Politics and Popsicles: 26 Questions for the 2026 Austin Council Candidates

Co-hosted by Zilker Neighborhood Association and Barton Hills Neighborhood Association

Join us for a community candidates forum for the upcoming City Council Elections by the Barton Hills Neighborhood Association and the Zilker Neighborhood Association. The forum will feature candidates from Districts 1, 3, 5, 8, and 9.

When: Monday, July 27th
Doors open & networking: 6:30 PM
Forum: 7:00–8:30 PM

Where: Kinney Avenue Baptist Church, 1801 Kinney Avenue, Austin, TX 78704

Key Themes: Public Safety & Well-being · Education · Environment · Economy

Hi Neighbors,

Our next General Meeting will be on Tuesday, July 28th at St Mark’s and our speakers this time will be from the offices of Code Compliance and Planning and Development, including the Assistant Director of Code Compliance, Daniel Word. If you have questions, they will be here to answer them. We look forward to seeing you there. Social hour starts at 6pm, meeting begins at 7pm.

Barb LaFollette
President, BHNA

Join your neighbors, friends, and visitors for the annual Barton Hills 4th of July Parade and Celebration! Everyone is welcome to participate in the parade or cheer from the sidelines along Barton Hills Drive. Wear your red, white, and blue and help celebrate Independence Day with the community.

Event Schedule

8:30 AM – Parade Assembly

• Meet at Barton Hills Market
• 1220 Barton Hills Drive

9:00 AM – Parade Begins

• The parade travels along Barton Hills Drive and ends at Barton Hills Elementary School

Parade After-Party

Following the parade, join us at:

Barton Hills Community Park
2108 Barton Hills Drive

Enjoy:

• Cookies and watermelon
• Amy’s Ice Cream
• Announcement of parade contest winners

The celebration is expected to conclude before noon.

Contest & Prize Categories

Awards will be presented for:

• Top 3 Decorated Bicycles & Scooters
• Top 3 Wagons, Carts & Strollers
• Most Patriotic Pooch
• Most Patriotic Neighbor
• Tastiest Cookie Baker

Parade Participation

Residents are encouraged to join the procession. Participants may include:

• Decorated bicycles and scooters
• Wagons, carts, and strollers
• Pets
• Walkers
• Skaters
• Scooters and motorcycles
• Classic cars
• Floats

Please note: Commercial advertising on vehicles or floats is not permitted.

Sponsorship Opportunities

If you would like to sponsor the event, please contact:

officers@bartonhills.org

Sponsor commitments should be made by Friday, June 26.

Hosted By

Barton Hills Neighborhood Association

We look forward to celebrating Independence Day with our community!

Join the Save Our Springs Alliance in celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Barton Springs Bridge on Sunday, June 21.

Morning Activities (9:00 a.m. – Noon)

• Swimming at Barton Springs
• Tacos and coffee
• Birthday banner making

Evening Celebration (5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.)

• Live music by Bill Oliver and the Otter Space Band
• Barton Springs Bridge history presentations
• Advocacy activities and community gathering

Location: Barton Springs Bridge area near Barton Creek and Barton Springs Pool in Zilker Park.

Learn more: Visit SOSAlliance.org for event details and information about efforts to preserve the historic Barton Springs Bridge.

Join us for a community candidates forum for the Texas House District 49 runoff, co-hosted by the Barton Hills Neighborhood Association and the Zilker Neighborhood Association.

The forum will feature runoff candidates Kathie Tovo and Montserrat Garibay, who will answer in-depth questions and discuss their vision for representing HD 49.

The event will be held on Wednesday, May 20, at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Barton Hills. Doors will open at 5:45 PM, and the forum will begin promptly at 6:30 PM. The forum will last apx. 90 minutes. 

This will be a substantive, issues-focused conversation organized around four key themes:

• Getting to Know You – This Neighborhood, This District
• Environment, Water & Our Shared Natural Heritage
• Affordability – Housing, Wages & Staying in Austin
• Education, Rights & Democratic Defense

All are welcome to attend. This is an opportunity for voters from across House District 49 to engage directly with the candidates and hear how they plan to serve our community.

For more information, please visit

https://bartonhills.org or https://zna.org.

Early runoff voting is May 18-22. Runoff voting date is May 26.

Sincerely,

Barton Hills Neighborhood Association

Zilker Neighborhood Association

Tuesday, April 28
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church Fellowship Hall
2128 Barton Hills Drive

The Barton Hills Neighborhood Association invites all residents to attend our upcoming Spring General Membership Meeting on Tuesday, April 8. These meetings are a great opportunity to stay informed, connect with neighbors, and take part in shaping the future of our community.

6:00 PM – Social Hour & Snacks
7:00 PM – Introductions & Announcements

• Chief Baker and Chief Skowron
• Call for volunteers for the July 4th parade
• Candidates
  • Allison Bush SBOE D5
  • David Weinberg City Council D5
  • Kathie Tovo State Rep D49

7:20 PM – PM Approval of Jan 27, 2026, meeting minutes
7:25 PM – Treasurer’s Report

7:30 PM – Conversation with Austin Fire Department Chief Baker and Chief Skowron

• Discussion about the Wildlife Urban Interface, BHNA, and the Austin Fire Department’s planning
• Q&A

8:30 PM – Committee Updates

• Firewise Committee- Robin McKeever
• Austin Neighborhood Council (ANC) Update – Worthy LaFollette
• Update on Zilker Bridge – Worthy LaFollette
• Update on Mopac Expansion- Travis Holler
• Update on Mopac (CTRMA) Toll road expansion – Travis Holler
• Beautification Committee – Travis Holler

Neighborhood meetings are an important way to stay engaged and ensure your voice is heard. Whether you’re a longtime resident or new to Barton Hills, your participation helps strengthen our neighborhood and build a more connected, informed, and resilient community.

We hope to see you there!

Residents of Barton Hills and the surrounding area are invited to attend an important community presentation hosted by the City of Austin focused on wildfire preparedness and evacuation planning.

This session will provide updates on local wildfire risks, preparedness strategies, and evacuation procedures specific to the Barton Hills and Zilker neighborhoods. It’s an excellent opportunity to learn how to better protect your home, family, and community in the event of a wildfire.

Event Details:
Date: Monday, April 27
Time: 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Location: Kinney Avenue Baptist Church, 1801 Kinney Ave

City staff will share the latest planning efforts and practical steps residents can take now to be prepared. Whether you’re new to the area or a longtime resident, this information is timely and highly relevant given our proximity to greenbelt areas.

For additional resources, visit ReadyCentralTexas.org.

We encourage all Barton Hills neighbors to attend and stay informed.

This month’s featured program, “What’s the Buzz About?”, will be presented by Elissa Sexton, a beekeeper and licensed real estate professional who combines her passion for nature with a commitment to environmental stewardship. Elissa will share how beekeeping can be accessible and rewarding, offering insights into the vital role bees play in our ecosystem and how you can support pollinators at home.

The Barton Hills Garden Club invites neighbors and gardening enthusiasts to join us for our next meeting on Tuesday, April 28, from 9:00–11:00 AM at the Zilker Botanical Garden Auditorium.

Founded in 1960, the Barton Hills Garden Club is celebrating its 65th year of bringing neighbors together. The club’s mission is to provide a friendly, social forum for members while promoting the advancement of gardening and encouraging civic beautification throughout our community.

The Garden Club holds monthly meetings on the fourth Tuesday from September through May at 9:15 AM at Zilker Botanical Gardens.

This meeting is free and open to the public, and visitors are always welcome—no membership required to attend.

For those interested in becoming a member, annual dues are $35, and members receive a directory, brochure, and garden club card.

To join, please mail your check to:
Consuelo Davidson
11563 Shelleys Run
Montgomery, TX 77316

For more information, contact Debby McCray Shaw at 512-496-2094 or email austinbiz@yahoo.com

We hope you’ll join us for a morning of learning, community, and inspiration as we explore the fascinating world of bees and how they help our gardens—and Barton Hills—thrive.

Barton Hills Garden Club has been an existence since 1960. This will be its 65th year. The organization’s goal is to provide a friendly and social forum among its members and to promote the advancement of gardening and the encouragement of civic beautification.

Monthly meetings are the fourth Tuesday September through May at 9:15 AM and are held at Zilker Botanical Gardens in the auditorium. Membership dues are currently $35 annually. All members will receive a directory, a brochure, and a garden club card.

If you are interested in joining, please mail your check to:

Consuelo Davidson • 11563 Shelleys Run • Montgomery, TX  77316

For further information contact: Debby McCray Shaw  512-496-2094