Austin City Council Will meet April 5 and 19 at 10 a.m. and April 7 and 21 at 9 a.m. 301 W. Second St., Austin MEETINGSWE COVER Travis County Commissioners Court Will meet March 29, April 5, 12, 14, 19 and 26 at 9 a.m. 700 Lavaca St., Austin www.traviscountytx.gov/ commissionerscourt Dripping Springs City Council Will meet April 12 and 19 at 5 p.m. and April 26 at 6 p.m. 511 Mercer St., Dripping Springs www.cityofdrippingsprings.com www.austintexas.gov/ department/city-council CITYHIGHLIGHTS AUSTIN City Council approved a change to operating rules for Austin’s taxicab companies March 3, a move transportation planners said could help boost an industry that has seen its market fall off since the arrival of Uber and Lyft. In a 10-0 vote, with Mayor Steve Adler absent, council eliminated franchise requirements for taxi companies in favor of new operating authority requirements. Members also asked staff to bring recommendations by May 1 for how cabs could be moved closer to the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport arrival terminal. AUSTIN Council members unanimously voted to approve a mandate to designate Austin as a Bee City on March 3. Mayor Steve Adler was absent. Austin Parks and Recreation Department staff initiated the application more than two years ago. The goal of the program is to protect native habitats for pollinators. AUSTIN The city approved a $2.95 million settlement on March 3, in a lawsuit that alleged the Austin Police Department used excessive force against then 16-year-old Brad Levi Ayala during May 2020 protests. That adds to the more than $11 million already approved in APD related lawsuits this year.
County considers increasing its housing goal TRAVIS COUNTY The county will need roughly 70,000 more afford- able housing units within the next take a comprehensive look at the affordable housing situation. The 70,000-unit figure only includes additional homes that BY DARCY SPRAGUE
SHI F T ING DOWN After 49 days at Stage 5 of COVID-19 safety guidelines, Austin Public Health moved down to Stage 2 by March 4. APH remains at stage 2 as of March 21. STAGE 5
five years to address population growth, according to a preliminary recommendation provided by HousingWorks Austin. The data was presented to the Travis County Commissioners Court on Feb. 24 as part of the county’s process to establish a strategic housing blueprint—an effort to
would need to be added to address new population growth but does not include the current unfilled need. It is also a provisional goal, which could be adjusted before the county officially adopts it. The county does not have a comprehensive measure of the current need.
Jan. 6- Feb. 23 Feb. 24- Feb. 28 March 1- March 3 March 4
STAGE 4
STAGE 3
STAGE 2
SOURCE: AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH/ COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
PRIMARY TURNOUT The percentage of Travis County voters who participate in the primary elections has varied over the last decade.
AustinPublic Health moves into Stage 2 COVID-19 guidelines
35% 30% 25% 15% 20% 5% 10% 40%
BY DARCY SPRAGUE
AUSTIN Austin Public Health moved down to Stage 2 COVID-19 safety guidelines March 4. The change in the guidelines means fully vaccinated individuals can gather with individuals outside of their household while being unmasked if low risk and masked if high risk. Unvaccinated individuals who are high risk can dine, shop and gather with individuals outside of their household while masked. APH has moved from stage five on Feb. 23 down to stage 2 by March 4 as it says the omicron surge is winding down. “Let’s hope this spring marks the beginning of a brighter, healthier future,” said Dr. Desmar Walkes, Aus- tin-Travis County health authority.
0%
2012
2022
2014
2016
2018 2020
SOURCE: TRAVIS COUNTY/COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
Data: 18%of eligible voters turn out inMarch TRAVIS COUNTY Just over 18% of eligible Travis County voters cast ballots in the March primaries, according to data from the Travis County Clerk’s Office. Commissioners Court incumbents Brigid Shea and Margaret Gomez; Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra; Lloyd Doggett, who is leaving U.S. Representative District 35 to run for District 37; and former City Council Member Greg Casar, who is running for U.S. District 35. Since 2012, primary turnout Out of 859,400 registered voters in Travis County, 110,701 Demo- crats and 47,670 Republicans cast their ballots. Local primary winners from the night include Travis County in Travis county has fluctuated between 11%-34%, according to county data. BY DARCY SPRAGUE
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