North Austin News

In observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on Monday, January 15, 2024, the City of Austin will be closing its administrative offices and other municipal facilities. Normal business hours will resume on Tuesday, January 16.

One of the highlights of the day will be the Annual MLK Community March and Festival, which will take place from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. This event is free to the public and is a celebration of the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. More information about the march and festival can be found on the website mlkcelebration.com.

Due to below freezing temperatures forecasted for Monday, it is advised to monitor mlkcelebration.com and austintexas.gov/alerts for any updated potential cancellation or postponement information regarding the march and festival.

While most Austin Parks and Recreation facilities will be closed on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, some locations such as City parks, golf courses, cemeteries, and certain pools will remain open. It is recommended to call ahead or visit AustinTexas.gov/Parks for specific details on the operating hours of these facilities.

The City of Austin Utilities Customer Care Call Center and City of Austin Utility Customer Service Centers will be closed on Monday, January 15. However, customers can still make utility payments at coautilities.com or by calling 1-833-375-4919 for a Quick Payment. Other payment options include authorized locations such as H-E-B, Fiesta Mart, Randall’s, and Walmart stores, as well as mailing money order or check to the designated P.O. BOX address. Payment drop boxes are also available at the North and South Utility Customer Service Centers for those who prefer to drop off their payments.

For any utility outages, customers can sign up for outage alerts and report outages at outagemap.austinenergy.com or by calling 512-322-9100.

Austin Resource Recovery curbside collections will follow the regular schedule and will not be affected by the holiday. However, the Recycle & Reuse Drop-off Center will be open by appointment only. Customers can check their collection schedule on the Austin Recycles app or at austintexas.gov/myschedule.

Several Austin Public Health services will be closed on Monday, January 15, including the Rutherford Lane Campus, Office of Vital Records, WIC clinics, and Shots for Tots clinics. COVID-19 tests are available at various private and non-profit sites throughout Austin, including pharmacies, hospitals, and urgent care centers. Those with private insurance are advised to contact their doctor's office or insurer for assessment and testing options. Additional resources can be found on the Department of Health and Human Services community-based testing portal and COVID.gov testing resources. For flu and COVID-19 vaccine providers, individuals can visit Vaccines.gov (Vacunas.gov in Spanish) to find locations near them.

The Austin Public Library, Recycled Reads Bookstore, and the Austin History Center branches will be closed on Sunday, January 14, and Monday, January 15. However, due to the below freezing temperatures forecasted for Monday, the Austin Public Library will open three facilities as Warming Centers from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. These locations include the Little Walnut Creek Branch, Ruiz Branch, and Terrazas Branch. The Central Library Special Events Center will also serve as a Warming Center early on Tuesday from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. Normal business hours will resume at 9 a.m.

The Austin Animal Center will be closed to the public on January 15 and will resume regular hours the following day from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Lastly, the Downtown Austin Community Court's Violet KeepSafe Storage program, Homeless Services, Court Services, and Community Services will be closed on Monday, January 16. These services will resume their regular hours the next day.

For any inquiries about city services or for more information, individuals can call 3-1-1 or 512-974-2000. Service requests can also be submitted through the Austin 3-1-1 mobile app or online via the Citizen Web Intake platform.