Austin will fund targeted outreach around I-35 and Oltorf Street ahead of the planned opening of a new homeless resource center in the neighborhood.

The details: The city is adding $250,000 to a previous contract with Sunrise Community Church to provide services to homeless individuals and families in the Oltorf area. Sunrise runs an existing homeless navigation center in South Austin, and was recommended this year to manage the new resource hub planned off I-35.

Focusing on the I-35/Oltorf area was a strategic shift based on feedback from local leaders and the navigation center board to invest in "stabilization strategies" before that facility opens next year, an Austin Homeless Strategies & Operations spokesperson said. The church's street outreach will involve connecting unsheltered residents with "transformative supports" like housing, healthcare and shelter, the HSO spokesperson said.

A total of $295 million in bond propositions for Austin parks and libraries will be on the ballot this November. They include the $260 million Proposition A for a slate of Austin Parks and Recreation initiatives, and the $35 million Proposition B for two Austin Public Library branches.

The details: Every $100 million of new debt is now estimated to cost the typical Austin homeowner just over $14 in annual taxes. If approved, both propositions would add about $42 to property tax bills starting next year.

The two bond propositions will appear on the ballot alongside eight proposed amendments to Austin's city charter. Five council districts will also be electing their representatives to City Hall this fall, four of which feature incumbent candidates seeking to hold their seats.

Buda Championship Park, formerly known as the Buda Sportsplex, received $1.5 million in additional funding from the Buda Economic Development Corp., or BEDC, to be used toward facility improvements.

The $1.5 million contribution in fiscal year 2026-27 will be used to offset construction costs, mitigating the tax rate impact of the associated 2026 certificate of obligation bonds, according to agenda documents.

The background: BEDC had previously contributed $1.5 million in fiscal year 2025-26 for the project to assist with design and pre-construction costs, bringing the total contribution from the BEDC to $3 million, according to agenda documents.

A major renovation of the sports park has been underway since September 2025. The project is anticipated to be completed by spring 2027.

The framework: To receive the latest installment of BEDC funding, the city must meet performance measures at the Sportspark, including a minimum of 65 qualifying tournaments during years 4-8 of the park's operation.

Free Youth Mental Health First Aid training in Travis County teaches any adult who works with kids to recognize when a young person is struggling and step in.

County mental health authority Integral Care offers upcoming virtual sessions scheduled for Aug. 19, Sept. 9, Oct. 16 and Nov. 12, each running from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Who it’s for: Trainer Emily Hammer calls it a "gatekeeper training," designed for whoever a young person already feels comfortable with, not just mental health professionals.

How it works: The roughly four-and-a-half-hour course, capped at 30 people, walks through video scenarios and role-plays built around a five-step action plan. Certification meets Texas school-staff requirements under House Bill 3.