City Council has approved a document spelling out the roles and responsibilities of the three government agencies overseeing Project Connect. The joint powers agreement, or JPA, gathers together the specifics from Austin’s contract with the voters, Capital Metro’s Community Commitment Resolution and the Interlocal Agreement to create the Austin Transit Partnership. Community representatives and labor advocates had some input in the weeks preceding the vote, which led to some changes in the JPA. One of the additions is an amendment from Mayor Steve Adler concerning the selection process for ATP’s executive director. Next up, the Capital Metro Board of Directors will consider the document at its meeting today, and then the JPA lands in the lap of the ATP board on Nov. 17.

Austinites who regularly walk, bike or drive along South Pleasant Valley Road may want to provide their feedback for a survey about planned improvements on the road between St. Elmo Road and Onion Creek Park. Community feedback helps the city to better understand the public’s needs. According to the Transportation Department, the improvements “are expected to reduce crashes, enhance accessibility for people walking and establish a safer bikeway connection for people traveling north-south along the corridor.” Sounds good to us. Take the survey in English or in Spanish through Nov. 14.

David Foster, who has served as director of Clean Water Action’s Texas program since 2004, plans to retire at the end of the year. Foster coordinates public outreach for both Clean Water Action and the Clean Water Fund throughout Texas. He has served on the boards of many nonprofits, including Envision Central Texas, Livable City and the Alliance for Public Transportation. Foster will be honored at a reception and dinner from 5-8 p.m. on Nov. 17 at the Barr Mansion, 10463 Sprinkle Road. In addition to being a fundraiser for the Clean Water Fund, the event marks Barr Mansion’s 40th anniversary. Organizers expect speakers to include U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett (schedule permitting), John Dromgoole of the Natural Gardener, Travis County commissioners Jeff Travillion and Brigid Shea, and Austin City Council Member Leslie Pool. RSVP by Nov. 15 to reserve your tickets or make a contribution. Tickets are also available at the door. Guests are requested to be vaccinated and to respect applicable Travis County recommendations regarding masks and social distancing. Barr Mansion staffers wear masks and hand sanitizers will be available. The event will be outside, with the ballroom as fallback in the event of inclement weather.

With the aim of improving transparency, a new dashboard from Austin Animal Center will make it possible for the public to view “performance and measurement data, including the number of animals impounded and adopted” at the facility. The dashboard, which will be rolled out in phases, currently displays intakes by animal; the numbers of animals adopted, returned to owner, euthanized, and in foster care; and statistics on vaccinations and spay and neuter surgeries, among other data. Animal Services Director Don Bland said the city and the Animal Services Office are “dedicated to ensuring that information on our programs and services is delivered to the public in a way that makes it easier for them to see what is occurring in our department. Transparency is a top priority for us and for the community, and this will help ensure that.”

Three war memorials are being relocated to a new home in a pocket park designed to honor veterans, at the intersection of Atlanta and Veterans Drive, adjacent to the American Legion. According to a news release from the parks department, the Veterans Pocket Park will express “a respectful and peaceful sense of place” as well as provide space for events such as ceremonies, dedications and holiday observances. The monuments will be displayed in an accessible manner that “includes the ability to touch and read inscriptions.” Additional memorials may be added in the future. A ribbon-cutting for the new park will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, at 2200 Veterans Drive.

Recent water samples at Sculpture Falls show that the levels of cylindrospermopsin, the toxin produced by blue-green algae, “have fallen well below EPA guidance values for recreational use.” Translation: It’s safe to go back in the water again. The city cautions that “the higher toxin levels or a different cyanotoxin will return without warning in the future,” so use caution and “avoid swimming if the water is warm, if it appears stagnant, if there’s scum or film on the water or if there are mats of algae.” This recommendation also holds true for other natural bodies of water. As well, “avoid swimming for a few days after heavy rainfall when bacteria levels tend to be higher.” As for dogs, the advice is: better safe than sorry. “Although there does not appear to be any immediate risk to dogs, dog owners may want to keep their pets away from the water. The harmful algae could quickly return without warning, and dogs are more susceptible to some toxins, and several have died when exposed.”

Longtime Democratic activist and attorney Lulu Flores announced her candidacy for the Democratic nomination for Texas House District 51 on Thursday, following incumbent Rep. Eddie Rodriguez’s announcement that he would seek to represent the newly redrawn Congressional District 35. Flores, 66, pledged to fight for affordable housing, protection of historic neighborhoods, better wages and benefits, and “for the rights of everyone.” Her website is in the building process, but supporters can sign up at elect.lulufor51.com. Rodriguez has served in the Texas House since he was first elected in 2002. He will face Council Member Greg Casar, as well as a number of other candidates, in the March 1 Democratic primary. Casar officially announced his candidacy on Wednesday, triggering a new election for his District 4 Council seat, which is likely to coincide with the Democratic primary. The new redistricting maps are facing several legal challenges, as is the new law restricting voting signed by Gov. Greg Abbott. The U.S. Justice Department filed suit challenging that law on Thursday.

City Council Member Alison Alter sponsored a resolution Thursday directing City Manager Spencer Cronk to work to improve the city’s response to acts of hate. All 10 of her colleagues joined as co-sponsors in the resolution and expressed solidarity. Alter has sponsored three previous resolutions condemning violence, hate speech, racism and misinformation, and expressing solidarity with all those targeted by hate groups, including Muslims and Asian Americans. Over the weekend, someone set fire to Congregation Beth Israel in District 10, which Alter and her family attend. The perpetrator has not been apprehended, but law enforcement groups are investigating. In a news release, Alter said, “It is critical that as a city we join in a united front against hate and make clear that these acts do not represent our community values.” She urged Austinites to support Jewish community groups in their fight against antisemitism. The resolution reads in part, “The City Council of Austin directs the city manager to research best practices from peer cities and to collaborate with local community groups, including Shalom Austin and the Anti-Defamation League, to review and then identify and implement improvements to the city’s response to hate. The improvements should include training for relevant city staff that educates participants in how hate manifests, how to effectively respond to incidents of hate, and how social media is used to propagate hate.” The manager was directed to report back to Council and make recommendations within 120 days.

Following the CDC approval of Pfizer’s Covid vaccine for children ages 5-11, Austin Public Health is moving rapidly to roll out vaccine distribution for children. Vaccines are available by appointment this week at the health department’s two Shots for Tots clinics, which provide Covid and flu shots for children who are uninsured or are Medicaid recipients. Uninsured adults may also receive vaccines and no one is refused service if they are unable to pay. Call 512-972-5520 for an appointment. Vaccinations will also be available starting Tuesday, Nov. 9, at the walk-in clinic at Delco Activity Center and Wednesday, Nov. 10 at Old Sims Elementary. No appointment is required for walk-up sites. These clinics will be expanded the following week to several area schools where access to vaccination has been limited. “Vaccinations are the key to returning children to normalcy,” says Dr. Desmar Walkes, Austin-Travis County health authority. “This is also very important for families in multi-generational households. We hope that families make the decision to vaccinate as many of their loved ones as possible to protect their home and community.”

In honor of military service members, entrance fees at Texas State Parks will be waived for day-use visitors on Sunday, Nov. 14, the Sunday after Veterans Day, which is Thursday, Nov. 11. Rodney Franklin, state parks director, explained in an announcement, “The dedication, sacrifice and service displayed by the women and men that serve in our country’s military is unparalleled and is a source of pride throughout the country. … To celebrate their service, Texas State Parks would like to once again invite everyone to spend the day at any one of our beautiful state parks for free.” Some state parks are expected to reach their capacity limit, so visitors are encouraged to reserve day passes online in advance.

Austin Independent School District is holding a virtual public meeting to update and inform the community about its budget. District leaders will answer questions and discuss topics like school funding, how campuses make decisions about staffing and programs, and how community members and families can get more involved. Wednesday, Nov. 3, 6-7 p.m. Register here to get the Zoom link. For those who cannot attend, the meeting will be recorded and posted on AISD’s Vimeo page.