At the March 19 meeting of the Electric Utility Commission, Kerry Overton, the chief customer and compliance officer for Austin Energy, presented the commissioners with an overview of Austin Energy’s proposed amendments to its policy on deposit waivers. Currently, most subscribers to Austin Energy are required to put down a security deposit, which the utility […]
Jessi Devenyns
Posted inWater
Austin Water still repairing shattered trust with water bill smoothing
After months of investigation, Austin Water and Austin Energy have an answer for the unusual spikes that Austinites saw in their water bills last September. Although Austin Water responded and changed its meter-reading contractor after the rash of misreads came to light, it is only now that the utility is discovering what precisely went awry. […]
Posted inCity Charter
Should the auditor’s office be exempt from municipal civil service?
Having an independent auditor’s office is integral to running a city where checks and balances fulfill their intended function. Independence, however, is not always easy to maintain, and in Austin, the Office of the City Auditor is working to balance its autonomy with still allowing its employees access to city-based benefits. On March 5, Jason […]
Posted inParks
Commissions weigh use of parkland for stadium
In the face of a lawsuit brought against it by the Ohio attorney general and the city of Columbus to prevent it from relocating to Austin, Precourt Sports Ventures, the owner of the Columbus Crew SC Major League Soccer team, continues to search for the perfect piece of land on which to build a privately […]
Posted inAustin
Human Rights Commission offers measured support to the People’s Plan
It’s no revelation that the Austin housing market is exploding and new developments are popping up almost as quickly as people are moving in. And out. To help address the displacement and gentrification Austin is experiencing, at its Feb. 26 meeting, the Human Rights Commission reviewed the six resolutions/draft ordinances that make up the People’s Plan. Although […]
Posted inWhispers
Water bill spikes from last summer should be smoothed over this month
Kerry Overton, the deputy general manager and chief customer compliance officer at Austin Energy, which operates the Utilities Customer Service Office, reminded the Austin Energy Utility Oversight Committee on February 28 that back in October 2017, his team noticed an unusual spike in escalation calls related to September water bills. According to him, after all was […]
Posted inWhispers
Driving becomes a major safety concern at Austin Energy
With workers who climb poles, work with electricity and drive vehicles under all conditions, safety is a paramount concern for Austin Energy. To put it lightly, Elaina Ball, chief operating officer and deputy general manager at Austin Energy, told the Austin Energy Utility Oversight Committee on Feb. 28, “We want to make sure all our […]
Posted inEnergy
Austin’s community solar program comes to light
For years, people have lamented that although the sun shines at no cost, it is cost prohibitive to redirect its energy from the outdoors and into your home. Even if Austinites want to implement solar technology, they must contend with tree cover, roof maintenance issues and significant upfront costs. Last year, to help alleviate some […]
Posted inLand Development Code
CodeNEXT Draft 3 makes significant changes to water-quality and drainage regulations
After months of waiting, last month the third and final staff draft of CodeNEXT was released. After allowing adequate reading time, on Feb. 21, Matt Hollon, the manager of the Watershed Protection Department Planning Division, gave the Environmental Commission an overview of the relevant changes between drafts two and three. “Spoiler alert, there are almost […]
Posted inWhispers
Another commissioner moves West
On Feb. 26, the Human Rights Commission announced that Commissioner Marshall Bennett would be leaving his seat vacant beginning this week. Bennett, who has worked as an adjunct assistant professor in sociology at Austin Community College for the last six years, recently accepted a position as the director of advising services at Tacoma Community College. […]
Posted inResources
Dumpster contract headed to Council, hung up on lobbying ordinance rewrite
As City Council continues to debate the policies associated with the anti-lobbying ordinance, Austin solid waste contracts are beginning to expire with very little recourse for renewals. The latest casualty is city-owned facilities’ dumpster collection services. On Feb. 14, Austin Resource Recovery asked the Zero Waste Advisory Commission for a $1,511,385 increase on its existing […]
Posted inParks
FEMA grants Austin funding to help fix Guerrero Park
Eight months ago, Austin’s Watershed Protection Department optimistically declared that the washed-out bridge over what’s known as Country Club Creek West in Roy G. Guerrero Colorado River Park would be completed by 2020. Unfortunately, now the plan has been shifted back to 2021. In an update to the Environmental Commission on Feb. 21, Janna Renfro, an […]