It’s far from clear if Austin voters will end up approving any mobility bond, let alone the $720 million measure floated by Mayor Steve Adler. But if the city does get the nod from voters for a once-in-a-generation increase in transportation spending, it should be prepared to spend a big chunk of that money on […]
Jack Craver
Posted inAustin
Biz leaders ponder how to maintain Austin’s soul
Elsewhere in Texas, a conversation about how to save a town’s soul may lead to talk of a mass baptism. But in Austin, the discussion centers more on music and housing. “Maintaining Austin’s Soul” was the subject that a panel of four business leaders discussed before a crowd of about 250 real estate professionals and […]
Posted inCity Hall
Austin land use commissions grapple with proposed reforms
The two dozen Austinites who signed up for the thankless task of recommending planning and zoning changes to City Council agree on at least one thing: there has to be a better way. Members of the Planning Commission and the Zoning and Platting Commission spent about half an hour Tuesday discussing how they can prevent […]
Posted inEnergy
City to consider new building standards to encourage efficiency, solar power
The city of Austin is poised to update its energy code to comply with the latest edition of the International Energy Conservation Code. “It’s really very, very modest,” said Debbie Kimberly, vice president of customer energy solutions for Austin Energy, in an interview with the Austin Monitor Thursday. Her emphasis on that point was ostensibly […]
Posted inFire, Uncategorized
City considers providing fire service to Travis County ESD4
After years of city annexations, Travis County Emergency Services District 4 (ESD4) should no longer have its own fire department, ESD4 Fire Chief David Bailey told the City Council Public Safety Committee on Monday. When it was founded as Travis County Rural Fire Protection District #4 in 1985, the taxing district covered a large swath of […]
Posted inPolice
Committee wants more specifics from police on body cameras
Activists and members of the City Council Public Safety Committee made clear Monday that they want greater assurances from the Austin Police Department that the body cameras the department plans to implement will bring about transparency and accountability. In particular, the four committee members emphasized their hope that the department would develop a clear set […]
Posted inEnergy
Updated: Austin Energy puts new gas plant on hold
Austin Energy has put a hold on plans to construct a massive new natural gas plant, to the delight of environmental activists. The utility has determined that the estimated $500 million investment in a new plant would likely be a bad bet because of how low gas prices have dropped in the two years since […]
Posted inEnergy
Consumer advocate: Austin Energy should lower rates for residents
Austin Energy should lower electricity rates for average Austinites, says the independent consumer advocate hired by the city to respond to the rates proposed by the city-owned utility. In testimony Monday to the Electric Utility Commission, Clarence Johnson, the expert witness for the consumer advocate team, said that residential customers and small businesses should get […]
Posted inCity Council
Council scrambling to find replacements for Uber and Lyft
City leaders traded accusations of dishonesty over ride-hailing regulations at a meeting Tuesday as they grappled with potential solutions to the transportation void created by the recent departure of Uber and Lyft. The debate was prompted by a resolution proposed by Mayor Pro Tem Kathie Tovo that directs city staff to explore a number of […]
Posted inWater
Council approves permanent water restrictions
After an hour-and-a-half debate, City Council voted Thursday to approve an ordinance that will permanently restrict residents from using automatic sprinklers on their lawns more than once a week. “We should be really proud of Austin,” said Jennifer Walker, the water resources coordinator for the Lone Star Chapter of the Sierra Club. “I believe that […]
Posted inWater
Council debates water restrictions
Home car-washing may soon be coming back to Austin. If City Council approves Austin Water’s proposed reforms of water restrictions, homeowners will be able to spray down their cars in their driveways every day if their hearts so desire. That appears to be the concession the utility is offering customers who might otherwise be frustrated by […]
Posted inPolice
Council to take up APD gender identity proposal
The Public Safety Commission unanimously recommended a resolution Monday that it hopes will prompt the police department to reform its policies on how gender is reported in criminal complaints and other official reports. The resolution directs the city manager to develop a policy on how the Austin Police Department refers to transgender and gender nonconforming […]