Capital Metro is holding a webinar for community members who are interested in getting a comprehensive overview of the proposed subway stations for Project Connect’s Blue and Orange lines. The discussion will cover what the community needs, the technology required to construct tunnels, and the planned accessibility and safety features of the 28.2-mile light rail transit plan. Wednesday, June 22, 5:30 p.m. Register here.

In what is likely to be the final phase of the election lawsuit that would put all City Council districts on the November ballot, the city has filed its response to the suit by 13 Austin voters who claim they have been disenfranchised by redistricting, and the plaintiffs have filed their response. The city is represented by Renea Hicks, who has served as outside counsel for the city for several years. The plaintiffs are represented by Bill Aleshire. In order for the plaintiffs win their suit, the Texas Supreme Court would have to invalidate the Austin City Charter provisions requiring staggered terms and order the city to vacate the seats of Council members in districts 2, 4, 6, 7 and 10 at the end of the year. The city is already scheduled to hold elections for mayor and Council districts 1, 3, 5, 8 and 9. Plaintiffs who were moved from one of the latter districts into one of the districts not holding an election this year claim they’ve been disenfranchised by the move. Making that even more egregious, according to Aleshire, is the fact that the city has already implemented redistricting. The court could make a decision this week, but could also take more time. A Travis County district judge and a court of appeals have already rejected the plaintiffs’ arguments.

After multiple amendments and a considerable amount of haggling on the dais Thursday night, City Council unanimously approved directing staff to bring back an ordinance to tighten up environmental regulations. Speakers in favor of Council Member Kathie Tovo’s proposal to require that redevelopment projects meet full detention requirements, among other things, outnumbered those opposed. Luke Metzger of Environment Texas told Council that flooding is only going to get worse with climate change, as is the urban heat island effect with more and more concrete. “So, as we densify – and we do need to densify because sprawl is perhaps our biggest environmental crisis – as we densify, we need to make sure we’re mitigating some of those impacts, and item 61 is a critical measure to help make sure we reduce the impacts of stormwater runoff, help clean up our creeks, help reduce flooding, add more nature to our cities so that we can have both a natural city and healthier water.”

But several Council members expressed concern about the negative impact changes might have on future housing. Mayor Steve Adler and Council members Paige Ellis and Natasha Harper-Madison offered an amendment directing the city manager to look at ways to offset any impact on affordability and capacity of stricter regulations. Council Member Chito Vela offered an amendment telling staff not to disincentivize small-scale, “missing middle” housing projects through restrictions on impervious cover. In the end, Tovo thanked her staff as well as city environmental staff. Despite the emphasis on home construction, Tovo said, the new regulations would make sure the city is on top of industries with potential risks for polluting. She added that when there are levels of E. coli noted in creeks, the environmental staff needs to speed up communication with Austin Water so they can fix their pipes more quickly.

This whisper has been changed since publication to clarify the scope of the new regulations.

The board of directors of the Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District declared a Stage II alarm drought at their June 9 meeting. According to the news release, Lovelady Monitor Well and Barton Springs, two groundwater wells that are considered to be the district’s “drought triggers,” went below their triggers in late May and early June, respectively. The release explains, “Only one of the two drought stage triggers needs to be reached for a drought declaration to be made. However, to exit a drought stage, both Barton Springs and Lovelady must rise above their respective drought trigger values.” The last time this happened was Oct. 9, 2020. That groundwater drought declaration ended July 8, 2021. Find more details about the announcement as well as information about how customers with wells may conserve water here.

Passenger traffic growth at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport for April 2022 was up 121.74 percent compared to April 2021 with 1,865,046 passengers flying, “setting a new record for busiest month ever at the airport,” says a press release from AUS. Every single airline saw an increase in passengers. Southwest, for instance, reported 722,855 passengers in April, up 155.1 percent, while American Airlines had 500,823 passengers, a 161.7 percent increase. All of which suggests that long waits and lengthy security lines will not deter people who are determined to fly.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention raised Travis County’s Covid-19 Community Level to “medium” late last week after it rested comfortably at “low” for a spell. “We’re seeing steady increases in case totals and hospitalizations which is incredibly concerning,” Dr. Desmar Walkes, Austin-Travis County health authority, said in a statement to the press about the change. “We need everyone to do their part, especially those who are at higher risk. Wear a mask inside when gathering with others. We know that this will help protect loved ones at risk for poor outcomes and our hospital system.”  This chart explains the guidelines for CDC levels adopted by Austin Public Health:
New cases per 100,000 residents had risen to 202.99, passing the “medium” threshold of 200, which was established by the CDC. In addition, Travis County is conducting wastewater surveillance to monitor the presence of the virus. Find more information about the risk-based guidelines, free masks and tests, and vaccine information here.

The city’s Office of Civil Rights is hosting an in-person open house “to better understand how implementing changes to support tenants’ rights will impact Austin renters,” according to the news release. The meeting will cover eviction notices, tenant organizing, rental payments and more. The meeting will begin with remarks from Carol Johnson, director of the Office of Civil Rights, and Patricia Link, division chief with the Law Department. As Johnson pointed out, “The right to assemble and redress grievances has always been a significant hallmark of change. The opportunity to provide safe places to address housing issues through tenant organizing will provide another tool for landlords and tenants to continue to work hand-in-hand to ensure that housing choice and housing opportunity is equitable, safe, decent and affordable.” Community members are invited to attend and provide feedback on the topics that interest them. Those who cannot attend the meeting may leave feedback on SpeakUpAustin. Wednesday, June 29, 6:30-8 p.m., Montopolis Recreation and Community Center, 1200 Montopolis Drive.

In a unanimous vote, City Council has approved the Austin CROWN Act, which is intended to prevent hair-based discrimination. The CROWN Act – which stands for Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair – was first introduced in 2019 as part of a national movement. It was passed by the U.S. House earlier this year and will next be voted on by the U.S. Senate. In Austin, the city code will be amended to protect people with hairstyles such as afros, braids, locs, twists and Bantu knots from discriminatory employment practices. “Austin will be a much better city for the protections we will bring to those who live, work and play here. Too often minorities are judged not only by the color of their skin, but also by the texture of their hair,” civil rights officer Carol Johnson said in a statement to the press. “Across the country we continue to see the harmful effects of racial discrimination due to natural hair and many states and cities are finding ways to address this through CROWN Act legislation.”

The Watershed Protection Department is expanding a chemical treatment in Lady Bird Lake that has been shown to slow the growth of harmful algae in the water. Last year, the department applied Phoslock over 22 acres of the lake near Red Bud Isle, with encouraging results. This year the treatment will include the north shore of Lady Bird Lake from Interstate 35 to the lagoon by the Festival Beach boat ramp. The rising temperatures and ongoing drought in Central Texas create conditions that are ripe for the growth of harmful blue-green algae, which produces toxins that can sicken both people and pets. The Phoslock treatment will be applied next Monday or Tuesday initially, with a second treatment planned later in the summer. Watershed regularly collects and tests algae samples; find current status of lake samples here.

The Economic Development Department has released a quarterly schedule for public art opportunities. According to the department, “The second quarter of the Art in Public Places’ application period features two public art projects totaling over $1,000,000.” The artwork commissions range from $43,000 to $625,000 and artists have until Aug. 4 to apply online. EDD Director Sylnovia Holt-Rabb said, “We are excited to continue quarterly application open calls for artists to apply for public art. This period of opportunities for artwork are citywide and will expand our public collection in park spaces for all residents and visitors to enjoy.” Find more details about AIPP here. View a map of second-quarter AIPP opportunities here.

March for Our Lives, a national grassroots organization committed to ending gun violence, will be marching once again. According to a news release, Central Texas teenagers are coordinating March for Our Lives Austin, which is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday on the south steps of the Texas Capitol building. The group is working in partnership with the Austin Justice Coalition, Community Justice Action Fund, and Texas Gun Sense. Participants will call on policymakers as well as communities and individuals to work for tangible solutions to prevent gun deaths. March for Our Lives started in Parkland, Florida, following the February 2018 massacre of 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. The Austin rally is just one of dozens expected across the country, including at the U.S. Capitol building.

Ironically perhaps, June is Gun Violence Awareness Month. Mayor Pro Tem Alison Alter is inviting the press to City Hall at 5:30 p.m. today as she makes a proclamation regarding gun violence. Austin Police Chief Joseph Chacon, along with representatives from Moms Demand Action, Texas Gun Sense, Austin’s Office of Violence Prevention, APD’s Victim Services, Community Justice Action Fund, Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice, Lock Arms for Life, and others are expected to attend.

Two Austin environmental organizations have filed suit against the Federal Aviation Administration seeking to overturn its decision allowing new fuel tanks to be installed at the Austin airport. The groups are the new Southeast Austin Residents and Neighbors Organized for Environmental Justice, or SANAR, and the well-established People Organized in Defense of Earth and Her Resources, or PODER. Austin attorneys Marisa Perales and Lauren Ice are representing the two organizations. The suit, which was filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in May, challenges the FAA’s finding on April 8, 2020, that the new fuel tanks will have no significant impact. Construction has begun on the tanks. Council Member Vanessa Fuentes, who represents the area, attempted to convince her colleagues to seek a new location for the fuel tanks, but fell one vote short. Airport officials warned that delaying the new tanks would be detrimental to airport operations and potentially raise costs for passengers.

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