City of Austin

The City of Austin has established an online survey so the public can review and rank the Guiding Principles for the City’s bond development process.

The survey can be accessed at SpeakUpAustin.org.  Click on “City of Austin Bond Development Process: Your Values.” Residents will be asked to rank the six Guiding Principles and provide any additional feedback on community needs or priorities. Input will be considered by the Bond Election Advisory Task Force.

The SpeakUpAustin survey will close on February 29.  Other community engagement opportunities will be rolled out throughout the bond development process.

In March, the City will host community workshops where the community will be able to review and provide feedback on potential bond projects.

Already, the City sponsored SpeakWeek from Jan. 28-Feb. 5, at which kiosks were set up a various locations throughout Austin to get opinions about the Guiding Principles. Then on Feb. 7, the City hosted an open house event at the Palmer Events Center so Austinites could meet one-on-one with City staff to ask questions, express comments and engage in a dialogue on how the bond development process is being carried out.

The Bond Election Advisory Task Force was established by Council in October 2011 to identify and prioritize bond funding for capital projects that will advance the vision identified by the Imagine Austin comprehensive planning process.

In May 2012, the Task Force will provide recommendations for the City Council to consider when developing a potential bond package.  If a bond election is called, Austin voters will decide whether the City should borrow money to fund infrastructure, facilities or other capital improvement projects or programs.

For more information on Bond Election Advisory Task Force meetings and updates on the bond development process, visit www.AustinTexas.gov/BondDevelopment.