The Austin Civilian Conservation Corps (ACCC) is up and running, and they are looking for crew members to work on wildfire mitigation projects. The job creation program was formed with federal Covid-19 relief funds in 2020. Now, the city of Austin and American YouthWorks are encouraging anyone from ages 17-35, regardless of experience, to join the crew, where they will be trained and work on wildfire mitigation projects throughout the city of Austin. More information is available at AustinTexas.gov/ACCC.

Austin police have begun holiday impaired-driving enforcement. The No Refusal Initiative is underway and will run through Jan. 1. During this time, in an effort to enforce DWI laws, police can collect blood evidence from those suspected of driving under the influence or while intoxicated by quickly obtaining warrants for those that refuse breathalyzers.

The first Austin Youth Climate Equity Council has been selected, and its 18 members are ready to continue their education by learning about sustainability, city planning and policy. According to a press release about the council, “The local high school students were selected through a competitive process. Each demonstrates an interest in developing public policy to address climate change, environmental policy, and environmental justice in their community. The Austin Youth Climate Equity Council members are aged 14-18 and represent nine Austin Independent School District schools.” This year, members of the council will work on long-range planning and implementation of the city’s Climate Equity Plan at AISD. “I strongly believe that climate change prevention practices and plans need to start at a local level,” said Jackson, an Austin Youth Climate Equity Council member. “I wanted to join this council in order to help raise awareness about climate change and its effects in my community.” The council is led by EcoRise, with local support of a partnership between AISD, UT’s Planet Texas and the city’s Office of Sustainability. Those who work in the sustainability field can apply to mentor climate leaders here.

Airport officials are putting out the word that travelers should allot plenty of time if they plan on traveling this holiday season. The Transportation Security Administration advises those flying to arrive at least two hours early for domestic and three hours early for international flights. Peak travel is expected from now through Jan. 4, particularly for flights prior to 9 a.m. More information about airport screenings, health regulations and other tips can be found here. Travel safe!

Early voting for the District 4 special election starts in less than a month, and the tight timeline and upcoming holidays has the city scrambling to put together a candidate forum, as evidenced by the recent discussion at the Ethics Review Commission.

Currently, the forum is tentatively scheduled at City Hall on Thursday, Jan. 6, at 6:00 p.m. Though the commission does not have the power to determine the location of the forum, commissioners voted unanimously to recommend the forum be held in (or close to) District 4 instead, at the Asian American Resource Center if possible.

“I think it’s most important that we do not ask this district to drive into downtown at 6 o’clock on a work evening,” said Carol Eckelkamp, who is the candidate forum chair for the Austin Area League of Women Voters. She explained that she had already heard from a number of neighborhood associations that the special election offers a “unique opportunity” to work together and consolidate forums. “It could be one of the only forums, because of the holidays and the time,” she noted. The short turnaround on the special election also means that there may not be time to include notice of the forum in Austin Energy bills, as has been standard for City Council forums, observed commissioners. The District 4 election is January 25. Early voting begins on January 10, 2022.

Though it might not feel like it outside, winter is coming. And, this year, Austin Water wants to help you prepare for freezing temperatures by providing free meter keys, hose bib covers and information. Winter tool kits can be picked up at the north and south branches of the city’s utility customer service locations (located at 8716 Research Blvd., Suite 115, and 1901 W. William Cannon Drive, Suite 100) or at upcoming pop-ups, which will be announced on AWU’s Facebook page. In addition, Austin Water is advising everyone to get ready for cold weather by locating water shutoffs and weatherizing homes, exposed pipes and water heaters. In addition, residents should get prepared in advance, with the aforementioned water hose bibs and water meter keys, battery-powered radios, flashlights, and seven gallons of water per person and pet. More tips can be found on Austin Water’s site, and the Ready Central Texas mobile app has more information about how to be prepared.

Construction crews are preparing to begin work on Parkfield Drive in the second of three phases of work aimed at improving safety and mobility on the street and making pedestrians and motorists alike a whole lot happier. The planned improvements, which will be between Payton Gin Road and Mearns Meadow Boulevard, include “shortening the crossing distance for people walking or rolling by installing new curb extensions, increasing connectivity by fixing sidewalk gaps and increasing safety by constructing a protected intersection at Parkfield Drive and Payton Gin Road.” The project is expected to be completed by spring 2022. Future improvements include bikeway and pedestrian crossing improvements from Rundberg Lane to Mearns Meadow Boulevard. Check out the project page for more details.

With plans moving forward for a massive $4.9 billion project to expand and lower Interstate 35 through downtown Austin, the city and the Downtown Austin Alliance have turned their attention to how “cap and stitch” might help close the gap. The public is invited to weigh in on the plan via a new virtual open house that offers an overview of the project and illuminates the potential of plazas that would span the highway (caps) and enhanced bridges over the road (stitches). The open house begins today, and features a video presentation on the project and a chance to offer feedback through a survey. Both can be found online here.

Given the recent appearance of the Omicron variant, Austin officials are inviting everyone to watch fireworks “from afar” this New Year’s Eve. Though the fireworks will be set off from Vic Mathias Shores as usual, vendors and entertainment will not be in the park, and everyone is encouraged to watch from a safe distance to prevent a post-holiday Covid surge. The show will begin at 10:00 p.m. and will be broadcast on ATXN.tv and Channel 6. Roads in the “fireworks fall out zone” will begin closing at 8:00 p.m. and will reopen by midnight. In addition, Lady Bird Lake will be closed from 9:00 until midnight between the railroad trestle bridge and the South First Street bridge.

Without a doubt, getting vaccinated is the most important thing you can do to protect yourself and others from Covid-19. So, what’s the second most important thing you can do? Help other community members get vaccinated, of course. One very practical way to help is to lend a hand at a vaccine clinic. Sign up here if you’d like to learn more about volunteering at Travis County’s clinics in either a clinical or non-clinical role, including translating or signing people in.

Austin Water is seeking community ambassadors – volunteers to help the utility reach out and engage the community in its efforts to update Austin’s 100-year water resource plan, Water Forward. The ambassadors “will engage with people in their networks to have conversations about water supply and demand issues, identify key concerns and priorities for these communities, and share their findings.” The update has a particular focus on equity, so the ambassadors “will help develop and incorporate community values into an Equity and Affordability Road Map and Tool for the Water Forward Plan update.” Austin Water encourages members of communities that have been historically underrepresented to apply (e.g., communities of color, LGBTQIA+ identities, people with past records, etc.). The term is one full year, beginning in February 2022. Learn more and apply here by Jan. 7.

In an effort to improve the reliability of its service, Austin Water is now set to replace more than 2,000 polybutylene and polyethylene water service lines in over 60 subdivisions. The pipes, which were popular in the late 1960s through the 1980s, have become brittle and prone to breakage over time. The water utility estimates that Austin saw the installation of 25,000 water service lines, which connect private plumbing to water mains, during that time. So far, the city has replaced about 3,000, prioritizing pipes with higher water pressure.

City Council unanimously approved a $9.5 million contract for service line replacement at its Dec. 9 meeting. In addition, Austin Water will continue to replace pipes themselves. A map of the areas that will receive water service line updates can be found here. Affected customers will be notified before work on their pipes begins.