With an analysis predicting the possibility of record low storage levels in lakes Buchanan and Travis early next year, the Lower Colorado River Authority board of directors voted 11-2 Wednesday to ask the state for a fourth year to limit the release of water from the Highland Lakes to agricultural interests downstream. The board also […]
2014
Posted inCity Council, Energy, Resources
Council to consider new utility debt policy
City Council will likely consider a new utility debt policy soon, after learning from staff that customers have accrued about $76 million in electricity debt alone, mostly over the past three years. Staff also reported that customers owe more than $21 million in water and wastewater bills, more than $9 million in waste management and […]
Posted inWhispers
Concrete ordinance may see opposition
There may be some division among City Council members today about an ordinance that would limit concrete pouring hours to between 7 p.m. and 2 a.m. on certain downtown properties. Council Member Mike Martinez said at Tuesday’s work session that he heard a request from the Old Austin Neighborhood Association to hold stakeholder meetings on […]
Posted inWhispers
Spelman weighs in on Council agenda items
City Council Member Bill Spelman, who is considered the swing vote on several hot items coming before Council today, acknowledged his positions on CodeNEXT, the St. Elmo zoning decision and Decker Lake Golf. On St. Elmo, he said, “I’ll be voting yes, but I think there could be some amendments that I’ll be voting yes […]
Posted inDevelopment, Preservation
Proposed local historic district wins first victory
A proposed local historic district within Travis Heights won the unanimous support of the Historic Landmark Commission this week. “I received something like 17 letters in favor of this, and only one letter in opposition,” said Commissioner Terri Myers. Bluebonnet Hills is an area within Travis Heights bounded by Annie Street on the north, Leland […]
Posted inWhispers
Cherrywood houses going, neighborhood OK
Plans to demolish three houses in Cherrywood are moving forward, and after a talk with the developers — Greater Austin Builders — the neighborhood is a little more at peace with the plans. Historic Landmark Commissioner Terri Myers was less so and indicated distress at the prospect of losing the three houses, which were built […]
Posted inCity Hall, Development, The Code
Accessory dwelling unit change stalls in committee
The City of Austin wants to make it easier for residents to establish accessory dwelling units — or ADUs — such as garage apartments on their property in order to create more housing in the city center. At Tuesday’s meeting of the Planning Commission’s Committee on Codes and Ordinances, residents spoke out against the changes primarily […]
Posted inWhispers
LCRA board names regional council members
On Wednesday, the Lower Colorado River Authority board of directors appointed 22 members to the LCRA Central Basin Regional Council. The council represents Blanco, Burnet, Hays, Travis and Williamson counties. The appointees, who will begin their terms Jan. 1, are: Carlene Cristiani, David Holmes, Fred Sanford, Gloria Leal, Jim Boon, Johnsie Bryan, Kenneth Smith, Leo […]
Posted inCity Council, Housing, Public Safety, The Code
City looks to improve rental registration program
As part of an ongoing effort to beef up how the city addresses problem rental properties, City Council will consider whether to amend its rental registration program today. So far, the program has managed to capture only a handful of properties. Code Department director Carl Smart explained that the poor showing is a result of […]
Posted inCity Council, Local Politics, Parks, Public Safety
Council split on new deal for Austin Pets Alive!
City Council members Tuesday continued to debate a potential extension of a contract for Austin Pets Alive! to operate a facility at the Town Lake Animal Shelter. The extension would also include additional leeway for the organization to make needed repairs to the facility. The discussion touched on what Council Member Laura Morrison suggested was […]
Posted inWhispers
Panelists announced for CitySummit
Panelists for the first CitySummit — a civic conversation produced by the Monitor, KUT News 90.5 and the LBJ School of Public Affairs — have been announced. The mobility panel, moderated by KUT’s Terrence Henry, will include AURA’s Niran Babalola, the Austin Chamber of Commerce’s Jeremy Martin and UT professor Dr. Randy Machemehl. The planning panel, […]
Posted inCity Council, City Hall, Local Politics
Austin Council meetings run far later than peers’
A report from Office of the City Auditor staff appears to corroborate what many Austin City Council observers have long lived: that the city’s Council meetings are much lengthier than those of their peers. The data, presented by Assistant City Auditor Patrick Johnson and Deputy City Auditor Corrie Stokes, suggests that the average length of […]