Stories by Savana Dunning
Monday, October 19, 2020 by Savana Dunning
Uncategorized
Zero Waste Advisory Commission recommends city adopt Climate Equity Plan, create climate committee
The Zero Waste Advisory Commission has unanimously recommended that City Council adopt the new Climate Equity Plan. At the Oct. 14 meeting of the Zero Waste Commission, Commissioner Kaiba White presented a resolution from the Joint Sustainability Committee, the group…
Friday, October 16, 2020 by Savana Dunning
Travis County
Travis County reallocates CARES Act housing assistance funding to meet deadlines, talks Covid-19 plasma funding effort
The Travis County Commissioners Court voted unanimously to reallocate Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding in order to spend all of its funding before the Dec. 30 deadline. Travis County received $61,147,507.20 from the federal CARES Act.…
Wednesday, October 14, 2020 by Savana Dunning
Travis County
Travis County to create cohesive homelessness outreach plan
The Travis County Commissioners Court has created a new temporary project worker position tasked with developing a cohesive homeless outreach plan for the county, following a separate request by a county constable. In March, the Commissioners Court approved a census…
Friday, October 9, 2020 by Savana Dunning
Environment
Watershed Protection Department seeks to fill gaps in city regulation for creekside health
The Watershed Protection Department recently discovered two pieces of regulation missing from Austin’s land use code that could aid and restore the health of the city’s many creeks. Ana Gonzalez, a senior environmental scientist with the department, presented the issue at…
Thursday, October 8, 2020 by Savana Dunning
City Council
City looks to support waste collection workers amid pandemic stresses
As the Covid-19 pandemic continues to keep many people at home more often, Austin Resource Recovery finds itself steadily losing the staff needed to manage the increased volume of household garbage. City Council passed a resolution Oct. 1 to mitigate…
Wednesday, September 30, 2020 by Savana Dunning
Elections
AISD establishes 2020 Election Day as school holiday
Austin Independent School District students now have Election Day off this year following a decision by the AISD Board of Trustees to declare Tuesday, Nov. 3, a school holiday. The board voted to amend the 2020-21 school calendar at its…
Tuesday, September 29, 2020 by Savana Dunning
City Council
Over half the city’s Covid-19 relief programs enter funding distribution stages
By the end of September, nine of the 13 established economic relief programs for those impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic will have entered their funding distribution phase, providing money to Austinites in need. In a Sept. 23 progress report, Chief…
Monday, September 28, 2020 by Savana Dunning
City Hall
Design Commission work group starts process to revise Urban Design Guidelines
The Design Commission’s newly formed Urban Design work group has begun talks to revise the city’s Urban Design Guidelines, which are more than 10 years old. Unlike Austin’s zoning code, which contains the city’s building and construction requirements, the Urban Design…
Friday, September 25, 2020 by Savana Dunning
Roads
New changes to Congress Avenue mark step toward permanent street redesign
Austin Transportation is installing the first of many temporary safety and mobility additions to Congress Avenue this week as the interim step toward the city’s complete redesign project launched in 2017. During the four- to six-week phased installation process, the…
Tuesday, September 22, 2020 by Savana Dunning
City Hall
Animal Advisory Commission tables HASS discussion for now
With the Animal Advisory Commission still in disagreement over the recommendation that Austin join a decentralized shelter pilot program, commissioners decided to push the decision to October. While commissioners were entirely in agreement over one item, voting unanimously to ask…
Monday, September 21, 2020 by Savana Dunning
City Hall
Animal Advisory Commission to vote for new animal shelter pilot program
The Animal Advisory Commission is voting on a recommendation Monday for Austin to adopt a decentralized, foster home-based approach to animal services. Although the Austin Animal Center is considered an essential service by city ordinance, the shelter has had difficulties…
Tuesday, September 15, 2020 by Savana Dunning
Budget
Animal Advisory Commission asks Council to unfreeze hiring for animal protection officers
The Animal Advisory Commission unanimously approved a recommendation for City Council to unfreeze hiring for certain Animal Services staff Monday. Currently, 12 full-time positions that had been budgeted for in the 2020 budget remain vacant in the Animal Services Department.…
Monday, September 14, 2020 by Savana Dunning
Austin
Economic Development Department outlines plans for $12M creative space bond, creation of Austin EDC
The Economic Development Department outlined its plan for a $12 million creative space bond and a city-owned economic development corporation that could help it along at a joint meeting of the arts and music commissions Friday. The city launched a request…
Thursday, September 10, 2020 by Savana Dunning
City Council
New RISE 2.0 relief program offers $10M to individuals in Austin, Travis County
The city of Austin has expanded its original Covid-19 relief program and will be distributing a total of $10 million to individuals experiencing hardships in Austin and Travis County. Applications open Sept. 14 online and over the phone for the new…
Tuesday, September 8, 2020 by Savana Dunning
Austin
Music Commission asks city to recognize African American Cultural Heritage District, add multiuse arts theater
The Music Commission unanimously voted in support of a proposal to direct the city to formally recognize and develop amenities within the state-designated African American Cultural Heritage District in East Austin. The commission approved of the main bullet points of…
Friday, September 4, 2020 by Savana Dunning
Environment
The Office of Sustainability releases draft Climate Equity Plan
The Sustainability Office released its new revised Climate Equity Plan for public comment Wednesday, with hopes to submit the plan to City Council in October. The 97-page document, which is available through the city’s engagement portal, outlines the Sustainability Office’s…
Thursday, September 3, 2020 by Savana Dunning
Parks
Municipal golf courses to phase out BYOB policy, negotiating concession vendor contracts
The Parks and Recreation Department announced it will be eliminating its bring-your-own-beer policy for municipally run golf courses, starting Oct. 1. PARD’s Golf ATX Division quietly updated its website and Twitter on Aug. 21 with a public notice informing golfers…
Wednesday, September 2, 2020 by Savana Dunning
Health & Human Services
New Austin Public Health plan addresses Covid-19 disparities in Hispanic/Latinx community
Austin Public Health has revealed a new draft strategic plan to tackle disparities in Covid-19 cases in the city’s Hispanic/Latinx community. The plan, developed by the Hispanic/Latinx strike team within APH’s new Social Services Branch, is divided into four strategic…
Monday, August 31, 2020 by Savana Dunning
Transportation
City adjusts underpass cleanup program in light of homeless displacement concerns
In light of concerns around homeless displacement, the Public Works Department is making adjustments to their underpass cleaning program. City Council approved an amended $575,000 contract with Relief Enterprises Inc. to clean underpasses and bridges at its July 29 special…
Thursday, August 13, 2020 by Savana Dunning
Parks
Carver Museum expansion project enters planning process
The Washington Carver Museum, Cultural and Genealogy Center is moving forward into the planning stages of an expansion project that’s been 22 years in the making. Austinites voted to approve the bond to fund updates, construction and expansion on the…
