On Dec. 15, Travis County and the city of Austin extended the Stay Home, Mask and Otherwise Be Safe Order through Feb. 16, 2021. This measure is intended to prevent further spread of Covid-19. Additionally, the Austin-Travis County health authority has extended the Health Authority Rules through Apr. 15, 2021, and included additional updates. The county and city orders extend existing requirements for face coverings, social distancing and limiting gatherings, and add quarantine requirements that are consistent with the updated Austin Public Health quarantine guidelines. Additionally, the rules define “high-risk individuals” and “high-risk settings,” and now include dine-in or indoor food or beverage service requirements. The full text of these orders and rules can be found on the Austin-Travis County COVID-19 Orders and Rules page. Bookmark AustinTexas.gov/COVID19 to stay up to date on the latest Austin Covid-19 information.

Bad news, cold-water enthusiasts: The city has decided that since Austin is currently operating under stage 4 Covid-19 risk-based guidelines, the 2021 Polar Bear Plunge is canceled. Barton Springs Pool will remain closed on Jan 1, 2021. However, in an attempt to keep the spirit of the plunge alive, the Austin Parks and Recreation Department is asking that prior attendees share photos/videos of past events on social media using the hashtag #polarplungeatx. The department plans for the Polar Bear Plunge to return in 2022. For more information on city pool schedules, visit austintexas.gov/pools.

Pedestrians, cyclists and scooter riders will be glad to learn that a 1.3-mile section of Congress Avenue, between Riverside Drive and 11th Street, now boasts new mobility and safety improvements that were just completed by the Austin Transportation Department. According to a news release from the department, “The new design improves safety and comfort for everyone traveling in the area, and addresses documented crash patterns on the street.” There are new left-turn lanes at Cesar Chavez Street and Fifth and Sixth streets, and new dedicated right-turn lanes at northbound Cesar Chavez Street, Barton Springs Road and northbound Riverside Drive. Perhaps best of all are the new protected bicycle lanes that create a physical separation between cars and bikes. The changes were inspired after city staffers observed the results of the temporary bike lanes that were installed on Congress Avenue over the summer, after City Council passed a resolution urging the city “to facilitate safe, socially distanced outdoor exercise and active transportation on neighborhood streets.” Transportation Department Director Robert Spillar explained in the release, “Our team moved quickly over the last few months to transition to a street design that works better for everyone using Congress Avenue. The improvements are expected to reduce crashes, improve intersection operations for people driving, offer a protected space for people on bicycle or scooters and create a more comfortable environment for people walking, dining or shopping along the sidewalk.”

Those jam-packed New Year’s Eve parties of yore are strictly off the menu this year – just ask Dr. Fauci. The city of Austin is still putting on its official annual celebration on Dec. 31, but the party will be virtual, featuring performances from eight local bands spanning several genres, including Gina Chavez, BettySoo, Como Las Movies, and Parker McCollum. To add some hometown flavor, the performances were pre-recorded at venues around town such as Mohawk, Cheer Up Charlies, Antone’s Nightclub and others. The party is the city’s way of supporting Austin’s live music culture, City Manager Spencer Cronk explained in an announcement about the event: “Covid-19 has been devastating to our special events and entertainment industry. In 2020, the virtual Austin’s New Year event is able to benefit some of our local musicians and venues. We pride ourselves in being the Live Music Capital of the World, and this event will allow us to experience a little piece of Austin while celebrating safely from home.” Check the city’s website for ways to stream the party into your own living room.

With Delia Garza leaving the city to become Travis County Attorney, there is an opening for the largely ceremonial position of mayor pro tem. District 4 Council Member Greg Casar said on the City Council Message Board Wednesday that he had the support of Council members Leslie Pool, Ann Kitchen and Pio Renteria, as well as incoming Council Member Vanessa Fuentes. He also told the Austin Monitor that Mayor Steve Adler had indicated he too would support Casar. Casar, who easily won reelection in November, said, “This year the job of being in local government has been more important than ever.” He said in the new role he would still represent his district but would also plan to take on “a new role citywide to make sure I’m supporting Council members to get their work done across the city.” Casar said he is interested in addressing issues throughout the city, including homelessness. As a press release from his office said, “At 31, Casar will become Austin’s youngest-ever mayor pro tem.”

Wondering what the city plans to do with the 2016 mobility bond funds in 2021? The draft 2021 Mobility Annual Plan and online interactive map are now available for review and comment. Every year, the city releases a MAP to outline projects that will be funded through the bond. This year’s MAP includes projects involving Intersection Safety/Vision Zero improvements, Safe Routes to School, sidewalks, bikeways, urban trails and more. The planned projects align with City Council’s Austin Strategic Direction 2023 Mobility Strategic Outcome of getting Austinites where we want go, when we want to get there, safely and cost-effectively. “We’re now four years into the 2016 Mobility Bond program and we have hundreds of projects on the ground around Austin, providing our community better and safer ways to get around our city,” said Assistant City Manager Gina Fiandaca in a press release. “The 2021 Mobility Annual Plan outlines a big year of planned transportation infrastructure work citywide.” The feedback form is now open on the Mobility Annual Plan website, and comments will be accepted through Feb. 7, 2021. The final 2021 MAP will be published in early March 2021.

This winter break, Austin Independent School District is partnering with the Central Texas Food Bank to make sure Austin families have access to healthy food. Prior to the break, today the district is setting up curbside meal sites to serve free seven-day meal packs. There will also be two mass distribution events where families may pick up an additional seven days’ worth of meals on Monday, Dec. 21, and Wednesday, Dec. 30, at Nelson Field, 7105 Berkman Drive, from 9 a.m. to noon. These meal packs are free for any child younger than 19 as well as those older than 19 who utilize special education resources or who are enrolled in school to complete the requirements for a high school diploma. There will be other food available in addition to the meal packs. Parents or caregivers may receive seven-day meal packs without children present by providing documentation – such as a birth certificate, student ID card, report card or attendance record – at the point of meal service. The meals are well-rounded and feature foods that have been cooked and prepared by staff in AISD kitchens. They will be served cold to be taken home and reheated.

City engineers and departments have been working for two years to design improvements to Colony Loop Drive, including connecting the missing portion and upgrading existing sections of the street between Loyola Lane and Decker Lane. The project will also provide access to the planned Colony Park Sustainable Community. The public meeting for the project was livestreamed on Dec. 3 – if you missed it, you can watch a recording of the virtual meeting on YouTube. Tomorrow is the deadline for submitting public comment on the project. Email your feedback to colonypark@austintexas.gov or call (512) 974-3394.

Have a good idea for making our community healthier? Apply for a healthy living mini-grant from Austin Public Health, which is funding health projects to prevent chronic disease. Grants of up to $2,500 are available for projects that will “make a lasting change” in Austin and Travis County. In addition, “Projects should address health disparities by reaching people who face higher rates of chronic disease, such as people with lower incomes, and people who are Black/African American, Hispanic/Latinx, Asian, or Indigenous.” APH suggests focusing on the following topics:

• Active living (physical activity)
• Tobacco-free living
• Healthy eating
• Community gardens
• Healthy food access
• Breastfeeding support
• Overall wellness

Lynn Boswell and Noelita Lugo will be the newest members of the Austin Independent School District’s Board of Trustees. Boswell will represent District 5, which covers parts of Central and Southwest Austin, and Lugo will be the newest at-large trustee, a seat covering the entire school district. Boswell, a documentary filmmaker who earned her law degree from the University of Texas, is the former president of the Austin PTA and an AISD parent. Lugo is also a parent to kids in the district and helped start Save Austin Schools, a group that fought against school closures in 2019. She has a master’s degree in social work and works in public policy, focusing on family issues like workforce development and young parent programs. In a press release, Lugo thanked the voters of Travis County, saying she decided to run because of her “serious commitment to educational equity,” adding that it “is imperative every kid across our city has equal access to success in the classroom and in life.”

As Covid-19 cases rise, so do concerns about about community spread, hospital admissions and ICU capacity. While Austin is still at Stage 4 on the Covid-19 risk-based guidelines chart, health officials have stated their concern that the continued rising of these indicators could trigger a move into Stage 5, especially as folks navigate the holiday season. Yesterday, Travis County Judge Andy Brown and Mayor Steve Adler sent a letter to Austin’s faith leaders urging them to move their services to the virtual realm. “We need your continued diligence to prevent reaching a crisis point and urge you to consider taking your holiday services virtual. We are particularly concerned for the elderly and those whose compromised physical condition leave them more vulnerable. We are so close to getting the vaccine to these neighbors that we feel it is especially necessary to urge their protection now to the greatest extent possible,” the letter says. Brown and Adler go on express their understanding for financial barriers to moving church services online, and request that if virtual services are not feasible, for masking and social distancing to at least be strictly enforced. “If your congregation has the digital capabilities, it would be helpful if you could once again consider virtual worship. If your congregation does not have that as an option, we ask that you consider other necessary changes to holiday services to allow for maintenance of masking and social distancing guidelines. We urge special and renewed discipline and enforcement of masking, social distancing, and avoiding multiple sustained contacts among those in larger groups, especially to protect those most vulnerable.”

Editor’s Note: Andy Brown is on the board of the Capital of Texas Media Foundation, which is the parent nonprofit of the Austin Monitor.

Last month, in the face of continued dry weather and declining humidity levels, the Travis County Commissioners Court issued a burn ban for the unincorporated areas of the county. That ban expires today, so yesterday the Commissioners Court voted to issue a new prohibition on burning, this one effective through Jan. 13. As Travis County Chief Fire Marshal Tony Callaway explained, “We received some rain, but it wasn’t enough to improve our drought conditions. Unfortunately, we don’t expect there to be relief anytime soon. Therefore, in order to ensure public safety, it’s necessary to issue a new burn ban for the unincorporated areas before the current ban expires.” According to the announcement, the new ban on outdoor burning “does not affect prescribed burns conducted under the supervision of a prescription burn manager. It also does not affect outdoor welding, cutting or grinding operations, and outdoor hot works operations conducted in accordance with the guidelines established by the Travis County Fire Marshal’s Office.” Those who are  grilling or barbecuing outdoors are urged to use caution and have a source of water nearby in case of fire.