How accurate are the water meters that determine how much Austinites pay their city-owned utility each month? Past allegations of frequent misreadings came up again at City Council Thursday, when Council Member Ellen Troxclair suggested that the city is not demanding a high enough level of accuracy in a contract under consideration with the company […]
Jack Craver
Posted inTransportation
Council approves Smart Trips program
City Council on Thursday approved the second iteration of Smart Trips, an education and outreach program aimed at getting people in Central Austin out of their cars and onto sidewalks, bikes and buses. The first iteration took place between April and July of last year, when the Austin Transportation Department teamed up with the Capital […]
Posted inLand Development Code
CodeNEXT maps unveiled
The consultants hired to craft a new land-use code for the city of Austin have finally unveiled maps showing what their proposed new system of zoning would look like. But as City Council begins its examination of the proposed CodeNEXT maps, it is far from clear how closely they will resemble the final product put […]
Posted inZoning
At last, City Council approves Austin Oaks PUD
After just over two hours of debate Thursday night, City Council gave its final approval for Austin Oaks, the controversial planned unit development on 31 acres of land at the corner of MoPac and Spicewood Springs Rd. The development was approved on third reading 8-2, with only Mayor Pro Tem Kathie Tovo and Council Member […]
Posted inWhispers
Court reimburses Daugherty for legal expenses
The four Democrats on the Travis County Commissioners Court voted unanimously Tuesday to approve reimbursing their one Republican colleague, Commissioner Gerald Daugherty, for legal expenses he incurred defending himself against a criminal complaint. The county will pay Daugherty roughly $8,000, or 75 percent of the nearly $12,000 he paid attorney Randy Leavitt between March 2014 […]
Posted inTravis County
Travis County leaders hope to spread social service dollars across region
As rising housing prices force low-income people to flee the urban core in search of cheaper living, Travis County leaders worry about the county’s ability to provide services to the area’s neediest residents in an era of steep federal and state budget cuts. While a report presented to the Travis County Commissioners Court Tuesday noted […]
Posted inHousing
Travis tax appraisers tout new techniques for assessing property values
The Travis Central Appraisal District is figuring out the values of properties faster and more accurately, all while fighting off a record number of protests and lawsuits from taxpayers challenging their appraisals, agency leaders told the Travis County Commissioners Court on Tuesday. Lonnie Hendry, who heads the district’s commercial property division, described how the agency […]
Posted inWhispers
Council approves solar rebates for new homes
City Council approved a measure Thursday to grant a developer, PSW Real Estate, up to $351,061 in rebates for installing solar electric systems in 147 single-family homes and 48 condo units it plans to build throughout the city. Those rebates, which come from Austin Energy’s operating budget, cover 22 percent of the estimated $1.62 million […]
Posted inThe Code
Code Department proposes higher fines for violations
Code violators will pay bigger fines for a number of offenses under a new ordinance that City Council is poised to approve. Under the proposed ordinance drafted by the Code Department, the minimum fine for a first offense related to property maintenance rises dramatically, from $20 to $250. The minimum for the second offense would […]
Posted inWhispers
Few applicants for vacant Justice of the Peace position
Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt was dismayed at how few people have applied to take the place of Precinct 5 Justice of the Peace Herb Evans, who is retiring on May 1. Although the Commissioners Court received 13 applications for the job, nine of the applicants were disqualified because they don’t live in the precinct, […]
Posted inAustin
Austin Police tout results of homelessness engagement program
As part of a new initiative to combat homelessness, a small group of cops, mental health specialists and medical personnel have been taking to the streets to engage directly with Austin’s homeless. The Homeless Outreach Street Team has had a big impact on the lives of many of the city’s homeless population since it began […]
Posted inWhispers
Travis County braces for state budget
Deece Eckstein, who heads Travis County’s lobbying team, had bad news for the Travis County Commissioners Court on Tuesday. The budget that was approved unanimously last week by the Texas Senate includes major cuts to programs that local governments, including Travis County, depend on. Notably, the proposed budget would cut more than $1 billion from […]