City Council Approves Reimagined APD Academy Pilot Cadet Class

City Council Approves Pilot Cadet Class for Reimagined APD Training Academy   ***Academy start date IS JUNE 7, 2021*** The Austin City Council today approved moving forward with a reimagined Austin Police Department (APD) training academy in June. The 144th cadet class will be a pilot class, the first to complete training with the Academy's new curriculum and expanded community engagement programming. In March, the City Council approved the City Manager's blueprint for the reimagined academy. The blueprint outlined a collaborative and iterative process of transforming the academy and creating a core focus on community input, emphasizing servant leadership, and curriculum and teaching methods that infused with diversity, equity, and inclusion. New academy curriculum will include: 30 more hours of community engagement programming, a two-week community immersion orientation program, anti-racism training, a newly designed course on the history of police and regular physical fitness training, fewer week-long blocks of technical course content to allow for more effective implementation of adult learning strategies, and a formal process of community and civilian input into training content to ensure that issues of racial equity and procedural justice are reflected in all aspects of cadet training The 144th Academy will be 34 weeks long and is expected to begin on June 7, 2021. Kroll & Associates, an independent consultant will continue to evaluate APD's readiness to launch and implementation of the pilot class. The reimagined academy is an outcome of City Council Resolution 20191205-066 with a core focus on eliminating racial bias, bigotry, and discrimination in APD policies, practices and behaviors. The resolution directed City Manager Spencer Cronk to conduct an audit of recruitment and training policies, procedures, protocols and materials for cadets and officers, develop plan for continuing education for officers and management training for supervisors on eliminating racial bias, and to delay the start of a cadet class until this work was completed. The resolution is part of the founding reforms under the Reimagining Public Safety (RPS) framework.  Details about this and other initiatives can be found on the RPS website in English and Spanish.

City of Austin Notice of Public Hearings and 30-Day Public Comment Period for FY 2021-22 Draft Action Plan La versión en español sigue a continuación -- haga clic aquí para español Austin, TX – The City of Austin announces public hearings and a 30-day public comment period to receive public input on the FY 2021-22 draft Action Plan. Austinites that wish to provide public comment on the draft action plan may do so starting today through Friday, June 11, 2021. The action plan describes community needs, resources, and priorities for the City's affordable housing, community development, homelessness services, public services, and economic development activities. These activities are funded primarily through four grant programs received from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD): Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME), Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG), and Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA). Visit the Action Plan SpeakUp Austin webpage for a list of public hearing dates and ways to provide input. The public's input on the community needs and service gaps is instrumental in setting priorities for FY 2021-22 federal funding. During the 2020-21 Action Plan, public input was received and considered while outlining the draft plan through a public hearing before Austin City Council on April 23, 2020, through a SpeakUp Austin website, and comments received via email. Additional feedback and input opportunities through NHCD's, now Housing and Planning (HPD) main phone line, and postal mail were offered to the community as sources for providing input as well. The public comment period is in accordance with the City of Austin's Citizen Participation Plan as amended, and with HUD program waivers of certain regulatory requirements to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. The City is making every effort to continue the community input process while observing social distancing protocols during COVID-19.    Opportunities to Review and Provide Feedback on FY 2021-22 Draft Action Plan   View the Report The public is invited to review the FY 2021-22 draft Action Plan from Thursday, March 6, 2021, to Friday, June 11, 2021, on the City's HUD funding webpage at speakupaustin.org/fy-21-22-action-plan.   SpeakUp Austin The FY 2021-22 draft Action Plan will be available for review and comment on the SpeakUp Austin website from Thursday, May 6, 2021, to Friday, June 11, 2021.   Public Hearing Before the Community Development Commission (CDC) The public is invited to provide input during the special videoconferencing meeting of the Community Development Commission (CDC) scheduled for May 11, 2021. Meeting details and instructions for providing public comment during the virtual public hearing can be found on the meeting agenda on the Community Development Commission website. Community members must sign up by noon the day before the meeting to provide public comment.   Public Hearing Before the Austin City Council The public is invited to provide input during the special videoconferencing meeting of the Austin City Council scheduled for June 10, 2021. Meeting instructions for providing public comment during the virtual public hearing can be found on the meeting agenda on the City Council Meeting Information Center website. Community members must sign up by noon the day before the meeting to provide public comment.   View the Report The public is invited to review the Draft FY 2021-22 Action Plan from May 6, 2021, through Thursday, June 10, 2021, on the City's website at www.austintexas.gov/housing or at the following community locations: Austin Central Public Library, 710 West Cesar Chavez Street (Central) Austin Resource Center for the Homeless, 500 East 7th Street (Central) St. John's Library Branch, 7500 Blessing Avenue (North East) AIDS Services of Austin, 7215 Cameron Road (North) Housing Authority of the City of Austin, 1124 S IH 35 (South)   Submit by Postal Mail: Written comments may be submitted until 5:00 PM on Saturday, June 5, 2021. Please include a name, address, and phone number: Housing and Planning Department Attn: City of Austin FY 2021-22 draft Action Plan P.O. Box 1088 Austin, Texas 78767   Submit by Phone Dial 512-974-3100, Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.    Submit by Email: HPD@austintexas.gov Subject Heading: City of Austin FY 2021-22 draft Action Plan   Aviso de audiencias públicas y periodo de 30 días de comentarios públicos de la Ciudad de Austin para la versión preliminar del Plan de Acción del año fiscal 2021-22   Austin, TX – La Ciudad de Austin anuncia audiencias públicas y un periodo de 30 días para comentarios del público para recibir las opiniones del público sobre la versión preliminar del Plan de Acción del año fiscal 2021-22. Los residentes de Austin que deseen proveer comentarios públicos sobre la versión preliminar del plan de acción pueden hacerlo a partir de hoy hasta el viernes 11 de junio de 2021. El plan de acción describe las necesidades, recursos y prioridades de la comunidad para las actividades de vivienda económica, desarrollo comunitario, servicios para las personas sin hogar, servicios públicos y desarrollo económico de la Ciudad. Estas actividades están financiadas principalmente a través de programas de subvenciones del Departamento de Vivienda y Desarrollo Urbano de EE.UU. (HUD, por sus siglas en inglés): Subvención en Bloque para Desarrollo Comunitario (CDBG), Sociedades de Inversiones para el Hogar (HOME), Subvención para Refugios de Emergencia (ESG) y Oportunidades de Vivienda para las Personas con SIDA (HOPWA).   Visite el sitio web SpeakUp Austin sobre el Plan de Acción para obtener una lista de las fechas de las audiencias públicas y maneras de proveer sus comentarios.   Los comentarios del público sobre las lagunas en las necesidades y servicios de la comunidad son cruciales para establecer las prioridades para los fondos federales del año fiscal 2021-22. Durante el Plan de Acción para el año fiscal 2020-21, se recibieron y consideraron en la redacción de la versión preliminar los comentarios públicos ofrecidos en una audiencia pública ante el Concejo Municipal de Austin el 23 de abril de 2020, así como a través del sitio web SpeakUp Austin y los comentarios recibidos por correo electrónico. También se ofrecieron a la comunidad oportunidades adicionales para proveer sus comentarios y opiniones a través de la línea telefónica principal de NHCD, ahora Vivienda y Planificación (HPD), y por correo postal. El periodo de comentarios del público se realiza de conformidad con el Plan de Participación Ciudadana de la Ciudad de Austin, según enmendado, y con las exenciones para programas del HUD de ciertos requisitos de regulaciones para ayudar a prevenir la propagación del COVID-19. La Ciudad está trabajando arduamente para continuar el proceso de comentarios de la comunidad mientras se observan los protocolos de distanciamiento social durante COVID-19.    Oportunidades para revisar y proveer comentarios sobre la versión preliminar del Plan De Acción para el año fiscal 2021-22   Ver el informe Se invita al público a leer la versión preliminar del Plan de Acción para el año fiscal 2021-22 a partir del jueves 6 de mayo de 2021 hasta el viernes 11 de junio de 2021 en la página web sobre los fondos de HUD de la Ciudad: speakupaustin.org/fy-21-22-action-plan.   SpeakUp Austin La versión preliminar del Plan de Acción para el año fiscal 2021-22 estará disponible para revisión y comentarios en el sitio web de SpeakUp Austin a partir del jueves 6 de mayo de 2021 hasta el viernes 11 de junio de 2021.   Audiencia pública ante la Comisión de Desarrollo Comunitario (CDC) El público está invitado a proveer sus comentarios durante la reunión especial por videoconferencia de la Comisión de Desarrollo Comunitario (CDC) programada para el 11 de mayo de 2021. Los detalles de la reunión y las instrucciones para proveer los comentarios del público durante la audiencia pública virtual se encuentran en la agenda de la reunión en el sitio web de la Comisión de Desarrollo Comunitario. Los miembros de la comunidad deben registrarse antes del mediodía del día antes de la reunión para poder proveer comentarios públicos.   Audiencia pública ante el Concejo Municipal de Austin Se invita al público a proveer comentarios durante la reunión especial por videoconferencia del Concejo Municipal de Austin programada para el 10 de junio de 2021. Las instrucciones de la reunión para proveer comentarios públicos durante la audiencia pública virtual se encuentran en la agenda de la reunión en el sitio web del Centro de Información sobre Reuniones del Concejo Municipal. Los miembros de la comunidad deben registrarse antes del mediodía del día antes de la reunión para poder proveer comentarios públicos.   Vea el informe   Se invita al público a leer la versión preliminar del Plan de Acción para el año fiscal 2021-22 a partir del jueves 6 de mayo de 2021 hasta el viernes 11 de junio de 2021 en www.austintexas.gov/housing o en los siguientes lugares en la comunidad: Biblioteca Pública Central de Austin, 710 West Cesar Chavez Street (centro) Centro de Recursos para Personas sin Hogar de Austin, 500 East 7th Street (centro) Biblioteca St. John's, 7500 Blessing Avenue (noreste) Servicios de Austin de AIDS, 7215 Cameron Road (norte) Autoridad de Vivienda de la Ciudad de Austin, 1124 S IH 35 (sur)   Envío de comentarios por correo postal: Se pueden enviar comentarios escritos hasta las 5 p.m. del sábado 5 de junio de 2021. Por favor incluya un nombre, dirección y número de teléfono: Housing and Planning Department Attn: City of Austin FY 2021-22 draft Action Plan P.O. Box 1088 Austin, Texas 78767   Envío de comentarios por teléfono: Llame al 512-974-3100, de lunes a viernes de 8:00 a.m. a 5:00 p.m.    Envío de comentarios por correo electrónico: HPD@austintexas.gov Asunto: City of Austin FY 2021-22 draft Action Plan

City to Host Virtual Career Expo May 12, 2021

City to Host Virtual Career Expo May 12, 2021   The City of Austin is hosting a virtual Career Expo on May 12, 2021. This year's theme Keep Austin Hired is intended to help build a stronger community by providing opportunities for Austin area residents of all ages and skill levels to find jobs. The free virtual event will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Participants will have opportunities to meet through text chat or scheduled one-to-one video chats with company representatives from public agencies, as well as private employers, and temporary staffing agencies. Showcase presentations during the event will feature tips for job seekers and all attendees are encouraged to upload profiles or copies of their resume. 100 employers are expected to register, including private employers, state agencies, higher education, technical schools, temporary agencies, many smaller businesses with skilled labor and customer service job openings, and City of Austin departments. Pre-registration for attendees and a complete list of employers is available at austintexas.gov/careerexpo.

Austin Public Health Continues to Vaccinate All Adults

Austin Public Health Continues to Vaccinate All Adults Published May 4, 2021 Vaccine Approval & Eligibility  The Moderna, Pfizer, and Johnson & Johnson vaccines have received an Emergency Use Authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.  The Astra Zeneca vaccine recently released phase 3 data from its U.S. clinical trials, and is expected to apply for Emergency Use Authorization in the coming weeks. Everyone 16 years of age and older is eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Note: All vaccines are authorized for people age 18 and older, but only the Pfizer vaccine is authorized for people 16 and older. Vaccine Data APH released a COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Dashboard, which includes the total of APH and CommUnityCare-administered doses organized by priority age group, zip code, race/ethnicity, and the estimated 2019 Travis County population with the percentage of those 65 years of age and older for context. APH has received 12,000 first doses per week since Jan. 11 from Texas DSHS. Beginning this week, the first dose allocation requested by APH will be 6,000 per week. Texas DSHS also has a COVID-19 vaccination dashboard available, which shows data for all vaccines administered in Travis County and across the state. Vaccine Providers APH is one of two local vaccine hubs, serving 18+ with Moderna. APH expanded online appointment scheduling (covid19.austintexas.gov) to be open from Friday at 7 p.m. through the following Friday at 7 a.m. The scheduling system then reopens that Friday evening at 7 p.m. with appointments for the next week. APH has also begun accepting some walk-ups without appointments for first doses at Delco, Southeast Library, and Little Walnut Creek Library. To find the dates and times for walk-up clinics view the "Upcoming Events" at AustinTexas.gov/COVID19 or call 311 or 512-974-2000. Some local pharmacies receive direct allocations from the federal government and other local providers receive smaller allocations each week. A list of local providers can be found at centraltxvaccs.org and vaccinefinder.org. Second Doses The Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine only requires one shot, while Pfizer and Moderna require a series of two doses given three (Pfizer) or four (Moderna) weeks apart. APH currently receives the Moderna vaccine and is manually scheduling second doses by emailing, calling, or texting a date, time, and location.  If you received your first dose through Austin Public Health and it has been more than 28 days since your first dose and you have not received an appointment, you may walk-up to our vaccine sites and present your vaccine card to receive your second dose. If you miss your appointment, you can walk-up after 28 days. Call 311 or 512-974-2000 for walk-up locations and times. Side Effects The FDA released fact sheets on the Pfizer vaccine, Moderna vaccine, and Johnson & Johnson vaccine for recipients and caregivers that includes information on vaccine ingredients and side effects.  While the COVID-19 vaccine may cause side effects such as fatigue, headache, fever, chills, nausea, muscle pain, and joint pain, these side effects show that the vaccine is working.   Vaccine recipients should be monitored for at least 15 minutes for a more serious allergic reaction. People who have a history of allergic reactions should be monitored for 30 minutes.   Safety & Effectiveness Safety is a top priority while federal partners work to make COVID-19 vaccines available. The new COVID-19 vaccines have been evaluated in tens of thousands of volunteers during clinical trials. The vaccines are only authorized for use if they are found to be safe.  The FDA and CDC will continue to monitor the safety of COVID-19 vaccines to make sure even very rare side effects are identified. V-SAFE is a new smartphone-based, after-vaccination health checker for people who receive COVID-19 vaccines.   COVID-19 vaccines do not use the live virus and cannot give you COVID-19. The vaccine does not alter your DNA. COVID-19 vaccination will help protect you by creating an immune response without having to experience sickness.  Immunity from the COVID-19 vaccine may last longer than the natural immunity you get if you've already had COVID-19. However, people who currently have COVID-19 should not be vaccinated while being sick. Different vaccines are proving to have different efficacy rates. All currently authorized vaccines are extremely effective at preventing severe disease and death if you do contract the disease, and range from 70-95% effective at preventing disease altogether. Continued Precautions  Even with vaccines available in our community, people need to continue to take additional COVID-19 prevention measures including: wearing a mask, social distancing, washing your hands often, covering coughs and sneezes, cleaning frequently touched surfaces, and staying home if you're sick.   The CDC has recently published guidance for those who are fully vaccinated. Fully vaccinated people can: Visit with other fully vaccinated people indoors without wearing masks or physical distancing Visit with unvaccinated people from a single household who are at low risk for severe COVID-19 disease indoors without wearing masks or physical distancing Participate in outdoor activities and recreation without a mask, except in certain crowded settings and venues  Refrain from quarantine and testing following a known exposure if asymptomatic Resume domestic travel and refrain from testing before or after travel or self-quarantine after travel Refrain from testing before leaving the United States for international travel (unless required by the destination) and refrain from self-quarantine after arriving back in the United States For additional COVID-19 vaccine information, visit www.AustinTexas.gov/COVID19-Vaccines.

COVID-19 Risk-Based Guidelines Updated to Factor in Vaccination  Thresholds for entering Stage 1 and Stage 2 also updated  Austin, Texas – Austin Public Health (APH) updated the COVID-19 Risk-Based Guidelines today, May 4, to clarify personal behavior recommendations for those who are fully vaccinated versus those who are partially or not vaccinated.   Individuals who are vaccinated may:  Attend private indoor gatherings in Stages 1-5, with precautions recommended in Stages 3-5  Attend private outdoor gatherings in Stages 1-5, with precautions recommended in Stages 4-5  Travel in Stages 1-5, with precautions recommended  Dine and shop in Stages 1-5, with precautions recommended in Stages 2-5  Individuals who are partially or not vaccinated may:  Attend private indoor and outdoor gatherings in Stages 1-2, and Stage 3 if low risk, with precautions recommended  Travel in Stages 1-2, and Stage 3 if low risk, with precautions recommended  Dine and shop in Stages 1-2, and Stage 3 if low risk, with precautions recommended  Regardless of vaccination status or stage, individuals need to continue to follow the additional requirements of local businesses, venues and schools, as the Health Authority Rules remain in place through May 18.  "We want people to get vaccinated," said Dr. Mark Escott, Interim Austin-Travis County Health Authority. "Now and certainly in the future as the vaccination rate improves, there will be improved freedom associated with vaccination. In other words, the need to continue masking and the other necessary precautions will continue to decrease for those who are vaccinated."  Additionally, the threshold to enter Stage 2 has been updated to 5-14 new hospital admissions on the 7-day moving average. The threshold to enter Stage 1 has also been updated to less than 5 new hospital admissions on the 7-day moving average or 70%-90% herd immunity is achieved through vaccination.   While APH monitors the 7-day moving average of COVID-19 new hospital admissions as the primary key indicator for the Risk-Based Guidelines, additional key indicators, including positivity rate, the doubling time of new cases and current ICU and ventilator patients, are monitored to determine the current staging.  "As a result of both declining length of hospital stays and declining mortality rates, we feel comfortable reassessing the transition of stages," added Dr. Escott. "We expect that there is going to be a long tail in terms of achieving vaccine herd immunity or completely getting COVID-19 out of our community. So, we expect that we may see a slow declining plateau of cases, and as the vaccination rate improves in the community, and we hit 70% to 90% vaccinated we could look at transitioning to Stage 1 safely."   Austin-Travis County remains in Stage 3 of the Risk-Based Guidelines, with a current 7-day moving average of new hospital admissions of 17.   For additional COVID-19 information and updates, visit www.AustinTexas.gov/COVID19.

Barton Springs Pool Will Reopen on May 4, 2021

Barton Springs Pool Will Reopen on May 4 After Sunday Closure Due to Flooding Austin Parks and Recreation announces that Barton Springs Pool, 2131 William Barton Dr., will reopen on Tuesday, May 4 at 5:00 AM after Sunday closure due to brief flash flooding. Barton Springs Pool's Modified Hours of Operation remain the same. Daily 5:00 AM – 8:00 AM  Swim at your Own Risk Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays  8:00 AM – 10:00 PM Guarded Swim Modified hours have been established based on available resources.  For more information, please call the Barton Springs Pool Hotline at 512-867-3080 or visit AustinTexas.gov/Pools.

Sunday May 2, 2021 - FREE admission to Zilker Botanical Garden with online reservation

 

Quick link to make a reservation:  https://zilkergarden.doubleknot.com/event/day/free-day-admission/23566 Free Days at Zilker Botanical Garden Please note that you can only reserve tickets for Free Days two weeks in advance. The Austin Parks and Recreation Department (PARD) offers Free Days at Zilker Botanical Garden to increase access for all. On Free Days, no admission price is required.  By offering Free Days, PARD provides more opportunities for Austinites and visitors to enjoy holidays, spring days, special exhibits, and school breaks at the Zilker Botanical Garden. Upcoming Free Days in 2021 Sunday, May 2 Saturday, July 17 Sunday, September 12  Thursday, November 11 Monday, December 27 Zilker Botanical Garden requires advance reservations in order to maintain safe and appropriate social distancing in light of COVID-19. Visit ZilkerGarden.org to reserve tickets as soon as possible, as space is limited. Please note that you can only reserve tickets for Free Days two weeks in advance. Click here to learn more about our safety procedures in place at Zilker Botanical Garden. Free Admission via Museums for All Free admission is offered year-round to individuals with Electronic Benefits Transfer cards, WIC cards, STAR cards, CHIP cards, Medicaid cards, and MAP ID cards through the Museums for All Program. Individuals must have their card (from any of the programs listed) with them when they come to the garden. Up to four individuals may receive free general admission tickets for each card. About Zilker Botanical Garden Zilker Botanical Garden—located on 26 acres nestled within Zilker Metropolitan Park—is often called "the jewel in the heart of Austin." Theme gardens such as the Taniguchi Japanese Garden, Riparian Streambed, and Rose Garden are interconnected with streams, waterfalls, and Koi-filled ponds. While the Hartman Prehistoric Garden recreates a Cretaceous habitat filled with plants from the time of the dinosaurs. Featuring heritage live oaks set into a hillside, the Garden offers a lush, shady respite, perfect for an urban get-away. This garden is a public-private partnership between PARD and the Zilker Botanical Garden Conservancy.