Dear Neighbors,
It is my hope that each of you had a restorative beginning to the new year, and that you were able to safely spend time with loved ones. As the new year begins, it is my pleasure to share that I was chosen by my council colleagues to serve as Mayor Pro Tem. In this role, I will step in from time to time to run council meetings and assist with city matters in the mayor’s absence. As Mayor Pro Tem and your District 10 Council Member, I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues and community members on initiatives to improve quality of life for all Austinites.
Omicron Variant in Austin
As the pandemic enters its third calendar year, Austin remains in Stage 5 of our Covid Risk-Based Guidelines, which is the highest risk level. This new outbreak of cases is the result of the omicron variant moving through the city and county.
This variant is highly contagious, and I encourage you to take the utmost precautions as you go about daily life. Above all, it is important to get vaccinated if you have not already done so, get your booster shot (most residents are eligible for their booster), and continue to wear your mask when you are out in public. If you are sick, please get tested and stay home. The longer the pandemic continues, the more opportunities exist for variants to develop. It will take all of us to end this pandemic and keep each other safe.
You may view the guidelines based on your personal risk level here. For activity guidance, vaccine locations, testing sites, and other resources, visit AustinTexas.gov/covid19. Here are some topline recommendations:
For high-risk vaccinated individuals, indoor and outdoor private gatherings are not recommended at all, with or without precautions, travel is discouraged unless essential, dining should be outdoors with precautions, and shopping should be outdoors or takeaway or curbside.
For low-risk vaccinated individuals, indoor and outdoor private gatherings, travel, shopping, and dining should be with precautions. Note that places that require vaccines and masks may pose a lower risk.
Partially or not vaccinated individuals should take precautions for all activities in Stages 1 through 5. In Stages 4 and 5, all partially or not vaccinated individuals, regardless of risk should avoid most activities unless essential. It is recommended that shopping and dining be takeaway and/or curbside.
In the remainder of this newsletter, you will find opportunities for community input on several key transportation initiatives, tips for winter preparedness, an opening for the Hispanic/Latino Quality of Life Resource Advisory Commission, and more. I encourage you to share this newsletter with your friends and neighbors, who may subscribe at bit.ly/d10newsletters.
Regards, Alison Alter Mayor Pro Tem
| | End of 2021 Article and Reflection Opening: Hispanic/Latino Quality of Life Commission Public Feedback Opportunities for Austin’s Strategic Mobility Plan Online Survey: I-35 Cap and Stitch Project Update on 183 N Mobility Project Input Opportunity for EMS Chief Finalists Fraudulent QR Codes Found at Parking Pay Stations New Mexic-Arte Exhibit Applications Open for Austin Music Disaster Relief Grant Kindness Rally Named a Top 10 Moment of Inspiration in 2021 Call for Blood Donations Supporting Refugees Moving to Austin Austin Water Update: Savings, Debt Management, and Award Cold Weather Emergency Preparedness Healthcare Open Enrollment Reminder
| | | End of 2021 Article and Reflection I recently connected with Kali Bramble at the Austin Monitor to share some of my thoughts about Austin’s resilience in 2021. Check out my end-of-year profile to read more about what we accomplished together last year, and where I think we can go in 2022. | | | Opening: Hispanic/Latino Quality of Life 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 that this 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 the commission. Please feel free to share this opportunity with your friends and neighbors. | | | Public Feedback Opportunities for Austin’s Strategic Mobility Plan The Austin Strategic Mobility Plan (ASMP) is undergoing its first set of revisions. The ASMP is designed to be a living document that reflects the community’s needs. I invite you to review the plan and proposed changes here. The deadline has been extended through January 30th. You can direct questions or comments to ASMP@AustinTexas.gov. You may also subscribe to Austin Transportation’s Mobility Newsletter for weekly updates. | | | Online Survey: I-35 Cap and Stitch Project Last month, the City of Austin launched a survey to collect community input on the cap and stitch initiative, a coordinated effort to explore the opportunity to build deck plazas (caps) and enhanced crossings (stitches) over I-35 through downtown Austin. If you haven’t done so already, you can share your feedback now. While it is recommended that you submit your comments by January 15th, public input will still be accepted after that date.
The survey launched as part of a virtual public meeting, which is available, along with supplemental information, on the cap and stitch project webpage. You may also direct questions to ATXCapStitch@AustinTexas.gov or call 512-974-7898.
| | | Update on 183 N Mobility Project
Construction begins this month on the nine-mile stretch of US 183 between SH 45 North and MoPac. The aim is to improve mobility, reduce congestion and provide more reliable travel times for transit and emergency responders along this portion of US 183. When completed, those looking to bypass traffic congestion will have a choice to use the 183 North Express Lanes. Drivers who prefer not to pay a toll will still have the option to use the improved non-tolled general-purpose lanes. To learn about the project, visit 183north.com. You can also sign up for the project newsletter or submit a question at https://www.183north.com/connect. For urgent inquiries, call the project hotline at (866) 223-8044. | | | | | | QR code stickers linking to a fraudulent website were recently found on numerous Austin Parking pay stations. Austin Parking pay stations do NOT use QR codes and ONLY accept payment through the Park ATX app, coins, and credit or debit cards. If you witness an unbadged individual tampering with a parking pay station, please call 911. | | | In December, Sylvia Orozco, Executive Director of Mexic-Arte, gave me a fabulous tour of the museum’s newest exhibit. Sylvia is one of the founders of Mexic-Arte and a District 10 resident. The exhibit, "MX21: Resistance, Reaffirmation & Resilience," walks viewers through significant moments in Mexican history. Learn more about the museum and plan your visit at Mexic-ArteMuseum.org. | | | | | | | | | Hospitals currently have an urgent need for blood, both locally and nationally. If you are looking for a way to give back, please visit weareblood.org to schedule a blood donation. | | | Supporting Refugees Moving to Austin Many neighbors have reached out to my office asking how they can support Afghan refugees who are new to Austin. I invite you to review this google doc (which is continuously updated) for opportunities to donate money, time, or skills to support these new Austinites. | | | Austin Water Update: Savings, Debt Management, and Award
In recent years, Austin Water has begun implementing an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) system. AMI systems detect leaks and breaks earlier and boost water conservation because customers can monitor their water usage electronically. These meters are being rolled out gradually across the city, now that the installation pilot is complete. Recently the AMI project and other critical investments to modernize our water and wastewater infrastructure have been bolstered via $71.1 million in low interest loan funding from the Texas Water Development Board, saving the utility and customers millions in financing costs.
Also of note, Austin Water was one of seven recipients for the 2021 Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) Award for Excellence Program for the use of “Debt Management Strategies to Deliver Affordable Water Service”. This award recognizes innovative programs and contributions to the practice of government finance that exemplifies outstanding financial management.
| | | Cold Weather Emergency Preparedness In February of 2021, we learned that our city must be better prepared for cold weather emergencies. As we move into the winter months, I invite you to review my recent newsletter outlining Austin’s emergency preparedness in the aftermath of Winter Storm Uri. You may also review the City’s Winter Weather After Action Report and this cold weather guide from Austin Water. |
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