Mount Bonnell GeoSign Illustrates Area’s Geologic Features

Central Texas residents and visitors have admired the gorgeous vistas and striking rock features of Mount Bonnell for decades, but a new GeoSign offers a fresh understanding of how the distinctive Austin landmark came to be.  The "Mount Bonnell and the Balcones Escarpment" GeoSign was installed atop Mount Bonnell in Covert Park on May 5, 2021, and, through panoramic illustrations and clear scientific explanations, gives viewers a solid perspective of the geological processes that shaped this special high point over millions of years.   Researched and designed by the Bureau of Economic Geology, and in partnership with Austin Parks and Recreation Community PARKnerships program, the new GeoSign is one of a number of signs of the Texas GeoSign Project, a statewide initiative to promote the geoheritage of Texas.   "As the State Geological Survey, a large part of the Bureau of Economic Geology's mission is outreach to Texas citizens to help broaden their understanding of the incredible geological features of our state," related Bureau Director and Texas State Geologist Dr. Scott Tinker. "This amazing new GeoSign will be a wonderful source of geologic information for Mount Bonnell visitors for many years to come."   The goals of the Texas GeoSign Project include establishing a network of geologic information signs that are accessible to the public at physical locations and online; enhancing the public understanding of and appreciation for the geology and geologic history of Texas; engaging and educating people when they visit parks, highway rest areas, and other public areas; and encouraging the conservation of the state's geoheritage sites.  The "Mount Bonnell and the Balcones Escarpment" GeoSign is intended to educate visitors about the geologic history of the Balcones Escarpment, Mount Bonnell, the Balcones Fault Zone, and the groundwater found in the Fault Zone.    About The Texas GeoSign Project The Texas GeoSign Project involves collaboration with state, federal, and local entities which manage sites where signs are displayed, and all of the current GeoSigns are available for download and online viewing at www.BEG.UTexas.edu/GeoSign. Other Texas GeoSigns include those located in Bell County, Eastland County, LaSalle County and in Pecos County, and at the Goat Cave Karst Preserve in South Austin. People and organizations interested in having a Texas GeoSign in their area can contact the Bureau's Information Geologist, Linda Ruiz McCall, at Linda.McCall@BEG.UTexas.edu.   About Austin Parks and Recreation Austin Parks and Recreation Department (PARD) seeks to inspire our community to learn, play, protect and connect by creating diverse programs and experiences in sustainable natural spaces and public places. PARD protects and maintains parkland, urban forest, and trails as well as offering sports, recreation, educational enrichment, arts programs, cultural opportunities, and nature and aquatic activities for Austinites. For more information visit AustinTexas.gov/Parks.

City Invites People with Disabilities to Share Experiences with Public Safety at Town Hall

The Mayor's Office, the Office of Police Oversight, the Mayor's Committee for People with Disabilities, and the Equity Office Host Event to Listen to the Experiences of People with Disabilities with Public Safety On May 21, 2021, the Mayor's Office, the Office of Police Oversight, the Mayor's Committee for People with Disabilities, and the Equity Office will host a virtual event to listen to the voices of people with disabilities and their unique experiences with public safety in Austin. Community members with lived experience, advocates, and the public are encouraged to share their perspectives to foster equity and inclusion as the City works to reimagine public safety.    The event will be hosted virtually on Zoom, from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. To RSVP for the event, click here.   "This event will allow us the opportunity to listen to community members living with disabilities, understand their experiences, and take action that strives to create a truly inclusive city" said Office of Police Oversight Director, Farah Muscadin.   Event Details: Who: the Mayor's Office, the Office of Police Oversight, the Mayor's Committee for People with Disabilities, and the Equity Office What: Town Hall on Public Safety: People with Disabilities and Policing When: May 21, 2021 6:00 p.m.- 8:30 p.m. Where: Zoom link to be sent upon registration How to RSVP: Register here or insert this link into your toolbar https://bit.ly/3xUqb08   City Leadership and Austin Police Department will be present at the event to listen to the community. Spanish and American Sign Language interpretation services will be available at the event. Additional interpretation services and accommodations may be available upon request. To request these services, please email opo.outreach@austintexas.gov. ###   About the Office of Police Oversight   The mission of the Office of Police Oversight (OPO) is to provide impartial oversight of the Austin Police Department's conduct, practices, and policies to enhance accountability, inform the public to increase transparency, and create sustainable partnerships throughout the community.  About the Mayor's Committee for People with Disabilities Advisory body to the city council and city manager regarding problems affecting persons with disabilities in the Austin area. Established to encourage, assist and enable persons with disabilities to participate in the social and economic life of the City, achieve maximum personal independence, become gainfully employed, and use and enjoy fully and use all public and private facilities available within the community. About the Equity Office The City of Austin's Equity Office provides leadership, guidance, and insight on equity to improve the quality of life for Austinites. It works to achieve the vision of making Austin the most livable city in the nation for all. The Office strives to build and sustain a culture of equity across the City.

City Plans Phased Implementation and Enforcement of Proposition B Ordinance Starting May 11

City Plans Phased Implementation/ Enforcement of Proposition B Ordinances Starting May 11 Virtual News Conference Scheduled for 12 p.m. Tuesday, May 11  The City of Austin has developed a phased process to implement and enforce the Proposition B ordinances when they go into effect on May 11.    The plan has been developed through a coordinated effort among multiple departments—including the Austin Police Department, the Homeless Strategy Division, the Homeless Outreach Street Team, the Downtown Austin Community Court, Parks and Recreation Department, Austin Resource Recovery and others. The plan is focused on a safe and humane approach that helps persons experiencing homelessness comply with the new ordinances.   It is important for Austinites to understand that implementation of the camping restrictions will require a process that will extend over several weeks.  The objectives are to emphasize outreach and education, to prioritize health and safety, and to connect persons to appropriate resources and services.   Phase one will begin on May 11 and will entail 30 days of community engagement and education, during which APD will provide available resources and verbal warnings, except in the case of imminent threats to health or safety.    During the 30-day Phase Two, APD will begin to issue written warnings and initial citations.  During Phase Three, APD may initiate arrests and/or encampment clearances in situations where compliance has not been achieved after a citation has been issued.    During Phase Four, citations and arrests will continue as necessary. APD will coordinate with City homelessness outreach teams, and, wherever possible, will provide information about alternative options such as storing personal items, alternate campsites, available shelter, and other resources.    All citations issued for violation of the new ordinances will be directed to the Downtown Austin Community Court (DACC), where personnel evaluate each case and develop disposition plans that include connecting individuals to needed social services and/or assigning them to community service.   Virtual News Conference on Implementing Homelessness Ordinances: 12 p.m. Tuesday, May 11  City Manager Spencer Cronk and departmental representatives will host a virtual news conference at noon on Tuesday, May 11, to update the community on the implementation plan.  WHAT: Virtual News Conference  WHEN: 12 p.m.-12:50 p.m., Tuesday, May 11  WHO: Austin City Manager Spencer Cronk, Austin Interim Police Chief Joseph Chacon, City of Austin Homeless Strategy Officer Dianna Grey  TO ACCESS THE VIDEO FEED:  Livestream feed ATXN 1: www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn-live  Livestream with Spanish interpretation ATXN 3: http://media.swagit.com/austintx/atxn3/  Facebook Live: Facebook.com/AustinTexasGov  Spectrum channel 6, Grande Communications channel 6, U-Verse channel 99, Google Fiber TV channel 6.  A recorded version via WeTransfer will be made available to media upon request after the event. If you have questions, or need more information, contact the Communications and Public Information Office at media@austintexas.gov.

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.

Winter Storm Review Task Force Seeks Public Comment for Upcoming Meetings   Effort Aimed at Preparing Austin for Future Disasters  Austin, Texas – Following the severe weather events of Winter Storm Uri that impacted residents in February 2021, the City of Austin established a Winter Storm Review Task Force to identify strategies for building a more resilient, better-prepared city and community response for future disasters.   The Task Force is holding listening sessions in which individuals and organizational representatives can share their experiences, and recommendations related to the winter storm. The Task Force will summarize the testimony received into a final report for the Austin City Council.   The public can also provide feedback, suggestions, and ideas on SpeakUp Austin. The website is translated into Spanish, Vietnamese, Traditional and Simplified Chinese, Korean, Burmese, Urdu, and Arabic. The Task Force is seeking public comment from impacted residents and businesses. The upcoming meetings will be held on the following dates:  May 14, 2021 (6-8PM) - 2 of 5  May 28, 2021 (6-8PM) - 3 of 5  June 11, 2021 (6-8PM) - 4 of 5  June 23, 2021 (6-8:30P) - 5 of 5  Agendas for the meetings will be posted no later than 72 hours prior to the scheduled date.   To speak remotely at the Winter Storm Review Task Force meetings, members of the public must:    Call or email the board liaison at (512) 974-6339 or WinterStormTaskForce@austintexas.gov no later than noon the day prior. The following information is required:    Speaker name    Item number(s) they wish to speak on   Whether they are for/against/neutral   Email address and telephone number (must be the same number that will be used to call into the meeting)   If interpretation for any languages are need other than Spanish   Once a request to speak has been made to the board liaison, the information to call on the day of the scheduled meeting will be provided either by email or phone call.   Speakers must call in at least 15 minutes prior to meeting start time in order to speak, late callers will not be accepted and will not be able to speak.   Speakers will be placed in a queue until their time to speak.    Handouts or other information may be emailed to WinterStormTaskForce@austintexas.gov by noon the day before the scheduled meeting. This information will be provided to Board and Commission members in advance of the meeting.   The meeting is scheduled to be broadcast live on ATXN here: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn-live.   For more information visit: https://www.austintexas.gov/content/winter-storm-review-task-force

City of Austin announces new Medical Director/Health Authority     The City of Austin has identified Desmar Walkes, M.D. as the City's next Medical Director/Health Authority. Dr. Walkes will begin her new duties on May 31, 2021. Dr. Walkes has 33 years of experience in health care as a family practitioner, medical authority, medical director, and in administrative medicine. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology with honors from Acadia University in Nova Scotia, Canada and her Medical Doctor degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas. Dr. Walkes completed a surgical internship at Baylor College of Medicine and, for many years, has participated in medical mission trips to Central and South America, Asia, and Africa.  Dr. Walkes previously served as the Local Health Authority for Bastrop County, Texas, a position she held since 2007. She has been the point person for the Bastrop's COVID-19 pandemic response and vaccine distribution, participating in regular meetings with elected officials, State of Texas Public Health officials, schools, nursing homes, businesses, and residents. She has been a part of Bastrop's Emergency Operations Center and has given numerous presentations and comments to the media. In addition, she served as the director of a multi-specialty outpatient clinic accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JACHO). "I'm honored to be joining the Austin Public Health team and look forward to the challenges and opportunities ahead as the next Medical Director and Health Authority for the City of Austin and Travis County," said Dr. Walkes. The Medical Director/Health Authority reports to the Director of Austin Public Health and, by statute, is responsible for clinical oversight of medically related services rendered by Austin Public Health and the more than 300 licensed professionals. "I'm so happy to have Dr. Walkes join our team as the next Medical Director for Austin Public Health and Health Authority for Austin and Travis County," said Austin Public Health Director Stephanie Hayden-Howard. "Her 33 years of  experience in health care as a family practitioner, medical authority, medical director and in administrative medicine make her a valuable asset to APH's high performing, collaborative executive team which is dedicated to providing state-of-the-art public health services," she continued. Throughout her career Dr. Walkes has served on a wide variety of Advisory Boards including: Board Chair of the Texas Medical Partners for Violence Free Communities Central Texas Coalition for Indigent Healthcare Committee President of the Board of Directors for the Bastrop County Emergency Food Pantry The Secretary of Health and Human Services Task Force for the National Action Plan on Breast Cancer Community Advisory Board for the Metropolitan DC Response for the Women's Interagency HIV Study Advisory Board Member to Emergency and Resource Center for the Homeless Early Childhood Advisory Chair – Bastrop County National Sleep Foundation Board Member Dr. Walkes also received several awards throughout her career including the Point of Light Award for the Lincoln Clinic from the Bastrop Chamber of Commerce, the Woman of the Year 2000 Award from the Bastrop Chamber of Commerce, the President's Award from the Barbados Association of Greater Houston, and the Unsung Heroes Award from the Congressional Black Caucus. Dr. Walkes received a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology with honors from Acadia University in Nova Scotia, Canada and her Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas. Dr. Walkes completed a surgical internship at Baylor College of Medicine. Dr. Mark Escott has been serving as the Interim Health Authority since October 2019. During Dr. Escott's term as Interim Health Authority, Austin and Travis County has experienced COVID related mortality rates that are less than half the rates of Texas and the United States. "While the mission is not yet complete, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to improve locally and I feel confident that our next Public Health Authority will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to ensure a seamless transition," he said. "Therefore, this is an opportune time for my service as Interim Health Authority to conclude so that I can fully engage in my new role as the City's Chief Medical Officer effective May 31," he shared.

Barton Springs Pool to Require Reservations Starting May 21

Barton Springs Pool to Require Reservations Starting May 21  Barton Springs Pool, 2131 William Barton Dr., will require reservations beginning Friday, May 21 in order to manage capacity for the safety of staff and guests. Reservation time slots will be available in two-hour increments beginning at 8:00 AM until the pool closes at 10:00 PM. All other aquatic facilities do not currently require reservations.   Season Pass Holders, Patrons 80+, Veterans as well as Retired and Active Duty Military can enter Barton Springs Pool with no reservations; however, everyone else in the party must have a reservation. In person payment acceptance suspended until further notice.  The first set of reservations as well as season passes will be available beginning on May 10. People will need to pay the standard Barton Springs Pool entry fee (e.g., $5.00 for adult residents) in order to reserve a ticket.  To make a reservation CLICK HERE.  To purchase Season Swim Passes CLICK HERE.   Barton Springs Pool's Modified Hours of Operation will remain the same:  Daily 5:00 AM – 8:00 AM   Free Swim at your Own Risk (no reservation required)  Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM   Reservation Only Guarded Swim  Modified hours have been established based on available resources.   The Austin Parks and Recreation Department will continue to adjust operations according to the City of Austin's COVID-19 Risk Based Guidelines and in consultation with public health authorities.  For more information about Barton Springs Pool, please call 512-974-6300 or visit AustinTexas.gov/Pools.