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Whispers
Thursday, May 2, 2019 by Tai Moses
Get your wheels turning for Bike Month
It’s springtime and the air is balmy, so there’s really no reason not to dust off your bicycle, pump up the tires, buckle on a helmet, and pedal off into the wild blue yonder. For those who may need additional encouragement, May is Bike Month and Austin Transportation has dreamed up a multitude of ways to get those human-powered wheels turning:
- Organize a group of friends to ride to school together for Bike to School Day, May 8.
- Commute to work on two wheels for Bike to Work Day, May 17. Bike Austin hosts this event, sponsored by the city, that features 40 fueling stations offering free coffee and munchies.
- Want to meet like-minded folks? Smart Trips Austin is trying to reduce drive-alone trips by encouraging groups of people to bike and use public transit together. Because everything’s more fun when you do it with a buddy.
- Check out the city’s online bike map to help plan bike-friendly trip routes.
Thursday, May 2, 2019 by Tai Moses
AISD becomes first school district in state to commit to sustainable food guidelines
The Austin Independent School District has become the first school district in Texas to commit to buying food that is healthy, equitable and sustainably grown. In February, the district adopted the Good Food Purchasing Program, a framework of five core food system values that include strong local economies, environmental sustainability, worker rights, animal welfare and nutrition. Anneliese Tanner, executive director of food services, said, “With the Good Food Purchasing Program we saw the potential for helping the district advance its mission of supporting the achievement of all students by expanding food access, serving healthy tasty meals, and providing learning opportunities about nutrition, cultural food-ways, and the food system.” AISD serves up to 75,000 meals a day and has a $13 million annual food budget. The program will positively impact students, staff, food vendors, farmers and other stakeholders in the system.
Wednesday, May 1, 2019 by Elizabeth Pagano
Paid sick leave at the Lege today
The House State Affairs Committee is scheduled to take up a series of bills that threaten paid sick leave ordinances. Senate bills 2485, 2486, 2487 and 2488 are expected to be taken up in the morning. The bills’ opponents – including Council Member Greg Casar – have planned a rally on the west steps of the Texas Capitol (weather permitting) in support of paid sick time legislation recently passed in both Austin and Dallas. More information about the rally can be found here.
Wednesday, May 1, 2019 by Elizabeth Pagano
Pool compiles LDC flood amendments
At the last City Council meeting, Mayor Pro Tem Delia Garza took offense to Council Member Leslie Pool’s invocation of flooding concerns in an email Pool had sent to her constituents about the Land Development Code rewrite. Yesterday, Pool released a series of amendments addressing her concerns more precisely, to be discussed at this Thursday’s special called meeting that will continue work on the rewrite. Pool’s three amendments tackle impervious cover, flood plain regulations based on the Atlas 14 study and direction to the city manager to report on how code revisions “affect existing environmental regulations, understanding that the goal of the Council is to preserve, or increase, our current level of environmental protections.” They can be read in their entirety here.
Wednesday, May 1, 2019 by Tai Moses
Women’s Transportation Seminar names its Woman of the Year
The Central Texas chapter of Women’s Transportation Seminar International has conferred its 2018 Woman of the Year award on Dee Anne Heath, director of external affairs at the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority. Heath was recognized for being an “outstanding role model and having contributed to the advancement of women and minorities in the transportation industry,” according to the press release. Each year, WTS celebrates one woman “who exemplifies the mission and values of furthering equality in the workplace for women, and advancing women in transportation across all disciplines. WTS recognized Dee Anne with this award based on her leadership and contributions, and her efforts to advance the reputation and credibility of women in transportation.” Under Heath’s guidance, Mobility Authority launched MoveFWD, a Workforce Collaborative of Central Texas, a program that advances “the unemployed, underemployed, women, and minorities, while filling critical employment gaps.” Said Heath, “This award is such an honor and meaningful achievement in my career. I’ve been blessed to work with some amazing women and men throughout my career who have provided me with access to opportunities, mentoring, and guidance. I endeavor to provide that same support to the individuals I work with, in the hopes of continually creating an environment that fosters the growth and success of strong women.”
Wednesday, May 1, 2019 by Tai Moses
Chamber recognizes Austin’s top businesses
Each year, the Austin Chamber honors businesses that excel in a dozen categories, from the fundamental (Customer Experience) to the novel (Homegrown Consumer Packaged Goods) to the distinctive (Uniquely Austin). The winning businesses are selected by an independent panel of judges (except for the Uniquely Austin winner, which is selected by public voting from a list of finalists chosen by the judges). The deadline for nominations for the 19th Annual Greater Austin Business Awards is Friday, May 24, and the award ceremony, which is open to all nominees, finalists and the general public, is held Aug. 21 at the JW Marriott Austin, 110 E. Second St. To learn more about the 12 categories or to nominate your business, visit the chamber’s website.
Tuesday, April 30, 2019 by Jo Clifton
Right-wing groups sue over public safety contracts
Two conservative think tanks have sued the city of Austin for paying leaders of public safety unions to do union business on city time. The Texas Public Policy Foundation in Austin and the Goldwater Institute, based in Phoenix, joined by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, will seek a summary judgment in their favor in Travis County District Court on Wednesday. They argue that the city’s agreement with the Austin Firefighters Association violates the Texas Constitution. By extension, that argument would apply to leaders of the Austin Police Association and the Austin-Travis County EMS Association. The Goldwater Institute tried unsuccessfully to stop Phoenix law enforcement officers and other public safety union representatives from receiving payment for their union work. However, the Arizona Supreme Court ruled that the “release time” provisions in their collective bargaining agreements were not a violation of that state’s constitution. In Texas, the plaintiffs are retired attorney Mark Pulliam and Jay Wiley, who made an unsuccessful bid for the District 47 House seat and for City Council District 6. Craig Deats, who represents the Austin Firefighters Association, noted that any decision made Wednesday will ultimately wind up at the Texas Supreme Court.
Tuesday, April 30, 2019 by Elizabeth Pagano
CoA collecting applications for tips
The city’s Music and Entertainment Division will be taking applications next month for a new grant program dubbed “Tip the Band.” All local performing musicians are encouraged to apply to the new program, which aims to address affordability concerns for the community. According to a press release from the city, “Through the use of new technology – a digital tipping vessel – artists can collect digital tips from fans using a debit and/or credit card within seconds …. The Music & Entertainment Division will grant 10 local musicians or bands with one tipping vessel through a competitive application and panel review process. Grantees will utilize the vessels to collect digital tips at live performances for a six-month period, for all local and traveling shows. Selected musicians will be required to market and promote their use of the ‘Tip the Band’ program alongside a promotional campaign by the Music & Entertainment Division. Following a six-month evaluation period, and upon submitting a final report, the band may continue utilizing the vessel to collect tips.” Applications should be submitted by May 31 and selected artists will be announced on June 14. More information and applications can be found on the city’s website.
Tuesday, April 30, 2019 by Jessi Devenyns
Guerrero Park comprises city rights-of-way
Project Catalyst raised some eyebrows recently when the developers announced that they would need to cut a right of way through 11,000 square feet of Guerrero Park. After speaking on the matter before several commissions, Malcolm Yeatts decided to dig deeper into the rights of way through the parkland to find that the portion of green space Project Catalyst is appropriating for a roadway is not a unique case. Supported by engineering drawings from the 1980s and ’90s, Yeatts told the Parks and Recreation Board at its April 23 meeting, “It shows clearly that the Lakeshore Boulevard row extends east into Guerrero Park, crosses Country Club Creek and intersects with a north extension of Crossing Place Boulevard.” And it doesn’t stop there. “This drawing also shows a future spur of Lakeshore Boulevard connecting to Grove Boulevard by the ACC Campus.” In fact, a 1997 row amendment showed that, “There are more street row extensions of the other roads in Guerrero Park.” The implication of having these rights of way strewn through the park is that as the city grows and traffic congestion worsens, developers have the opportunity to open up arteries through the park to alleviate some of that traffic. To avoid this fate, Yeatts implored the board to recommend to Council that the city vacate all the street rows through Guerrero Park east of Wickersham Lane in exchange for granting the additional easement required by Project Catalyst.
Tuesday, April 30, 2019 by Tai Moses
Get some answers at property tax forum
Confused about your property taxes? Who wouldn’t be? Natasha Harper-Madison and Pio Renteria are here to offer you some help. The two Council members will be moderating a town hall-style panel on property taxes featuring Travis County Tax Assessor Bruce Elfant and Travis County Chief Appraiser Marya Crigler. The four will do their best to answer all of your questions about property tax exemptions, how to protest your taxes, the appraisal process, keeping property in the family, payment options, and more. Admission is free and refreshments will be served. The event is this Saturday, May 4, from 1-3 p.m., at the Conley-Guerrero Senior Activity Center, 808 Nile St.
Monday, April 29, 2019 by Tai Moses
City hosts online panel on venue sustainability
In an effort to help local music venues be more earth-friendly, produce less waste and help Austin reach its zero-waste goal, the city’s Music & Entertainment Division and Austin Resource Recovery have partnered up for a live panel discussion on venue sustainability on Tuesday, April 30, 1:30-2 p.m. Natalie Betts, the city’s circular economy program manager, will moderate a panel featuring Edgar Farrera of Circuit of the Americas and Daniel Kietzer of the United States Business Council for Sustainable Development. Participants can tune in to ask questions via Facebook Live at Facebook.com/ATXMusicOffice or ATXN.tv.
Monday, April 29, 2019 by Chad Swiatecki
A new way to save Lions?
A new option for how to preserve and pay for Lions Municipal Golf Course emerged last week from the desk of state Sen. Kirk Watson of Austin. Senate Bill 2553, which was filed on April 23, would make a taxing district out of much of West Austin, with the goal of keeping the historically registered golf course in its current state. For years the University of Texas, which owns the land that the 141-acre course sits on, has sought options for using the property for a mixed-use development. That goal has clashed with the wishes of longtime fans of the course, which is operated by the city under a lease agreement with the university. The fate of Watson’s legislation is uncertain, but the city and UT recently agreed to extend the lease for another year to May 25, 2020.