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Thursday, February 6, 2020 by Jo Clifton
City sues over Zilker Zephyr
After failing to reach an agreement with the city about extending its contract, the company that has run the Zilker Zephyr since 1996 is taking its train and going home. On its Facebook page, Texas Special Inc. declared how unhappy it was with the city’s Parks and Recreation Department after the parties failed to reach agreement about how long the contract might be extended. “Yes, we are leaving Zilker Park and we are taking our big green Zephyr train with us!” the company said. The city did not dispute ownership of the train, but when the Texas Special people attempted to remove the Zephyr’s train tracks, the city filed suit and has requested a temporary restraining order to prevent the company from removing any more bolts or other parts of the tracks. The city had to stop running the popular attraction after heavy rains last May washed out part of the tracks. In a statement to KXAN, the city said, “We regret it’s come to this but when we learned the contractor was attempting to remove the track, which would limit our ability to bring in a new operator, we had no choice but to ask the courts to confirm the city’s ownership and protect the train infrastructure.” The city added that the train is part of Austin history and that the parks department is working on finding a new vendor. A city spokesman said Wednesday night that the city has not yet received word on a date for the hearing.
Thursday, February 6, 2020 by Jo Clifton
Austin Energy seeking science fair volunteers
Austin Energy has organized and sponsored the city’s Regional Science Festival to encourage children to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math for 18 years. This year’s festival, the second-largest city-sponsored science fair in the country, begins Feb. 19 and continues through Feb. 22 at the Palmer Events Center. Austin Energy is looking for volunteers to help run the show, which features science projects from more than 3,000 students from 23 school districts and 12 counties. Many of the students move on to compete in state and international competitions. Volunteers need not have any specific qualifications but they should be comfortable working with students. Judges with specific skills and knowledge are also needed. For more information, visit sciencefest.org, where you will find a link to sign up. The festival offers a public viewing of the science projects, educational booths and scientific demonstrations for the kids.
Thursday, February 6, 2020 by Tai Moses
Sustainability staff tackles climate plan
The city’s Office of Sustainability is asking community members to submit ideas for reducing the carbon footprint of Austin’s transportation system and land use patterns at a Transportation and Land Use Community Workshop. As part of its update of the Community Climate Plan, the sustainability office wants to know more about the “goals, barriers, hopes and dreams” people have about the climate crisis and their community carbon footprint. Along with all the good discussion, there will be food and drink and supervised activities for the kiddos. Learn more and register on Eventbrite. Thursday, Feb. 13, 5:30-8 p.m., Carver Library Auditorium, 1161 Angelina St.
Thursday, February 6, 2020 by Tai Moses
Public Works releases annual report
The Austin Public Works Department has published its 2019 Annual Report, which showcases “how the department built and maintained Austin’s public infrastructure, including our roadways, sidewalks, trail system, bridges and more,” according to a news release. The report, which is available online, is a snapshot of accomplishments ranging from potholes filled (2,127) to miles of new sidewalk (13) to the number of students trained in how to safely cross the street (48,200). Aside from infrastructure improvements, the report includes descriptions of crossing guard duties, partnerships with neighborhood groups, and hundreds of other projects undertaken by the department’s 700-person staff. Austin Assistant City Manager Gina Fiandaca said, “Our Public Works employees continue to exceed expectations, whether they are delivering new fire stations, working in the Texas heat to maintain our roads, and everything in between. Austin residents and visitors alike should join me in applauding the city’s Public Works Department for the great work they are doing on our behalf.” Read the report online here.
Wednesday, February 5, 2020 by Ryan Thornton
Cashless controversy
Last week, the Austin Monitor reported on a recommendation by the Human Rights Commission that the city place a ban on cashless retail establishments. The release stated that Commissioner Courtney Santana had spoken with the upper management of Tiff’s Treats about the establishment’s decision to go cashless and found that the reasons cited were based on keeping up with technological trends. Following the report, however, Tiff’s Treats reached out to the Monitor, directly contradicting what Santana had said at the commission’s meeting last week. According to a public relations specialist with Tiff’s Treats, company records showed no encounter between Santana and the company’s chief financial officer or other management. The company’s representative also stated that Santana’s claim that the company did not list safety as one of its reasons for going cashless was incorrect. Instead, the representative said safety for store employees and delivery drivers is the primary reason the company chose to go cashless. The Monitor was unable to get in touch with Santana for a follow-up on the issue, but the Tiff’s Treats representative claimed the company’s CEO was recently able to connect with Santana to discuss the matter.
Wednesday, February 5, 2020 by Jessi Devenyns
Public Safety Commission elects new chair
With the departure of Ed Scruggs, the Public Safety Commission was left without a permanent chair at its February reunion. On Monday, former chair Rebecca Webber led the meeting, and one of the first items of business she brought before the body was the election of a new chair. She nominated Commissioner Meghan Hollis, saying she was “very well qualified” for the position. With no other nominations to compete for the post, the commission voted unanimously to elect Hollis, who will chair her first meeting in March. Scruggs left the commission to become a regional organizing director for the 2020 Michael Bloomberg campaign.
Wednesday, February 5, 2020 by Tai Moses
Nature Day at the Ney
A gathering of conservation- and nature-minded groups including the Texas Blue Jay Project, TreeFolks, Austin Watershed, Austin Bat Refuge, Austin Butterfly Forum, Travis Audubon, Capital Area Master Naturalists, and Cities Connecting Children to Nature have teamed up to present a day devoted to all things nature. Kids and adults alike will enjoy urban owl talks, games and activities, interactive demonstrations, a talk by artist Barbara Attwell, and a sapling giveaway, to mention just a few of the highlights. Attendees will also have the opportunity to learn about local environmental outreach programs, wildlife rescue and science education. Saturday, Feb. 29, 1-4 p.m, Elisabet Ney Museum, 304 E. 44th St.
Wednesday, February 5, 2020 by Tai Moses
Give feedback on renaming the Metz
On Dec. 5, 2019, City Council passed a resolution to rename the Metz Recreation Center to Rodolfo “Rudy” Mendez Recreation Center. Community members may offer their opinions on the name change during the 90-day comment period, which runs through May 2. You may offer feedback online here or attend one of two community meetings on the renaming and give your feedback in person. The two meetings are Feb. 29, 10-11:30 a.m. and March 3, 6:30-8 p.m. and will be held at the Metz Rec Center at 2407 Canterbury St. Parks department staffers will facilitate the conversation and Austin History Center staff will discuss the lives and contributions of Hamilton M. Metz and Rudy Mendez.
Tuesday, February 4, 2020 by Jo Clifton
Muñoz plans a run for District 4 seat
Getting an early jump on next November’s Council race, Manuel Muñoz, who describes himself as a lifelong resident of Austin’s East Rundberg area, has announced his candidacy for the District 4 Council seat. Council Member Greg Casar currently represents the district and has not indicated whether he plans to run for reelection. Muñoz writes on his website, “While I do not let it define me, I have come to understand many of the obstacles that Latinos in Austin face, from learning English as a Second Language in school and being a person of color, to experiencing homelessness as a college student in debt and uncertain about my future in a post 9-11 world, and know that the knowledge I bring from those experiences will help me bring forward to my city the ideas needed to solve our problems.” If elected, Muñoz says he would seek a seat on the Capital Metro Board of Directors “to ensure that changes like the CapMetro ReMap are truly made for the benefit of every resident.” Muñoz received an Associate of Arts degree in Spanish from Austin Community College and a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Texas State University.
Tuesday, February 4, 2020 by Jessi Devenyns
APD selects new assistant chief
The Austin Police Department has selected a new assistant chief from within its ranks to replace former Assistant Chief Justin Newsom. Robin Henderson, a 22-year veteran of the department, was promoted this week to the position from executive lieutenant. Police Chief Brian Manley introduced Henderson to the Public Safety Commission at its Feb. 3 meeting, saying she has been serving alongside department executives for the past year and that she is a “natural choice,” who is “up to speed on all of the major issues we’ve been facing as a department.” Following the announcement, there has been a positive response from the law enforcement community. Henderson told the commission that she came to the force as a 22-year-old single mother and a college dropout. Two decades later, she said the opportunities she has had with APD have been “phenomenal” and that she is hoping to serve as a role model for current employees and future cadets as well as help the department “move forward in a positive and progressive direction.” Henderson will oversee the northern portions of Austin.
Tuesday, February 4, 2020 by Tai Moses
Big Eddy closes – but just for the day
It’s time again for Deep Eddy Pool to close for scheduled maintenance, as it always does on the first Tuesday of every month. The pool will be closed all day and will reopen tomorrow, Wednesday, at 9 a.m. If you simply must get into the water today, Barton Springs, Bartholomew, Big Stacy and Springwoods pools are all open. You can find the locations and hours of operation for all of Austin’s swimming pools at austintexas.gov/pools.
Tuesday, February 4, 2020 by Tai Moses
Prescribed burn to help endangered songbird
Photo by Richard Crossley
County residents may see a few tendrils of smoke today and tomorrow as the county parks and natural resources departments, with help from local fire departments, conduct a prescribed burn at the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve’s Kotrla Tract at 22941 Nameless Road. The county says the burn “is intended to improve habitat for the black-capped vireo by removing invading shrubs, consuming dead and downed vegetation, reducing the number of exotic species, and enhancing the health and diversity of the native plant community.” The black-capped vireo is an endangered species that breeds in Central Texas’ increasingly fragmented grassland habitat. According to Travis Audubon, the tiny songbird “is one of the symbols of the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve, along with the Golden-cheeked Warbler, a reminder of the fragility and rare beauty of the Central Texas landscape.”
Monday, February 3, 2020 by Chad Swiatecki
SOS challenges Dripping Springs ruling
Representatives from Austin’s Save Our Springs Alliance have filed an appeal in Travis County District Court challenging a decision made last year by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality that will allow Dripping Springs to discharge more than 800,000 gallons a day of treated wastewater into Onion Creek. The appeal, which was filed Jan. 21, raises four issues for review: whether the commission violated state and federal clean water laws; whether there was adequate evidence regarding environmental impacts to support the commission’s decision; whether the commission ignored state and federal laws governing protections of existing aquatic life; and whether the commission misapplied state and federal rules about public notices regarding details of the discharge. SOS said in an online post it expects legal representatives from the state and Dripping Springs to respond to the appeal by Mar. 10, with a hearing expected April 30.
Monday, February 3, 2020 by Tai Moses
New pilot program supports OD survivors
Travis County has among the highest rates of opioid-related deaths in the state. Now Texas Health and Human Services and Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services are teaming up to launch a pilot program offering long-term recovery services and support for survivors of opioid overdoses. Surviving an overdose isn’t the end of the story; addicts need a plan for ongoing treatment to help end the cycle of relapse and recovery in which so many are trapped. A press release from HHS about the pilot said, “EMS opioid response teams will connect people to medication-assisted treatment, prevention education and peer recovery support. As part of the pilot, EMS responders also follow up with patients in their homes to assist with accessing these resources.” Blake Hardy, Austin-Travis County EMS commander of the Community Health Paramedic Team, said, “EMS is uniquely situated to connect with and help people suffering from opioid use disorder, and support from the Texas Targeted Opioid Response will help increase the response capability of the Community Health Paramedic team and ensure the team has the resources necessary for continued success.” With the help of the new funding from the state, the community paramedic team aims to serve 300 people in the next year.
Monday, February 3, 2020 by Tai Moses
Help for ‘fear of filing’
Filing your taxes can be onerous, bewildering and scary. Central Health and Foundation Communities are trying to make the process less stressful for Travis County residents who may not have the resources to hand the whole mess off to someone else. As Central Health President and CEO Mike Geeslin said in a news release, “Filing federal income taxes can be confusing and intimidating for all of us. But for people juggling jobs, family, school and other priorities – and perhaps who don’t fluently speak English or understand income tax requirements – the burden of filing taxes can be downright frightening. We want to remove the fear to file.” The solution? The Community Tax Center, which offers expert tax preparation assistance, free of charge, from now until Tax Day, April 15. You are eligible for their services if you earn less than $55,000 a year (income eligibility increases for families of four or more). According to the press release, “All volunteers are IRS-certified and trained to help residents prepare and file taxes, and answer questions to ensure clients receive every eligible tax credit and deduction.” Services are available in Spanish, English and ASL. Bring your photo ID, Social Security card, W-2, and proof of health insurance. Appointments are on a walk-in basis. The center is open from 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays; 1-8 p.m. Wednesdays; and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Fridays. Central Health Southeast Health and Wellness Center, 2901 Montopolis Drive. Find more info on the schedule and other locations here.
Monday, February 3, 2020 by Tai Moses
Teens exhibit totally cool art
The Totally Cool Totally Art program is having a reception to display its collection of totally cool artworks to the public. TCTA is a free Parks and Rec program for Austin teens in grades 7-12 in which teens work in various mediums and learn from professional artists. As the parks department description says, the nearly 25-year-old program is intended “to help give teens new experiences, build respect and trust, keep them out of trouble during high-risk after school hours and improve their skills in creative expression, communication, teamwork and arts appreciation.” The reception features light refreshments, short film screenings, an awards ceremony, and a chance to get your own shirt or tote bag screen-printed. Wednesday, Feb. 19, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Mexic-Arte Museum, 419 Congress Ave. The gallery show closes on March 1.
Friday, January 31, 2020 by Tai Moses
Monday is the last day to register to vote
The Travis County Tax Office will be pulling out all the stops to make sure everyone in the county registers to vote by Monday, the last day to register for the March primary election. Bruce Elfant, the county’s voter registrar and tax assessor-collector, said in a press release, “We are trying to make it easy for everyone who is eligible to register to vote. Thanks to our more than 3,000 volunteer deputy registrars you should be able to find a voter registration table close to where you live or work.” If you’re not sure of your status, simply register again at one of the county’s voter registration tables. As Elfant likes to say, “When in doubt, fill it out.” You can register until the midnight cutoff on Monday at the main tax office at 5501 Airport Blvd., and at the tax office’s voter outreach branch at 4705 Heflin Lane. Early voting begins Feb. 18. Election day is March 3. Check your voter registration status at VoteTravis.org.
Friday, January 31, 2020 by Jessi Devenyns
Architect modifies plans at HLC’s request
A case to alter the 1910 home at 1215 W. Ninth St., located in the West Line Historic District, came before the Historic Landmark Commission on Jan. 27. The proposal entailed a rehabilitation of the home that would remove the porte-cochere in front and add a one-story rear addition with a roof deck. Kevin Sims, who owns the property and is serving as the general contractor, said, “This will be a project that’s taking it down to the studs.” According to Deputy Historic Preservation Officer Cara Bertron, there was originally an application for demolition on the house, but the owner reconsidered and is now pursuing rehabilitation. “As much as I wanted to preserve what was there … it’s falling down,” said Sims, who added, “There’s really nothing holding up the building that could be considered structurally sound.” As part of the plans Sims presented, the gabled dormer that sits atop the home will be removed. However, the commissioners urged him to reinstate this architectural feature when he rebuilds the home. “I would really like to encourage you to retain that,” said Commissioner Terri Myers. “Otherwise, I think it lacks character.” Other commissioners agreed it was a distinctive feature that, in concert with the columned porch, characterizes the home. In light of the support for the overall project from staff, the commission and the community, Sims agreed. “In consideration of your request, I will rebuild it,” he said. The commission voted unanimously to approve the permit for the renovation.
Friday, January 31, 2020 by Tai Moses
Cave Fest seeks volunteers
Do you like dark places? Want to learn more about the underground world? If the answer to those questions is yes – or if you just enjoy helping out – you might consider volunteering at the Austin Cave Festival, an annual family-friendly event held at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center that celebrates Austin’s marvelous subterranean spaces. Volunteers are needed to staff activity tables, assist with cave simulations, help with guided cave trips, and more. The festival is Saturday, Feb. 22, and the volunteer shifts are 9:15 a.m.- noon, 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. or 12:30-3:30 p.m. If you’re interested, fill out this form. You can learn more about the Austin Cave Festival at austincavefestival.org.
Friday, January 31, 2020 by Tai Moses
Butler trail to get 2,200 new trees
Around 200 volunteers will converge on Festival Beach and Holly Shores this Saturday to plant 2,200 native saplings along the Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail. The young trees will provide food and shelter for wildlife and help reduce urban temperatures and stabilize the sensitive shoreline as they grow to maturity. The volunteers hail from companies that support the Trail Foundation, including H-E-B, AMD, Stantec, RECA, the Line, Thomas J. Reinhardt Foundation, DPR Construction and Brown Advisory, NXP, HNTB, Hyatt and the Austin Runner’s Club. Saturday, Feb. 1, 9 a.m.-noon, Butler Trail, 1 Robert T Martinez Jr. St (parking lot next to Camacho Activity Center).


