Happy Hour /food and beverages (http://www.scholzgarten.com/): 6-7 pm
Socializing and informal discussions on current events: 6-7 pm
Announcements and program begin at 7 pm
PROGRAM: How Cities Lead with Mayor Steve Adler.
At the same time the United States pulled out of the Paris Climate Accord, Austin increased its renewable energy goals. Now thanks to a recent purchase of solar, Austin will get most of its power from renewable sources by 2020. Austin is leading on climate change because most of the progress called for by the Paris Climate Accords need to be made in cities.
On affordability, Mayor Adler and the Council created a new property tax break for homeowners, increased the senior and disabled property tax exemption, and lowered electric rates for everyone in town. Mayor Adler has also completed the Mayors’ Challenge to End Veteran Homelessness, sponsored the Strategic Housing Blueprint to increase the housing supply for the working poor, and, together with County Judge Sarah Eckhardt, spearheaded the Austin Metro Area Master Community Workforce Plan to lift 10,000 local residents out of poverty and into middle-income jobs over the next five years. And on mobility, Mayor Adler led passage of the $720-million Smart Corridor mobility bond which was more than four times larger than any transportation bond previously approved in Austin and bigger than all the transportation bonds cumulatively passed in the previous 20 years.
Consider biking, carpooling, or taking Cap Metro (http://www.capmetro.org/planner) to the meeting. Free parking is available after 6pm on San Jacinto and nearby streets.