[City Council] Austin's brand new city council was officiallysworn in this week. Each member also learned the length of their new term in office, which were chosen at random.

In order to prevent all 10 city council members from coming up for re-election at the same time, half of the group will only serve 2-year terms, the rest will serve for 4 years. The mayor will also serve a 4-year term. Below is a list of the new city council members and their terms:

• 2-year term – Delia Garza (D2), Greg Casar (D4), Don Zimmerman (D6), Leslie Pool (D7) and Sherri Gallo (D10) 
• 4-year term – Ora Houston (D1), Pio Renteria (D3), Ann Kitchen (D5), Ellen Troxclair (D8), Kathie Tovo (D9) 

Tovo was also voted to serve as the Mayor Pro Temby a vote of 10 -1. The only council member to vote against her was Zimmerman, who had hoped that the position could be determined by a lottery process, and not by a vote. Learn more about the swearing in ceremony with this article from the Austin Monitor>>
 

[Winter Weather] With a freezing weather forecast in store for us this weekend, be sure to check out these tips from Austin Water to protect your home and prevent water loss from frozen or broken pipes:

Before Freezing Weather

• Wrap all exposed pipes located outside or in unheated areas of the home.
• Remove garden hoses from outside faucets.
• Cover vents around the foundation of your home.
• Know where your property owner’s cut-off valve is located and how to use it. The valve is located adjacent to the water meter box under a 6" metal lid.

In Sub-Freezing Weather

• Drip outside faucets 24 hours a day (5 drops per minute). This is not necessary unless temperatures are expected to be 28 degrees or below for at least 4 hours. (Be sure to turn off the faucets after the threat of freezing weather.)
• Open cabinet doors under sinks adjacent to outside walls.
• In unheated garages, shut off water to washing machines. Water softeners should be drained and protected from freezing temperatures.
• In sustained sub-freezing weather, let water drip slowly from inside faucets.

[Winter Weather/Pets] And don't forget to protect your pets from the cold, with these tips from the City of Austin:

• Keep your cat or dogindoors as much as possible during cold weather. Like people, cats and dogs are susceptible to frostbite and hypothermia and should be kept inside.

• Make sure your pet has a warm place to sleep, off the floor and away from all drafts.
• Do not keep your pet in an unheated car! The space inside a car is too large to be heated adequately with a pet’s own body heat. It instead acts like a refrigerator, holding in the cold and causing frostbite or death.
• Be aware of outdoor cats during cold weather. Outdoor cats sometimes sleep under the hoods of cars to take advantage of the warmth of the engine and the shelter. If there are outdoor cats in your area, bang loudly on the car hood before starting the engine to give any cats a chance to escape.
• If pets can’t be brought in during cold weather, they must be provided with a snug place to sleep with a floor, a roof and at least 3 walls as well as dry bedding material (straw works best for shelters that are not fully protected from rain).

*Extra note: January through March is a good time to get your pets spayed and neutered to prevent an excess of spring puppies and kittens. You can schedule an appointment here>>* 
 

[Permaculture] Join the Austin Permaculture Guild for the Spring 2015 Permaculture Design Certificate Course. Taught over 10 Saturdays from February to May, the class will teach students how to conserve and protect natural resources, design and live in sustainable human settlements, and use nature as the grand designer. The course is also a good jumping off point for students to begin teaching permaculture modules, create a portfolio of permaculture designs, and establish a permaculture consulting practice. Sign up here>>
 

[Outdoors/Parks] First of all, we would like to welcome theHill Country Conservancy as the Austin EcoNetwork'snewest partner! The conservancy is a major environmental organization in Austin, working hard everyday to preserve the natural areas, aquifers, rivers, and streams that make central Texas such a great place to live. We are delighted to have them on board!

[Food] Keep Austin Fed'sJoseph De Leon is a finalist for the annual Say Thanks Austin campaign awardfrom RecognizeGood. Now he needs your help. The finalist with the most Thank You votes receives a pay-it-forward donation of $10,000to the nonprofit of their choice. If they win, Keep Austin Fed will use the funds to equip volunteers with coolers and weighing scales in order to transport food safely. Learn more about the award and vote for De Leon here>>

[Zero Waste] Congratulations to Alden Larrick, Ecology Action's new deputy director! A recent graduate of the sustainable design program at the University of Texas and a former employee of the Austin Parks Foundation, Larrick is excited to take over his new post at Ecology Action. In an Ecology Action newsletter, Larrick talked about his zero waste background, as well as his plans and ambitions moving forward:

"With a background in marketing and communications, I have been on a mission over the last several years to find new ways to market sustainability so that it becomes relevant to everyone…

From brownfield remediation opportunities like Circle Acres to recycling and reuse initiatives throughout the city of Austin, there are many, many opportunities for EA to forward its mission into the future, and I am more than excited to be a part of this team."
 

[Zero Waste] The US Composting Council Conference 

[Zero Waste] Mark your calendar for Compost Now, a special workshop from the US Composting Council designed to teachrestaurants, hotels, and grocery stores how to implement an organics diversion program. The workshop will be held onJan. 23rd from 8:30am to 12:30pm at theRenaissance Hotel. Reserve your seat today!