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The following communication from the City of Austin Auditor’s Office is posted for information:
“Dear Neighborhood Association and Community Organization:
SUBJECT: Redistricting Process-Help Shape Austin’s Future at RedistrictATX.org
The City Auditor’s Office has launched a citywide community outreach campaign for the City’s redistricting process. The City Auditor is looking for volunteers to serve on the Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission and the Applicant Review Panel.
Redistricting is the process for residents to redraw the boundaries of the council districts every ten years. The boundaries of the council districts affect how residents are represented for the next decade.
The Commission will be responsible for redrawing the City Council districts.
The City Auditor is asking organizations to encourage their members to participate in this important process by applying for either the Applicant Review Panel or the Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission. Residents can find information on the process, applicant qualifications, and an online application at RedistrictATX.org.
The 14-member Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission will be responsible for redrawing the boundaries of the council districts.
The Applicant Review Panel will select 60 of the most qualified applicants for the redistricting commission, from which the 14 members will be selected. Three independent auditors with CPAs will be selected to serve on the panel.
The redistricting process happens every ten years and coincides with the census. In 2012, Austin voters elected to move to single members districts from an at-large system. The ten City Council districts were initially created in 2013 by a diverse group of Austin residents who serve on the historic Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission.
Applications will be accepted for the Applicant Review Panel through Sept. 1. The Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission application period ends Sept. 30. The Commission will be formed in early 2021, the work begins Mar. 1 and continues through Nov. 2021 with the new districts in effect in Nov. 2022.
If you would like to host a virtual presentation with the Auditor’s Office, please send an email to RedistrictATX@austintexas.gov or call 512-974-2805.
Thank you for your time, and let us know if we can be of service regarding this important redistricting process to help shape Austin’s future.
Sincerely,
Corrie Stokes
City Auditor”
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The June/Summer Issue of NSCNA’s Newsletter has been posted at nscna.org. To read it, click on the “Latest Newsletter” link in the right column of this page or click on the Newsletter tab at the top of the page.
Because of the coronavirus, print copies were mailed rather than delivered door-to-door. If you want a print copy and fail to receive one in your mailbox, please email your name and address to newsletter@nscna.org.
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To celebrate Pillow Elementary’s 50th anniversary, art teacher Suzy Swingle is spearheading a project to decorate the fence around the school. Any individual, family or group may design and decorate a panel, starting at the Rockwood-Crosscreek corner and proceeding along Rockwood. To ensure social distancing, Swingle has designated every other panel to be decorated; those panels are marked with pink tape. Participants will provide their own designs and materials; anything goes except for paper, cardboard and plastic cups. For now, gloves, masks and 6-foot distancing are required. No sign-up is necessary, but questions may be directed to suzy.swingle@austinisd.org.
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Our neighborhood association’s General Membership Meeting — originally scheduled for Tuesday, May 5, in the Library at Pillow Elementary school — has been cancelled due to the coronavirus.
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Austin, Texas – The Austin Public Testing Enrollment Form that allows the community to complete an online assessment for COVID-19 testing is now live on AustinTexas.gov/COVID19.
The new tool allows the public to be screened for COVID-19 symptoms without having to see a physician. The form will use an algorithm based assessment to evaluate whether or not an individual should be referred to a free testing site.
Completion of the online assessment will not guarantee referral to a testing site. Austin Public Health (APH) will continue to prioritize health care workers and first responders on the frontline of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as people at higher risk for developing severe symptoms. Testing continues to be by appointment-only and tests at the APH testing sites will be at no cost to the individual.
“This system allows us to identify areas that have high rates of infection and even identify particular locations to test asymptomatic people,” said Dr. Mark Escott, Interim Austin-Travis County Health Authority. “This gives a lot of flexibility to modify our strategy as the pandemic unfolds here in Austin.”
How the Online Form and Portal Works:
Individuals must create an account by providing an email address and filling out the form located at AustinTexas.gov/COVID19. Due to HIPAA requirements, everyone will need a separate email address.
The form asks several questions to determine the patient’s eligibility for a test based on set criteria. A person can fill out the form for someone who cannot do it themselves. This information is HIPAA-protected.
If an individual is approved for a test, the portal will allow them to schedule the location, date and time for their drive-thru testing appointment.
Testing sites will include those operated by APH and public-private partnership sites across Austin-Travis County.
The patient will receive a confirmation via phone, email or SMS with a QR code and instructions for the testing site within the same day.
If the patient does not meet testing criteria, they will be able to revisit the portal at any time to try again (e.g. if their symptoms change the following days).
Those who do not have computer access or internet access can call the nursing hotline at 512-972-5560 for assistance.What to Expect at the Drive-Through Testing Site:
When a patient arrives at the drive-thru testing location, they must remain in their vehicle.
Patients must show the technician the confirmation QR code along with any form of ID through their car window.
The technician at the testing site will then advise the patient on the next steps of the test.
The process from start to finish will take approximately 10 minutes.
Individual test results will be sent to the individual by phone, email, or they will be able to access the online patient portal. Patients can expect results in 3-4 days.
Patients must be in a vehicle when they arrive at a drive-thru testing site. Individuals will be turned away if they should arrive on site by walking, riding a bike, scooter or motorcycle.
If a patient does not have access to a vehicle, they may call the nursing hotline at 512-972-5560 for alternative methods of getting tested.If a patient tests positive for COVID-19, they will receive an email message with instructions on how to mitigate additional community spread of the virus, as well as guidance on how to monitor symptoms to determine if additional medical supervision is necessary. APH staff will follow-up with all individuals that test positive.
“The City of Austin has worked with a number of stakeholders across our community, to make sure we have equitable and efficient testing,” said Dr. Chris Hewitt, Assistant Medical Director for City of Austin. “We have it down to about eight minutes per person because we wanted to eliminate that time you spend sitting in line in your car and sitting on the site.”
APH will have the ability to test up to 2,000 people per week — with the ability to expand.
In addition to scheduling tests and monitoring confirmed positive cases, the City of Austin will send an automatic exposure questionnaire to residents who test positive, which will help gather details on how the virus might have spread, such as travel and visits to high-traffic areas.
The application will also send follow-up emails or text messages to check in on each resident’s well-being, so medical care can be escalated if necessary. For additional information and updates, visit AustinTexas.gov/COVID19
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