Georgetown officials recommended changing water utility billing to be based more on usage than a fixed base charge during a March 10 City Council workshop.

This would allow the city to address rising water infrastructure and supply costs, while considering affordability for customers.

What it means: Under the new plan, low-volume water users would see smaller bill increases by 2030, and high-volume users would experience higher costs based on the new pricing tiers.

Why it matters: Right now, residential water rates are projected to increase 9% per year for the next five years, according to city documents.

This is largely due to city water costs—including debt payments, new infrastructure and water procurement—projected to grow from $64.2 million in 2025 to $138 million in 2030.

Zooming in: The new policy would increase base charges by 4% each year for the next five years, and volumetric charges would increase by 14% in the same time frame, according to city documents.

Georgetown-based Sanctuary Holistic Kitchen is expanding its partnership with Lark & Owl Booksellers this month.

The overview: Over the summer, Sanctuary Holistic Kitchen began managing Alouette Bistro, located inside Lark & Owl. Now, the business is relocating its retail shop to the bookstore as well.

Once permitting is complete, the new Sanctuary Holistic Kitchen location will include both the bistro and retail space.

About the business: Owned by integrative health counselor Robin Cervantes, Sanctuary Holistic Kitchen offers a host of products, including grab-and-go meals, apothecary and herbal remedies, bulk herbs, skin care, and natural health products. 

The business moved into its current location at 103 N. Austin Ave., Ste. 310, Georgetown, in March 2021.

What they're saying: In an email, a representative with Sanctuary Holistic Kitchen said the move was "serendipitous timing" as Lark & Owl was looking for someone to manage the bistro and the health and wellness business had outgrown its existing space.

• 205 W. Sixth St., Ste. 101, Georgetown

Austin Community College announced a new partnership with the Round Rock-based Trellis Foundation to create an AI-driven system connecting students to support services, personalizing interventions and preparing students for an economy more prominently featuring AI technologies in day-to-day life. 

What you need to know: ACC Chancellor Russell Lowery-Hart said March 11 that this initiative, spearheaded by the community college and Trellis Foundation, will "lean in" to the AI-driven changes in the economy, seeking to meet the moment similar to that of previous large-scale changes, such as the Industrial Revolution or the introduction of computers. 

The initiative is supported by a $3 million federal grant to the ACC Center for Digital Innovation and eEntrepreneurship, which U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett said will be secured by a direct federal appropriation. 

What they're saying: "The question isn't whether AI will shape our future," Lowery-Hart said. "The question is whether higher education will lead in shaping how it's used. We can shape how it's used ethically with humans at the center of it, not in replacement of it."

As swim season nears, the reopening of Barton Springs Pool has been delayed to complete a maintenance project.

The overview: The pool closed Feb. 23 for maintenance. It was originally slated to reopen March 13, but Austin officials announced March 21 as its new tentative reopening date. Weather could cause further delays in the pool's reopening.

The details: The delay is due to the Barton Springs Skimmer Project, according to a city news release. The project consists of removing aging infrastructure within the pool. During the removal, crews "encountered conditions" that will require more time and specialized equipment to safely complete work, according to the release.

For more information on the project, view previous Community Impact reporting here.