Stay-at-home orders are expected to be issued in the city of Austin, Travis County and Williamson County Tuesday in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt said. The orders would require all nonessential businesses to have employees work from home and further restrict other gatherings. Businesses with essential functions, like grocery stores, […]
COVID-19
Posted inCity Council
Council widens scope of how to lessen COVID-19’s economic impact
A City Council resolution intended to assist small businesses and employees impacted by the cancellation of South by Southwest has been expanded in recent days to include aid for child care services and health care providers for senior citizens, with more additions possible. Council Member Jimmy Flannigan originally took up the measure following the cancellation […]
Posted inCity Council
Council enters new territory with online participants
Under normal circumstances, Council chambers would be packed with city staff, observers and people wishing to comment on various agenda items. Today, under national, state and local emergency declarations, COVID-19 has made these times anything but normal. According to a memo released Friday, Mayor Steve Adler and five of his Council colleagues will appear in […]
Posted inAustin
Austin begins the week under new city restrictions
This week, Austin enters a new phase of public health preparedness, under a new order from the city that expands restrictions put in place last week as part of an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19. The new order, which was issued Saturday, prohibits social gatherings of more than 10 people and gatherings of 10 […]
Posted inCity Council
City looks for funds, including hotel tax, to cushion COVID-19 economic impact
City staff and members of City Council have fine-tuned their plans for assisting small businesses and employees facing financial difficulties from the cancellation of South by Southwest and other fallout from the COVID-19 outbreak. Council Member Jimmy Flannigan posted a draft resolution on the City Council Message Board Thursday directing staff to create or use […]
Posted inElections
May 2 elections called off, not so for May 26
After Gov. Greg Abbott’s proclamation Wednesday allowing political subdivisions to postpone elections planned for May 2, Travis County Clerk Dana DeBeauvoir announced Thursday that Travis County would not be conducting any elections on that date. Most if not all of those jurisdictions will be holding their elections Nov. 3, along with all the other elections […]
Posted inAustin
Updated: Coronavirus shutters Austin Animal Center, but shelter still desperately needs fosters
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect daily life in Travis County with the closure of the Austin Animal Center. AAC announced on its Facebook page Monday that it would close to the public, effective immediately, and not reopen until March 30 at least. The closure includes volunteers who walk dogs and perform other duties around […]
Posted inTransportation
Lime and Wheels to pause shared mobility services
Lime and Wheels will be the first dockless mobility operators to disable device rentals in Austin in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Cities across the country are considering how to manage dockless mobility under rapidly evolving conditions. On Wednesday, the city of Miami ordered all shared mobility devices to be remotely disabled in an effort […]
Posted inResources
Parks remain accessible, but playscapes cause community concern
Austin’s public parks are institutions of expansive green space and outdoor recreation that would appear to be prime locations to abide by social distancing policies while offering the chance to get out and about. However, depending on the destination, enjoying these public facilities can breach city-enacted safety measures. This week, the city limited gatherings to […]
Posted inCity Hall
Planning, Development Services still operating
Despite the unprecedented challenge presented by the COVID-19 outbreak, the city is attempting to conduct its land use and development services business to keep those processes moving forward. Jerry Rusthoven, leader of the Planning and Zoning Department, told the Austin Monitor on Wednesday that all members of his 55-person staff are doing their jobs from […]
Posted inTransit
Capital Metro responds to COVID-19 with changes to service schedule and operations
At the tail end of a 17-month run of climbing ridership increases, Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority system ridership has plummeted due to the coronavirus pandemic. CEO Randy Clarke said the agency does not expect numbers to recover for many weeks, if not months. “There is no question … this is going to be a significant […]
Posted inAustin
After emergency orders, Austin seeks more money for housing and small businesses
The city of Austin’s Economic Development Department doesn’t know how many residents will lose income because of the bar and restaurant closures and crowd-control rules announced to stop the spread of COVID-19. But with more than 125,000 people working in the service and hospitality industry alone, the number is bound to be high. On Tuesday, […]