Nearly a quarter of residential water meters in Austin have been replaced with new My ATX Water digital meters, according to a news release from Austin Water. More than 50,000 of the new smart meters have been installed to date, and by 2025, the utility aims to have all customers served by Austin Water using […]
2022
Posted inPlanning
Stream reveals details of six possible new Sixth Street music venues
Stream Realty Partners is eyeing the possibility of turning at least six of its properties on East Sixth Street into music venues, including a plan to convert the former Buffalo Billiards space into a daytime food hall with music in the evenings. The partial reveals came Friday at a special meeting of the Music Commission where Caitlyn […]
Posted inParks
Parks board continues debating alcohol sales in parks
The Austin Parks and Recreation Board debated Monday whether to approve a recommendation for City Council to create guidelines for the sale of alcohol in city parks in addition to those already found in city code. The draft recommendation notes that, while city code “prohibits the sale, possession and consumption of alcoholic beverages within a […]
Posted inPlanning
City outlines plans for improvements to corridors along 11th and 12th streets
The city has shared some of its initial plans for improving the African American Cultural Heritage District along 11th and 12th streets with place-making, entertainment options and development proposals expected in the coming months. In a memo released last week, Economic Development Department Director Sylnovia Holt-Rabb shared three possible strategies to address some City Council […]
Posted inWhispers
Airbnb cracks down on party animals
With the Fourth of July holiday less than a week away, Airbnb has announced that its provisional ban on parties, launched two years ago, has become permanent policy. According to a news release, Airbnb has seen a “direct correlation between our implementation of the policy in August 2020 and a 44 percent year-over-year global drop […]
Posted inPublic Health
Here’s where to get a Covid-19 vaccine in Austin for the youngest age group eligible
The federal government this month approved Covid-19 vaccinations for the youngest recipients yet: children ages 6 months to 5 years. Dr. Desmar Walkes, Austin-Travis County health authority, says vaccines for this age group are safe and effective. “We also know from the data that we’ve collected throughout this pandemic that Covid is among the leading […]
Posted inWhispers
Speed demons, beware
The city is going to be lowering speed limits on dozens of major streets inside Austin’s urban core. As the Transportation Department explains, existing speed limits on many city streets were decided long before the city’s population exploded and Austin became the major metropolis it is today. Engineering studies have concluded that making adjustments will […]
Posted inEnergy
Consumer advocates warn Austin Energy’s rate increase could have devastating impact on residents
As they prepare for next month’s public hearing, participants in Austin Energy’s rate review case are pushing back against a proposal to significantly alter pricing of the city’s electricity supply. The utility proposes to reorganize the five-tiered structure used to calculate residential service rates into three tiers, eliminating existing premiums for higher consumption brackets and […]
Posted inPublic Health
Abortion access resolution gathering steam
City Council Member Chito Vela, the lead sponsor of a resolution discouraging Austin police from investigating allegations concerning abortion, said Monday he expects City Council to consider the resolution at a special meeting held the week of July 18. In addition to Vela, sponsors of the resolution so far include Mayor Steve Adler and Council […]
Posted inWhispers
CO detectors mandatory after July 1
The Development Services Department wants all builders to know that new carbon monoxide detector rules are just around the corner. Starting this Friday, July 1, “carbon monoxide detectors will be required for all new Mechanical Change-Out permits, except for projects involving only electric-powered equipment.” These new requirements “apply to installation, alteration or repair of all […]
Posted inTransit
Capital Metro announces leader of transit police force
The Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board of Directors has approved Eric Robins, the former chief of police of Sugar Land, Texas, to become the new chief administrator of the Capital Metro transit police. Robins will serve as chief administrator starting Aug. 1, until the nascent transit police department is certified by the Texas Commission on […]
Posted inWhispers
Council to hold special GRACE Act meeting
Though officially on break until the end of July, Austin City Council is seeking to hold a special called meeting to address the recent action by the U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade. After word of the ruling was leaked earlier this year, Council members began drafting a response in the form of the […]