A Friday news release from the city confirmed that the phased enforcement of Proposition B, which bans camping and panhandling and recodifies the sit/lie ordinance in some parts of the city, is underway. The passage of Prop B changed the law as of May 11, but the city announced it will not be arresting anyone for violating the new ordinance until Aug. 8 (and even then will work to avoid arrests of those experiencing homelessness). As part of the first phase, APD district representatives have visited 42 campsites to spread the word about the new rules, and park staffers are expected to visit about 50 encampments for the same purpose. “This is a huge endeavor and we are taking it step by step. Enforcement of Prop B continues to be a strategy focusing on compassion and empathy. Our goal is to carry out the needs of Austin residents and to work in partnership with all stakeholders to keep the community safe,” interim Austin Police Chief Joseph Chacon said. Starting June 13, APD will begin issuing written warnings and citations.

Those who can’t wait until September to get a handle on Austin’s changing demographics can amble over to the city’s latest dashboard, which lays out the city’s 2020 population estimates. The 2020 population estimates are based on the 2010 U.S. Census counts, and while it’s not the official count, it provides a preview of what we might expect to see in September. The curious can head over now, but the main takeaways touted by a press release explain that Austin is just under the 1 million mark, though estimates anticipate a strong census participation for the area. And, to the surprise of no one, the Austin metro area was the fastest-growing area in the country for the 10th consecutive year.

It must be summer: Austin Parks Foundation’s Fitness in the Park is happening, every other Saturday at 10 a.m. through Aug. 14, available for free on YouTube, shot live in parks throughout Austin. The series, presented by Capital Metro and hosted by DJ Mel, features six different fitness styles, from boxing and breakdance to tai chi and two-step. The next installment, June 12, features fitness instructor Erica Nix leading a lively aerobics session while DJ Mel plays tunes by Stretch Panic in celebration of APF’s 29th birthday. Find the full schedule here.

Vaccinated? Ready to party? Airbnb would like you to put off those plans until the end of summer, at least. Yesterday, the vacation rental company announced the extension of its “party ban” through the end of summer 2021 in Texas. The ban first went into effect in August 2020. You can read about the ban, which likely doesn’t apply to your house, here. In addition, the company has declared that guests who do not have a history of positive reviews on the site will not be allowed to make one-night reservations for entire homes during the July 4 weekend. The company will announce an update to the policy at the end of summer (though there is no word on whether that will take place at the end of Texas summer, in November).

On the eve of Memorial Day weekend, more people are dusting off their boats and boards and making plans to get out on the water. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is taking this opportunity to urge boaters and paddlers “to do their part to fight back against aquatic invasive species, such as giant salvinia and zebra mussels, threatening Texas lakes.” Brian Van Zee of TPWD said, “While we want everyone to have a great time, we also want them to avoid giving free rides to invasive species and helping them travel to new lakes. The best way to prevent the spread of destructive invasive species is to clean, drain and dry your boats and equipment – every time.” Giant salvinia is an invasive, free-floating aquatic fern that is one of the major threats to Texas lakes. It produces thick mats that can interfere with fishing, boating and swimming. And at least 31 Texas lakes are already infested with zebra mussels. “Once they’ve been introduced and become established in a lake, nothing can be done to control or eradicate them.” Watch this short video that shows how to properly clean, drain and dry boats and other equipment to protect lakes and waterways from invasive species.

Meals on Wheels Central Texas is looking for volunteers to help deliver meals to homebound Austinites. With food insecurity on the rise during the pandemic, there has been a dramatic increase in hunger among seniors. The organization is planning a return to daily hot meal deliveries, but in order to keep up with the demand for its services, it needs more volunteers – lots more. Before volunteering, you will need to complete an application and attend volunteer training. Training for the home meal program is currently being conducted on Zoom on Tuesdays or Wednesdays from 11-11:30 a.m. Learn more about volunteering here.

Residents of the Dove Springs neighborhood may hear a knock on their doors on Saturday, June 5, between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Nope, it’s not Avon calling, just some friendly volunteers from the Austin Independent School District, here to share information about some of the district’s programs, including free prekindergarten, fine arts classes, before- and after-school enrichment, and career prep. AISD teachers, staff and community volunteers are walking the blocks as part of Operation Reconnect, a door-to-door campaign to “learn about families’ educational needs and priorities as well as welcome more learners to AISD’s family of schools.” The campaign focuses on Houston, Langford, Perez, Palm, Rodriguez, Uphaus, and Widén elementary schools and Mendez Middle School.

Low-income renters who live in multifamily buildings may have noticed a new credit on their monthly utility bill. According to a news release from the city, the credit “is designed to offset a portion of their monthly water and wastewater services. Eligible participants will automatically receive a maximum $200 a year credit, which will appear on monthly billing statements as the Austin Water Multifamily CAP Program Discount.” Christina Romero, the utility’s financial manager, explained that the new program “allows us to reach vulnerable customers who do not have a dedicated water meter, but nevertheless, pay for monthly water service. This program offers a safety net to thousands of customers who have traditionally been ineligible for Austin Water financial assistance through the Customer Assistance Program.” The program will expand later this year to include a small number of Austin Water customers who live in areas around Austin and are not customers of Austin Energy.

This Saturday, May 29, marks the return of weekend MetroRail service, which will begin about 10 a.m. and run until after midnight. For more information, including how to ride MetroRail and purchase your fare, check out Capital Metro’s MetroRail page. Austin FC game days will disrupt regular MetroRail service. Visit CapMetro.org/AustinFC for details about special event service and using Capital Metro to get to Q2 Stadium.

If you’re thinking Memorial Day weekend could be a good time to get the kids vaccinated, you’re absolutely right – but plan accordingly, because the Central Texas Counties Vaccine Collaborative’s drive-thru vaccine clinic will be open only on Saturday for the holiday weekend. Kids between 12 and 17 are eligible to get their first free dose of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine, with a parent’s consent, no appointment necessary. Travis County Exposition Center, 7311 Decker Lane. Open this Saturday, May 29, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Closed Friday, May 28, and Sunday, May 30.

Reilly Elementary School is celebrating the opening of its new garden and wildlife habitat. The social and emotional learning, or SEL garden, is “a sustainable, meditative space that will implement healthy self-esteem, curiosity and cooperation through gardening.” The garden, which was designed to promote mental and emotional well-being, features native plantings that provide food and shelter for wildlife and insects, a cistern for water conservation, edible landscaping, an intergenerational picnic area, and other sustainable features. The garden was funded with a $130,320 grant awarded to the Austin Ed Fund by the St. David’s Foundation. While Reilly students will be using the garden during school hours, community members are welcome to visit after 4 p.m. on weekdays or on weekends.

Austin Independent School District wants to make sure no Austin kid goes hungry this summer because school is out. The school district will be providing freshly prepared, healthy meals that include protein, grains, fruits, vegetables and milk at more than 50 of its schools over the summer. The meals are free to all kids younger than 19 – they don’t need to attend an AISD school – as well as special ed students who are older than 19 or working on getting their high school diploma. According to AISD, the summer meal program is a USDA nutrition initiative administered by the Texas Department of Agriculture, and, “Picking up these free meals provides funding to Austin ISD, which in turn allows us to expand food access to even more families.” Families may text FOOD or COMIDA to 512-229-9110 or find a list of free summer meal sites here. All meal sites will be closed July 5-9.