| | Dear Neighbors,
I am proud to share that on Friday the city formally launched the Austin Civilian Conservation Corps (ACCC), a program I established by resolution earlier this year.
In the face of a global pandemic, economic crisis, and climate emergency, Austin must do more for its citizens and its environment. Inspired by FDR’s New Deal program, I worked to create the ACCC, which will employ Austinites who have lost their jobs due to COVID, provide training, and help make Austin safer and more beautiful. Not only will the ACCC get folks back to work, the focus on conservation-related projects ensures the work will have long-lasting positive impacts. These projects will create career opportunities, build community, and serve as a recruitment tool for city departments.
Cities today must do more than just meet immediate needs in the wake of the pandemic. The cities that will prove resilient will be the ones that make long term investments. That was my impetus for the Austin Civilian Conservation Corps, and I am proud to see the ACCC launch with such enthusiasm.
American Youthworks (AYW) leads the first program, focused on parks and public lands improvement. Participants will improve and maintain parks, green spaces, and public lands across the city over the course of nine months. Applications are now open for crew members, who will receive full-time employment as well as training and certifications. If you’re interested in learning more about the ACCC and applying to be part of the Corps, visit https://www.austintexas.gov/department/austin-civilian-conservation-corps.
Other upcoming programs include solar and green building training, as well as the ArtResponders, Austin Safely Creates, and #BeWellATX cultural initiatives. Corps members will also work on wildfire mitigation, adding to the work we’ve done to manage the wildfire threat in the city. Such efforts include our investments in AFD’s Wildfire Division, new Fire/EMS stations, fuels mitigation, implementing the Wildland Urban Interface Code (WUIC), and community outreach efforts.
My last newsletter message focused on the importance of staying safe and staying healthy during the COVID-19 pandemic. As we see a rise in cases in our city and our state, please do your part and be vigilant. Stay home when you can and wear a mask when you’re in public. We are not yet through this crisis.
Warm Regards,
Alison Alter
Council Member, District 10 |
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| | Table of Contents - Loop 360/Davenport Fire & EMS Station Update
- Update on November Ballot Measures: Project Connect and Prop B Passage
- Transit Improvements in District 10
- Homelessness Panels – Nov. 18 & 20
- Join the Austin Youth Council!
- Park Amenities Update
- Keep Austin Recycling
- Austin Studio Tour – Through Nov. 22
- The Junior League of Austin: A Christmas Affair – Virtual Event
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| | | Davenport Fire Station Update
In 2018, I secured a commitment for a new fire station in District 10. Preliminary engineering and surveying work on the preferred site of the Loop 360/Davenport Fire/EMS Station is underway and nearly completed. The project team for the station has high confidence in the viability of the preferred site and will enter into lease negotiations upon the completion of the engineering and site plan. Additional information is available at https://atxpublicsafetyprojects.com. |
| | | Update on November Ballot Measures: Project Connect and Prop B Passage
The city’s two ballot measures, Prop A and Prop B, passed citywide earlier this month. Prop A approved investments in the Project Connect system plan to expand rail and bus service throughout Austin. Prop B provides $460 million in general obligation bonds for transportation infrastructure including sidewalks, urban trails, transportation safety projects, safe routes to school, and substandard streets.
I am focused on providing rigorous oversight of the implementation of these programs. As Chair of the City Council’s Audit and Finance Committee, I serve on the nominating committee charged with helping to select the community expert members of the Austin Transportation Partnership (ATP), the independent governing body that will manage the implementation of Project Connect. I intend to make sure we have the right people involved in overseeing the project. Applications for the ATP board are now open, and I encourage people with the appropriate experience to apply.
The Austin Transit Partnership Board of Directors is responsible for oversight of design, construction and implementation of the Project Connect program. Community expert members of the ATP Board must be residents of the City of Austin. The appointees by the City of Austin and the Capital Metro Board of Directors must be residents of either the City of Austin or the Capital Metro service area.
To apply, please email a resume and letter of interest (maximum 2 pages) detailing relevant experience to board@austintransitpartnership.org. The deadline for applications is November 27, 2020. |
| | | Transit Improvements in District 10
Over the last several months, CapMetro has been working on improvements at bus stops throughout District 10. A total of 11 bus stops in D10 are now renovated, with new shelters, benches, and litter containers at four bus stops and solar lighting on shelters at ten locations. These improvements were funded by 2018 Bond money. See the map above and chart below for details about the improvements at each location.
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| | | | Homelessness in Austin – Virtual Panel Series
This week is National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, and the City of Austin is hosting a series of virtual panels to help community members understand the homelessness crisis and how we got here, what’s happening now, and what’s on the horizon. The Homelessness in Austin series kicked off on Monday (11/16) and is broadcasting two more conversations with leaders from local organizations and initiatives on ATXN at noon on Wednesday (11/18) and Friday (11/20). If you miss any of the panels, you can watch the recordings online here. |
| | | Austin Youth Council in Washington D.C. for a National League of Cities Conference, Courtesy of Matthew Kim |
| Join the Austin Youth Council!
The Austin Youth Council (AYC) is a wonderful opportunity for youth to increase community engagement and learn about local civic issues. Below, check out District 10 AYC member Sydney Goodman's article about her experience on the Austin Youth Council. Sydney is a junior at St. Stephen's Episcopal School and a first-year AYC member.
"AYC aims to increase youth participation in our community and give them a platform for their voices. This includes evaluating issues youth face in Austin today to raising awareness and providing resources. In doing this AYC explores all viewpoints and uses data and insight from many perspectives. Last month, AYC members had the benefit of hearing from Council Member Alter who represents District 10. Dr. Alter shared with AYC that her role as a councilwoman is to create positive change and talked to us about how she advocates for parks in Austin. I live very close to an Austin park and I use the trails and enjoy the park on a daily basis. Hearing Dr. Alter’s passion for open, green spaces in Austin and responsibly managing the city’s rapid development resonated with me.
AYC, wanting to be part of this positive change Dr. Alter talked to us about, set out last month to increase youth participation in voting by partnering with Move Texas, making calls to over 24,000 young, unregistered voters encouraging them to participate in this election. Phone banks are a proven way to connect to potential voters and communicate why they should vote. For those of us that are not old enough to vote, encouraging other youths to vote was almost as good as casting a ballot.
I live in District 10 so being part of the community where I live and having the support of Austin Youth Council and the encouragement from Council Member Alter is important for me and all the young constituents in our district."
If you would like to get involved in the Austin Youth Council, visit the AYC website. Typical AYC meetings are held once a month on a Thursday from 5:30-7:30 p.m. During COVID, AYC is meeting monthly via Zoom on a Thursday from 4:45-6:45 p.m. You can also email youthcouncil@austintexas.gov for information about applying during the school year.
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| | | Park Amenities Update
Throughout the pandemic, the Parks and Recreation Department has been working with Austin Public Health and Dr. Mark Escott, Medical Director and Interim Health Authority, to chart the course for access to park facilities and amenities. In each discussion, indicators such as positivity rates, hospitalizations, ICU/ventilator usage trends, and current modeling predictions are considered in relationship to the likely utilization risks of any given activity.
Based upon the most recent evaluation, it has been determined that activities like playground usage, skate park usage and pavilion usage likely present a risk; however, the direct correlation between usage and virus spread has not been established. Consequently, PARD has replaced closure signage at playgrounds and other facilities with caution signage to inform users of risks and suggest usage parameters should an individual elect to engage with the amenity. With regards to sports programming, APH has observed a correlation between athletics and virus transmission. Therefore, PARD will not yet re-establish sports programming. Sports programming considerations will continue to be evaluated within COVID-19 Risk Based Guidelines in relation to downward trends in key indicators, including but not limited to positivity rates and hospitalizations.
Conditions and trends will continue to be monitored by PARD and our Health Authority to determine decreased or increased access moving forward.
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| | | Keep Austin Recycling
Last week, Austin Resource Recovery celebrated America Recycles Day by raising awareness about plastic recycling in Austin and what Austinites can do to combat plastic pollution. Did you know Austin Resource Recovery provides curbside trash, recycling and yard trimmings or compost service to over 200,000 residential customers? Recycling is collected every other week and taken to one of two Materials Recovery Facilities in Austin. Check out the Keep Austin Recycling web page to learn more about how to recycle correctly, what happens to your recycling in your blue cart after it’s collected, what you can do to reduce plastic waste, and more.
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| | | Austin Studio Tour – Through Nov. 22
Big Medium is producing its 18th year of a studio tour in Austin, and this year’s combination of the East and West Austin Studio Tours features 420 Austin-based artists and collaboratives. The Austin Studio Tour 2020 continues Big Medium’s mission of fostering connections between artists all over Austin and presents the public with creative ways to safely experience art through virtual exhibitions & programs alongside self-guided visits to art outdoors.
This year’s expanded website includes artist profiles, images of artworks, virtual studio visits, demonstrations, artists talks, and a map of outdoor installations and public art. You can also support Austin artists by purchasing art online. Learn more about how to enjoy this year’s studio tours at https://austinstudiotour.org. |
| | | The Junior League of Austin: A Christmas Affair – Virtual Event
Last year, the Junior League of Austin (JLA) opened its new headquarters located in District 10, and I’m proud the JLA calls our district home. For this year’s holiday celebrations, the Junior League of Austin is making its annual “A Christmas Affair” a fully virtual event and marketplace! Now in its 45th year, the five-day holiday gift market kicks off the giving season each year and hosts more than 150 regional and national retail merchants. This year, the Junior League of Austin will use a platform that will allow the JLA to support small businesses from around the country and create interaction experiences for its virtual attendees. Folks can purchase $45 VIP tickets to access the virtual market early (Nov. 17-22) or they can buy the $15 market week pass for access from Nov. 18-22. The JLA is also offering party packs and kids parties for sale. Go to www.achristmasaffair.com to learn more and to participate.
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