Austin City Hall

Austin Energy and Austin Water officials said equipment, pipes and utility plants have been weatherized to better handle winter. Communication strategies have also been improved so staff can better talk with each other and update the public.

The City Council approved an additional $2.6 million to the project and extended the contract with nonprofit Family Eldercare to March 2024.

Foundation Communities and Mobile Loaves and Fishes are working on a new project in South Austin that will serve people who have experienced homelessness. But before construction began the two groups wanted to connect away from the taxing work they do.

The city's homeless strategy division will move out from under Austin Public Health and stand on its own, the city manager announced Tuesday. The new Homeless Strategy Office will launch Dec. 4.

In July, the city leased the building, with the goal of reopening it as an overnight shelter with 150 beds. Now, the city can make that decision more permanent. It's expected to open by the end of the month.

The Austin City Council voted to give a 100% property tax exemption to eligible child care operators beginning in 2024. The city will also look at how to provide similar relief to other operators who are not eligible.

The City of Austin requires developers to dedicate a certain amount of land to parks or pay a fee, but a new state law will significantly gut the progressive rules.

Relocating a home in Austin can be complicated and expensive. On Thursday, the city said it would look at how to remove those barriers.

The new system sends urgent information, like where to find shelter during a cold snap, directly to a person's cellphone. More than 3,500 people received the first alerts last week, the city says.

The proposed changes include increasing the number of homes that can be built on a piece of land. The first of three public hearings is Thursday.