Stories by Jessi Devenyns
Parks remain accessible, but playscapes cause community concern
Austin’s public parks are institutions of expansive green space and outdoor recreation that would appear to be prime locations to abide by social distancing policies while offering the chance to get out and about. However, depending on the destination, enjoying…
Resources • By Jessi Devenyns • Mar 19, 2020
COVID-19 to impact local 2020 U.S. Census effort
This past week in Austin two big initiatives took place nearly simultaneously – the start of the 2020 U.S. Census and the indefinite extension of the emergency disaster declaration in response to COVID-19. Unsurprisingly, the pandemic is having an impact…
Austin • By Jessi Devenyns • Mar 17, 2020
Commissioners Court to facilitate talks in disagreement between ABoR and TCAD
TCAD Chief Appraiser Marya Crigler told the Travis County Commissioners Court on March 10 that despite receiving a cease-and-desist order to stop collecting third-party sales data, her office is still working to acquire the necessary data to accurately appraise home…
Housing • By Jessi Devenyns • Mar 13, 2020
Travis County Commissioners Court extends emergency disaster declaration
Following the local disaster declaration last Friday, the Travis County Commissioners Court unanimously extended the county’s disaster declaration in light of ongoing concerns about public health risks associated with COVID-19. This state of emergency will continue indefinitely or until the…
Travis County • By Jessi Devenyns • Mar 11, 2020
Watershed Protection Department debuts new pollution spills map
When the Watershed Protection Department went to renew the city’s permit to discharge under the Texas pollutant discharge elimination system this past year, it found new requirements. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality recently changed its rules to require cities…
Environment • By Jessi Devenyns • Mar 10, 2020
Environmental Commission recommends city develop holistic resilience plan
In many respects, Austin city officials are striving to create an environmentally sustainable city. However, according to the Environmental Commission, the city is not as resilient as it needs to be. “Right now, we don’t have a resilience plan,” Commissioner…
Environment • By Jessi Devenyns • Mar 9, 2020
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Public safety departments present preliminary budget requests
Budget season at the city has already begun for the 2021 fiscal year. In preparation for its deep dive into budget requests from the public safety departments, the Public Safety Commission listened to preliminary budget forecasts at its March 2…
Budget • By Jessi Devenyns • Mar 6, 2020
Austin Police Department sees increase in violent crime
While the Austin Police Department is still finalizing crime numbers for 2019, the end of the last decade and the beginning of this one saw an uptick in violent crime, according to APD Chief of Staff Troy Gay. Gay told…
Police • By Jessi Devenyns • Mar 5, 2020
Public Safety Commission previews APD’s critical incident video policy
Following Council’s request in February for a policy governing the automatic public release of videos in critical cases, Farah Muscadin, director of the Office of Police Oversight, presented a draft policy to the Public Safety Commission on March 2. Muscadin,…
Police • By Jessi Devenyns • Mar 3, 2020
Planning Commission recommends Austin Green PUD with a laundry list of amendments
The Austin Green planned unit development, which is located just east of the Austin city limits on Harold Green Road, has now received two unanimous commission votes recommending that the 2,122-acre former sand and gravel mine receive PUD rezoning. On…
Development • By Jessi Devenyns • Mar 2, 2020
Council members discuss how Austin Energy’s billing system disproportionally affects vulnerable customers
Austin Energy makes its revenue from customers purchasing energy from the fourth and fifth tiers of its five-tiered residential billing structure. However, with more Austinites living in multifamily units and homes becoming more energy-efficient, 76 percent of residential energy consumption…
Energy • By Jessi Devenyns • Feb 28, 2020
Planning Commission recommends Imagine Austin amendments but postpones neighborhood request
At Tuesday’s Planning Commission meeting, city staff asked commissioners for their recommendations for amending the language of the Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan. Staff brought two requests to the dais. One was for an endorsement to alter the language of the…
