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Message from
Council Member Pool
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Dear Friends,
This week, I want to focus on the great work of our District 7 volunteers who are helping the community during this crisis.
The Violet Crown Care Network was recently formed to help individuals and families affected by COVID-19. A warm thank you to our community advocates Anne-Charlotte Patterson in Crestview, Nancy Barnard in Allandale, and Kristine Poland in Brentwood for their leadership and dedication to make sure the people in our community are well taken care of during this time of uncertainty. We appreciate your hard work!
And don't forget Good Work Austin, a socially responsible group formed to support small business. During this time, they are working to bring back jobs, reopen businesses safely, and help keep Austin's local entrepreneurship going strong!
Give what you can and do what you can to support the work of these groups. Let's show that strong District 7 community spirit to help each other through this crisis and emerge stronger than ever.
Stay safe and healthy!
Leslie
The Violet Crown Care Network is a COVID-19 response organization formed this spring by neighborhood leaders from Crestview, Brentwood, and Allandale. The organization's mission is to use our network of resources to create a safety net for North Central Austin neighbors affected by the pandemic. We are focused on two programs – HEB gift cards for those who have been financially impacted, and masks (NK95 and cloth sewn by volunteers) for frontline workers in our community.
Future phases for the organization will include support for our local musicians with a neighborhood-wide front yard concert evening in the Violet Crown neighborhoods. We will also move toward emergency fund-raising for specific District 7 needs. For more information on the HEB gift card program, or to request masks for a frontline team, visit our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/vccnetwork.
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Index for this newsletter:
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Update on current Orders, food distribution
via AISD, Austin City Council actions and more
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News Conference: Austin-Travis County Health Authority release
color-coded chart with five distinct stages of risk
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The new risk-based guidelines set out five distinct stages of risk, from the lowest threat, Stage 1, through the most serious, Stage 5, along with recommended behaviors for each stage.
For lower-risk individuals, defined as those with no substantial underlying health conditions who have a lower risk of complication and death from COVID-19, the recommendations are as follows:
Stage 1: Practice good hygiene, stay home if sick, and avoid other people who are sick. APH is working on recommendations for maximum sizes of gatherings. Individuals are advised they are safe to return to work at all businesses.
Stage 2: Includes the recommendations for Stage 1 and adds: Maintain social distancing and wear fabric face coverings in public. Individuals are urged to avoid dining and shopping except with precautions, and to avoid gathering in groups of more than 25 people. They are advised they are safe to return to work at essential and reopened businesses.
Stage 3: Includes the recommendations for Stage 2 and also urges individuals to avoid non-essential travel, all social gatherings, and any gatherings of more than 10 people.
Stage 4: Includes the recommendations for Stage 3 and advises individuals they are safe to return to work, and dine and shop, only at “expanded essential businesses”. This category will be defined shortly.
Stage 5: Includes the recommendations for Stage 4 and urges individuals to avoid all gatherings outside of the household and avoid dining and shopping except as essential. In this stage it is considered safe to return to work at essential businesses only.
Additional protective measures are recommended for people at higher risk, namely those aged over 65 or people with diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, lung disease, kidney disease, obesity, or those who are otherwise immunocompromised. For example, higher-risk individuals are urged to avoid dining and shopping except with precautions, and avoid gatherings of more than 25 people, even at the lowest level, Stage 1. As the stages progress from 1 through 4, higher-risk individuals are advised to limit the size of their gatherings, and their dining and shopping, to a greater extent than lower-risk individuals. However, by Stage 5, all individuals are advised to limit their activities and exposure to the same degree, whatever the condition of their health.
View the Risk-Based Guidelines HERE.
APH is currently exploring the most effective indicators to help determine the level of risk in the local community. Provisional triggers are being modeled based on the number of hospitalizations because of their general correlation with numbers of cases, use of ventilators, deaths, and availability of effective treatment and vaccination.
Based on an assessment using provisional modeling, Austin Public Health currently considers Austin-Travis County to be in the Stage 3 risk category.
This means individuals are currently advised to:
- Practice good hygiene
- Stay home if sick
- Avoid other people who are sick
- Maintain social distancing
- Wear facial coverings
- Avoid all social gatherings, and any gatherings of more than 10 people
- Avoid dining and shopping except with precautions (lower-risk individuals) or except as essential only (higher-risk individuals)
- Avoid non-essential travel (higher risk individuals)
- Return to work places in essential and reopened businesses only
As person-to-person interactions increase following the Texas Governor’s decision to lift restrictions on a range of high-contact businesses, services and other activities, local risk levels will continue to be reassessed over the coming weeks as new data becomes available.
While the new guidelines are primarily designed as a resource to help individuals modify their behavior to protect themselves and others against transmission of COVID-19, they will also be used to inform APH recommendations around when restrictions on gatherings, business operations, and events should be loosened or tightened in the months ahead.
By encouraging a cautious, phased approach to normalizing activity, underpinned by medical data, APH hopes to minimize the risk of a further spike in transmissions that would cause further economic disruption and hardship to the community.
“This is an evolving public health situation and while all of us want life to return to normal, we know that if we drop our guard and take too much risk too soon, we will end up back in a situation with rapidly rising cases, hospitalizations, and deaths. We will also end up with more significant economic and social impact due to renewed restrictions on businesses,” said Dr. Mark Escott, Interim Austin-Travis County Health Authority. “Our risk-based guidelines should help individuals make safe choices as we move to increase our social interactions. The community can be assured our advice will be measured, appropriate, and made on the grounds of public health using the appropriate data. If we do this correctly, we can open up and stay open while also staying safe.”
For additional information and updates, visit www.AustinTexas.gov/COVID19.
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Utility Bill Relief
City of Austin Utilities customers may be eligible for financial assistance on their utility bill if they have been impacted by COVID-19. Between Austin Energy and Austin Water, we’ve put an additional $12.3 million into the Plus1 program to allow us to help more customers! To apply for assistance, go to: AustinBillHelp.com.
Customers are eligible for Plus 1 emergency assistance if they, or a member of their household, have experienced a financial hardship, loss of job, or reduction in income related to COVID-19. This includes financial hardships based on illness, caring for a family member, shelter in place orders and the resulting closure of non-essential businesses, as well as school and child care facility closures.
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Relief in A State of Emergency (RISE) Funds Update
Here is an update on the disbursement of $13,000,000 in Relief in a State of Emergency (RISE) Funding, authorized by resolution 20200409-081. Since the program’s inception, the RISE program has received over 80 applications from various agencies willing to provide direct relief and direct financial assistance to residents impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and economic crisis. As of May 4, 2020, eleven organizations have been recommended for funding for a total of $7,069,180. Below are the organizations and their funding amounts.
Asian Family Support Services of Austin, 1-877-281-8371
Austin Area Urban League, (512) 478-7176
Austin Voices for Education & Youth, (512) 450-1880
Catholic Charities of Central Texas, (512) 651-6100
El Buen Samaritano. (512) 439-8900
Goodwill Industries of Central Texas, (512) 637-7106
Ninevah Ministries, (512) 592-9193
Survive2Thrive Foundation, 512-308-6028
The Arc of the Capital Area, (512) 476-7044
Workers Defense Project, (512) 391-2305
Wright House Wellness Center, (ASHwell Clinic) (512) 467-0088
Currently there are 44 applications awaiting review, representing an additional $25.4M in funding requests. For the remaining funds, Austin Public Health is utilizing the RISE resolution as a guide and will be seeking input from the Social Services Arm of the City’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC). This partnership will help identify gaps in services or reaching target populations to allocate the remaining $5.9M.
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Special Drive-Thru Food Distribution
The Central Texas Food Bank has a special drive-thru donation scheduled for this Sunday, May 17 from 8am - 1pm at Austin Community College Highland at 6101 Highland Campus Drive. For more information on food donations near you visit the Find Food Now on the Central Texas Food Bank website.
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Public Testing is Available
Visit the City's webpage to fill out the self-assessment enrollment form if you have symptoms or want more information about the tests or testing locations. Available in both English and Spanish.
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Assistance for small business
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Dear Austinites,
As businesses slowly begin to reopen, the Economic Development Department is addressing the needs of residents, small businesses, sole proprietors, creatives and non-profits so they can safely recover from hardships caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This newsletter shares essential updates, announcements, and resources as we collectively work towards restoring our local economy.
Economic Recovery Resources
- New Website City of Austin’s ATXrecovers.com - One-stop resource to help individuals, businesses, and non-profits recover from the financial hardships caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The website features up-to-date lists of resources for businesses and individuals; updates on local, state, and federal recovery policies; and economic indicators for the local economy.
- Upcoming Programs - City staff are creating a spending framework for the $170 million that Austin received through the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The details for a portion of this spending framework will be shared publicly during the May 21 City Council meeting.
- Assistance for Creative Industries - Be on the lookout in the coming weeks for announcements regarding the Creative Space Disaster Relief Program and the new Austin Music Disaster Relief Fund. Collectively, these two programs will provide $2.5 million in grants for Austin musicians and other creatives financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
City of Austin Operations
The City of Austin is modifying some operations through May 29 to maintain the health and safety of City employees and the community while providing critical City services. The Economic Development Department will continue remote work and remains in full operation to support our local community’s needs.
We have also convened Economic Recovery Cabinets with panels of economists, industry leaders, elected officials, and City of Austin and Travis County representatives to recommend strategies for restarting Austin’s economy. I have been appointed as Chief Economic Recovery Officer for the City of Austin to lead the Economic Recovery Cabinets. While I serve in this capacity, Sylnovia Holt-Rabb will serve as Acting Director for the Economic Development Department.
Thank you to all essential businesses, front line workers, and health care professionals who continue to provide needed services, goods, and information to Austin!
Veronica Briseño
Chief Economic Recovery Officer
City of Austin
edd@austintexas.gov |
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Economic Development Department Highlights
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- Heritage Grant for Historic Preservation - The Heritage Tourism Division is now accepting applications for funding to preserve Austin’s eligible historic venues and businesses. Attend an upcoming virtual information meeting in May and June or read additional guidelines and requirements for the Heritage Grant. Deadline to apply: July 10
- Small Business Pitch Competition - Austin Fast Start is a reoccurring small business pitch competition focused on various industries that reflect Austin’s economic development priorities. Offered through the Small Business Division in partnership with the Austin Young Chamber, the virtual pitch on June 15 will highlight ideas on the “Internet of Things.” These businesses will offer solutions that transform the way we live and work by leveraging the interconnection between everyday objects and internet connectivity. Deadline to apply: May 18
- Open Call for Local Artists - Art in Public Places issued an open call for a local artist or team to apply to create a permanent, public artwork for the new Georgian Acres Neighborhood Park. Artists familiar with the history and heritage of the Georgian Acres community and artists able to interact with the community in languages other than English are encouraged to apply. Deadline to apply: June 25
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Essential Businesses and Essential Activities
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View the online Business Categorization Table to understand the impact of state and local Orders on specific businesses in Austin-Travis County. If you are unsure if your business is essential, visit the Information for Businesses and Industry website for a breakdown of permitted businesses and job functions.
Guidance for Business Occupancy
For businesses who plan to resume operations under the Governor’s Order and do not have an Occupant Load Card or know their allowed capacity, the City of Austin Development Services Department can provide a Temporary Occupant Load Calculation. To obtain a Temporary Occupant Load Calculation for your facility, email OLC@austintexas.gov.
Include the following information in your email:
- Property address
- Suite number
- Contact information for the agent of the property (owner, manager)
Visit the Information for Businesses and Industry website for additional information on determining your business’s occupancy.
Face Coverings
Safety is still the highest priority as we continue to operate with new state and local orders. The most recent Austin-Travis County Orders require face coverings for the public. However, there is no penalty for those not in compliance.
Businesses can implement their own policies regarding face coverings for their customers. If you have questions or need additional information, please contact Austin 311 at 3-1-1 or 512-974-2000.
Recent State and Austin-Travis County Orders
Guidance for Opening Businesses
State Executive Order
Governor Abbott issued an executive order on May 5 outlining his plan to ‘Open Texas.’
- Phase I - Allowed some businesses and services to reopen on May 8, including in-store retail services, dine-in restaurants, movie theaters, museums, libraries, shopping malls, cosmetology salons, hair salons, barber shops, nail salons, and tanning salons.
- Phase II - Will allow gyms, exercise facilities, and manufacturing facilities to open on May 18.
The Texas Department of State Health Services issued safety guidelines for businesses that plan to re-open.
Austin-Travis County Order
Mayor Adler and Judge Eckhardt updated Orders for Austin-Travis County to incorporate Governor Abbott’s actions into local rules – as legally required by State law.
- Under Mayor Adler’s Order for the City of Austin, all restaurants allowing dine-in service and all reopened services with allowed occupancy or capacity of 75 or less are encouraged to maintain an activity log of contact information for all inside or sit-down customers and employees. The log should include the dates and times guests and employees were present in the business and the location where they sat or were served. In the absence of such a log, Austin Public Health may need to publicly release the locations visited by people testing positive for COVID-19.
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Project Connect Virtual Community Meetings
On Friday, May 15, Council Member Pool and Council Member Greg Casar (D4) participated in a virtual public meeting on Project Connect. Capital Metro staff and the council members discussed the project and answered questions from the public about the transit routes, funding, and infrastructure. You can watch the archived video on Facebook.
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The City of Austin Corridor Program Office, in coordination with the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDot), is proposing to implement mobility, safety and connectivity improvements on North Lamar Boulevard from US 183 to Howard Lane/I-35 and Burnet Road from US 183 to the MoPac Frontage Road in Travis County, Texas.
The City of Austin will be conducting an online virtual public hearing on the proposed projects. The virtual public hearing for North Lamar Boulevard will be launched on Friday, May 15, 2020 at 9 a.m. To participate go to AustinTexas.gov/NorthLamarENV. The virtual public hearing for Burnet Road will be launched on Wednesday, May 20, 2020 at 9 a.m. As we approach that date, the AustinTexas.gov/BurnetENV public participation website will be launched. Bookmark the address and check back. We will also notify you through the newsletter when the website becomes available.
Transportation staff has offered several methods for the community to submit their feedback. Comments will be posted on each respective project website after submission. Please feel free to "cc" District7@AustinTexas.Gov in your emailed responses to share your comments with us as well.
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Community news during COVID-19
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The Violet Crown Care Network is a COVID-19 response organization formed this spring by neighborhood leaders from Crestview, Brentwood, and Allandale. The organization's mission is to use our network of resources to create a safety net for North Central Austin neighbors affected by the pandemic. We are focused on two programs – HEB gift cards for those who have been financially impacted, and masks (NK95 and cloth sewn by volunteers) for frontline workers in our community.
Future phases for the organization will include support for our local musicians with a neighborhood-wide front yard concert evening in the Violet Crown neighborhoods. We will also move toward emergency fund-raising for specific District 7 needs. For more information on the HEB gift card program, or to request masks for a frontline team, visit our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/vccnetwork.
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This month, L'Oca d'Oro celebrates its third anniversary with a fundraiser for Good Work Austin, a socially responsible community of local businesses in Austin, Texas invested in creating good jobs for all workers, ensuring a quality workplace, and supporting and amplifying the voices of like-minded businesses.
The evening will feature small plates by local chefs Fiore Tedesco (L'Oca d'Oro), Michael Fojtasek (Olamaie), Sarah Heard and Nathaniel Lemley (Foreign & Domestic), Fermin Nunez (Suerte), and Mari Soto (Sweet Ritual); Open Bar with Special Birthday Cocktails and a silent auction. Funds raised will help GWA provide support and resources to local businesses through its website, educational workshops and trainings.
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Volunteers Needed for Contract Tracing and Home Monitoring
UT Health Austin and the Dell Medical School are looking for volunteers interested in helping with contact tracing and home monitoring. These individuals will collect valuable data and make a community impact by helping slow the transmission of COVID-19. If you are able to volunteer, you will be on-boarded and trained prior to your start date.
All volunteers must meet the following expectations:
- Can work remotely and has access to a computer and reliable internet connection
- Have the ability to effectively communicate health information and provide excellent customer service
- Can use cultural competencies when working with diverse populations
- Have the ability to organize and document detailed case data
- Are familiar with using a computer, internet, and other applications (Word, Excel, Microsoft Teams, etc.)
- Can maintain confidentiality and complete HIPAA training requirements
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Leadership Austin's "Emerge and Essential" Program
Applications Now Open
The flagship application-based programs of Leadership Austin open the doors to one of the most diverse groups of individuals you’ll find anywhere in the region - cohorts represent a wide range of industries, races, neighborhoods, ages, gender identities and lived experiences. Our mission is to bring together an exceptional group of people who challenge each other’s views of the world while finding shared values and opportunities to collaborate across systems toward the common good.
Ready to begin your own leadership journey? Applications are open for the 2021 Emerge and Essential cohorts through June 30. Learn more here.
Unsure which program is right for you? Join us for virtual information sessions where you can meet the program directors and connect with alumni.
Emerge
May 27 - 4:00 p.m. Register
June 10 - 4:00 p.m. Register
Essential
May 20 - 4:00 p.m. Register
June 3 - 4:00 p.m. Register |
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Join us for the Best Virtual Party Ever!
Our annual celebration of the newest graduates of the Emerge and Essential programs will go on as planned in the COVID-19 virtual world. We're putting together a fun evening of great music and conversation, signature cocktails and food, and a whole bunch of Leadership Austin alumni - and you're invited!
Friday, May 29, 2020
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Admission to the party is free, but registration is required.
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Wednesday, June 3
Engage Breakfast Series
"Community Resiliency, Part 2: Regional Impact - a Conversation with City Managers" |
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Dear Friend,
We know you value the arts in Austin. Now, more than ever, your support is needed to keep our local artists front and center. By becoming a member of the Long Center for as little as $10/month you allow us to find new ways to advance artists online and maintain our community space that will support us all as Central Texas moves towards recovery.
Your membership supports Create In Place, where we virtually connect the city and bring people together around artists and performances happening online. In addition, your membership will also grant you access to invites and exclusive online Long Center events and performances.
Become a member today and help us grow a community for our musicians and artists who make this city the place we love to call home!
Thank you,
Liz Howard
Membership Manager |
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