March 6, 2020 Newsletter

This evening, the City of Austin and Travis County have decided to declare a “local state of disaster” to proactively increase preventive measures and require mitigation plans for events in the region.

Over the past several days, a group of experts has been reviewing the Spring Festival season and keeping track of a worsening situation across the U.S. and our State in relation to COVID-19. As stated in today’s press conference, this is not a time to panic, but to prepare. The City of Austin and Travis County are focused on mitigation strategies to protect the community. These may involve modifications to public gatherings, including places of worship practices or school attendance. We will also be working closely with local hospitals and the business community to increase the availability of hand washing stations, hand sanitizers, messaging and posters to remind people of the importance of personal hygiene.

Events with 2,500 or more people are prohibited unless organizers are able to assure Austin Public Health that mitigation plans for infectious diseases are in place. Key factors APH is considering include:

Likelihood for extended close personal contact;
Crowd density;
Number of travelers/attendees from areas currently experiencing person-to-person spread of COVID-19 domestically and internationally; and
Likelihood of high numbers of unregistered guests

We’d like to emphasize that there have been no positive test results in the Travis County area.

To help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses, including flu and COVID-19, follow these measures:

Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are unavailable, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Stay home when you are sick.
Cough or sneeze into your elbow or use a tissue to cover it, then throw the tissue in the trash.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

If you feel unwell, you should contact your primary care provider before going to a clinic, urgent care or emergency department, to prevent any potential spread.

The best resource for up-to-date information about COVID-19 can be found by visiting http://www.austintexas.gov/COVID19.

The second draft of the revised Land Development Code (LDC) was approved on February 13. I proposed three amendments to the draft that will be incorporated into the final draft.

1) Re-review the application of comparable equivalent zoning categories for commercial properties within the Barton Springs Zone to ensure appropriate water quality protections for the area covered by the 1985 Oak Hill Area Study.

This amendment addresses a potential issue flagged by the Save Our Springs Alliance and was developed with the assistance of our Watershed Protection staff and the LDC leadership. It directs staff to review how they applied comparable equivalent zoning to commercial lots, the area covered by the 1985 Oak Hill Area Study (which predates the passage of the SOS Ordinance), and to ensure we are doing our best to protect our water quality.

2) Create a Supplemental Heritage Tree Preservation Program for developments in Imagine Austin Centers and along Imagine Austin Corridors and the Transit Priority Network. To the extent possible, the program should, in exchange for the preservation of an existing, healthy heritage tree that could otherwise qualify for a variance for removal, offer flexibility in development standards that will allow the site to achieve equivalent building entitlements to those that would have been possible had the heritage tree been removed via variance. The applicable development standards should account for and attempt to mitigate the loss of development potential resulting from tree preservation. The program should be administratively approved, and, since no additional entitlements beyond those already available are being granted, the program should not negatively impact the viability of an applicable affordable housing bonus program. The full operational details of the Supplemental Heritage Tree Preservation Program may be finalized following the third reading of the LDC revisions.

This amendment clarifies intent and scope of the program that was not implemented by staff after first reading. It asks staff to look again at how this could work, and potentially extend the time frame for developing the details of the program, if needed. The intent is to give developers who could already qualify for a variance to remove a heritage tree an alternate pathway that would allow them to save the tree and build the units they could otherwise build. It offers flexibility in development standards to achieve building entitlements equal to what they would have if they took advantage of the variance and removed the tree.

We have received an outpouring of community support for this idea, and we thank The Austin Heritage Tree Foundation for presenting it to us. Since it wasn’t implemented after first reading, given the overwhelming support for this creative solution to saving trees and getting more housing, we wanted staff to try again.

3) Require placement of an informational sign at residential construction project sites on lots zoned R1, R2, R3, R4, and RM1 for any project in which one or more dwelling units is to be built. The signage should include a description of the project that clearly indicates the total number of dwelling units to be present on the lot when complete, as well as contact information and a method to learn more about the project (e.g. the building permit number and https://abc.austintexas.gov), if possible. This requirement should apply to greenfield construction, construction following demolition, and the addition of dwelling unit(s) with no demolition.

The intent is to aid constituents in understanding what is being built in their neighborhood when homes are constructed in a house-scale or missing middle zone. We intend for this to be a minimal additional requirement in the construction process. We are picturing something simple like an 8.5”x11” sheet, posted to a fence, so that neighbors can walk up and learn more about what’s planned and how to reach someone for additional details.

This residential construction information is already publicly accessible through the Austin Build & Connect database, but these signs will bring the information directly into the neighborhoods, so people don't have to go searching for it.

It will be helpful to residents in deed-restricted neighborhoods by giving them on-site information about new homes before they are built out, so that neighbors may take action themselves, if appropriate, to seek compliance with their private deed restrictions.

It could also save the property owner/developer time and money by helping them identify a potential deed restriction violation before they get too far into construction.

In January, Council passed my Clean Creeks and Lakes resolution directing the City Manager to implement short- and long-term plans to clean up our city's watersheds. This resolution included language to consider ways to deter people from dumping micromobility devices (commonly known as scooters) in our watersheds, which has a damaging impact on our environment. The City of Austin provided the following update with actions the Austin Transportation Department (ATD) is taking regarding scooters:

ATD is leading efforts to reduce the number of scooters and other shared mobility devices from being dumped in City waterways. These efforts include the following:

On February 14, the Barton Springs Conservancy donated $650,000 to the City of Austin to renovate the Barton Springs Bathhouse. Major projects like this would not be possible without the help of our wonderful community partners. (They're one of the nonprofits you can donate to on Amplify Austin Day!)

The Downtown Austin Alliance is hosting a series of public art installations in the downtown area. The first project is a large 12-story mural on The Line Hotel on Cesar Chavez, and the second will be painted on the overpass on S Lamar. They will be hosting a series of public events around Austin from March 4 to March 11, with opportunities to meet the artists and to watch them paint. For more information, please visit the Downtown Austin Alliance's website.

March 6 - Opening Reception for People's Gallery. The City of Austin Economic Development Department announces the opening of the 16th Annual People’s Gallery Exhibition at Austin City Hall. The free exhibition will feature a wide array of painting, sculpture, drawing and other media by artists from across the Austin area on the first three floors of the building.

March 7 - It's My Park Day. Last fall, over 3,000 volunteers worked on over 100 improvement projects in parks and greenbelts around the city. This is a fun day for adults and youth to work together outdoors! CM Ellis will be volunteering at the Isamu Taniguchi Japanese Garden at Zilker Park.

March 9 - Austin-Travis County EMS Medic 11 Ribbon Cutting Ceremony. I hope you can join me at the opening of District 8's new EMS station, which is located in the Oak Hill area. The address is 5401 McCarty Lane, 78749. The event will take place from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Parking is available at the station, and light refreshments will be served. If you have questions about the event, please contact Milissa.Warren@austintexas.gov.

March 12 - City Council meeting. The meeting agenda can be viewed here.

March 17 - Free Day at the Zilker Botanical Garden. You can view all of the 2020 free days at the link.

March 24 - Public Comment on the LDC.

March 26 - City Council meeting. The meeting agenda is expected to post on March 13. You will be able to access the agenda here.

March 28 - Public comment on the LDC.

March 31, April 1, & April 2 - 3rd Reading of the LDC. Once it is available, the agenda will be posted here.

April 5 - Cap10k. Registration is open for Texas' largest 10k race! (Council Member Ellis will be running!)

June 1 - Neighborhood Partnering Program. In support of Imagine Austin, the Neighborhood Partnering Program (NPP) provides opportunities for community and neighborhood organizations to affect public improvements by sharing in the costs of those efforts with the City of Austin government. Applications are accepted twice a year. Visit the link to learn more about the available grants and to apply.