Travis County Central Health and CommUnityCare will announce the location of one new drive-thru Covid-19 testing site by the end of this week. “By the end of this week, at the latest, we’ll have a plan,” said Matt Balthazar, a vice president at CommUnityCare Health Centers, in a virtual community conversation between Central Health, CommUnityCare […]
Jessi Devenyns
Posted inTravis County
County Commissioners Court looks toward economic recovery solutions
The financial figures representing the economic repercussions of self-isolation and shuttered businesses are beginning to surface in Travis County. Diana Ramirez, the director of Travis County’s Economic Development & Strategic Investments, told the Commissioners Court on April 7 that although local numbers are still not available, state and federal numbers offer a good indication of […]
Posted inAustin
Covid-19: Senior citizens at risk of food shortages and isolation
With Covid-19 upending daily life, many senior citizens in Central Texas are finding their access to food limited and their social isolation increased. “Food became the overall concern for everybody,” Patty Bordie, director of the CAPCOG Area Agency on Aging, told the Austin Monitor. “There’s a huge need right now because people don’t know how […]
Posted inPremium Types
TipSheet: Travis County 4.7.20
The Travis County Commissioners Court meets every Tuesday at 9 a.m. To help our readers stay informed, each week we offer a selection of interesting items from the voting session agenda. The entire agenda is available at the Travis County website. 1. Consider and take appropriate action regarding: Economic impacts of Covid-19 response, and resources and […]
Posted inDevelopment
City clocks for zoning applications stopped ticking, state deadlines still in effect
A mayoral order issued March 17 effectively paused all deadlines outlined in city code until May 1; however, state deadlines remain in effect. For zoning cases, that means conventional rules are suspended – such as applications appearing before a land use commission within 180 days after submittal, or placing a preliminary plan or plat on […]
Posted inCity Hall
Historic zoning, demolitions on hold for the time being
When it comes to zoning cases, the city has carved many different timelines into the code to keep cases moving forward. Those timelines are currently on hold. For historic zoning cases, non-administratively approved applications have been stopped in their tracks until the Historic Landmark Commission can reconvene. Jerry Rusthoven, the assistant director of the Planning […]
Posted inCity Hall
City works out logistics to allow boards and commissions to meet virtually
After nearly a month of meetings being on hold, City Council voted last Thursday to temporarily waive a local ordinance requiring a quorum of board or commission members to be physically present in order for a meeting to take place. The dozens of city boards and commissions may now resume their regular schedules with a […]
Posted inWater
Austin Water reports happier customers and over-budget expenses for first quarter
In a mixed start to the year, Austin Water reported expenses that were 14 percent above budget for the quarter and revenues that were 6.2 percent higher than projections. “We were above our (revenue) budget by $8.79 million,” Christina Romero, Austin Water’s financial manager, told the Water and Wastewater Commission on March 11. Below-average rainfall […]
Posted inEnergy
Council approves update to Resource, Generation and Climate Protection Plan
In spite of a slew of public speakers requesting that City Council postpone a vote on the Austin Energy Resource, Generation and Climate Protection plan due to a lack of public engagement, Council voted to approve the update to the plan for 2030. The Resource, Generation and Climate Protection Plan is a 10-year road map […]
Posted inPolice
APD’s curtailed operations could impact equity
Last week, the Austin Police Department announced changes to its daily operations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. While there will be no change to the department’s response to critical calls where life and safety are jeopardized, smaller offenses and administrative tasks have taken a back seat. APD will no longer respond to low-priority calls […]
Posted inLocal Politics
Eckhardt to remain county judge until May 13
In yet another unprecedented decision linked to COVID-19, County Judge Sarah Eckhardt will not be stepping down from county government after all, despite her March 10 resignation. Eckhardt said at a press conference Monday that she could not have foreseen the developing impact of the pandemic. She explained that she will continue to lead county […]
Posted inWhispers
Travis County Commissioners Court will take place virtually
Even in the shadow of a shelter-in-place order and encouragement from municipal government to work from home, the Travis County Commissioners Court will still hold its session on March 24. As usual, the meeting will be aired on public access channel 17 but this week, all participants will be virtual with the exception of County […]