SpeakUpAustin - City of Austin, TX

Surveys & Projects

Historic Preservation Acquisition Fund - Needs Assessment Survey

The purpose of this survey is to gather feedback from property owners and tenants of older and historic buildings along with historic preservation and tourism stakeholders in Austin.

Hotel...

Take our Survey

Our Future 35

The "Our Future 35" project, developed by the City of Austin, aims to create new public spaces over Interstate 35 by engaging with community members to ensure the design reflects their needs...

Mobility Community arts and culture

Learn more

Imagine Austin Update

The Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan is Austin’s 30-year plan for our future growth and development. Shaped by ideas and contributions from the community, Imagine Austin is based on our greatest...

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Participate

Featured Surveys & Projects

Historic Preservation Acquisition Fund - Needs Assessment Survey

The purpose of this survey is to gather feedback from property owners and tenants of older and historic buildings along with historic preservation and tourism stakeholders in Austin.

Hotel...

Take our Survey

Our Future 35

The "Our Future 35" project, developed by the City of Austin, aims to create new public spaces over Interstate 35 by engaging with community members to ensure the design reflects their needs...

Mobility Community arts and culture

Learn more

Imagine Austin Update

161

244

Participate

Your Voice, Shaping Our Priorities: Rain to River Survey

The Watershed Protection Department is creating Rain to River, a new 10-year plan to guide our work protecting Austin's creeks and communities.

Over the past three years, we asked the community...

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Participate

ADA Transition Plans for Pedestrian Crossings and Urban Trails

Help improve accessibility in Austin! Share your input on pedestrian crossings and urban trails to support the City’s ADA Transition Plan.

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Participate

Ready Together: The Basics of Emergency Preparedness-Water and Heat Safety Module

Ready Together: The Basics of Emergency Preparedness (Heat)

Learn from experts about the 4 pillars of preparedness: make a plan, build a kit, know your neighbors, and stay informed. This training is...

Participate

Shape Austin's 2026 Bond

Help influence how bond dollars are invested. Join the conversation and help shape the future of our city!...

Learn more

Austin Citywide Lighting Survey

The City of Austin is asking the community for feedback on outdoor lighting preferences and behaviors at night (around dusk, nighttime, and around dawn). For the purposes of this survey, outdoor lighting...

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Austin's Archives and You: Preserving City & Community Histories

Participate

Austin's Archives & You: Preserving City & Community Histories Survey

Culture & Life-long Learning Community Community Trust & Relationships Public Input

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672

Participate

2025-2026 Budget Engagement

The City of Austin is committed to an inclusive and transparent budget development process that utilizes resident and stakeholder feedback to ensure budget priorities are being met. Explore the site to...

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Building Austin

Capital Delivery Services welcomes communities to learn more about projects that are reshaping local areas at our Building Austin informational sessions.

Our first Building Austin event...

Northeast District Plan

Click Participate to learn more.

Participate

Cost of Service Rate Study

Thank you for providing input on our Cost of Study priorities. Your feedback will be important in setting rates for the coming year.

Participate

Active Surveys & Projects

Past Surveys & Projects

Meetings & Events

About Community Engagement

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Get Connected

About Community Engagement

The City of Austin defines community engagement as the practice of directly involving community members in decision-making processes. It values public input in shaping policies, planning, and decisions that impact our present and future.

Our Vision

We envision a community where ALL voices are heard, respected, and included—and where barriers to participation are removed.

Our Approach

We support departments across the City in building more inclusive, transparent, and collaborative engagement efforts. Staff work closely with communities to:

Create outreach plans that meet people where they are, especially in communities historically left out of decision-making
Host conversations that are welcoming and inclusive, both in-person and online
Provide translation and interpretation so everyone can understand and contribute
Partner with neighborhood groups, nonprofits, and community leaders to expand reach and relevance
Share tools, lessons, and best practices so engagement gets better over time

Our Principles

The City of Austin follows these Public Participation Principles:

Accessibility and Inclusion – We are committed to provide a variety of options for participation, along with supportive resources and accommodations that enable underrepresented segments of our community to participate in a meaningful way.
Accountability – We will provide complete and easy-to-understand information on the issues, and make a complete record of feedback available to both participants and decision-makers.
Collaboration – We will work in partnership with the community to develop engagement processes that are appropriate to the needs and preferences of the participants, and that result in recommendations that are informed by the history and the shared knowledge of the communities we serve.
Consistency – In every engagement, we will provide advance notice of opportunities, meeting agendas, discussion agreements, timelines and clear information about how participation will be used in the decision-making process.
Respect – We will maintain a mutually respectful environment that cultivates and supports inclusive public engagement and honest dialogue between and among participants and City representatives.
Stewardship – We will conduct ourselves as stewards of the public’s resources, respecting and recognizing that the community has a voice in how those resources are used.

These principles guide our work every day and reflect our commitment to meaningful, inclusive, and impactful public engagement. Together, we can build a more connected and responsive Austin.

WE ARE HERE FOR YOU

More than 400 City of Austin staff members work every day to support public participation. We come from many departments and backgrounds, but we all share the same goal: to make sure your voice is heard.

We’re here to help you connect with your local government and stay informed about decisions that affect your community.

Everyone should have a chance to speak up — no matter your background or experience. That’s why we follow the IAP2 (International Association for Public Participation) framework to guide how we engage with the public.

Learn more about who we are and how we support you:
👉 austintexas.gov/communications

WHAT WE DO

We help City departments make community engagement better and more inclusive by:

Designing and sharing surveys to learn what matters to residents.
Facilitating meetings, listening sessions, and workshops—both online and in person.
Creating outreach materials and campaign strategies.
Sharing tips and tools to improve engagement across the City.

Together, we track community priorities and help staff respond with openness and care.

WAYS TO GET INVOLVED

There are many ways to share your voice:

Join a Board or Commission – Help guide City decisions by joining an advisory group.
👉 austintexas.gov/department/boards-and-commissions
Call Austin 3-1-1 – Report a problem or request City services—anytime, day or night.
📞 Dial 3-1-1 or 512-974-2000
👉 austintexas.gov/department/311
Visit iSpeak Austin – Find language translation and interpretation help.
👉 austintexas.gov/department/language-access
Get Ready Central Texas – Learn how to prepare for emergencies.
👉 austintexas.gov/readycentraltexas
Explore the Open Data Portal – Discover facts and figures about City services, parks, budgets, housing, and more.
👉 data.austintexas.gov
Follow Us Online – Stay updated on City news and events through:
📱 Facebook: facebook.com/austintexasgov
📸 Instagram: instagram.com/austintexasgov
🐦 X (formerly Twitter): x.com/austintexasgov
Email Us – Have a question or idea?
📩 [email protected]
Join Austin CityWorks Academy – Learn how the City works and meet the people behind the scenes through weekly classes.
👉 austintexas.gov/department/cityworks-academy
Volunteer with the City – Find opportunities that match your interests.
👉 austintexas.gov/department/volunteer-city-austin

We’re here to help you engage with your city. Whether it's a neighborhood project or a citywide plan, your voice matters — and we’re listening.

Surveys & Projects

Historic Preservation Acquisition Fund - Needs Assessment Survey

Our Future 35

Imagine Austin Update

Historic Preservation Acquisition Fund - Needs Assessment Survey

Our Future 35

Imagine Austin Update

Your Voice, Shaping Our Priorities: Rain to River Survey

ADA Transition Plans for Pedestrian Crossings and Urban Trails

Ready Together: The Basics of Emergency Preparedness-Water and Heat Safety Module

Shape Austin's 2026 Bond

Austin Citywide Lighting Survey

Austin's Archives and You: Preserving City & Community Histories

Austin's Archives & You: Preserving City & Community Histories Survey

2025-2026 Budget Engagement

Building Austin

Northeast District Plan

Cost of Service Rate Study

Get Connected

Welcome to Speak Up Austin!

About Community Engagement

Our Vision

Our Approach

Our Principles

WE ARE HERE FOR YOU

WHAT WE DO

WAYS TO GET INVOLVED