Jacob Cottingham

In preparation for a November ruling from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, the Travis County Commissioners voted Tuesday for a resolution expressing opposition to increased effluent discharge into Lake Travis and Lake Austin as well as their watersheds. Pct. 1 Commissioner Ron Davis and Pct. 3 Commissioner Karen Huber were not in court, although Huber’s […]

Travis County Pct. 4 Commissioner Margaret Gomez made her re-election announcement a little earlier this time around. At her 28th Annual Fish Fry outside the iconic Rabbit’s Lounge last week, she a crowd of supporters and county office candidates, “I want to continue working for you another four years.”   At one point during the […]

On Tuesday environmental advocacy group Public Citizen sued the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, alleging that the state agency, which handles a variety of permits, has refused to hear data relating to the effects industry, especially coal power plants, may have on climate change. Sierra Club and Public Citizen held a press conference to announce […]

Travis County Commissioners plan to raise development fees. The fees currently paid by large developers have not been amended since 2004, and are not covering the cost of the infrastructure they require. On top of that, property tax rates in the County are going down. The fees would pay for the county’s own development costs, […]

Travis County Commissioners on Tuesday voted not to appoint a county subcommittee to initiate county involvement with the City of Austin’s Comprehensive Plan. The city’s plan includes its 298 square mile corporate area and its 321 square mile extraterritorial jurisdiction. Pct. 3 Commissioner Karen Huber made a motion for the county to appoint a subcommittee, […]

The Council unanimously approved a resolution Thursday that would prohibit driving a car and texting on a mobile communications device. The ban also covers other mobile device activities that don’t include GPS maps and actually speaking on the phone. The resolution also asks that a buffer zone for bicycle riders on roadways be included in […]

Attempting to remedy “inequality” in the way the county processes open enrollment for domestic partnerships turned out to be a much more contentious task than Pct. 2 Commissioner Sarah Eckhardt had planned. Her item, which would allow domestic partners to go through the same open enrollment procedures as married couples, prompted a lengthy discussion which […]

The city continues to plan for alternative routes for current rail traffic through the area in order to accommodate future light rail and/or streetcar projects. The studies include alternatives to a Congress Avenue crossing over Lady Bird Lake, among other corridors.   City of Austin Transportation Department Director Rob Spillar spoke recently with In Fact […]

Austin Water Utility Director Greg Meszaros said Thursday the utility would eventually have 15-20 employees working on citation-related activities related to the enhanced water conservation.   But there will only be 10 to 12 water cops ready to start work on Monday giving tickets to water wasters and people who missed the news that they […]

East Austin residents and grassroots activists complained bitterly to Council last week about a proposed zoning change to seven properties in the East Cesar Chavez neighborhood. The change would grant several commercial and commercial mixed use lots a Vertical Mixed Use overlay.   Members of the East Cesar Chavez Neighborhood Planning Contact Team clashed with […]

Travis County’s budget balancing act for FY2010 will require a three percent tax increase over the effective rate, according to the financial staff. And the county’s budget gurus warned Tuesday that FY2011 would likely be more challenging.   Budget Manager Leroy Nellis and Executive Manager Rodney Rhoades of Travis County’s Planning and Budget Department briefed […]

Austin’s libraries and parks, which suffered with deep cuts in both hours and manpower during the last economic slowdown in 2003, report they are holding their own in the current economy, despite some challenges.   Brenda Branch, director of Austin’s Public Library system, and Sara Hensley, director of Parks and Recreation provided Council with an […]