Utility commission ponders letting new developments shoulder rate increase
Austin’s Electric Utility Commission is thinking over some suggestions to offer to City Council about Austin Energy’s rate review, which as currently proposed would increase the utility’s base rate by 7.6 percent to make up for a $48 million deficit.…
Energy • By Willow Higgins • May 13, 2022
Staff seeks to build a better way to manage homeless encampments
City staffers are making a series of changes to the management of homeless encampments, with a centralized response and assessment system in the works that is expected to become operational later this summer. City Council’s Public Health Committee received a…
Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • May 13, 2022
Planning Commission recommends rezoning amid 'heartwrenching' testimony
A case at the Planning Commission Tuesday highlighted the vulnerability of renters amid Austin’s rapid growth, as older apartment buildings are increasingly torn down to make way for new development. At issue is the Old Homestead apartment complex, an 80-year-old,…
Zoning • By Jonathan Lee • May 13, 2022
TSA wait times are improving at Austin's airport, but it's about to get a lot busier
The wait to get through TSA security at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport has improved in recent weeks, airport officials say. Lines are no longer stretching through the terminal and out onto the sidewalk as they were in March, when AUS Executive…
Transportation • By Nathan Bernier, KUT • May 12, 2022
Memo says bonds needed to meet affordability goals for waterfront redevelopment
To reach the goal of bringing about 500 units of affordable housing to the South Central Waterfront District, the city would need voters to approve more bond funds, for as much as $60 million. The prospects for planned affordable housing…
Planning • By Chad Swiatecki • May 12, 2022
City collisions cost more than $8 million over three years
City Council approved a payment last week of $82,500 to settle a lawsuit filed by Sherri Davis against the city and Austin Energy employee Stephen Tucker. Tucker is identified in the lawsuit as the driver of a city vehicle that struck…
City Hall • By Jo Clifton • May 12, 2022
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Austin Animal Center faces questions about monthly update
Alongside shelters nationwide, the Austin Animal Center has been struggling with staffing shortages and soaring populations of shelter animals – a situation that was evident in the shelter’s monthly update to the Animal Advisory Commission. In April, a total of 1,067…
Austin • By Willow Higgins • May 12, 2022
Developer releases proposal to clean up East Sixth Street
Following years of public outcry over the deterioration of East Sixth Street, Dallas-based Stream Realty has stepped forward with aspirations to give the notoriously rowdy block a facelift. Real estate attorney Richard Suttle stopped by last Wednesday’s meeting of the…
Planning • By Kali Bramble • May 11, 2022
ACL Fest announces $369M economic impact, $6.7M parks donation
Austin City Limits Music Festival released the results of its annual local economic impact study on Tuesday, the same day it announced the lineup for this year’s two-weekend event that takes place in Zilker Park each October. The study, conducted…
Parks • By Chad Swiatecki • May 11, 2022
Council looks at changes to transit partnership board
City Council has tentatively agreed to consider changes to the membership of the board of the Austin Transit Partnership, with just a small change now, and the possibility of a larger and more controversial change in the future. Council approved…
Transit • By Jo Clifton • May 11, 2022
Cap Metro CEO departs, leaving two Austin transit organizations without permanent leadership
Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority CEO Randy Clarke will leave Austin to head the public transit agency in Washington, D.C. The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority announced this morning Clarke will take over in late summer as general manager and CEO. Clarke’s…
Transit • By Nathan Bernier, KUT • May 11, 2022
City staffing shortages to delay Live Music Fund deployment until mid-2023
Musicians, promoters and other creatives will have to wait another year to enter into a contract of $5,000-$10,000 from the city’s Live Music Fund. The delay is due to a staffing shortage in the city, including 20 positions in the Economic…
