AUSTIN

City changes process

to request public records

The process for requesting public records from the city of Austin will change Sept. 1 in response to the state’s adoption of Senate Bill 944.

The Texas Legislature amended the Public Information Act to specify exactly how members of the public may submit a public information request to a governmental agency. To comply with the law, all emailed public information requests, including requests for the Austin Police Department, must be sent to public.information@austintexas.gov.

Any requests emailed to the address associated with police records requests — management.records@austintexas.gov — will be deemed not received. Anyone emailing this address through Aug. 31 will receive an auto-reply message informing them of the changes and providing the new request information. On Sept. 1, that email inbox will be closed. Requests sent via fax will no longer be accepted beginning Sept. 1.

The public may request information electronically by using the Austin Public Information Request Portal; by sending an email to public.information@austintexas.gov; hand delivery to Police Department headquarters or to City Hall, fourth floor; and by mail to Austin Police Department Central Records/Open Records, PO Box 689001, Austin, Texas, 78768-9001.

AUSTIN

Airport buys 999 metric

tons of carbon offsets

Austin-Bergstrom International Airport has purchased 999 metric tons of carbon offsets through the Good Traveler program.

The offset purchase equates to about one-third of the airport’s total carbon footprint for the year. According to the program, that’s roughly the equivalent carbon dioxide emissions of 6.4 million passenger miles or the annual electricity use of 150 homes. The credits will help fund the use of waste gas and the capturing of methane at the Rio Grande Valley Landfill Gas Project.

The Good Traveler program provides travelers, airports and partners with a method of purchasing carbon offsets to make air travel more sustainable and to benefit local communities.

In addition to purchasing carbon offsets, the airport has used tactics to reduce its carbon footprint. Electrical power for all airport buildings is generated by wind turbines, supplied by Austin Energy’s GreenChoice program. Use of this power source has been extended from the terminal to the airfield to power aircraft support vehicles.

Since 2012, the airport has utilized 100% renewable electricity, preventing over 93,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere.

PFLUGERVILLE

Lane closures start Monday

on Heatherwilde Boulevard

Heatherwilde Boulevard will have daily lane closures near the intersection of Kingston Lacy Boulevard between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m beginning Monday.

Closures are expected to last for around three weeks while construction is carried out. Contractors will work on improving the turn lane for the boulevard. Residents can expect the northbound right lane and the southbound left lane to be closed during the construction period.

SAN MARCOS

Public workshop Monday

on election process

Hays County will host a public workshop to discuss the election process at 5 p.m. Monday in the third floor commissioners courtroom at the Hays County Courthouse on the Square, 111 E. San Antonio St.

The workshop will focus on the selection of election judges and alternate judges, vote centers for early voting and Election Day, and lack of underrepresented minority voting locations. Other related subjects may also be addressed.

Elections Administrator Jennifer Anderson will attend to answer questions.

For information: hayscountytx.com.

SOUTHEAST AUSTIN

Festival of Good

rescheduled to Aug. 24

Goodnight Ranch has rescheduled its third annual Festival of Good for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 24 in Whitter Park, Goodnight Ranch, 8701 Whitter Drive.

The free block party event will feature food and drink, giveaways and activities including a petting zoo, bounce house, kids craft tables and face painting. Free, 30-minute fitness classes will take place on the park lawn at 10:30, 11 and 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.

American-Statesman staff