On Jan. 23, the Parks and Recreation Board unanimously recommended that the City Council authorize a consultant to provide the Parks and Recreation Department with a long-range plan for the next five to seven years. According to Randy Scott, acting division manager for park planning, “We’ve selected the consultant and we’re moving forward to Council.” […]
Jessi Devenyns
Posted inPlanning
Environmental Commission rejects Champion tract amendments
After years of lawsuits related to the development of the Champion tract, proposed amendments to the original 1996 development agreement will go to City Council without the Environmental Commission’s blessing. “We are here to tell you what the best environmental thing to do for this land is,” Commissioner Pam Thompson said to city staff last […]
Posted inPlanning
Environmental Commission weighs options, recommends boat dock variance
It is always difficult to plan a project. However, conventional wisdom suggests that when three construction options exist, you pick the path of least resistance and do not select the choice that requires you to seek a variance from City Council. Unless of course, a variance would make the site environmentally superior to its current […]
Posted inWhispers
Welcome the newest member of the Environmental Commission
With the start of a new year comes a new member of the Environmental Commission. Katie Coyne has joined the ranks of the commission as the District 6 representative to Jimmy Flannigan. A former Peace Corps volunteer, Coyne returned stateside to pursue her master’s degree in sustainable design architecture and now works as a senior […]
Posted inZoning
Environmental Commission recommends Hooters PUD
Unable to wait for the codification of the new South Central Waterfront Vision Framework Plan and its associated environmental standards, eager builders came to the Environmental Commission on Jan. 3 in pursuit of a planned unit development on the site of Austin’s only Hooters restaurant. Ronald A. Nelson and Molly Belle Properties are requesting a […]
Posted inCity Hall
Ex-Austin Energy employee found not guilty of ethics violation
After a drawn-out series of hearings over the last seven months, the Ethics Review Commission on Jan. 10 found that retired Austin Energy supervisor Stefan Sasko made no violation of the city’s ethics regulations. However, the ruling may have implications for how the city code concerning conflict of interest is interpreted in the future. Nathan […]
Posted inEnvironment
Environmental Commission recommends Watershed Department issue a middle-of-the-road bond in 2018
The beginning of 2018 marked the beginning of a bond election year. At the latest meeting of the Environmental Commission, the Watershed Protection Department presented plans to ask the public for help conserving Austin’s environment through the acquisition of green space and the reparation and prevention of damage done by flooding and drainage. After hearing […]
Posted inTransportation
CAMPO keeps Conley as chair
After legal counsel proposed a unique interpretation of Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization bylaws, CAMPO Transportation Policy Board members voted on Monday to keep Will Conley as chair but removed his ability to vote on policy issues. Although federal statute dictates that board members of powerful planning bodies such as CAMPO must be local elected […]
Posted inLand Development Code
CodeNEXT: City says few environmental surprises in store
Conversations today about the city run like clockwork: You can guarantee that at some point CodeNEXT will be mentioned. However, although it is spoken about with regularity, there are so many varying opinions, stances and regulatory improvements being presented that it becomes difficult to track, let alone understand, the changes that are being made in […]
Posted inWater
Austin Water pitches rate reductions in 2018
It has been 15 years since the last time Austin Water reduced the rates for the utility. There is a chance, however, that this trend may end in January. On Dec. 13, the assistant director of Austin Water, David Anders, presented the Water and Wastewater Commission with the results of its Cost of Service study, […]
Posted inWater
Phantom water bill charges remain an unsolved mystery at Austin Water
For several years, water bills have been mysteriously spiking and leaving homeowners clutching their wallets and demanding answers. However, even when the public came en masse to plead that the Electric Utility Commission demand answers from city staff after the most recent surge, Austin Energy and Austin Water had none to give. On Dec. 11, […]
Posted inWhispers
Austin Water is making headway in paying down its debt
Since 2015, Austin Water has been grappling with paying down its debt. After two years and significant refunding to work down debt services, it may be arriving at its goal. “Our bad debt has been reducing over the last several years,” said Joseph Gonzales, utility budget and finance manager for Austin Water. Financials show 2017 […]