[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6458650,"mediaKeyId","5811817-3118835a9659ae2733a3edc16ffebcb1","parentId",5811817,"title","Task force debates cross-cutting criteria for prioritizing $3.9 billion project list; equity, climate and feasibility emerge as central concerns","audioSeconds",2210,"startMs",2110000,"endMs",4320000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5811817-3118835a9659ae2733a3edc16ffebcb1&start=2110&end=4320","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5811817-3118835a9659ae2733a3edc16ffebcb1/thumbnail_2110000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6458650/Austin/Travis-County/Texas/Task-force-debates-cross-cutting-criteria-for-prioritizing-39-billion-project-list-equity-climate-and-feasibility-emerge-as-central-concerns","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6458650-741787e6cc7412ffadf74451eef3a971/orig.mp4?Expires=1770509992&Signature=Mj7rAA9B8rvJEJCIj2xRcgN9Zt0G1Axe8qL9yk8aT6IphpR-LZRuNYmgFrE8L98vmJ03ZF1nlJK7XOy6Hu6iF1wcNXz3-wT9VmoAQwaYXw7Mt-V4UxfSidFX2v93Ha~HuHupQ6YR1NcmjByuzTCRdSjBrLLeOdiWwJ9wXSARgS4Zimv~fATZkd9E~FVZcxJu5zUxOif4rXfLnapKibZn9GVj4ueBl~saSwGQdG-LjRUWQFgVGQ5Cu3bgZXHrQaHiAgTM~u1Xzxvz8vo6UzSj53o9bwJCgAJNc15AWo1KxJBgm-Hp9fv8xaNgoktr4GwHnV912ZII3BjN2LHmjQ94VQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Austin","date","2025-09-22T00:00:00Z","article","The 2026 Bond Election Advisory Task Force spent substantial time Thursday discussing the cross-cutting criteria it will use to winnow a citywide project inventory estimated at roughly $3.9 billion into a bond package the task force expects to recommend for a future ballot.

Task force members said the group should apply consistent, citywide “filters” to very different project types—libraries, parks, stormwater, sidewalks and programmatic requests—rather than attempt direct apples-to-apples scoring across categories. Several members proposed cross-cutting questions the full task force could use to evaluate projects, including whether a project: (1) serves multiple benefits; (2) leverages other funding; (3) can be completed within the bond cycle; (4) addresses historically marginalized neighborhoods; and (5) reduces greenhouse-gas emissions or otherwise advances climate goals.

“Has reduction/mitigation of greenhouse-gas emissions been prioritized in this project?” Taiba Walker proposed as a way to fold climate into cross-cutting criteria. Luke Metzger recommended a simple numeric heuristic—assigning a −2 to +2 climate score to each project—and then checking the net effect across a recommended package to ensure the full package does not increase emissions.

Several members emphasized geographic equity and historical underinvestment. Resident commenter Zenobia Joseph pointed to neighborhoods north of U.S. 183 and to past promises that, she said, went unfulfilled; she asked that the task force prioritize communities that have been repeatedly marginalized. “I want you to recognize that while I certainly appreciate seeing the safe routes to school and sidewalk citywide, I want you to recognize it was a $720,000,000 bond, 11/08/2016…there's been a promise to the people who live North Of US 183,” Joseph said.

Task force members also pressed staff for better public materials. Members urged the city to publish the full project list and to provide maps showing the geographic distribution of projects and, where available, staff-provided estimates of climate benefits and project readiness. Task force members noted the project inventory includes facility requests that may still require land acquisition or earlier-phase work, and that some departments favor programmatic funding that is not easily mappable. Anna Gide and others said the task force should favor projects that are “bond-cycle ready” or can be reasonably delivered during the planned bond period, while acknowledging some projects may require advanced planning funds to reach construction.

Finance and delivery were discussed: task force members requested a finance update after the pending tax-rate election (the transcript references the TRE) so the group can present consistent messaging about tax impacts. Staff said a July memo reported a debt-capacity estimate and will provide updated figures; staff also noted Austin’s bond rating is now AAA, a change members asked staff to explain in a future briefing to clarify potential interest-rate or capacity impacts.

Task force members agreed to continue refining the cross-cutting questions and to ask working groups to use those filters when developing recommendations. The chair asked members to email suggested edits and said the topic will return to the agenda next month.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Austin - 2026 Bond Election Advisory Task Force","oneSentenceSummary","The 2026 Bond Election Advisory Task Force debated Thursday how to prioritize a roughly $3.9 billion project inventory, focusing on cross-cutting criteria such as geographic equity, climate impacts, feasibility within a bond cycle and leveraging other funds.","taxTitle","Austin, Travis County, Texas","taxId",2819,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6458654,"Task force details November listening sessions and accessibility plans for bond outreach",70,1215000,1285000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5811817-3118835a9659ae2733a3edc16ffebcb1&start=1215&end=1285","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5811817-3118835a9659ae2733a3edc16ffebcb1/thumbnail_1215000.jpg","/articles/6458654/Austin/Travis-County/Texas/Task-force-details-November-listening-sessions-and-accessibility-plans-for-bond-outreach","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6458654-0703ab7b45a6e0601cfeeaf05edac7be/orig.mp4?Expires=1770509992&Signature=U~Nt4mcD3zZOV4m23vFMcy3~wED3Z61i2R4l9eKxYJgMY1kWh3ORUMuiyj8nf5ZQIBlxwYLjiDaT7eAfu6Iib6I9LQ-mGiX5R2AVXG1MEElD5--5aXooMoifGu2qez73CO39owTCQBJnM7-9J1BlajOol9OAZpS~FQPvSPeNt-eveAtjXKonFfAhN0u9iwX8uxMqqpvSQtR4YHcSdvN1aTYVxtC9usEZsjJRQa41bidvj0ujLGt8ghk3xyzkuO9k4K~IRem9p-cJ-WlzP9UnOYVexXiYsv-pALKlPBDjVVxn7OmW~TM5cHcVXnbJ30OO603AjHYOB6QzEVPlH6HvuQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The 2026 Bond Election Advisory Task Force’s Community Engagement Working Group presented a plan Thursday for in-person and virtual listening sessions intended to gather resident input on the city’s draft bond project list.

Mary Hager, chair of the task force, summarized the proposal from the working group, which recommends two in-person sessions—Saturday, Nov. 15 at Gus Garcia Recreation Center (targeting Northeast Austin) and Wednesday, Nov. 19 at Rudy Mendez Recreation Center (targeting Southeast Austin)—and a virtual session to broaden participation. The working group recommended Spanish interpretation at the in-person events and asked staff to explore American Sign Language support and other accessibility measures.

“Those will still be in January, February, and those will be the full staff led meetings,” the working group lead said when describing the broader timetable; for the November sessions the group proposed a structure of short education on the bond process, small-group breakouts to review project lists and a final community Q&A. The presenters said they will use Slido or a similar tool to let attendees submit and upvote questions.

Public speakers and task force members urged extensive pre-meeting outreach and clear materials. Cullen McMorrow, who identified himself as an attorney and as a representative of multiple local cycling nonprofit groups, said East Austin parks projects deserve stronger emphasis and asked Parks and Recreation to increase its project funding request. “Balm District Park currently doesn't even look like a park. It looks like a post industrial rock crushing facility type place on the banks of the Colorado River,” McMorrow said, and asked staff to consider raising the Parks & Rec ask to $14,000,000 for a first phase that the working-group vision estimated would be needed.

Resident speaker Zenobia Joseph urged the task force to foreground transportation equity and accessibility in outreach. “I would just ask you to recognize that even our infrastructure is inequitable,” Joseph said, citing waiting times at bus stops and route changes that reduced east–west connectivity. Joseph also raised concerns about outreach transparency and asked the task force to post materials online in an accessible way.

Several task force members urged staff to post the full project list and related materials on the task force website well ahead of the listening sessions and to provide RSVP options so registrants can receive materials in advance. Staff said they will coordinate with the Communications and Public Information Office on RSVPs and materials distribution and will aim to finalize logistics and public-facing content before November.

Members and staff agreed the November listening sessions are timed to occur after the early fall election so the conversation about the bond can focus on projects rather than concurrent tax-rate ballots. The working group said it will return to the task force with finalized outreach materials and a facilitation guide and asked members who wish to serve as facilitators to volunteer.","The 2026 Bond Election Advisory Task Force’s Community Engagement Working Group presented a plan Thursday for two in-person listening sessions in November and a virtual session to gather resident input on the draft bond project list.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6458659,"Bond task force approves minutes and amends 2025–26 meeting schedule",627,569000,1196000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5811817-3118835a9659ae2733a3edc16ffebcb1&start=569&end=1196","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5811817-3118835a9659ae2733a3edc16ffebcb1/thumbnail_569000.jpg","/articles/6458659/Austin/Travis-County/Texas/Bond-task-force-approves-minutes-and-amends-202526-meeting-schedule","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6458659-6870755309763a36b1ad4aee56e71451/orig.mp4?Expires=1770509992&Signature=KMOJlh3eh~tPptulc4J8duvmlIoxkN0GHyDIUGySNy~ZuvHwfWaaZk4iT4-vTiQx5X1Cp-UCZ5pNk2LAGhbsEoAI8bnxfuUxMtYwbc3ZH9n0GJAc8o5~QIe~x8Mei~NB3OMwvWjwgC0LBaYL798Z5wOkMdNByIJGFcb26TekMBvrBCfKRwxVJVUbuqocV~LRyLxdOwcvdFeKdKQnPJ8kTxa06J2YYsC5yi30Xztz59y~wtyGIKpqtx6TJgbUAFqyH1UoH0YRln7WTojt-kW7xy0mKuEfh-lWhKZFsAJuOmgYLlKjXpqBQ7OFzX67aZwuThF3ueeTxqXCDrPth7ZXSQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The 2026 Bond Election Advisory Task Force voted Thursday to adopt minutes from its Aug. 25 meeting and to amend its 2025 and 2026 meeting schedules to avoid holiday weeks and add additional meetings in early 2026.

The changes approved Thursday move the November and December 2025 meetings so they do not fall on Thanksgiving or Christmas weeks, and add a second monthly meeting in January through May 2026 to allow more time for the task force’s review and public outreach work. Task force members said times will be finalized later after staff confirms room availability.

Chair Mary Hager said the group had discussed the schedule at prior meetings and that the formal vote was to finalize the date changes. A motion to adopt the minutes from the Aug. 25 meeting was approved without objection.

Task force members discussed target start times for the added meetings, with several members urging start times after standard business hours so working residents can attend. Francis Jordan and others suggested starting “after 5,” and members suggested options such as 5:30–7:30 p.m. or 6–8 p.m. Staff said it will attempt to schedule the second monthly meetings after 5 p.m. where possible, subject to room availability and the requirement to provide ATXN (video broadcast) capability.

Members also discussed hosting some meetings in community locations to reach residents in neighborhoods under consideration by the task force. Staff identified two city-owned sites that meet ATXN requirements: Austin Energy and the PDC. The task force asked staff to explore additional South-of-the-River options and to report back with availability.

Chair Mary Hager said the motions to adopt the minutes and change the meeting schedule were approved unanimously; the transcript does not record individual roll-call tallies.","The 2026 Bond Election Advisory Task Force approved minutes from its Aug. 25 meeting and voted to move several November and December 2025 dates. The task force also approved an expanded meeting cadence for early 2026, adding a second monthly meeting to allow more time for its work.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Task force debates cross-cutting criteria for prioritizing $3.9 billion project list; equity, climate and feasibility emerge as central concerns

Task force details November listening sessions and accessibility plans for bond outreach

Bond task force approves minutes and amends 2025–26 meeting schedule