Job Opportunity: Austin-Travis County Public Health Commission Looking for Applicants

 

Austin City Council and the Travis County Commissioners Court are looking for members of the community to serve on the Austin-Travis County Public Health Commission.   The commission will work to address inequality in health services and health practices for Austin-Travis County residents. The nine members who serve on the commission will research social factors that lead to poorer health for underserved populations. They will also research health practices that lead to better health outcomes for underserved populations.   Commission members will provide an annual report with findings to help address existing gaps, and influence and support investment in the improvement of overall public health programs, projects, regulations, and services within the City and the County government.   Any Austin-Travis County resident who is interested in working on this commission can apply. Applicants must be residents of Travis County. The court and the council are recruiting applicants that are representative of the diversity within Travis County.   Visit the Open Board Appointments page on Travis County’s website to find an application along with instructions on how to apply.

Cold Weather Shelters

 

With freezing weather still posing a threat to Austin-Travis County, it’s important for the public to know how to check on the status of the City of Austin’s Cold Weather Shelters. (Note: Cold weather shelters are NOT active as of today, January 27, 2023.)  The shelters activate at the following thresholds:  32 degrees or colder overnight.  35 degrees, with rain/wet.  35 degrees, with wind chill of 32 degrees or colder.  The City uses the National Weather Service weather report at Camp Mabry as the official location for assessing temperatures due to its central location and proximity to Downtown.   Individuals can get information about access and activation by calling the Cold Weather Shelter Hotline at 512-305-4233.    Shelter registration takes place between 6 and 8 p.m. at One Texas Center (OTC), 505 Barton Springs Road, Austin TX 78704.    CapMetro transports registered individuals from OTC to a Cold Weather Shelter.    While Cold Weather Shelters are primarily accessed by people experiencing homelessness, they are available to anyone in need of a warm place to spend the night.  Warming Centers   All Parks and Library facilities can serve as a Warming Center during normal operating hours. Check hours and operations before arriving.  Parks  Libraries

New APH Campaign Encourages Families To Vaccinate Against COVID-19 & Flu

COVID-19 vaccine coverage lowest among children

COVID-19 vaccination rates among children in Travis County continue to lag far behind those of adults. During a particularly active flu season and faced with increasingly transmissible COVID-19 subvariants, it’s important that all parents take action to protect children from serious illness and hospitalization.  “I’m concerned about the low vaccine uptake we’re seeing among our children,” said Dr. Desmar Walkes, Austin-Travis County Health Authority. “We want to do everything we can to help empower parents to protect their families from these vaccine-preventable illnesses.”  A campaign called “Be Your Child’s Hero” aims to build vaccine confidence among parents and caregivers by emphasizing vaccines’ proven safety and efficacy. This bilingual initiative serves as a tool to help decrease serious symptoms of COVID-19 and flu by increasing vaccination rates. Content will roll out in phases and is tailored to culturally diverse parents and caregivers in Austin-Travis County.  COVID-19 pediatric vaccine uptake by the numbers (as of Jan. 19):  Among children ages 5 to 11, only about 41.2% have completed their primary series. That figure is even lower among children 6 months to 4 years, 11 months—9.5%. This age group is at high risk of serious symptoms.  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data shows Texas has the seventh lowest bivalent booster coverage rate in the nation (10.2%) among those ages 5 and older. Studies continue to show COVID-19 vaccines are safe, including a new report on updated booster safety among children 5 to 11 years.   "Our kids have already missed so much during the pandemic.  Getting your family up to date on COVID-19 and flu vaccines helps keep them in the classroom, participating in sports and other extracurricular activities and out of the doctor’s office,” said Adrienne Sturrup, Austin Public Health (APH) Director.   Please visit AustinTexas.gov/BeYourChildsHero to learn more about the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 and flu vaccines and share this information with your loved ones.   Find social media messages, flyers and videos available to be shared in the media toolkit. Vaccine Providers   Visit Vaccines.gov (Vacunas.gov in Spanish) to find flu and COVID-19 vaccine providers near you.        Free COVID-19 tests    Free mail-order rapid antigen test kits are available once again through covid.gov/tests. Households are eligible for another round of four tests for a limited time.    At-home COVID-19 test kits are available at APH Neighborhood Centers while supplies last. The U.S. Department of Health and Humans Services also lists community-based testing sites online.     Free masks (N-95 respirators)     Use the CDC’s mask-locator tool to find pharmacies near you that provide free masks (N-95 respirators). It does not show current inventories, so check with the location for availability.

PUBLIC HEARINGS NOTICE REGARDING THE ISSUANCE OF NOTES AND BONDS

 PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE REGARDING THE ISSUANCE OF NOTES: 

The Austin Housing Finance Corporation (the "Issuer") will hold a public hearing at 10:30 a.m. on February 9, 2023 at 301 W. Second Street, Austin, Texas 78701.

Among the items to be discussed will be a proposal for the issuance by the Issuer of bonds (the "Bonds") the proceeds of which will be loaned to Libertad Austin at Gardner, LP, a Texas limited partnership, or an affiliate of Libertad Austin at Gardner, LP (the "Borrower"), to provide construction and permanent financing for the acquisition and construction of an approximately 198-unit residential rental project to be known as Libertad Austin at Gardner located at 900 Gardner Road in Austin, TX (the "Project") for individuals and families of low and moderate income.

The maximum aggregate face amount of the Notes is anticipated to be $30,000,000. All interested parties are invited to submit written comments to the Issuer prior to the time set for the public hearing or to attend the public hearing and express any comments they may have regarding the Project or the Notes.

Speaker registration information will be the same as for the regular City Council meeting, and instructions will be available on the Council Meeting Information Center Home website.

AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION
Mr. Brendan Kennedy
The Street-Jones Building
1000 East 11th Street, 2nd Floor
Austin, TX 78702

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PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE REGARDING THE ISSUANCE OF BONDS:

The Austin Housing Finance Corporation (the "Issuer") will hold a public hearing at 10:30 a.m. on February 9, 2023 at 301 W. Second Street, Austin, Texas 78701.  

Among the items to be discussed will be a proposal for the issuance by the Issuer of bonds (the "Bonds") the proceeds of which will be loaned to Austin Leased Housing Associates VI, LP, a Texas limited partnership, (the "Borrower"), or an affiliate thereof, to provide permanent financing for the acquisition and rehabilitation of an approximately 240-unit multi-family residential project to be known as Woodway Square located at 1700 Teri Road in Austin, TX (the "Project") for individuals and families of low and moderate income. 

The maximum aggregate face amount of the Bonds is anticipated to be $40,000,000. All interested parties are invited to submit written comments to the Issuer prior to the time set for the public hearing or to attend the public hearing and express any comments they may have regarding the Project or the Bonds.

Speaker registration information will be the same as for the regular City Council meeting, and instructions will be available on the Council Meeting Information Center Home website.  

AUSTIN HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION
Mr. Brendan Kennedy
The Street-Jones Building
1000 East 11th Street, 2nd Floor
Austin, TX 78702

Review and Provide Feedback on the ATX Walk Bike Roll Draft Plans

 

Austin Public Works and Austin Transportation released three draft plans that will guide how the City of Austin will build sidewalks, crosswalks, urban trails, and bikeways for years to come. Community members can review and comment on the Sidewalks, Crossings, and Shared Streets; Urban Trail; and/or Bicycle draft plans now through March 20, 2023. All three draft plans can be found online at PublicInput.com/ATXWBR.  Each new plan builds upon past planning efforts, with updated goals, strategies, and action items. Most notably, each plan factors equity into all aspects of the plan including their updated networks and how the City determines which projects are funded first. Highlights of additional new elements of each plan update include:  Sidewalks, Crossings, and Shared Streets Draft Plan: The updated plan establishes a new approach to completing the pedestrian network through a combination of sidewalks and shared streets. Shared streets are an alternative to sidewalks on low-traffic residential streets. The plan update also includes the first city-wide data-driven survey of pedestrian crossings to identify locations where crossings are needed or need updates.    Urban Trails Draft Plan: The updated plan establishes a more equitable and robust prioritization process, using a data-driven approach to determine which trails will be designed and built next. The plan looks beyond infrastructure and provides recommendations for placemaking, programming, and maintenance of the trail network.   Bicycle Draft Plan: The updated plan expands the all ages and abilities bicycle network to provide people with more mobility choices throughout Austin. It includes a new focus on addressing the affordability and displacement crisis while supporting climate resilience and integration with transit systems and land planning to make bicycling work for more people, more often.  After public input is received, the three plans will be revised and packaged with a set of amendments to the Austin Strategic Mobility Plan (ASMP). The revised plans and ASMP amendments will be presented to the Planning Commission in April. Finally, a public hearing at City Council will be held, and Council will vote on whether to adopt the final plans. An official notice will be posted before the Council hearing date.  "Our sidewalks, trails, bikeways, and roads are a direct result of planning decisions that have impacts beyond our travel options. These decisions impact our environment, our health, and our access to resources,” said James Snow, Interim Director of Austin Public Works. “These updated plans consider impacts beyond mobility and build upon the past two years of public input. Now it’s time to reflect back what we’ve heard and confirm that we’re on track."  Residents can also hear presentations and share feedback on any of these draft plans by attending or speaking at the boards and commissions meetings listed here. To comment at any Board and Commission meeting by phone or in-person please contact the staff liaison of the specific board or commission.  --- About the Planning Process  The plans were developed as part of ATX Walk Bike Roll, a coordinated initiative to update three separate but related active transportation plans through an equity-centered planning process.   ATX Walk Bike Roll builds upon the vision of the Austin Strategic Mobility Plan (ASMP) and the Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan to move Austin toward the goal where 50 percent of trips to work are made by walking, biking, transit, or any other non-drive-alone mode by 2039.     Learn more about ATX Walk Bike Roll at: AustinTexas.gov/ATXWBR.

Council Member Kelly Appointed to Serve on National League of Cities’ Public Safety Crime Prevention Committee

Austin City Council Member Mackenzie Kelly has been appointed to the National League of Cities (NLC) 2023 Public Safety and Crime Prevention (PSCP) federal advocacy committee. Kelly was elected to a one-year term and will provide strategic direction and guidance for NLC’s federal advocacy agenda and policy priorities on public safety issues, including law enforcement, municipal fire prevention, natural disaster preparedness, and homeland security. The appointment was announced by NLC President Mayor Victoria Woodards of Tacoma, Washington. 
 
“My priority is and has always been to keep my community safe. Being re-appointed to the NLC Public Safety Crime Prevention Committee helps ensure that the needs in Austin and all over the country are supported at the federal level related to public safety, “said Kelly. 
 
As a member of NLC’s PSCP committee, Kelly will play a key role in shaping NLC’s policy positions and advocate on behalf of America’s cities, towns and villages before Congress, with the administration, and at home.
 
“NLC’s federal advocacy committees are a key tool for gathering insights directly from the communities that our members serve,” said NLC President Mayor Victoria Woodards of Tacoma, Washington. “I am excited to have Councilwoman Kelly serve on the NLC PSCP committee and look forward to working with her to ensure every city, town and village in this nation has the resources they need to thrive.” 
 
The leadership of this year’s committee will consist of Chair Ras J. Baraka, Mayor, City of Newark, NJ; Vice Chair Rhonda Jerome, Council Member, City of North Charleston, SC; and Vice Chair Brian Kazy, Council Member, City of Cleveland, OH.
For more information on NLC’s federal advocacy committees, visit: https://www.nlc.org/advocacy/federal-advocacy-committees/.

Ready. Set. Summer Camp Registration 2023!

 

Early Registration for Financial Aid, Adaptive and Inclusion Programs

Austin Parks and Recreation provides accessible, diverse, and inclusive summer camps for ages 5 through 15 at select locations. Austin residents with approved financial aid and those seeking adaptive and inclusion support programs can register in person and by phone February 18 through 24. Registration times vary based on location. Evening and weekend times are available.  Therapeutic summer programs embrace the diversity that defines Austin and work to ensure that all individuals are accepted, included, and welcomed to participate, play, and recreate together with a team of Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialists (CTRS) and Inclusion Aids. Austin residents can register for therapeutic summer programs beginning February 18 at 10 a.m. Non-Austin residents can register beginning February 25 at 2 p.m. Visual and performing arts, culture and history summer camps preserve and protect the past, celebrate Austin’s diversity, build community, and develop awareness and appreciation for the arts. Austin residents can register for culture and arts summer camps beginning February 25 at 10 a.m. Non-Austin residents can register beginning February 25 at 2 p.m. Nature-based summer camps provide hands-on educational and recreational activities that increase appreciation for the natural environment and awareness of the conservation ethic. Austin residents can register for nature-based summer camps beginning February 25 at 12 p.m. Non-Austin residents can register beginning February 25 at 2 p.m. Community recreation center summer camps at have a youth development philosophy which focuses on providing opportunities to enhance their interests, skills and abilities through intentional programming and quality experiences that help develop social, emotional, ethical, physical and cognitive competencies. Austin residents can register for community recreation center summer camps beginning March 4 at 10 a.m. Non-Austin residents can register beginning March 4 at 12 p.m. For more information about Summer Camps, visit AustinTexas.gov/SummerCamp.