Shortly after the Austin Monitor reported that Austin Energy has proposed cutting the budget for a program to weatherize apartment buildings throughout the city, Mayor Pro Tem Kathie Tovo said at a City Council budget work session that she would push to maintain the program’s current funding. Mayor Steve Adler referenced the argument the utility […]
Jack Craver
Posted inEnergy
Austin Energy shifts money away from apartment weatherization program
Every year, Austin Energy pays contractors to make apartment buildings more energy-efficient. They put in place new duct sealant, solar screens and attic insulation, which helps tenants reduce their energy consumption and lower their utility bills. This year, however, the city-owned utility has spent dramatically less than in past years. It has also proposed cutting […]
Posted inWhispers
Travis County names tax building after Nelda Wells Spears
Travis County commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to name the county tax office at 5501 Airport Blvd. after the late Nelda Wells Spears, who led the office for 20 years and was the first African-American in Texas to hold such a position. Two dozen people showed up to show their support for honoring Spears, who died […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
Travis County gets slow start to $185M bond program
Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt isn’t ready to hit the panic button, but she is expressing concern about the amount of time it’s taking for the county to get going on the $185 million of projects that voters approved in last year’s bond election. On Tuesday, the Commissioners Court finally voted to approve a program […]
Posted inPublic Health
City of Austin considers opioid strategies
The city of Austin is aiming to develop a coordinated effort with Travis County, law enforcement and health agencies to fight opioid addiction. An Aug. 30 memo to City Council from Stephanie Hayden, director of the Austin Department of Health and Human Services, suggests something of an “all of the above” approach to preventing drug […]
Posted inWhispers
Flannigan questions city process on Clarksville affordable housing project
On Thursday, City Council approved a measure that will transfer a small city-owned property at 1611 W. 10th St. to the Austin Housing Finance Corporation for the purpose of building affordable housing. The housing will actually be developed by the Clarksville Community Development Corporation, a nonprofit organization that organizes community events in Clarksville, advocates the […]
Posted inCity Hall
Council reluctantly approves Fred McGhee to commission
City Council on Thursday voted to approve the appointment of local activist Fred McGhee to the Community Development Commission but also condemned McGhee for sexually charged comments he made to a city staffer as a member of the commission last year. McGhee was elected to the position by members of the Montopolis Neighborhood Association and […]
Posted inWhispers
Council wants to end funding for groups that take part in family separation
On Thursday, City Council passed a resolution directing the city manager to “develop recommendations to ensure that the City of Austin does not provide financial support to organizations whose activities result in the separation of immigrant children from their parent/parents and/or siblings.” The resolution instructs the manager to report back to Council during the upcoming […]
Posted inAustin
Council considers which strings to attach to corporate incentives
After postponing action earlier this month, on Thursday City Council will again consider establishing new rules regarding economic incentives for businesses. Council members plan on considering a number of amendments to the proposal aimed at ensuring that public dollars are only used to support good corporate citizens. The proposed new policy seeks to refocus city […]
Posted inCity Hall
Council to consider changes to Community Development Commission
The city of Austin may be dealing with yet another headache over who gets to sit on a city commission and who should or can be removed. The Community Development Commission is responsible for overseeing the implementation of projects funded by two federal programs: the Community Development Block Grant and the Community Service Block Grant. […]
Posted inPlanning
Shoal Creek plan includes wins, losses for density advocates
On Thursday, City Council unanimously approved the North Shoal Creek Neighborhood Plan, a document that outlines how the neighborhood, which is bound by MoPac Expressway, U.S. Highway 183, Burnet Road and Anderson Lane, will accommodate future population growth. The plan does not put in place any new zoning regulations. Instead, it provides a framework that […]
Posted inHousing
Affordable housing crisis: To conserve or to create?
As Austin struggles with an ongoing shortage of affordable housing, some housing activists and elected officials believe the city’s top priority should be creating new housing, both by allowing the market to build new units that target various income levels and by spending city funds to build subsidized housing for low-income residents. Others argue that […]