Austin Water isn’t leaving anything to chance this winter. The utility is being proactive in its efforts to protect the city’s three water treatment plants from potential freezing temperatures in case of another extreme weather event like … well, you know. Austin Water’s Winter Storm Uri After Action Report contained several recommendations for critical “resilience enhancements,” and staffers have already completed many of them. Storm damage from last February’s winter storm has been repaired and exposed pipes have been insulated; all three plants have stockpiled winter weather supplies such as heaters, sand and deicing fluid as well as emergency supplies for staff such as meals and cots; and the maintenance schedule at the plants has been modified to accommodate the need for increased water production in case of burst pipes. The utility’s operations manager, Stephanie Sue, explained that crews “have worked diligently to repair damage at our water treatment plants and strengthen our readiness for the winter season. These efforts began immediately following Winter Storm Uri and continue to be prioritized. We have learned from this year’s event and have taken action to be ready for future extreme weather.” If you’d like to see for yourself, check out this video of winterization efforts at the Ullrich water treatment plant.

Drunk drivers are a consistent cause of fatal traffic collisions in Austin, according to the Austin Police Department. So police are always seeking strategies to prevent impaired driving, especially around the holidays, when people tend to imbibe more than usual and then get in their cars to go imbibe more than usual at other places. In an effort to keep a lid on the terrible human cost of driving while intoxicated, APD is conducting a round of no-refusal, an enforcement strategy that allows police to obtain blood search warrants from suspected drunk drivers who refuse breath or blood tests. Police hope this will encourage those who are planning on drinking to find safe options for getting to and from wherever they’re going that doesn’t involve getting behind the wheel of a car (or bicycle or scooter). Austinites have more travel options than ever before, so it shouldn’t be hard to find an alternative to driving. The no-refusal program will be in effect through Nov. 28, from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. each day.

As Council Member Greg Casar sets his sights on Congress, the city is gearing up to organize his replacement. City Council began yesterday’s meeting with a handful of public speakers acknowledging Casar’s accomplishments for District 4, followed by a wave of questions regarding the special election to fill his seat. Because state law dictates an election must take place within 120 days of an official’s announced resignation, Council cannot wait until the May election to find Casar’s replacement. The special election will take place Jan. 25, with only those registered in District 4 eligible to participate. Early voting begins Jan. 10. Staff explained that today’s passage of the ordinance announcing the election will initiate the filing period for candidates, which will run until Dec. 16. Candidate packets are available at the city clerk’s website. The city clerk’s office clarified that Casar will continue to serve as Council member until a replacement is sworn in on the day of the election’s canvassing – likely around Feb. 4 – ensuring there is no vacancy during the transition. The elected representative will serve the rest of Casar’s four-year term, which ends in January 2025. A calendar of special election dates can be found here. 

City Council said goodbye Thursday to City Clerk Jannette Goodall, who is moving to Fort Worth to become city secretary there. A few minutes later, Council appointed Myrna Rios, who has served as deputy city clerk since August 2012, as interim city clerk effective Dec. 1. She will receive a 12 percent pay raise. Prior to becoming deputy, Rios served as Council agenda process manager for five years. Council Member Vanessa Fuentes was particularly pleased with Rios’ appointment, citing her many years of service to the city. “Myrna oversees the most vital operations of our city’s democratic processes, including 70 boards and commissions, as well as City Council, and has made all of the necessary adjustments for Council to be accessible to our community throughout the pandemic,” she said.

Local nonprofits and faith-based organizations are invited to apply for Travis County’s Vaccine Partner Program, which aims to “provide Covid-19 vaccines in familiar spaces with familiar faces.” The program offers financial support for community organizations hosting vaccine events in communities that have lower vaccine rates, especially among adults. Approved partners will plan and host vaccination events. “They can earn $50 per person given a first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine at their event. A group can receive a total of $5,000. The Travis County Vaccine Collaborative would provide vaccines, supplies and clinical staff.” Find more info and eligibility requirements here and apply here.

Holiday travel is ba-a-a-a-ck. With so many people vaxxed and boosted and itching to pack their bags, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport – which those in the know call AUS – has put out a news release containing subtle warnings about the pending “significantly busier” Thanksgiving travel season. AUS says it would be “thankful for travelers who plan ahead and arrive early,” which is a veiled way of saying, for god’s sake, don’t be a jerk and wait until the last minute to go to the airport! In case you’ve forgotten, “It’s especially important to allow for plenty of time for parking, returning a rental car, checking luggage, obtaining a boarding pass and passing through security, particularly in the morning hours for those traveling before 9 a.m.” The release goes on to say that the TSA suggests “travelers should arrive at least three hours early for all flights, including those with TSA PreCheck and Clear.” WHAT? Just please plan accordingly for all of your holiday to-ing and fro-ing.

Dreams of serving alcohol at Zilker Cafe appear to have died on the vine. A spokesperson from the city’s Parks and Recreation Department has confirmed to the Austin Monitor that the department did not file an appeal for a conditional use permit that would have allowed alcohol sales at the revamped concession stand outside of Barton Springs Pool. As the Monitor reported previously, both the Planning Commission and Parks and Recreation Board rejected the CUP. Though the parks department was the applicant requesting permission to sell alcohol, it “maintained a neutral position” on the matter and allowed the deadline to appeal the commissions’ decisions to pass, according to the spokesperson.

After more than a year of virtual silence, City Council’s long-standing tradition of hosting local musical acts during a meal break at its Thursday meetings will make a comeback in January. That’s the one point Council members seemed to agree on during a discussion on meeting procedures at Tuesday’s work session. What’s not clear is whether the musicians will perform during the dinner break – typically around 5:30 p.m. – or whether Council will shift the performances to the lunch break, when many working musicians are just starting their day. Also uncertain is whether to continue coupling music with proclamations or sticking with the current 9:30 a.m. proclamation time, which hardly anyone seems to like. The bigger sticking point, however, is how to efficiently handle public testimony from residents signed up to speak on agenda items. The one certainty so far is that virtual testimony will remain available for those who can’t get to City Hall to speak.

If you’re interested in transit, equity and development, you may well be interested in transit-oriented development, or TOD, which “manages what can get built in neighborhoods close to transit stops and encourages walkable neighborhoods for residents to get around, whether walking, biking or riding transit,” according to the Transportation Department. TOD is a good thing because of the community benefits it brings, but it can also be a bad thing because “the growth around these developments could cause new investment to drive up rent and displace nearby vulnerable communities.” With Project Connect coming down the pike, City Council has allotted $300 million in anti-displacement funds “to support projects and programs that will help low-income families avoid getting priced out of their neighborhoods and assist others who could be negatively affected by impacts of the transit investment.” Lots to discuss, as you can see, and you can discuss it all at a virtual community forum on Wednesday, Nov. 17, from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Register here.

Attorney Laurie Eiserloh, who lost in a runoff to Delia Garza for Travis County Attorney last year, has set her sights on becoming the next judge of the 455th District Court. She has compiled a lengthy list of notable Austinites who support her in the race for the Democratic nomination. Those supporters include Mayor Steve Adler, Council members Alison Alter, Ann Kitchen, Leslie Pool and Kathie Tovo, all four Travis County commissioners – Jeff Travillion, Brigid Shea, Ann Howard and Margaret Gómez – the entire Travis County delegation at the Legislature, and former senators Kirk Watson and Gonzalo Barrientos. Eiserloh told the Austin Monitor that another attorney had planned on running for the seat, but decided to run for a Court of Appeals position instead. Currently, Republican Cleve Doty is serving as the judge in the court after being appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott in October. Prior to his appointment, Doty was an assistant attorney general. He also served as counsel for the First Liberty Institute and as an associate for Baker Botts. Doty has not indicated whether he wants to run for the position. Both Republican and Democratic primaries are scheduled for March 1.

The nonprofit, nonpartisan organization Common Ground for Texans invites community members to a Zoom panel presentation, followed by audience questions, about the “outcomes and likely consequences of the redistricting maps approved by the 87th legislative special sessions.” Mike Ignatowski will moderate the discussion with panelists Genevieve VanCleve with All on the Line, Katya Ehresman with Common Cause Texas, Gary Bledsoe with NAACP TX, Martha Cotera with Latina Policy Coalition, and Alice Yi with League of Women Voters Austin Area, all of whom were involved in the redistricting process. Saturday, Nov. 20, 2-3:30 p.m. Join the Zoom meeting.

It takes a village to keep people healthy. That’s the idea behind the Austin/Travis County Community Health Plan, which is described as a “collaborative planning initiative organized and implemented by health care and social service providers throughout the Austin/Travis County area.” The plan sets health priorities and focus areas for three years, but in order to do that properly, community input is critical. So Austin Public Health is holding a public meeting to solicit feedback on what makes – and keeps – the community healthy. Don’t worry, things won’t get too personal: “Questions will be very general and focus on health needs and barriers to health.” There are several ways to participate. You can register on Zoom to take part in the virtual discussion on Thursday, Nov. 18, from 6:30-8 p.m. Or, you can call into a special radio show hosted by KAZI FM 88.7 on Friday, Nov. 19, from 6-7 p.m. Finally, you may complete a survey and leave your comments at SpeakUpAustin.