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THE BIG PICTURE
(City of Buda Weekly Newsletter)
Week of April 20, 2020
In this Issue:
  • Mayor Haehn Amends Order to Mirror Governor Abbott's
  • Governor Abbott Issues Executive Orders - Friday, April 20
  • Boards and Commissions Application Deadline Extended - May 31
  • Kenny's Construction Chat
  • Fallen San Marcos Police Department Officer Justin Putnam
  • Buda Traffic Alert - Bradfield Closure at Main St. - April 20 - April 27
  • Buda Public Library Curbside Service Resumes Monday, April 27
  • Buda Public Library Online Resources
  • Still Budaful Stimulus Plan
  • Activities and Resources for Older Adults - Age of Central Texas
  • COVID-19 Hays County Resources
  • COVID-19 Hotline
  • COVID-19 Dashboard
  • City of Buda Conducting Business Virtually
  • COVID-19 Updates on City of Buda Website
  • H-E-B Hour Changes
  • Buda Counts: 2020 Census
  • Boards and Commissions Application Extended
  • City of Buda Water Smart Portal
  • City of Buda Job Opportunities
Mayor George Haehn has amended his March 27, 2020 order to mirror the Executive Orders issued by Governor Greg Abbott on Friday, April 17. Mayor Haehn is focused on reopening the City of Buda safely and strategically.

“We are in no way out of the woods. As we continue to see cases of COVID-19 across Hays County, our first priority is protecting the health and well-being of our citizens and first-responders on the front lines,” said Mayor Haehn. “At the same time, it is important that we strategically and carefully start planning to get our residents and business owners back to work.”

“Step by step we will open Texas”. Those were the words of Governor Greg Abbott on Friday, April 17 as he issued three Executive Orders to begin the process of reopening Texas. Governor Abbott has established a “Strike Force” that will open Texas in stages. Here are some of the key takeaways from the Executive Orders.

The Governor has established the "Strike Force to Open Texas" - a team of nationally recognized medical experts and private and public leaders who will advise the Governor on safely and strategically reopening the state of Texas.

Starting April 22, hospital restrictions and procedures will be loosened

Schools—including public, private, and higher education institutions—will remain closed for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. Teachers may go into the classroom for video instruction, to perform administrative duties, and to clean out their classrooms.

Beginning Friday, April 24, a temporary "Retail-To-Go" model will allow retail outlets in Texas to reopen. Under this model, reopened establishments are required to deliver items to customer’s cars, homes, or other locations to minimize contact.

The Governor today also directed state parks to reopen on Monday, April 20 with strict guidelines to reduce transmission of COVID-19—including requiring visitors to wear face coverings, maintain a six-foot distance from individuals outside of their party, and prohibiting the gathering of groups larger than five.

Additional openings will be announced on April 27.

The deadline has been extended to May 31, 2020 for citizens interested in applying for the City’s boards and commissions. City Council is currently accepting completed application forms. Several of our boards and commissions accept residents living in the Extraterritorial Jurisdiction (ETJ).

The link below contains a complete listing of our Boards and Commissions and their related duties:

You can also download a copy of the application:

Submit application by mail: City of Buda, c/o City Clerk, 405 E. Loop St., Building 100, Buda, TX 78610

Submit application by email to City Clerk: aramirez@ci.buda.tx.us

Again, the deadline to submit a completed application is May 31, 2020. For additional information, contact the City Clerk at 512-312-0084.
Kenny's Construction Chat
Week of April 20, 2020
Project Manager Kenny Crawford has the latest construction update on City Park and more in his latest installment of "Kenny's Construction Chat".
San Marcos Police Officer Justin Putnam
End of Watch - April 18, 2020
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends, and colleagues of fallen San Marcos Police Department Officer Justin Putnam. Below is a video clip of Buda PD paying their respects as Officer Putnam's procession made its way through Buda on Monday, April 20.
Bradfield Drive Closure at Main Street Intersection
Monday, April 20 - Monday, April 27
As part of the ongoing Main Street Improvement Project, a small portion of Bradfield Drive at the intersection of Main will be closed in both directions from Monday, April 20 to Monday, April 27. This is due to construction on the southern side of the intersection and roadway. Drivers will NOT be able to turn on to Main Street from Bradfield or on to Bradfield from Main Street. Main Street will remain open in both directions.
Buda Public Library Curbside Service
Resuming Monday, April 27
Happy news! Curbside is coming back at the  Buda Public Library  beginning Monday, April 27. Get books and other library materials delivered straight to your vehicle! Place books on reserve on our online catalog. After you're notified that they are ready, park in the parking lot during designated hours and call us at 512-295-5899. Learn more about how to put items on hold here:   https://www.budalibrary.org/281/Buda-Library-at-Home

Buda Public Library Online Resources
While you are at home, the Buda Public Library is here for you! Library members can access our digital services, including checking out eBooks, downloading audio books, participating in a free online class, reading digital newspapers or magazines, or learning a new language!

Anyone can join us online for something fun to do, like watch a storytime with your children, learn to watercolor, plant a seed, and more!
We are here to take your calls at 512-295-5899 and can answer questions, set you up with a new library card, and update your existing account so you can access all our digital resources.

Find out everything you can do with “Buda Library at Home here: 
Still Budaful Stimulus Plan
In response to COVID-19 (Coronavirus), the Buda City Council authorized the "Still Budaful Stimulus Program" to assist businesses negatively affected by the pandemic.The total contributions between the City of Buda and Buda EDC amount to $380,000, allowing eligible businesses to apply for the following assistance programs:

  • Still Budaful Stimulus Grant
  • Hotel Occupancy Tax Payment Emergency Deferral + Forgiveness Program
  • Buda Emergency Co-Marketing Grant


Applications are available at   www.stillbudaful.org .

The people behind the Still Budaful Stimulus Plan have a few words to share with our small business community. Take advantage of the Still Budaful Stimulus Plan, because without you Buda isn't budaful.
For older adults during this time there is a risk for social isolation. While they are safer from exposure to COVID-19, isolation can lead to issues like cognitive decline and depression. AGE of Central Texas has provided some activities and resources for older adults and caregivers to experience at home.

Hays County has provided a list of resources for residents who have lost their jobs or need food, mental health support, or other assistance due to the COVID-19 pandemic .

Hays County has a COVID-19 hotline. The number is 512-393-5525 and it is operational Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 5 PM .
(The information coming from Hays County will continue to change. Please follow Hays County at www.haysinformed.com )

An online dashboard created by City of San Marcos provides the public with a current count and other statistics related to COVID-19 cases in Hays County in near real-time.

The data on the dashboard shows a snapshot of COVID-19 related information for the County, as well as the number of active and recovered cases per City.
 
For example, the public can see the current number of confirmed cases as of that day. The data includes the cases considered active or in recovery, along with the number of tests administered. The data is also available in map format.
 
“This dashboard provides our local residents with an updated and accurate picture of the spread of the virus in Hays County,” Ingle said. “It’s also important to note the number of individuals who have recovered from the virus in each city.”
 
The dashboard was created by City of San Marcos GIS staff in cooperation with emergency operations and the communications team. It will be updated daily by officials with the Hays County Local Health Department.
The online tool, along with other important information about the City’s response to the COVID-19 crisis, is available on our website :  www.sanmarcostx.gov/covid19info .  

County residents may visit

You can also find the dashboard on the City of Buda's website at www.ci.buda.tx.us/coronavirusinformation .


Good hygiene practices are essential:

Prevention Tips:
  • Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds several times a day, including between your fingers and underneath your nails. Handwashing is considered the best way to remove germs and dirt, and hand sanitizers should be used only when handwashing is not available. The hand sanitizers should be at least 60 percent alcohol to be effective.
  • Avoid handshaking and high-fives
  • Avoid touching your face – especially your eyes, nose, and mouth
  • Stay home when you feel sick
  • Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue then put the tissue in the trash, or use the crook of your elbow if a tissue isn’t available
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household disinfectant cleaning spray or wipe. Clean cell and desk phones, computer keyboards, door handles, and work surfaces often.
  • Face masks are not considered an effective way to prevent someone from catching a virus unless you have close, frequent contact with a sick person; however, they are an option for sick people to use to keep from spreading the virus.
  • Avoid travel to areas that have been designated high-risk areas because of multiple verified cases of Corona
  • Individuals are encouraged to avoid large gatherings. This includes, but is not limited to concerts, plays, sporting events, gymnasiums, dances, and restaurants. Recreation activities that can be practiced in private are encouraged. This virus spreads by person-to-person transmission just like the flu, so limiting human contact can help prevent COVID-19 from spreading.
City of Buda Conducting Business Virtually
(This is an evolving situation and we will continue to post updated information on www.ci.buda.tx.us/coronavirusinformation )

To follow the social distancing guidelines set out by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDD), all City offices will be conducting business virtually. This means there will be no walk-ins, with all business being done via telephone and computer .  

You can contact City Departments directly at the numbers below:

Public Works (512-312-2876)
Buda Police Department - Non-Emergency - (512-393-7896)
Parks and Recreation (512-523-1081)
Utility Billing - (512-295-8845)
Municipal Court - (512-295-2562)
Library - (512-295-5899)
Planning, Permitting, and Engineering - (512-312-5745)

Utility billing and municipal court payments may be paid online here:  https://www.municipalonlinepayments.com/budatx . Additional ways to make utility payments include online through your bank, over the phone at 512-295-8845, and by mail to 405 E. Loop St., Building 100, Buda, Texas. Customers can also utilize the utility payment drop boxes at the front entrance of the building and near the library book drop. The Utility Billing e-mail that residents should use to communicate with Utilities is utilitybilling@ci.buda.tx.us .  

Municipal Court: Buda Municipal Court will be closed to the public starting March 20th. The decision is made in an effort limit the number of individuals gathering in a confined space to reduce the risks to public health. Although operations are closed to the public, individuals may still contact the Court by phone and email to get information and handle their cases; many options are available that do not require a personal appearance.

All court dockets are cancelled. Cases that are set on dockets will be rescheduled to a date after May 8th; individuals will be notified by mail of their new court date.

All individuals are encouraged to call 512-295-2562 or email the Court budamunicipalcourt@ci.buda.tx.us in lieu of making personal appearances to take care of their court business.
 
Park rentals, library programs and all City-sponsored events are suspended until further notice. 

Additional online resources:

Permitting and Inspections: https://www.mygovernmentonline.org/

Licenses, Permits and Fees:


You can view City Council meetings online here:  

For more information on Buda Library Services:
Buda Public Library Electronic Resources:  https://buda.biblionix.com/catalog/
Buda Public Library: www.budalibrary.org
As a reminder, you can visit the City's website at www.ci.buda.tx.us/coronavirusinformation for the latest on COVID-19. This page includes the Governor's Order, Hays County Order, and Mayor George Haehn order. We have also embedded the COVID-19 Dashboard from Hays County with the latest number of cases.
EFFECTIVE MONDAY 4/27, H-E-B's temporary store hours will be 7a-10p daily. Pharmacies will be open 8a-8p M-F & follow their weekend hours. H-E-B continues to focus on strong health & safety protocols in our stores, including sanitizing & social distancing.

Learn more: 
Buda Counts: Census Questionnaire Online
You can now take the census questionnaire online by visiting the Census 2020 website at https://2020census.gov/ . From March 12 to March 20 homes will receive official Census Bureau mail with detailed information on how to respond. You can respond online, by phone, or by mail. Computers are available at the Buda Public Library and staff will help you get started! Census results help determine how billions of dollars in federal funding flow into states and communities each year.
City of Buda WaterSmart Customer Portal Open
Minor water leaks account for more than 1 trillion gallons of wasted water each year . Sign up for leak alerts.

City of Buda
Job Opportunities
Interested in joining our team? Check out our latest employment opportunities.

Thank you for subscribing to "The Big Picture" weekly newsletter! It's a "Budaful" way to keep up with the latest City news.

Sincerely,

City of Buda