The Downtown Commission is amending its bylaws to add a member of the new Public Safety Commission to its roster. The Downtown Commission actually voted for this change in July, originally intending for the Public Safety commissioner to fill the long-empty seat set aside for a representative of the Music Commission, but the motion did not make it to City Council’s Audit and Finance Committee. In the two months since the July meeting, Downtown Commission Chair August Harris spoke with Music Commission Chair Gavin Garcia, who voiced concerns over representation removal just as the downtown live music scene is being impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. The new motion keeps the seat reserved for a Music commissioner, “even though they haven’t participated in more than three years,” Harris said. Commissioner Jennifer Bristol motioned for the new change at the Sept. 16 meeting and the motion carried unanimously after being seconded by Commissioner Christopher Lehman.

The League of Women Voters of Texas is celebrating National Voter Registration Day with two new Zoom webinars that aim to help voters prepare for the upcoming November election. The first webinar, Tuesday, Sept. 22, at noon, will tackle the ins and outs of safe voting. League President Grace Chimene and Christina Adkins, the legal director of the Elections Division at the Texas secretary of state’s office, “will discuss everything you need to know about vote-by-mail in Texas and all about safer options for in-person voting and making sure your vote is counted.” The second webinar, Tuesday, Oct. 6, at noon, asks the question, “Who else is on the ballot (after the president)?” Panelists Brandon Draper, Susan Redford and Sherri Greenberg will discuss “the responsibilities of down-ballot offices” like school board, county commissioner and judges, “and how the elected officials impact the communities they serve.” The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan volunteer organization that “never supports or opposes candidates or parties, instead they encourage every eligible Texan to Be a Texas Voter. Their mission is: Empowering Voters. Defending Democracy.”

The Economic Development Department will be reopening the city’s Non-Profit Relief Grant – a $6.35 million fund providing up to $20,000 grants – on Sept. 21 in an attempt “to reach additional Austin nonprofit organizations facing hardships due to the economic impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic.” Sylnovia Holt-Rabb, acting director of the EDD, said in an announcement, “We have revised eligibility based on lessons learned and review of applications from the first round to ensure grant guidelines accommodate more successful applications. The reopening of the Austin Non-Profit Relief Grant will ensure the $6.35 million that (the) mayor and City Council allocated will support our local nonprofit organizations who are critical to the recovery of our community.” Visit the Austin Non-Profit Relief Grant Program Dashboard for grant details.

Photo by Ryan Conway, Gensler

A new art installation called the Parkspace project has both a practical and an artistic purpose as it helps Austinites visualize the necessary 6-foot space to slow the spread of Covid-19. The first phase of the project was installed in June, July and August at Roy Guerrero Colorado River Park, Pease Park, Republic Square and Zilker Park. Now the installations can be seen on the Long Center lawn and the Statesman Bat Observation Area under the Congress Avenue Bridge. According to the news release, the project provides a “creative wayfinding system to encourage safe practices for our community. The site-specific installation series uses eco-friendly turf paint to delineate spaces where people can come together to enjoy their favorite outdoor activities” while still keeping a safe distance from others. Cory Baker, president and CEO of the Long Center, said, “We look forward to welcoming Austinites onto our lawn now and for the exciting activities we have planned for the fall season.”

As some local active mobility advocates anticipated, the city has decided to keep the protected bike lanes on Congress Avenue between Riverside Drive and 11th Street following the summer pilot. Beginning next week, the Austin Transportation Department will kick off a monthlong process of replacing the orange traffic cones currently separating general traffic from the bike lanes with flex posts and parking stops as permanent barriers. The project also includes protected intersection designs at Riverside Drive, Barton Springs Road, Third Street and 11th Street, as well as new left turn lanes and signal phases at Cesar Chavez Street, Fifth Street and Sixth Street. Right-turn lanes will also be added on Cesar Chavez Street, Barton Springs Road and Riverside Drive. Council Member Kathie Tovo, sponsor of the summer pilot, said it’s “exciting to quickly transition to a permanent design that builds on the success of the temporary bike lanes.” The protected lanes, she said, will provide a “safer, more comfortable option” for the millions of people who walk, roll and bike along Congress Avenue every year. The plans are even popular with at least one local business along the corridor. Jim Ritts, CEO of Paramount Theatre, said the summer pilot “demonstrated how much more accessible and safer Congress Avenue could be for everyone” and that the permanent lanes “will improve the quality of life” downtown.

Yes, Austin Museum Day is happening this year, and no, it may not look quite like museum days of yore. Individual museums may have limits on the number of visitors they will allow inside their doors while other museums are opting for a Virtual Museum Day. Still, dozens of area museums are expected to participate in this free, citywide “celebration of art, culture, history, music, nature, and science” on Sunday, Sept. 20, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. The day promises a full slate of tours, events, gallery talks, craft projects and activities. Check Facebook for the latest on participating museums and their schedules.

The Travis County Commissioners Court is seeking applications from qualified individuals to serve on the nine-member Central Health Board of Managers. The commissioners are looking for applicants “who will represent the interests of the county as a whole, as well as supply exceptional vision, business and administrative skills and commitment.” Applicants need not have health care provider experience, but should have a basic understanding of the health care system and “a commitment to improving the patient experience.” The county is currently seeking an appointee to serve a four-year term, Jan. 1, 2021-Dec. 31, 2024. The deadline to apply is 5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 2. See a full list of the eligibility requirements and an application packet here.

We’re not the only ones who have noticed growing numbers of face masks discarded in parking lots and used sanitizing wipes tossed on sidewalks and in gutters. Alarmed by the amount of PPE trash piling up in the state, the #Don’tMessWithTexas anti-littering campaign has called on a number of Texas celebrities, including Matthew McConaughey, Marsai Martin, George Strait and Eva Longoria, to lend their fame to public service announcements reminding their fellow Texans “that the only safe way to dispose of used personal protective equipment (PPE) is in a trash can.” Becky Ozuna, program administrator for the campaign, said in a news release, “Unfortunately, we’re seeing a significant uptick in the amount of PPE litter. Not only is it unsightly, it is also harmful to the environment and a danger to public health. When you’re done with your masks, gloves and wipes, do the right thing and dispose of them properly.” The PSAs can be seen on television and social media channels. According to the Texas Department of Transportation, litter tossed from cars accounts for half of the 362 million pieces of trash that accumulate on Texas roads each year. The penalty for littering is a $500 fine, or up to $2,000 for tossed items that weigh more than 5 pounds.

The Central Labor Council of Austin has endorsed city propositions A and B on the November ballot, which are both related to funding transportation improvements of various types, including Project Connect. The labor group met Saturday to consider a wide range of candidates for City Council, Travis County Commissioners Court and Austin Independent School District Board of Trustees. Longtime labor activist Jack Kirfman told the Austin Monitor that the group endorsed all of the incumbent Council members running for reelection. That includes Greg Casar in District 4, Jimmy Flannigan in District 6, Leslie Pool in District 7, and Alison Alter in District 10. The group also endorsed David Chincanchan for the District 2 seat. Council Member Delia Garza, who has held that seat since first being elected in 2014, instead ran successfully for the Democratic nomination for Travis County attorney. Because Republicans did not put up a candidate for that seat, her election to the position is virtually assured. The labor group also endorsed Andy Brown, the Democratic nominee for Travis County judge, and Ann Howard, the Democratic nominee for commissioner in Precinct 3. They endorsed the following candidates for AISD board: John McKiernan-Gonzalez in District 2, Kevin Foster in District 3, Lynn Boswell in District 5 and Noelita Lugo in District 8.

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.

Over the weekend, the Parks and Recreation Department reopened several of the parks, facilities and programs that have been closed during the Covid-19 pandemic. Now open and available for public use – albeit in a limited fashion – are the Barton Creek Spillway, or Barking Springs; city disc golf courses, tennis courts and outdoor exercise equipment; the campsites at Emma Long Metropolitan Park; Sunshine Camps; and the Girl Scouts hut. The parks department is also restarting some small group (no more than 10 people) activities such as cleanups and tree plantings as well as select outdoor fitness instruction. Still, PARD cautions, “Each facility will operate under reduced capacity and Covid-19 Modified Operating Procedures specific to each facility, such as social distancing, cleaning protocols, and other requirements of the nonprofit operators.” Which means, in everyday parlance, wear your mask at all times, wash your hands frequently and maintain 6 feet of distance from others.

Gardeners wait impatiently for this event all year long and finally it’s almost here – Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center’s Fall Native Plant Sale. The annual open-air plant sale features “a variety of spectacular Texas natives, including succulents, grasses, perennials, wetland plants, shrubs and trees. Not only are they beautiful, but native plants help conserve water, reduce mowing costs, provide habitat for birds, butterflies and other wildlife, protect the soil, and save money on fertilizer and pesticides.” The center acknowledges that, due to Covid, “things will look a little different this season.” In an effort to diminish the hordes of green-thumbed shoppers, the sale will be spread out over nine weekends. The members-only weekends (Sept. 25-27 and Oct. 2-4) are already sold out. Weekends from Oct. 9 to Nov. 22 are open to the public, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., “with very limited capacity and timed entry.” Reserve your spot here and read the center’s tips for preparing for a successful sale experience here.

Planning commissioners paid tribute to their former leaders, Chair Conor Kenny and Vice Chair Fayez Kazi, at the board’s Tuesday night meeting. Kenny left to join Kazi at Civilitude Group to work on affordable housing developments together. New chairman Todd Shaw thanked the two for advancing affordable housing in Austin. “Conor and Fayez really took it to heart to do brick-and-mortar and get affordable housing done,” Shaw said. Greg Anderson touted their work on pushing revisions to the Land Development Code. “They did a good job of calling out the endless bullying and whatnot that comes along with throwing your hat in the ring in Austin, Texas, and trying to do the right thing,” he said. “So I love them both for that.” Robert Schneider said he also learned a lot from the former commissioners. “They really embodied the spirit of service and the service of commitment to the city,” he said. The tributes rounded up an unusually light agenda for the Planning Commission, with the only extended discussion revolving around the annual Imagine Austin report. Commissioners used a variety of green items to signal their yea votes; while most held up green cards to approve the consent agenda, Schneider, Claire Hempel, James Shieh and Greg Anderson used a lime, a green Uno reverse card, a green pencil sharpener and a houseplant, respectively.