Austin Young Democrats will host a celebratory roast of outgoing president Jen Ramos today, ahead of an election on Feb. 11 that will decide the group’s next leadership. Ramos served two terms as president of the young Dems, and was the first Latina to hold that position in the organization. The roast is being held via a private online meeting and will be overseen by local political consultant Ed Espinoza and drag performer Senator Colleen DeForrest. The event will also serve as a fundraiser for the group’s Promise Fund, with the goal of gathering $7,000 that will be used for grants to youth organizers who have faced financial hardships caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. In a prepared statement, Ramos said, “I am humbled by the growth and opportunities provided to me by the Austin Young Democrats after six years of growth and friendship. It only feels right to pay it forward.  We must invest in the leaders of today and tomorrow to build on an America as good as its Promise. I hope that The Promise Fund will create an opportunity for equity and support in the political space, long past my years in leadership with the organization.”

Movability’s annual Mayor’s Mobility Breakfast and Award Ceremony, which will be held virtually this year, will feature a Q&A with Austin Mayor Steve Adler, Capital Metro CEO Randy Clarke and Dr. Colette Pierce Burnette, Huston-Tillotson University president and Austin Transit Partnership board member. The event “will also recognize leading employers who support multi-modal and alternative transportation options in an engaging, informative and entertaining video,” according to an Austin Transportation Department newsletter. The panel is open to all community members interested in learning “how Austin uses mobility options, what the future holds and how mobility touches every aspect of our lives, from affordability to equity.” Wednesday, Feb. 10, 8:45 a.m. Register here to attend.

The Hancock Conservancy has scheduled two virtual town hall events to publicize and answer questions from the community about its goal of “transforming Hancock Golf Course into a green space and public park.” The first town hall, Tuesday, Feb. 9 at 7 p.m., will be an information and Q&A session for local neighbors. The second town hall, Tuesday, Feb. 16 at 7 p.m., will feature PARD Assistant Director Anthony Segura. Both events will be streamed live on the conservancy’s Facebook page. Read the Monitor’s coverage here, here and here to get up to speed on the issue.

Austin Public Health announced Wednesday that the UK variant of Covid-19 – B.1.1.7. – has been detected in Travis County. In a press release about the confirmed case, Austin Public Health notes, “Covid-19 variants have been likely in Austin-Travis County for weeks, after a Harris County man with no history of travel was discovered to have a variant. APH lab testing will detect the coronavirus, but at this time, extended lab testing is required to determine the variant strains under the coronavirus umbrella at this time.” Because not all labs are able to test for the variants, APH’s Covid-19 dashboards will not distinguish cases by variant at this time. In a statement to the press, Dr. Mark Escott took a measured tone, saying, “It is common for viruses to mutate, especially when the original virus is in the community longer. Based on everything we have heard from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, while the variants are potentially more contagious than the original virus, they are not more deadly. … From our understanding, currently approved vaccines are effective against the variants, and while this may be a reason to reemphasize the importance of prevention measures, it is not cause for alarm.”

Reilly Elementary School is celebrating its readiness for the rainy season with five new rain gardens and 12 cisterns placed around the campus that will collect thousands of gallons of rainfall each year from roofs and parking lots. The project was completed by the Watershed Protection Department and will be used as a demo site to educate the community about the city’s Rain Catcher Pilot Program. As the news release explains, “Catching and slowly releasing stormwater will reduce the erosion and flooding problems on the property and improve the water quality and flow in the nearby Waller Creek. The rain gardens accommodate a variety of landscape conditions, and the different designs showcase that rain gardens can serve as turf lawns for recreation, habitats for wildlife or traditional gardens.” The project took first place in the National Association of Flood & Stormwater Management Agencies 2020 Green Infrastructure Awards. Watch the virtual ribbon-cutting ceremony here.

The beginning of February has brought cooler temps and rainfall to the region, leading the Austin Parks and Recreation Department to lift the burn restrictions that have been in effect in all Austin parks, greenbelts and preserves. Grills, fire rings and propane stoves may be used in designated picnic areas. As always, smoking is prohibited in all city parks.

No doubt you’ve heard about the ongoing city process called Reimagining Public Safety. Since there are so many questions – and some confusion – about the process, the city has launched a blog to keep track of the multipronged initiative and what people – community members, city leaders, experts – are saying and thinking about it. The city announcement explains, “You will find a variety of posts that will help you better understand everything the city is doing to create a public safety capability that works for everyone, as well as information on how you can provide input and make your voice heard.” For starters, one blog post tackles the question, “Does reimagining public safety mean defunding the police?” (No.) See a list of all blog posts.

Austin’s 9 Joint Inclusion Commissions are preparing the Fiscal Year 2022 budget recommendations with the goal of informing city leaders about the programs and services needed in order for the community to flourish. Several boards and commissions are collaborating this year to host three town hall meetings:

• Public Safety: Tuesday, Feb. 9, 6:30-8 p.m.
• Health and Environment: Thursday, Feb. 11, 6:30-8 p.m.
• Economic Opportunity, Culture, and Affordability: Wednesday, Feb. 17, 6:30-8 p.m.

To register for a section, complete a short questionnaire. Zoom links will be sent to you after registration. If you can’t attend a section but still want to give feedback, complete the city’s Age-Friendly Austin Community Survey. Feedback from the survey will be shared with the The Joint Inclusion Commissions: African American Resource Advisory Commission, Asian American Quality of Life Advisory Commission, Commission on Immigrant Affairs, Commission on Seniors, Commission for Women, Hispanic/Latino Quality of Life Resource Advisory Commission, Human Rights Commission, LGBTQIA+ Quality of Life Advisory Commission, and the Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities. For more information, visit austintexas.gov/budget. Feedback can also be emailed to  budgetqa@austintexas.gov

This whisper has been expanded to include the 9 Joint Inclusion Commissions, not just the Commission on Seniors.

The city is still offering free chicken-keeping classes, but like so many other things, they’ve gone online. Hosted by the Austin Resource Recovery Home Rebate Program – which offers eligible participants a $75 rebate toward purchasing a chicken coop – the class teaches “the art of keeping chickens from a skilled instructor.” Not only do backyard chickens present an opportunity to recycle your food scraps (by eating them), their poop helps create healthy soil for your garden. And did we mention the fresh eggs? Chickens are also intelligent, personable birds who can learn tricks in their spare time. Tuesday, Feb. 9, 6-7 p.m. Register on Eventbrite.

Kelan Robinson, who has worked at City Hall and for the development-oriented outfits Austin FC and the Downtown Austin Alliance, started his new job Monday as chief of staff for Mayor Pro Tem Natasha Harper-Madison. Harper-Madison told the Austin Monitor via text, “I’m super excited to have Kelan bring his energy and seasoned knowledge of City Hall to Team District 1. My mantra for 2021 is ‘housing, housing, housing,’ and Kelan has the experience and skills that will be indispensable as my team and I make a big push for expanded affordability, equity and access to opportunity for the residents of District 1 and all of Austin.” Robinson is also on the boards of the nonprofit Six Square and the urbanist group AURA.

The Biden administration’s federal mask mandate goes into effect today, requiring all users of public transit to wear face masks in an effort to slow the spread of Covid-19. Capital Metro issued an announcement reminding its customers that “new federal regulations now require customers to wear masks while on transit vehicles and when at our facilities. The face masks must cover your nose and mouth and attach around the ears. Bandanas and other single-ply fabric coverings do not meet this new requirement and will be prohibited.” Read the full order from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

From now on, the AISD Board of Trustees’ regular voting meetings will be held the second Thursday of each month (except for July, when the board does not meet). According to a news release from the school district, the trustees also agreed on a “change to the number of board members needed to request a Special or Emergency Meeting from two members to three. This change will not affect public testimony or public comment. The process will continue to be the same but will be moved to Thursdays. Additional changes regarding agenda setting and approval will be considered at future board meetings.”