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Whispers
Thursday, December 16, 2021 by Elizabeth Pagano
City to hold District 4 forum … somewhere
Early voting for the District 4 special election starts in less than a month, and the tight timeline and upcoming holidays has the city scrambling to put together a candidate forum, as evidenced by the recent discussion at the Ethics Review Commission.
Currently, the forum is tentatively scheduled at City Hall on Thursday, Jan. 6, at 6:00 p.m. Though the commission does not have the power to determine the location of the forum, commissioners voted unanimously to recommend the forum be held in (or close to) District 4 instead, at the Asian American Resource Center if possible.
“I think it’s most important that we do not ask this district to drive into downtown at 6 o’clock on a work evening,” said Carol Eckelkamp, who is the candidate forum chair for the Austin Area League of Women Voters. She explained that she had already heard from a number of neighborhood associations that the special election offers a “unique opportunity” to work together and consolidate forums. “It could be one of the only forums, because of the holidays and the time,” she noted. The short turnaround on the special election also means that there may not be time to include notice of the forum in Austin Energy bills, as has been standard for City Council forums, observed commissioners. The District 4 election is January 25. Early voting begins on January 10, 2022.
Thursday, December 16, 2021 by Elizabeth Pagano
Austin Water pushes cold-weather preparedness
Though it might not feel like it outside, winter is coming. And, this year, Austin Water wants to help you prepare for freezing temperatures by providing free meter keys, hose bib covers and information. Winter tool kits can be picked up at the north and south branches of the city’s utility customer service locations (located at 8716 Research Blvd., Suite 115, and 1901 W. William Cannon Drive, Suite 100) or at upcoming pop-ups, which will be announced on AWU’s Facebook page. In addition, Austin Water is advising everyone to get ready for cold weather by locating water shutoffs and weatherizing homes, exposed pipes and water heaters. In addition, residents should get prepared in advance, with the aforementioned water hose bibs and water meter keys, battery-powered radios, flashlights, and seven gallons of water per person and pet. More tips can be found on Austin Water’s site, and the Ready Central Texas mobile app has more information about how to be prepared.
Thursday, December 16, 2021 by Tai Moses
Improvements coming to Parkfield Drive
Construction crews are preparing to begin work on Parkfield Drive in the second of three phases of work aimed at improving safety and mobility on the street and making pedestrians and motorists alike a whole lot happier. The planned improvements, which will be between Payton Gin Road and Mearns Meadow Boulevard, include “shortening the crossing distance for people walking or rolling by installing new curb extensions, increasing connectivity by fixing sidewalk gaps and increasing safety by constructing a protected intersection at Parkfield Drive and Payton Gin Road.” The project is expected to be completed by spring 2022. Future improvements include bikeway and pedestrian crossing improvements from Rundberg Lane to Mearns Meadow Boulevard. Check out the project page for more details.
Wednesday, December 15, 2021 by Elizabeth Pagano
City opens I-35 stitch session
With plans moving forward for a massive $4.9 billion project to expand and lower Interstate 35 through downtown Austin, the city and the Downtown Austin Alliance have turned their attention to how “cap and stitch” might help close the gap. The public is invited to weigh in on the plan via a new virtual open house that offers an overview of the project and illuminates the potential of plazas that would span the highway (caps) and enhanced bridges over the road (stitches). The open house begins today, and features a video presentation on the project and a chance to offer feedback through a survey. Both can be found online here.
Wednesday, December 15, 2021 by Elizabeth Pagano
Happy (cautious) NYE!
Given the recent appearance of the Omicron variant, Austin officials are inviting everyone to watch fireworks “from afar” this New Year’s Eve. Though the fireworks will be set off from Vic Mathias Shores as usual, vendors and entertainment will not be in the park, and everyone is encouraged to watch from a safe distance to prevent a post-holiday Covid surge. The show will begin at 10:00 p.m. and will be broadcast on ATXN.tv and Channel 6. Roads in the “fireworks fall out zone” will begin closing at 8:00 p.m. and will reopen by midnight. In addition, Lady Bird Lake will be closed from 9:00 until midnight between the railroad trestle bridge and the South First Street bridge.
Wednesday, December 15, 2021 by Tai Moses
Be a vaccination volunteer
Without a doubt, getting vaccinated is the most important thing you can do to protect yourself and others from Covid-19. So, what’s the second most important thing you can do? Help other community members get vaccinated, of course. One very practical way to help is to lend a hand at a vaccine clinic. Sign up here if you’d like to learn more about volunteering at Travis County’s clinics in either a clinical or non-clinical role, including translating or signing people in.
Wednesday, December 15, 2021 by Tai Moses
Utility seeks community ambassadors
Austin Water is seeking community ambassadors – volunteers to help the utility reach out and engage the community in its efforts to update Austin’s 100-year water resource plan, Water Forward. The ambassadors “will engage with people in their networks to have conversations about water supply and demand issues, identify key concerns and priorities for these communities, and share their findings.” The update has a particular focus on equity, so the ambassadors “will help develop and incorporate community values into an Equity and Affordability Road Map and Tool for the Water Forward Plan update.” Austin Water encourages members of communities that have been historically underrepresented to apply (e.g., communities of color, LGBTQIA+ identities, people with past records, etc.). The term is one full year, beginning in February 2022. Learn more and apply here by Jan. 7.
Tuesday, December 14, 2021 by Elizabeth Pagano
With Council approval, Austin Water to undertake water service line replacement project
In an effort to improve the reliability of its service, Austin Water is now set to replace more than 2,000 polybutylene and polyethylene water service lines in over 60 subdivisions. The pipes, which were popular in the late 1960s through the 1980s, have become brittle and prone to breakage over time. The water utility estimates that Austin saw the installation of 25,000 water service lines, which connect private plumbing to water mains, during that time. So far, the city has replaced about 3,000, prioritizing pipes with higher water pressure.
City Council unanimously approved a $9.5 million contract for service line replacement at its Dec. 9 meeting. In addition, Austin Water will continue to replace pipes themselves. A map of the areas that will receive water service line updates can be found here. Affected customers will be notified before work on their pipes begins.
Tuesday, December 14, 2021 by Tai Moses
MoPac South study needs input
The Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority and the Texas Department of Transportation are asking community members to participate in the MoPac South Environmental Study, a report on an 8-mile stretch of MoPac Expressway (Loop 1). According to the announcement, the “project team is working to identify a solution that improves safety and mobility for drivers, transit riders, bicyclists and pedestrians in a manner that promotes environmental stewardship and sustainability.” The virtual open house is open until Jan. 7. Watch the welcome video first, then review all of the materials and exhibits at your leisure before submitting your remarks.
Tuesday, December 14, 2021 by Tai Moses
Help brand your city
As part of Austin’s branding initiative, the city is asking residents and visitors alike to share their stories about Austin – stories that portray what Austin is all about. Input from the community will help the city in its efforts to create a “consistent and clear” brand. The branding team encourages people to think about the things, experiences, relationships or sights that make them feel connected to Austin. You could be a longtime resident or a new transplant; perhaps you own a business, are raising a family or attending school here. You might have had a memorable experience with a city program or service, or a beautiful afternoon walking in a park or along a trail. Learn more about the initiative and share your stories on SpeakUp Austin.
Monday, December 13, 2021 by Elizabeth Pagano
Complaints against Pritchard dismissed
The city’s Ethics Review Commission has dismissed complaints alleging Caleb Pritchard violated the city code.
“It’s complicated and confusing, but not wrong,” said Commissioner Donna Beth McCormick.
Zenobia Joseph filed a complaint alleging Pritchard ran afoul of city law by working for the Mobility for All political action committee while employed by Mayor Pro Tem Natasha Harper-Madison. Joseph also alleged that Pritchard had committed election fraud by working on a campaign in favor of 2020’s Proposition A. Her argument was, essentially, that the Project Connect campaign and Prop A ballot presented a fraudulent picture that stood in opposition to Pritchard’s reporting, which demonstrated a more thorough knowledge of the issue.
A motion to dismiss the charges passed in a vote of 6-1.
Commissioners who voted to dismiss the complaints reasoned that Pritchard was not a member of a body with discretionary authority, and therefore could not have violated statutes that did not apply to him. Commissioner Sidney Williams, who voted against the motion, argued that the appearance of impropriety was “all over this situation” and that though he was not technically a member of a voting body, Pritchard had influence over a voting member by virtue of his employment.
Pritchard, who remains a member of Harper-Madison’s staff and is a former reporter for the Austin Monitor, did not speak at the hearing and instead submitted a statement of fact to the commission that was read into the record. In that statement, he explained he worked for the PAC during a time he was not employed by Harper-Madison. He was hired by the office again on Dec. 7, nearly a month after voters approved Prop A, though he did collect a final check for his consulting work on Dec. 31.
As for the other complaint, Pritchard concluded, “I cannot fathom there would be any jurisdiction on any planet in any dimension on any timeline where it would be considered ethically unseemly for a transit advocate to advocate for transit (though I’ll concede that if there were, it would definitely be Texas).”
Monday, December 13, 2021 by Tai Moses
Chamber unveils business award winners
The Austin Chamber of Commerce has announced the winners of its 21st Annual Greater Austin Business Awards, its annual recognition of “excellence in business achievement and community contributions that make the Central Texas region a better place to live and work,” according to the chamber. Forty-eight companies were nominated across 15 categories, from company culture and educational advancement to environmental champion and economic impact. Laura Huffman, chamber president and CEO, said the awards are the chamber’s way of thanking “those who make our region such a uniquely diverse place to live and work. The unmatched strengths of our business community, its leaders and the dynamic talent have been working together to continue Austin’s legacy of being one of the most special places to do business in the world.” Peter Pan Mini Golf nabbed this year’s Uniquely Austin honor, the one award selected by public voting. The other winners were selected by an independent panel of judges. Find the complete list of nominees and recipients here.