Austin Monitor

US District Judge Sam Sparks on Monday issued an order setting the trial in the wrongful death case of Nathaniel Sanders for November 2011. And, according to that order, “Any further settlement negotiations between the parties must include all members of the City Council.”   Perhaps more importantly, the judge’s order will prevent lawyers for […]

The Austin City Council has approved an ordinance that will require regular rest breaks for construction workers. The unanimous vote came after members heard from a host of individuals who spoke in support of the measure.   However, despite the appeal of legislation that would give relief to a blue collar workforce while adding to […]

The tug of war between those who want the city to settle with the family of Nathaniel Sanders and those who think the city should go to trial on the matter should end today, but the most interesting arguments are likely to happen outside of public scrutiny as Council members meet in executive session with […]

The Austin City Council split three ways Thursday, unable to agree on whether to settle the lawsuit by the family of slain teenager Nathaniel Sanders.   Council Members Bill Spelman, Laura Morrison and Sheryl Cole voted to settle for $750,000, the amount their attorneys had agreed upon.   Council Members Chris Riley and Randi Shade […]

Two members of the Austin City Council say City Manager Marc Ott has indicated that he plans to hire Larry Weis, General Manager of the Turlock (CA) Irrigation District, to lead Austin Energy and is offering him a salary higher than what Ott makes.    Weis was the sole remaining finalist and Ott indicated to […]

Mayor Lee Leffingwell said Monday “at this point I’m leaning against” a $750,000 settlement for the family of Nathaniel Sanders. The Sanders family sued the City of Austin and APD Officer Leonardo Quintana alleging wrongful death in the police shooting of their teenage son in May 2009.   Federal Judge Sam Sparks has dismissed the […]

City Manager Marc Ott has selected Lucia Athens of Seattle to be its first Chief Sustainability Officer.   Athens is a former Austinite who holds a master’s degree in Sustainable Design from the University of Texas. Locally, she’s served as a Water Efficiency Program Assistant for the city, a Water Efficiency Program Manager for the […]

Dueling resolutions for moving forward with a new recycling facility are slated to appear on next week’s City Council agenda.   One resolution, sponsored by Mayor Pro Tem Mike Martinez and Council Members Randi Shade and Laura Morrison would direct staff to negotiate with two companies—Balcones Recycling and Texas Disposal Systems (TDS). Mayor Lee Leffingwell […]

On Thursday, City Manager Marc Ott announced his choices in the search to replace Roger Duncan as General Manager of Austin Energy. All three are from small California utilities and two of the three are operated under the Southern California Public Power Authority.   The finalists are Ronald Davis, General Manager, Burbank, Calif., Water and […]

Plans for future bond elections got a lot more interesting Wednesday, as Mayor Lee Leffingwell’s office announced he would now favor a 2012 election on urban rail—as well as a change in the city charter to have City Council select the city attorney.   Previously, the Mayor had said he supported a transportation election this […]

City Manager Marc Ott has chosen three California utility executives to interview for the position of General Manager of Austin Energy, according to well-informed sources at City Hall. None of the candidates who work at Austin Energy—Karl Rábago, Cheryl Mele and Kerry Overton—made the cut. Environmentalists’ tongues were wagging Thursday morning as news spread that […]

Five members of the board Pedernales Electric Co-Op—including two who will be retiring on Saturday—voted Monday to fire General Manager Juan Garza, who has worked for the past 28 months to bring transparency and accountability into an organization that seemed immune to those ideas. Two members opposed the termination.   Garza left his job as […]