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 AUSTIN Beginning March 28, public libraries will have extended hours. Austin libraries will be open Mon.- Thu. 9 a.m.-8 p.m., Fri. 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and closed Sun. 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 March 3 in a lawsuit that alleged the Austin Police Department used excessive force against then-16-year-old Brad Levi Ayala during the 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
EASING PRECAUTIONS Austin and Travis County lifted all COVID-19 orders March 23 following a rapid downshift in risk- based safety guidance stages. JAN. 6 Moved to Stage 5 FEB. 24
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.
All orders lifted Moved to Stage 4 Moved to Stage 3 Moved to Stage 2
MARCH 1 MARCH 4
MARCH 23
SOURCE: AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH/ COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER Austin, Travis County lift all pandemic health orders
PRIMARY TURNOUT The percentage of Travis County voters who participate in the primary elections has varied over the last decade.
35% 30% 25% 15% 20% 5% 10% 40%
BY BEN THOMPSON
AUSTIN Following a recent substan- tial decrease in COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations, Austin and Travis County announced March 23 that all local orders have been lifted. The latest update means masking is no longer mandated in most govern- ment facilities and schools—although officials said masking is still encour- aged indoors for those at higher risk. Orders requiring local businesses to post public health signage are also no longer in effect. Almost three weeks prior, Austin Public Health announced a move into Stage 2 of local pandemic guidelines, the second-lowest level. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention listed community spread in the area as “low” as of press time March 24.
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. Margaret Gomez, Travis County Commissioners Court incumbents; Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra; Lloyd Doggett, who is leaving his position as U.S. representative for the 35th District to run for the 37th District; and former City Council Member Greg Casar, who is running for the 35th District. Since 2012, primary turnout in Travis County has fluctuated between 11%-34%, per county data. BY DARCY SPRAGUE 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 Brigid Shea and
www.austintexas.gov/ department/city-council
Travis County Commissioners Court Will meet March 29 and April 5, 12,
14, 19 and 26 at 9 a.m. 700 Lavaca St., Austin www.traviscountytx.gov/ commissionerscourt
COFER & CONNELLY F A M I L Y L A W • C R I M I N A L L A W • P E R S O N A L I N J U R Y Austin H Hill Country H Central Texas CO F E R CO NN E L LY. COM • 6 0 2 W . 1 1 T H S T . , A U S T I N , T X 7 8 7 0 1 • 5 1 2 - 2 0 0 - 3 8 0 1
21
CENTRAL AUSTIN EDITION • MARCH 2022
Powered by FlippingBook