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Dear Neighbors,
I hope everyone has been enjoying the first few weeks of summer and is preparing for a lovely Fourth of July with family and friends. I would like to invite you to enjoy the H-E-B Austin Symphony 43rd Annual July 4th Concert and Fireworks at Vic Mathias Shores, which is put on in partnership with the City of Austin, or one of the other permitted fireworks displays (see link).
While beautiful and festive, please remember that fireworks also have the potential to cause wildfires in our community and thus are illegal in the City of Austin. With the abundant rain we’ve had this year, vegetation in Austin is lush. As temperatures rise, this greenery quickly can become wildfire fuel waiting for the spark of an errant firework.
Recently, some of my staff attended a wildfire preparedness symposium and a wildfire training along with many community members. At both events, Austin Fire Department (AFD) staff showed maps highlighting the level of wildfire risk throughout the Austin area. Below, we have included a map showing Austin's current risk level for your reference. |
| | The AFD Wildfire Division offers in-person wildfire risk evaluations for Austin residents through which experts provide recommendations for making your home fire resilient. I encourage you to call 3-1-1 to schedule an evaluation, talk with your neighbors ahead of the upcoming holiday about wildfire risks, and visit AFD's Wildfire Division website for more resources.
Stay tuned for a legislative update in the next newsletter covering top issues from both the 86th Legislative Session and recent council meetings. Have a fun and safe holiday!
Regards, Alison Alter |
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Table of Contents - Council Corner – Sexual Assault and DNA Kit Testing
- Summer Playgrounds Program – Ramsey Park Hours Extended
- Austin Water Summer Savings Events
- Deep Eddy Pool Splash Nights
- Army Futures Command: Thank You Austin – July 22
- Applications Open for City of Austin Small Business Accelerator
- Lifeguards Needed
- Free Music Streaming Service by the Austin Public Library
- District 10 Opening: Human Rights Commissioner
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| | Council Corner – Sexual Assault and DNA Kit Testing
As many of you are aware, Austin has long had a problem with the way sexual assault cases are processed and pursued. In April, Council passed a group of contracts to supplement our local lab’s testing capacity to keep up with new and incoming cases. At the June 19th special called council meeting, we unanimously authorized the execution of additional contracts to to finally clear Austin's DNA kit backlog. Had these contracts not been approved, the backlog would have taken several more years to get through. Now, staff estimates that the DNA kits will be fully processed by Fall 2020. Click the video linked below to hear more about these contracts.
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| | | | Summer Playgrounds Program – Ramsey Park Hours Extended
Ramsey Park's Summer Playgrounds Program now has extended hours! I was proud to allocate office funds in partnership with the Rosedale Neighborhood Association and Austin Parks Foundation to keep the Ramsey program open Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (previously, the program ended at 1 p.m.).
The Summer Playgrounds Program is a free drop-in program for children to participate in fun, supervised outdoor activities during the summer months. The program includes several parks around the city and is open to children between the ages of 6-12.
District 10 is home to two Summer Playgrounds Program locations: Ramsey Neighborhood Park (4301 N. Rosedale Avenue) and Oak View Neighborhood Park (10902 Oak View Drive). For more information about park locations and hours, please visit the Summer Playgrounds Program website. |
| | | Austin Water Summer Savings Events
During the hot summer months of triple-digit weather, electricity and water usage is at its highest of the year. Austin Energy reports that nearly half of annual electricity usage occurs from June-September and that during this stretch, residents typically use the most water for lawns and landscaping. To help customers manage and lower summer utility bills, the City of Austin is scheduling community outreach events in areas with high use and high bills.
Attend any one of the Summer Savings events below to get tips to lower your summer utility bills, talk to a representative about your energy and water usage, monitor your usage from your phone or tablet, learn about rebates to upgrade home energy and water efficiency, receive information about solar and electric vehicle options and sign up to assess your home's risk for wildfire danger. |
| | For those who cannot attend one of the open house events, Austin Energy has an extensive list of online resources for customers. Check out the Summer Savings website for information on ways to lower your utility bills, available rebates for customers, help understanding your bill, and more.
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| | Deep Eddy Pool Splash Nights
Join Friends of Deep Eddy for another summer of splash movie nights! Deep Eddy Pool will host two movie nights in July. Grease will be the feature film on July 13 and Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory will play on July 27. The movies will begin at sundown.
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| | | Army Futures Command: Thank You Austin – July 22
One year after the Army announced Austin would be home to Army Futures Command, they're saying, "Thank You, Austin!" with an event you won't want to miss.
On July 22 starting at 4 p.m., the Army is hosting an outdoor festival on the Long Center Terrace featuring live music from the 312th Army Band, local food trucks, live gaming with the Army eSports Team, the fully interactive Army Adventure Trailer, and performances by the Old Guard Drill Team and the Golden Knights Parachute Team. Thank You, Austin! also will feature a free concert from the U.S. Army Field Band starting at 7 p.m. The entire event is free and open to the public. |
| | | | Applications Open for City of Austin Small Business Accelerator
The City of Austin Small Business Program is now accepting applications for its Small Business Accelerator. The Small Business Accelerator is an intensive training program designed to help small businesses headquartered in Austin that seek new markets and enhanced value for their enterprise. The program combines an online learning platform, Coursera, alongside in-person sessions to deliver a detailed accredited curriculum focused on growing a small business.
Participants will be trained to grow as leaders and managers to increase small business capacity. In addition to online learning, participants will meet regularly in person for enriching supplemental lectures, activities, and peer-to-peer coaching sessions. Altogether, this program offers over 35 hours of online and in-person training held weekly beginning September 26 to December 12, 2019, with final presentations on January 16, 2020.
The Small Business Accelerator Program is designed for businesses that are already generating revenue and are poised for growth. To determine selection of applicants, we will take into consideration the following:
- The number of months that the business has been in operation
- Average annual revenue
- Total number of part-time and full-time employees
- Likelihood that the business will hire new employees in the next 12 months
Up to 20 individual businesses will be selected from the application process. Upon acceptance, participants will be required to pay a non-refundable $200 tuition. Interested entrepreneurs can contact the City of Austin Small Business Program at (512)974-7800 for additional information.
Small Business Accelerator Timeline
Application Period: July 1 – August 9, 2019 | 5 PM CST
Final Participant Selection: August 16, 2019
Fees Due to City of Austin: August 30, 2019
Weekly Classes Begin: September 26, 2019
Final Presentations & Reception: January 16, 2020
Learn more about the program and application at www.SmallBizAustin.org.
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| | Lifeguards Needed
The City's Parks and Recreation Department (PARD) still needs additional lifeguards for the 2019 summer season. Lifeguarding is a professionally rewarding experience, and the Aquatic Division is extremely passionate about the safety of visitors and staff at all City pools.
How to become an Austin Lifeguard
Apply Now! The Aquatic Division's hiring process is simple. All applicants need to complete an online application through the City of Austin Jobs website. Applicants must be 15 years of age or older. Follow the Aquatics Division on Facebook for the latest hiring day events. Get Hired! The Aquatic Division conducts interviews and hires staff year-round. After submitting an online application, please report to the Austin Aquatic Office (2818 San Gabriel St. Austin, TX 78705) within 7 days for an interview. Office hours are 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday - Friday.
Get Trained! The Aquatic Division takes lifeguard training and certification seriously. Classes are offered for first-time lifeguards, returning lifeguards that need re-certification, and lifeguards that are interested in becoming an instructor.
Get Working! The Aquatic Division will sign you up for a City Skills class upon successful completion of the above steps. You're almost ready to start saving lives, so find out what pool is closest to you! |
| | | Free Music Streaming Service by the Austin Public Library
Streaming now from the Austin Public Library to audiences everywhere, Electric Lady Bird delivers commercial-free, curated music from Central Texas artists. The service is free to everyone, regardless of whether or not you have a library card. Electric Lady Bird seeks out the best of Austin's music scene and offers it through a user-friendly digital musical platform. The Austin Public Library has two open submission periods each year where Austin-area artists can upload 1-3 full-length tracks representative of their overall work. A team of curators will select artists to join the Electric Lady Bird library, and selected artists will receive an honorarium for sharing their music.
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| | District 10 Opening: Human Rights Commissioner
District 10 Human Rights Commissioner Joe Miguez has taken an exciting new position and is resigning from the City's Human Rights Commission. I'd like to thank Joe for all his hard work towards making Austin a better city for everyone. Following Joe's departure, my office is seeking a new District 10 representative to serve on the commission.
If you are interested in volunteering for this commission, please send your resume and a short memo with the following information to my office at district10@austintexas.gov:
- What is your assessment of the top three policy questions your commission will be dealing with over the next four years?
- A statement of the expertise and experience that you bring to these issues.
- A statement of what issues you anticipate emphasizing in your work supporting your commission.
Feel free to also share this opportunity with your friends and neighbors. We’re looking forward to hearing from you!
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