On April 9, Council approved a resolution allocating $15 million to help residents suffering financial hardship due to Covid-19. The money, called the RISE (Relief in a State of Emergency) fund, will be distributed, starting this month, through social services agencies registered as vendors with the city. Social services providers may apply at AustinTexas.gov/RISE and submit their applications through PartnerGrants. According to the announcement from the city, Austin Public Health “anticipates awarding multiple agreements with a minimum request of $250,000 and maximum request up to $2 million. Smaller amounts may be considered for smaller nonprofit organizations with a deep community connection.” In order to be eligible for RISE funds, community members must be directly impacted by Covid-19, ineligible for CARES Act funding and with an income under 200 percent of the federal poverty level. Stephanie Hayden, director of APH, said, “The strength of our community is measured by the quality of our partnerships. We will get through this together.”

A virtual town hall this week will focus on anti-Asian racism in Central Texas related to the Covid-19 pandemic. The event is a joint effort between the city of Austin Equity Office, Austin History Center, Austin Public Library, Asian American Resource Center, ATX Police Oversight and the Austin Asian Community Health Initiative. The webinar will take place Sunday, April 19, at 10 a.m., and those wishing to attend can register online. Speakers include Mayor Steve Adler; Dr. Eric Tang, director of the UT Center for Asian American Studies; Ayshea Khan, archivist at the Austin History Center; Vung Lun, community health navigator at the Austin Asian Community Health Initiative; Darlene Lanham, executive director of Asian Family Support Services of Austin; Amy Wong Mok, founder and CEO of the Asian American Cultural Center; Deborah Alemu, community organizer; Carmen Llanes Pulido, executive director of Go Austin/Vamos Austin; and Paula X. Rojas, community equity strategy consultant at the University of Texas Dell Medical School.

We may not be able to get out and about much, but we can still do a lot from the safety of our own homes. Now, thanks to the Austin Parks and Recreation Department, there’s even more to do at home. PARD is offering a lineup of online programming for residents sheltering in place that includes “exercise videos for kids and adults, virtual exhibits, arts and crafts, and programs for seniors,” according to a news release from the department. Kimberly McNeeley, director of PARD, said, “During this public health emergency, virtual programs and experiences will help Austinites enjoy a physically and mentally healthy life by learning, playing and connecting online.” New offerings will be posted as long as the stay-at-home order lasts. Find all of PARD’s online programming here.

Starting this Friday, a portion of Riverside Drive from Lee Barton Drive to South First Street will welcome pedestrians and cyclists while becoming off-limits to car traffic. And last Friday, the Transportation Department gave pedestrians and cyclists crossing the Longhorn Dam bridge a chance to maintain physical distance from one another by closing a southbound lane of Pleasant Valley Road. A news release from Transportation explains, “Both closures enable people walking and riding bicycles or scooters to make essential trips more safely, including accessing Butler Metro Park, Vic Mathias Auditorium Shores, and the Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail and Boardwalk while maintaining adequate physical distancing to limit the spread of Covid-19.” As Austin Transportation Director Robert Spillar said, “With the current stay-at-home order, automobile trips are down, allowing Austin Transportation to convert some select roadways temporarily into safe walking and cycling spaces that allow for better physical distancing.” The changes were the result of a collaboration between the transportation, parks and public works departments.

The city of Austin plans to adopt the 2018 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code on Sept. 1, as mandated by the state. As part of this process, the city is recommending several minor amendments to the model code “regarding chain link fencing, authority and processes.” The city will be using the SpeakUp platform to present the proposed amendments and invites residents to review the proposed alterations and provide feedback in the comments section. The comments section will be available on SpeakUp until 5 p.m. on April 21.

The Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization’s 2045 Regional Transportation Plan is intended to be a cohesive set of multimodal projects covering the six-county region over the next 25 years. Yet local elected leaders and community organizations alike continue to voice dismay at what they consider poor public engagement process, lack of transparency and questionable methods that have created the plan as it is today, days before the public comment period closes on April 20. The latest objection came Wednesday from the Save Our Springs Alliance, whose statement highlighted that the existing map is missing several of the included transportation projects, many of which are the “worst parts” of the plan that will run through the Edwards Aquifer recharge and contributing zones. Save Our Springs also noted that the $42 billion plan does not include the traffic modeling to show how the spending will contribute to existing traffic patterns, and recalls that CAMPO engineers have predicted travel time is likely to continue increasing even as the projects are completed. “Without releasing the traffic modeling to the public, and making it subject to public scrutiny, it’s impossible to know just how much more traffic congestion our $42 billion in tax dollars will buy us,” said Bill Bunch, executive director of the environmental nonprofit. “It’s rare that our public agencies admit their plans will fail, especially when they will cost tens of billions of dollars. But when critical information is withheld, you can bet it’s even worse than they admit.” Critically, the regional plan is a necessary piece to have in place in order to draw down $3.4 billion from the state for Interstate 35 as the Texas Transportation Commission prepares to vote on the project at the end of April. CAMPO is wrapping up a series of virtual open house meetings this week on the regional plan as the Transportation Policy Board prepares to vote to adopt the plan on May 4.

CommUnityCare Health clinics announced Wednesday that clinics temporarily closed due to Covid-19 will be reopening. The clinics, which are funded by Central Health, were consolidated on March 23 as focus shifted to telemedicine in an effort to protect the health of patients and staff. In addition, drive-up testing for coronavirus Monday through Friday in eastern Travis County started today. Though locations are still being secured, a press release from Central Health said the testing would take place “in communities like Manor, Colony Park, Austin’s Colony/Hornsby Bend, Del Valle, and Dove Springs.”

Though no appointment, insurance or payment is required for screening, there is a limited number of tests, and medical experts will screen patients for Covid-19 symptoms. (More information is available through CommUnityCare’s Covid-19 Hotline at 512-978-8775.)

To date, these are the testing locations and hours (with hours dependent on the number of tests available). More sites and hours will be established in the future:

CommUnityCare Del Valle Drive-Up Testing
Del Valle at Southeast Metropolitan Park
4511 SH-71 W, Del Valle, TX 78617
9 a.m.-4 p.m., Thursday

CommUnityCare Colony Park Drive-Up Testing
Barbara Jordan Elementary School
6711 Johnny Morris Rd., Austin
9 a.m.-4 p.m., Friday

CommUnityCare Hancock Drive-Up Testing
1000 E 41st Street Ste: 925, Austin
8 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday-Friday
9 a.m.-1 p.m., Saturday

Central Health will hold an emergency meeting today, April 16, at 5:30 p.m. to talk about its Covid-19 response by phone. Those wishing to speak during the meeting can call 512-978-9190 or fill out the online form by 4 p.m. today.

To join the meeting:

Telephone: 888-501-0031
Meeting ID: 1496784507#
Password: 007710#

Sheltering at home during the Covid-19 pandemic has turned many people into avid shoppers (or hoarders, in some cases). Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar wants to put that shopping impulse to better use by offering a sales tax holiday for emergency preparation supplies. What could be more welcome? Sales tax holidays were established to help Texans prepare for things like hurricanes and other extreme weather events. Even though we may have our minds on a different kind of crisis right now, Hegar reminds us that “strong spring storms, wildfires and the upcoming hurricane season will still threaten Texans in the months ahead, and so it’s important that homes and businesses have the supplies they need to face these emergencies.” There’s no limit on the number of items you can buy, but only certain items qualify; for instance, batteries and flashlights priced at less than $75; hurricane shutters and emergency ladders that cost less than $300; and portable generators under $3,000. The comptroller adds, somewhat ruefully, that “the list of tax-free items is established by law and does not include items such as masks or personal protection equipment.” He urges people to shop online or observe strict social distancing procedures for in-store purchases. A complete list of items that qualify – and items that don’t – can be found here. For online purchases, the shipping cost is considered part of the sales price. The sales tax holiday begins at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, April 25, and ends at midnight on Monday, April 27.

The Parent Cloud may sound like a science fiction movie, but it’s actually a very non-sinister way for the Austin Independent School District to keep track of students’ contact info. AISD is encouraging district families to update their accounts on the Parent Cloud so the school district can “keep families informed with up-to-date school and district messages amid the Covid-19 pandemic.” To update by phone, simply call your campus. To update online, log in to your Parent Cloud account (or create one if you don’t have one). Click Edit Contact Info. Click the Edit button to change your home, work or cell phone number and email address. Then click Submit Changes. Families without internet access will receive a physical letter from the district. For help with the process, contact the Parent Help Desk at (512) 414-9187 or your school principal.

The Austin Disaster Relief Network has been busy lately, but not too busy to launch its new Covid-19 Relief Fund in an effort to get some help to those who have lost jobs and income due to the pandemic. Daniel Geraci, executive director of ADRN, said in a news release, “Through our survivor hotline and prayer hotline, we’re hearing from people who are experiencing fear and anxiety caused by lost jobs and income. Families are truly struggling. While our network of churches and volunteers are responding to the emotional and spiritual needs of those impacted, we’re asking Austinites to support their neighbors by making a financial contribution to our Covid-19 Relief Fund.” Money raised will be used for basic needs like food and gas. “We also aim to restore hope through this fund,” Geraci said. “So often, when you contribute to someone’s financial relief, you end up alleviating fear and anxiety they may be experiencing too.” Donate to the fund here.

After weeks of back-and-forth, the Real Estate Council of Austin has endorsed new rules in place that apply to all active construction sites in Austin. The new rules, which are part of extended stay-at-home orders from the city and county, update the safety precautions that must be taken on job sites:

• Workers must wear face coverings and maintain a 6-foot physical distance
• Sites with more than 10 active workers must stagger shifts
• All sites must begin each workday with safety briefings that include reminders of all Covid-19 safety requirements and a check of personal protective equipment
• Hand-washing is required, and hand-washing stations and restroom facilities must be at least 6 feet apart
• Work sites must provide single-use disposable paper towels and no-touch trash receptacles
• The site manager must designate a Covid-19 safety monitor, who must be present at the site during all work activities

Following the release of the new orders Monday, RECA released a statement from board Chair Peter Cesaro that read, in part, “In anticipation of the updated order, RECA, along with local construction firms and other industry organizations, held discussions with city and county officials to inform them of existing precautions being taken at job sites and best practices being utilized here and around the state. The new city and county orders reflect many of these conversations, and we believe that they ensure the safety of our workforce and community while balancing people’s desire to work. We sincerely appreciate the county judge’s and mayor’s willingness to consider input from the industry and look forward to doing our part to continue to protect workers and help minimize the spread of Covid-19.”

Austin Creative Reuse has closed during the pandemic, but that doesn’t mean the folks who run the nonprofit have taken off their thinking caps. On the contrary, they must be thinking harder than ever, because they’ve decided to reopen their Reuse and Rethink Challenge, a contest “to recreate your favorite Austin mural or landmark from any items (or people) you have in your home.” (See the images for examples.) There are some very basic rules: 1) You must use/reuse only material you find in your home; 2) submissions will be judged on creativity, workmanship and use of reused materials; and 3) you must meet the deadline of April 30.  Winners get a $10 gift card to use when Austin Creative Reuse reopens. Email two photos of your submission along with a brief description of materials used and your contact info to rethink@austincreativereuse.org.