City Council has not met since Tuesday, when a federal judge ruled that the city’s short-term rental ordinance is unconstitutional. That ordinance, passed by Council in 2016, requires that owners of short-term rental properties claim their rental property as their homestead. Last year, José Roig, the director of Austin’s Code Department, told Council that a majority of the city’s short-term rentals were operating without licenses. At that time, Roig said that “there are anywhere between 9,000 and 11,000 STR listings in Austin, depending on the day, but only around 2,000 of those are licensed.” Council Member Ryan Alter already is looking forward to fixing the problem. He told the Austin Monitor on Thursday, “It didn’t take our courts to tell us that the city’s STR policy isn’t working. My office has been exploring opportunities to improve the current regime for some time, and this decision further solidifies that we must act. Once we get past the budget, I look forward to working with my colleagues on a new STR policy that will enhance compliance, revenue collection and quality of life for our neighborhoods throughout Austin.”

Austin Public Health is warning that wastewater data is showing an uptick in Covid-19. A press release from the health authority said the presence of the virus has increased over the past six weeks, though it remains below the national average. “We have seen an increase in the spread of Covid-19 every summer, and it is important to get vaccinated and receive your booster dose,” said Austin-Travis County Health Authority Dr. Desmar Walkes in a statement. “Ways to prevent the spread of Covid-19 remain the same – maintaining healthy habits like frequent hand-washing, covering your cough, staying home and testing when you are sick.” Though Covid-19 has lingered past the official national emergency caused by the virus, hospitalizations remain low. That is attributed to vaccines, which continue to protect against the virus even when new variants spread. Updated vaccines that will target these variants are expected in the fall. Anyone can visit vaccines.gov (vacunas.gov in Spanish) to find nearby Covid-19 vaccine providers.

Workforce Solutions Capital Area has partnered with Austin Community College and health care training nonprofit Dwyer Workforce Development to increase job training for nurses needed throughout Central Texas. Workforce Solutions Capital Area is covering tuition and some child care costs for students taking the training offered by Dwyer, with a personal case manager available to assist with the application process. With Texas Workforce Commission finding a shortage of 26,863 nurses across the state, the need for nurses is sure to grow locally as all of Austin’s major hospital systems – Ascension Seton, St. David’s HealthCare and Baylor Scott & White Health – have plans for significant expansion in the next five years. Workforce Solutions Capital Area is also hosting a summit on the state of local workforce education on Aug. 9 at the San Marcos Conference Center at Embassy Suites. Information and registration is available at business.sanmarcostexas.com.

More than 20 streetlights throughout the Red River Cultural District now feature banners that celebrate local musicians and the bonds of the venues and businesses within the walkable music district. The banners are on streetlamps beginning at Seventh Street near Empire Control Room and Garage and extending north to 12th Street near Waterloo Park. They feature slogans such as “Defend Red River” and “United in Music” and depict performers from more than a dozen local music acts, including Roky Erickson, the Tiarras, Mama Duke, Bidi Bidi Banda and Die Spitz. The district has seen a number of infrastructure and placemaking improvements in recent years to make the area safer and more inviting for visitors of the many clubs, restaurants, hotels and other businesses. Organizers of the banner effort include leaders of the Red River Cultural District and the city’s Economic Development and Transportation departments.

Your favorite oasis might be open just a little longer. “Due to the ongoing heatwave and sufficient lifeguard staffing, six seasonal pools will extend operations through September 24,” the city announced on Wednesday. Those swimming spots are Garrison, Govalle, Mabel Davis, Northwest, Shipe and Walnut Creek. Additionally, city splash pads will be open until Oct. 31. Austin’s year-round pools are Bartholomew, Barton Springs, Big Stacy, Deep Eddy and Springwoods. The city also announced this week that all city pools except Barton Springs and Deep Eddy will close early at 4 p.m. on Aug. 13. Get more info on pool hours at austintexas.gov/pools.

Commons Ford Ranch Metropolitan Park (614 N. Commons Ford Road), will be closed Aug. 10-13, the city announced Wednesday. The Parks and Recreation and Transportation and Public Works departments will be resurfacing the park’s main road. The park will reopen on Aug. 14. Get more info at the Commons Ford Ranch Metropolitan Park web page.

Waterloo Greenway will hold a pair of community conversations later this month to help residents learn about and discuss plans for the restoration of Sir Swante Palm Neighborhood Park. The meetings will take place at the Juan in a Million restaurant (2300 E. Cesar Chavez St.) from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 24 and 10 a.m. to noon on Aug. 26. Participants will learn more about the preliminary design for the park, which will be restored as part of the third phase of the Waterloo Greenway that is expected to break ground in 2026. Currently, the second phase, known as The Confluence, is underway, with portions of Palm Park being used for staging and work areas for construction crews. For more information about plans for the park, visit waterloogreenway.org/future.

The Economic Development Department has launched its new Arts Education Relief Grant program, which will provide $475,000 to nonprofit arts education providers. The $25,000 grants can be used to cover expenses such as salary support, stipends for artists and contractual personnel, facilities costs, personal protective equipment, and expenses related to marketing and promotion. Applications open Aug. 8 and will remain open until Sept. 12, with more information and application materials available at austintexas.gov/arts-education-relief-grant. The Economic Development Department will offer application assistance via a virtual grant workshop at 6 p.m. on Aug. 8 and virtual office hours from 10 a.m. until noon on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The program is funded by the National Endowment for the Arts and is open to nonprofit arts education providers with activities that primarily serve participants from early childhood through 18 years of age.

It’s time to celebrate a group of movers and shakers. The Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center recently announced the recipients of its 2023 Awards of Excellence. The awards were established in 2009 and “recognize those individuals in Austin that have demonstrated significant leadership and have made meaningful contributions in Latino cultural arts,” according to the center. This year’s recipients are Jacqueline Olivier and Serena Tijerina (for emerging artist); Raul Garza and Roj Rodriguez (for the arts); Bertha Delgado Rendon (for service); Monica Araoz and Zita V. Vázquez (for arts educator); and Paul Saldaña, Dr. Roén Salinas, Yolanda Sanchez, Farah Rivera and Henry Gonzalez (for lifetime achievement). Rivera and Gonzalez were awarded posthumously. The awards ceremony was held on Saturday at the Long Center for the Performing Arts. Watch a recording and find more info about the honorees at austintexas.gov/MACCAWARDS.

Next week, Austin Water will hold a virtual meeting about a water-saving landscape ordinance that is part of the City Council-approved Water Forward Plan. The Landscape Transformation Ordinance aims to use less water, through methods like irrigation regulations for new systems, gray water requirements and a city plant list. The virtual meeting will give the public an opportunity to weigh in on proposed regulations, as well as on inspection and enforcement. Anyone wishing to attend the Aug. 10 meeting, which will take place from 6 to 7 p.m., can register to attend online.

The city and Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority have announced trail, sidewalk, rail transit and intersection safety improvements coming along East Fifth Street. Capital Metro plans to double track the MetroRail in two projects in the area: Navasota Street to Robert T. Martinez Jr. Street and Robert T. Martinez Jr. Street to East Seventh Street. “The City is evaluating East Fifth Street along the Red Line Trail between Navasota Street and Pedernales Street to support bicycle, pedestrian and vehicular access and safety with these rail improvement projects,” according to the Transportation and Public Works Department. Get more details on the projects and give your feedback through Aug. 14 here. There also will be a virtual information session at 6 p.m. on Monday, July 31; sign up here.

Come to the North Austin Safety Summit from 10 a.m to 5 p.m. on Aug. 12 and let your voice be heard. Hosted by We’re All Neighbors, the Walnut Creek Safety Team and more neighborhood associations, this event at St. Mark United Methodist Church (601 W. Braker Lane) “will be an opportunity for those living in the 3-square-mile radius of the intersection of North Lamar Boulevard and Braker Lane to address crime and community safety,” according to an announcement. Sessions on the schedule include discussions of homelessness and policing, as well as a panel with Council members Leslie Pool and Chito Vela. Attendees will be able to submit questions. Sign up and see the full schedule at the official Eventbrite page.