The ATX Mobility Coalition has asked City Council and Capital Metro to appoint Julio Gonzalez Altamirano, Veronica Castro de Barrera and Dr. Colette Pierce Burnette to “community expert” positions on the Austin Transit Partnership Board. The coalition, which is made up of People United for Mobility Action, Austin Justice Coalition, Planning Our Communities and Workers Defense Action Fund, stated in a letter that it supports the three candidates because they are “highly qualified while meeting criteria that reflects our community’s goals for ATP Board Members, who:

● Include historically underrepresented communities, specifically board members of color, women and people with disabilities.
● Prioritize core transit riders and use transit regularly.
● Have a deep understanding of issues and measures related to equity.
● Have a holistic understanding of the impacts of transit-induced displacement and strategies to address the issue.
● Are committed to improving the experiences of pedestrians, bicyclists, and persons with disabilities.
● Are committed to workers’ rights and protections.
● Are committed to forging and strengthening relations with labor and community partners.”

The Austin Transit Partnership board will include one member of City Council, one member of the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board of Directors, and three community members with expertise in finance, engineering and construction, and planning and sustainability.

Austin City Council Member Greg Casar and Philadelphia City Council Member At-Large Helen Gym have been selected to serve as co-chairs of Local Progress, which the website describes as “a movement of local elected officials advancing a racial and economic justice agenda through all levels of local government.” When he was elected in 2014, Casar became the youngest Council member in Austin history. He easily won reelection in 2016 and again last month. Earlier this year, he championed redirection of city resources previously allocated to the Austin Police Department. He also led the effort to give all workers paid sick leave, although that program has not been implemented because it is in conflict with state law. He was a leader in Council’s effort to pass the largest affordable housing bond in Texas history. Casar and Gym released the following statement: “As we prepare to step forward together into a new year with the same challenges, we know that our cities and municipalities must continue to be the epicenter of progressive change in this country. By working together, we can drive transformative change across all levels of local government, build power with our communities, and impact policy and governance at the state and national level. Together, we are redefining what is possible. This is what Local Progress is all about.”

With everything else that’s going on, it’s easy to forget that it’s also peak flu season right now – if you haven’t gotten your yearly jab yet it’s definitely time. No insurance? No worries, Central Health-affiliated CommUnityCare is holding a no-cost drive-thru flu shot clinic this weekend for uninsured residents of Travis County. Head over to Manor Senior High School on Sat., Dec. 12, from 8 a.m. to noon. Not only can you get your flu shot from the safety of your own car, you can also pick up personal protective equipment and a voucher for a turkey from HEB. No-cost flu vaccinations will also be available for MAP members and patients with a sliding fee CommUnityCare card. Those who have health insurance should bring their insurance card so insurance can be billed directly, with no out-of-pocket costs for individuals.

With New Year’s eve celebrations on the horizon, the Travis County Commissioners Court has voted to approve an order banning the use or sale of restricted fireworks outside the city limits of any city or town in Travis County. The use or sale of any kind of fireworks is illegal in the city of Austin. The most dangerous types of fireworks included in the ban are called “skyrockets with sticks” and “missiles with fins.” Travis County Fire Marshal Tony Callaway explained that the order was prompted by the ongoing drought in Central Texas and the increased risk of wildfires from fireworks. “We need to use all the tools available to us to ensure public safety,” he said. The order is in effect from Dec. 20 to Jan. 1, though it may expire sooner if rain comes during the December fireworks season.

The Austin Transportation Department has completed safety and mobility improvements at the North Lamar Boulevard/Payton Gin Road intersection. The changes “include new shared use paths for people walking and riding bikes, new high-visibility crosswalks, traffic signal upgrades, and a new median on North Lamar Boulevard near the intersection,” according to the department’s news release. Assistant City Manager Gina Fiandaca said, “We’ve seen significant crash reductions after other intersection safety projects have been built in Austin. We’re excited to deliver a solution to what had been a challenging, high-crash intersection for many years.” The project is part of the 2016 Mobility Bond Intersection Safety/Vision Zero program.

City Manager Spencer Cronk has released his end-of-year review. While he admits that he, like many of us, is “looking forward to the end of 2020,” he made a valiant effort to find the silver lining.

“While 2020 may have tested us in many ways, as an organization and a community, we rose to the challenge,” he wrote in the introduction. “City employees, especially our public health care workers and first responders, stepped up repeatedly to answer the call and serve our community with unyielding dedication.”

Highlights from the review include:

• The Economic Development Department within five months established seven new programs to distribute millions in recovery dollars to individuals, families, local businesses, and non-profits. The department also trained hundreds of Austinites to be better prepared for the existing and future job market, provided classes and coaches which helped thousands of others to continue working. They also assisted small businesses who in turn created more jobs.
• Austin Energy and Austin Water focused on investments in a variety of energy, water, and air quality programs and initiatives, emphasizing conservation and environmental protection and helping reduce the City’s municipal carbon footprint.
• In partnership with Public Works, the Austin Fire Department and Austin/Travis County Emergency Medical Services opened a joint Fire/EMS Station in Del Valle/Moore’s Crossing, the first of five stations to be built in the coming years to provide improved response times in underserved neighborhoods.

There’s plenty more over at the 2020 Year in Review website, where you can find out about specific topics such as Covid-19 and reimagining public safety, and peruse detailed reports on the progress each department made this year toward the Strategic Direction 2023 plan.

All that hand sanitizer we’ve been bathing in appears to be working: The Centers for Disease Control recently announced that flu cases nationally are lower than normal for this time of year. Flu activity is also much lower than normal in Austin-Travis County and the state of Texas. For comparison, a flu report for the week of Nov. 22 from Austin Public Health showed only six positive flu tests. Last year at this time, APH reported more than 800 positive flu tests. Janet Pichette, chief epidemiologist at Austin Public Health, attributed the lower numbers to community members being more proactive, getting their flu vaccine, and “washing their hands, social distancing and wearing face coverings, which not only helps to fight Covid-19 but slow the spread of flu as well.” Since this week is National Influenza Vaccination Week, there’s no better time to get your flu vaccination if you’ve been putting it off. Visit VaccineFinder.org to find a location near you offering flu shots. Those who are uninsured or are Medicaid recipients may get flu shots from Austin Public Health. Call 512-972-5520 to schedule an appointment.

Austin Community Foundation and United Way for Greater Austin announced on Tuesday the third and final round of grant funding for local nonprofits from their community-led philanthropic fund. All Together ATX provides flexible resources to nonprofit organizations working with communities experiencing economic and health-related hardships due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This round, 111 organizations will receive a total of $3.5 million for basic needs and support. The funding, which includes a matched gift from the Sheth Sangreal Foundation, breaks down as follows:

• Food security – 34 grants totaling $435,000
• Direct cash assistance – 42 grants totaling $2.2 million
• Social supports – 30 grants totaling $555,000
• COVID-19 modifications and personal protective equipment – 25 grants totaling $356,000

Find the complete list of grant recipients here. The funds will be distributed electronically by Dec. 24. Since March 27, 2020, Austin Community Foundation and United Way raised $7.7 million for All Together ATX from corporate and individual donors.

Ed Van Eenoo, who has served the city of Austin for the past 11 years – eight of them as deputy chief financial officer – is stepping into a new role this week as chief financial officer. As CFO, Van Eenoo will have the “fiduciary responsibilities for administrating all financial proceedings of city government, except for the assessment and collection of taxes,” according to a city announcement. “I’m honored to have been chosen to lead the city’s Financial Services Department,” said Van Eenoo. In his previous role as deputy CFO, Van Eenoo “was responsible for the development, presentation and subsequent monitoring of the city’s $4.2 billion annual operating budget and $1.0 billion annual capital budget,” which has been a “perennial winner” of awards. Van Eenoo is also known for his award-winning community engagement campaigns. He replaces Elaine Hart, who retired this year.

Recognizing the need for expanded behavioral health resources for individuals experiencing homelessness in Austin, City Council members at their last meeting approved a resolution directing the city manager to support a partnership between Downtown Austin Community Court, the Homeless Outreach Street Team and Integral Care. Council Member Kathie Tovo sponsored the bill, along with co-sponsors Mayor Steve Adler and Council members Natasha Harper-Madison, Ann Kitchen and Pio Renteria. The partnership enables the Downtown Austin Community Court and HOST to identify and refer individuals experiencing homelessness to a new team that will provide resources to individuals to address behavioral health, substance use disorders and primary care health needs along with intensive case management and housing navigation support. Integral Care will manage the team, providing services out of its clinic at 3000 Oak Springs Drive as well as anywhere they are required. The team anticipates serving 150-175 people per year with intensive case management and behavioral treatment and services. “Integral Care is excited to strengthen our collaborations with the City of Austin and Downtown Austin Alliance to connect individuals experiencing homelessness to services that rebuild their mental and physical health and support recovery,” said Ellen Richards, Integral Care’s chief strategy officer, in a press release announcing the partnership. Downtown Austin Alliance has pledged funding for half of the first year’s costs. The resolution also directs the city manager to identify funding no later than Dec. 10 and to explore ­sources for potentially expanding the program.

The Hill Country Alliance holds a yearly photo contest encouraging photographers to capture memorable images of the diverse wildlife and stunning rural landscapes of the Texas Hill Country.

The Grand Prize photograph this year, Green Heron, was taken by Tricia Daniel. This heron, usually standing at the edge of shallow water waiting for its next meal to swim by, is a common sight among Hill Country birders. The other three winners are as follows:

• 1st Place: Fall into the Frio by Mike Jones
• 2nd Place: Hiding in Plain Sight by Carol Serur
• 3rd Place: Male Vermillion Flycatcher by Kimberlee Smith

The four prize photographs were selected by a panel of judges from over 400 entries. In addition, the public was able to to view the photo contest entries and vote for their favorites. Steger Chapman won this People’s Choice Award for his impressionistic image of a glassy river titled Wimberley Reflection. All of the winners will be featured in the alliance’s 2021 Hill Country Calendar, along with photographs by other contestants. The calendar is available for purchase on the Hill Country Alliance website.

With election day rapidly approaching, candidates have been beating the bushes for donations for their final contribution and expenditure reports. In the past, those reports were due in the Office of the City Clerk at 5 p.m., eight days before the election. But because the reports are all now submitted electronically, they were not due until midnight last night. At 4:30 p.m. on Monday, the Austin Monitor found just one eight-day report, submitted by the Stonewall Democrats of Austin. The group reported contributing $250 each to City Council members Alison Alter and Jimmy Flannigan. Both contributions were made on Nov. 14. In a different type of filing, the Austin Police Association PAC, which opposes Flannigan and Alter, reported spending more than $105,000 with Guardian Public Strategies. The expenditure, which was made on Nov. 17 and reported Nov. 30, was for digital and social media advertising and mailers “promoting endorsed candidates for Austin City Council runoff” election. The group endorsed Jennifer Virden, Alter’s opponent, and Mackenzie Kelly, Flannigan’s opponent.