable housing organizations that meet certain qualifications.  Certain amounts of funding are reserved for CHDOs only, such as 15% of the City’s annual HOME allocation, eligibility for pre-development loans, and eligibility for operating expenses grants.

CHDO Toolbox:  http://www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/affordablehousing/library/modelguides/200...

The bonds are sold to institutional investors to create a pool of money that will fund mortgages for first-time homebuyers at below-market interest rates.  As a homebuyer makes mortgage payments over time, the bondholders will be repaid the principal they invested plus periodic interest.

There are a number of requirements an organization must meet to become certified as a CHDO.  The NHCD CHDO Certification Application spells out the requirements. 

The certification is found at: http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/ahfc/downloads/Certification%20Application%20...

The cash generated from the sale of the bonds is deposited with a Trustee to help finance the multi-family development.  The bonds are repayable only from the rents.  The AHFC is a “conduit” bond issuer and does not assume any liability for the bond issue.

Any project or activity assisted with federal funds must undergo an environmental review to ensure the project or activity “will not have a significant adverse environmental impact and to encourage the modification of projects to enhance environmental quality and minimize environmental harm.”  [24 CFR 50 § 50.3] 

Following the procedures established by HUD to perform an environmental review constitutes Environmental Compliance.

Count on 3 to 6 months.  Each project is different, and there are many factors that can affect the length of time needed to move an application through the approval and loan closing process:  environmental review, deal structuring, lead time needed to get an item on the Council agenda if necessary, preparation and review of loan documents, other lenders’ requirements, etc.

If federal funds are to be used, Environmental Compliance is always applicable.  However, the level of review required depends on the activity or project.  Certain activities are considered “Exempt” because by their very nature, they will have no impact on the environment (Example:  administrative activities using federal funds).  Other activities require more in-depth review because of the work to be done, such as development and construction of a new subdivision.

Supportive housing is built to blend seamlessly with buildings around it. Not-for-profit organizations typically develop supportive housing to be either the nicest building on the block or ‘invisible’ to enhance desirability for neighbors and tenants.  In some areas, it might be a few units within an existing apartment complex, and in other areas it might be an entire building.

Permanent supportive housing is a combination of extremely affordable housing and support services tailored to each individual or family. Just like their neighbors, people who live in supportive housing sign leases, have keys, and pay rent.

The range of services offered is flexible and depends on the needs of the residents. They can include medical and mental healthcare, vocational and employment services, child care, substance-abuse counseling, and independent living skills training.

1. October 2011 Update on Permanent Supportive Housing 2. City of Austin FY 2011-12 Action Plan, beginning on page 3-34 3. City of Austin Permanent Supportive Housing Strategy, Sept. 2010 4. Austin/Travis County ECHO Housing Report – Services for Permanent Supportive Housing 5. Executive Summary: Permanent Supportive Housing Program and Financial Model for Austin/Travis County, Texas 6. Permanent Supportive Housing Program and Financial Model Austin/Travis County, Texas 7. Presentation: Permanent Supportive Housing Program and Financial Model Austin/Travis County, Texas 8. Public Input Presentation, August 2010

Residents will primarily include Austin's most vulnerable chronically homeless population, many of whom are frequent users of public services like 911, courts and hospitals. Tenants can include people with psychiatric disabilities, people with histories of addiction, seniors, families, people living with HIV and AIDS, and young adults transitioning out of foster care. In most cases the service provider organization selects tenants from its own waitlist or pool of clients, and lets other agencies know when they have an opening. They then screen the client based on their particular program or tenant screening guidelines.

The City of Austin does not discriminate on the basis of disability in the admission or access to, treatment or employment in its programs or activities. Reasonable accommodations will be provided upon request in the employment process. Visit the City of Austin ADA page for more information.

When your application is complete, you will receive a confirmation number by email. Your application will be screened by the appropriate hiring manager and the Human Resources staff. The hiring manager will select applicants for interviews; and if you have been selected for an interview, the department will call you to schedule an interview. After interviews are conducted, a top candidate is identified. The hiring department conducts credential and required license validations, references, and background checks. The hiring department contacts the top candidate to make a job offer.

A grant position is funded by an organization outside the City. The allocation of monies is subject to modification, reduction or cancellation by action of the City of Austin or the grantor.

Applicants

• Can review the entire job posting, including the supplemental questions and requirement for attachments such as resume and/or cover letter
• Will receive an e-mail notification immediately upon completion of application with their confirmation number
• May view the status of positions for which they applied online like "application received/screening in progress or position filled"
• May print their application from the system

Some clerical level positions with the City of Austin require a typing test. If a position requires a typing test, it will be stated in the "Minimum Qualifications" section of the job posting. Typing tests can be taken at any Texas WorkSource Center. Please contact your nearest center for its typing test schedule.

Contact these departments directly for more information.

• Austin Police Department
• Fire Department
• Austin-Travis County EMS

The qualifications for each position are listed in "Minimum Qualifications" section of the advertisement. Some positions allow for a substitution of additional work experience instead of the educational requirement or vice versa. If a position allows for a substitution it will be stated in the advertisement. If it is not stated in the advertisement, the position does not allow for a substitution. You must meet all of the qualifications of the position for which you are applying.

When substitutions are allowed use the following guidelines:

• Undergraduate hours: 30 semester hours of college = 1 year of work experience
• Graduate hours: 24 semester hours of college = 1 year of work experience
• Clock hours: 480 clock hours = 1 year of work experience
• Full-time work experience vs. part-time work experience: Calculations for work experience are based on full-time experience. Full-time experience equals 40 hours or more of work per week. Part-time work experience is counted as half of the total length of experience (i.e. 2 years part-time work experience = 1 year full-time work experience).
• Volunteer experience vs. paid work experience: Related volunteer work experience may be considered as qualifying work experience. Volunteer experience must be completely documented.

If a position requires a background check it will be noted on the job posting. The hiring department will provide you more information about getting the background check.

The Trade and Investment Program has established business connections on several continents. Contact the International Economic Development Manager at 512-974-6416 for assistance. The program also periodically hosts information sessions about how to do business in certain countries or world regions. Sign up for the International Economic Development Program Newsletter to receive information on upcoming sessions. Also, local members of our Sister Cities committees may have personal experience, cultural expertise and business contacts for you to consider. Contact the Sister Cities/International Program Coordinator at 512-974-6418 for specific information on Sister Cities committees and their upcoming meeting dates.

The International Economic Development Program frequently organizes events which enable local business people to interact with visiting trade delegations or global business experts. These events are announced through our newsletter, which you can sign up for here. Also, Austin’s various chambers of commerce offer monthly opportunities for business networking.

There are many important factors to consider before your company begins importing/exporting. For a consultation, please contact the International Economic Development Manager at (512) 974-6416. You can also attend one of our International Trade Education Series courses on importing or exporting. Sign up for the International Program Newsletter  to receive detailed information about upcoming classes.

The Trade and Investment Program has established business connections on several continents. Contact the International Economic Development Manager at 512-974-6416 for assistance. The program also periodically hosts information sessions about how to do business in certain countries or world regions. Sign up for the International Economic Development Program Newsletter to receive information on upcoming sessions. Also, local members of our Sister Cities committees may have personal experience, cultural expertise and business contacts for you to consider. Contact the Sister Cities/International Program Coordinator at 512-974-6418 for specific information on Sister Cities committees and their upcoming meeting dates.

The same permits regarding use of public property for commercial films, also apply for student films.

Commercial General Liability insurance with a minimum limit of $500,000 per occurrence is required on most City of Austin property, with the City of Austin named as an additional insured.

Insurance Requirements for Filming (PDF)

Other specific coverage provisions that are required by other permits, reservation agreements, or lease agreements for these City properties will also be enforced. For other details about insurance, please contact Carol Vance at 512-974-3264.

Austin Energy facilities have minimum requirements of $1,000,000 for certain liabilities. For more details about these Austin Energy requirements contact Ingrid Weigand at 512-972-9521.

Insurance Requirements for Filming at Austin Energy Facilities (PDF)

Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (ABIA) has minimum requirements of $5,000,000 for certain liabilities. For more details about these requirements contact Jason Zielinski at 512-530-6618.

Insurance Requirements for Filming in Airport Operations Area (PDF)

Insurance Requirements for Filming Outside Airport Operations Area (PDF)

In the event of a street closure, all property owners/residents whose property is adjacent to the area sought to be closed must be notified and provided with a map of the area, which indicates all obstructions to be placed in the closure area. The notification must indicate by signature, whether the property owner/resident approves or disapproves of the proposed closure. For additional information, contact Margaret Guerrero, Right-of-Way Management, 512-974-2217.

AISD 5th grade teachers that have been trained and attended a week of Earth Camp led by City staff may participate in Teacher-Led Earth Camp! To schedule contact Susan Wall

The four Earth Camp Field Guides are available below for you to download. They require Adobe Acrobat Reader for viewing. If you are scheduled for Teacher-Led Earth Camp, an Assistant will bring the field trip materials. If you would like to purchase materials, reference the "Materials" PDF file.

Field Trip Guide Contents * required when leading Teacher-Led Earth Camp

Edwards Aquifer/Barton Springs

• * Sinkhole Lesson
• * Barton Springs Tour Lesson (210 kb)
• * Tour Map
• * Splash! Exhibit Lesson (111 kb)
• Cave PowerPoint Lesson (42 kb)
• Cave PowerPoint Presentation

Scavenger Hunt *only print the Lesson for the Park you will visit

• * Blunn Creek Scavenger Hunt Lesson (122 kb)
• Blunn Creek Game Sheet (57 kb)
• Blunn Creek Trail Map (522 kb)
• Blunn Creek Land Use Map (5.5 mb)

• * Bull Creek Scavenger Hunt Lesson (214 kb)
• Bull Creek Game Sheet (92 kb)
• Bull Creek Trail Map (4 mb)
• Bull Creek Land Use Map (8.5 mb)

• * Walnut Creek Scavenger Hunt Lesson (167 kb)
• Walnut Creek Game Sheet (9 kb)
• Walnut Creek Trail Map (146 kb)
• Walnut Creek Land Use Map (986 kb)

• *Slaughter Creek Scavenger Hunt Lesson(121 kb)
• Slaughter Creek Student Sheet (9 kb)
• Slaughter Creek Land Use Map (483kb)
• Slaughter Creek Trail Map (510 kb)

• Creek Observation Data Sheet (146 kb)
• Flowers (3.8 mb)
• Ammonite (407 kb)

Green Classroom

• * Watershed Pollution Activity Lesson (110 kb)
• * Nine Square Puzzle Lesson (112 kb)
• * Soak In Run Off Lesson (108 kb)
• Green Gardening Lesson (111 kb)

Macroinvertebrate Activities

• Macroinvertebrate Test Lesson (204 kb)
• Bug Pollution Test-English (2.25 mb)
• Bug Pollution Test-Spanish (2.25 mb)
• Aquatic Bug Game (26kb)

McKinney Falls

• Smith Rock Shelter Trail (327kb)

Can I plant or remove a tree in the public Right of Way?

Trees that are located within the public Right of Way are public trees, and are regulated by the Parks and Recreation Department Urban Forestry.    Public trees that are close to power lines are maintained by Austin Energy.

My neighbor's tree limbs are growing over my property line - can I prune these limbs?

This can be a tricky issue. Prior to any action occurring neighbors are encouraged to interact and discuss their concerns. Legally, this is a civil matter between the property owners. Typically a landowner may remove vegetation that crosses their property line (or the air space directly above it). We encourage establishing a plan that has been approved by all parties. We also encourage using ideal pruning techniques. *Note - No more than 30% of the canopy can be removed without a permit if the tree is protected size.

Will the City pick up my tree and yard clippings?

The City's Austin Resource Recovery (formerly Solid Waste Services) manages these concerns. 

Will the City prune or remove my tree?

The property owner is responsible for completing the required maintenance. If the tree is located on public property the City may perform the work. See Parks and Recreation Department Urban Forestry for additional information.

Who can I contact with specific problems with trees?

There are multiple tree-related concerns that will determine if the City can assist you. Are limbs hampering traffic flow? Is a fallen tree clogging a waterway? Has a tree fallen on utility lines? Is a tree blocking the alley? Is a tree creating a blind spot at an intersection? The following list helps to identify whom to contact about your specific tree maintenance issues:

Power lines and street lamps - Contact Austin Energy at 494-9400

All other tree related concerns - contact 3-1-1

What are some benefits of trees?

Trees supply character to a landscape, create a sense-of-place, provide a habitat for plants and animals, promote interacting within the community, temper local climate, reduce stormwater runoff/erosion, diminish building lines, conceal unsightly views, provide solitude, assist in conserving energy, and increase property values.

What type of tree is this?

There are over 100 tree species in the Hill Country area. Access the following sites for additional information: Austin Grow Green and Texas A&M Horticulture - Texas Native Trees.

How do I measure a tree?

See illustration

How do you tell the age of a tree?

The Texas Forest Service states, "Every year a tree goes through a growing season when conditions are right for it to gain size. A ring forms on the inside of tree for each year that tree has been alive. A simple core sample can be taken using a special tool known as an increment borer. The rings on this core sample are then counted to determine the age of that tree."

Prices for single-family homes at Mueller have yet to be determined; however, the diverse housing will help ensure that homes will be available in a range of prices, including affordable housing.

The Master Development Agreement is the agreement between the City and Catellus, which governs the transfer of land, the deconstruction of existing improvements, the construction of infrastructure, sales to third parties and numerous other development obligations and responsibilities.

A total of up to 4 million square feet of commercial development is anticipated at Mueller, including:

• Approximately 2.5 million square feet of office
• Approximately 1.1 million square-feet for the Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas (at build-out)
• Approximately 650,000 square feet of retail
• Approximately 20 acres for the Austin Film Studios complex

It will take approximately 10 to 20 years to redevelop Mueller, depending upon market conditions.