Austin firefighters and city officials formally agreed to a new labor contract Dec. 18, capping off months of negotiations.

The details: The new collective bargaining agreement between the city and Austin Firefighters Association, estimated to cost $63 million over four years, was unanimously approved by City Council and backed by 72% of AFA members. It'll result in a new scheduling format with reduced hours for city firefighters, pay raises, and adjustments to hiring and promotional processes.

The deal also ends a dispute over fire department operations and city finances that had prompted the AFA to launch a petition campaign for a possible May election. Fire department engines and stations will now remain in service unless the city reaches a point of financial crisis, at which point Austin and AFA representatives will convene to chart a path forward.

Quote of note: "We gave management the flexibility they need to really manage a crisis properly, and we get the promises that those won’t be executed or used unless we’re in dire need," AFA President Bob Nicks said.

The city of Austin is seeking public input as it develops a citywide Curbside Management Plan aimed at addressing competing uses for curb space, according to a recent update from the Transportation and Public Works Department.

What’s happening? Curbs play a key role in daily transportation, serving as areas for parking, passenger pick-up and drop-off, deliveries, transit access, biking and scooter use, as well as building access, according to the update. City officials manage these spaces through tools such as signage, designated loading zones, pricing and enforcement.

The upcoming plan is intended to help prioritize curb uses, reduce conflicts and prepare for future changes, with a focus on safety, fairness and efficiency.

As part of the planning process, the city has opened an online survey to better understand how residents use curb space, the challenges they encounter and what improvements they would like to see.

The survey will remain open through Jan. 25. 

Central Texas counties could begin receiving up to $1.25 million each in state funding for flood warning sirens in the coming weeks and months, officials announced Dec. 16.

The overview: The funding comes less than six months after historic flooding hit parts of Central and West Texas over the July 4 weekend, killing at least 137 residents and visitors. During special legislative sessions this summer, state lawmakers approved requirements that 30 counties included in a July disaster declaration install flood warning systems with the help of $50 million in state grants.

Zooming in: Each county is expected to receive up to $1.25 million from the Texas Water Development Board. Counties seeking more money will need their requests approved by the three-member board.

Counties are required to submit detailed project plans to the TWDB and can use the grants to install physical infrastructure such as sirens, rain gauges, flood gauges and solar panels to power the warning systems. The money can also be used for local flood education, outreach and training programs, TWDB staff said.