AUSTIN, Texas — Austin Mayor Kirk Watson is seeking a waiver from the state’s order on street markings and is creating a task force to propose other ways to celebrate diversity while protecting the city’s funding.

On a City Council message board on Oct. 20, the mayor said he’s working with City Manager TC Broadnax to obtain a waiver. Watson also said he asked a state official about the possibility of getting the exception to the order, which directs cities to remove “non-traffic related” markings on roadways and streets, citing safety concerns.

The mayor’s statement comes after a previous memo on the message board indicating he was considering alternatives to Austin’s LGBTQ+ pride crosswalk and “Black Artists Matter” street mural.

“According to the letter the City received, exceptions may be granted based on ‘demonstrated public safety benefit or compelling justification,’” Watson’s message said.

While Watson acknowledged that he’s not confident an exception will get the city to compliance, he proposed assembling a task force by Oct. 27 to come up with alternative ways to show the city’s diversity and creativity that don’t violate state or federal requirements.

The task force would include representatives from the:

African American Resource Advisory Commission
Arts Commission
Downtown Commission
LGBTQ Quality of Life Advisory Commission
Parks & Recreation Board, Tourism Commission
Urban Transportation Commission, and the Design Commission
Austin LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce
Greater Austin Black Chamber of Commerce
Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Greater Austin Asian Chamber of Commerce
Six Square Cultural District

“There’s more than one way to show our love, our pride, our respect for diversity, our defiance. Let’s protect, defend, and shine a light on Austin’s values at the same time we protect grants for programs and projects important to Austin like the airport expansion, Vision Zero, climate pollution reduction, potentially Project Connect, and other current and future State and Federal grants that we’ll want and need to properly build Austin,” Watson said.

The memo comes amid a fight in Texas cities over rainbow crosswalks celebrating LGBTQ+ pride.