Stories by Jo Clifton
City to seek new bids for compost processing
The question of which contractor or contractors will process compostable items is up in the air for now. Currently, those organic items are collected from customers’ green bins under a contract with Austin Resource Recovery. At last week’s Council meeting,…
Resources • By Jo Clifton • Nov 27, 2024
City celebrates federal aid to boost community court
District 1 Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison held a press conference Thursday to highlight City Council’s approval of funds from the U.S. Justice Department, which she called “a monumental step forward for the Downtown Austin Community Court.” Council approved acceptance of…
City Council • By Jo Clifton • Nov 22, 2024
SOS sues utility to protect Barton Creek Habitat Preserve
The Save Our Springs Alliance has filed suit against the West Travis County Public Utility Agency and its board of directors, challenging the utility’s decision to condemn 2.685 acres of the Barton Creek Habitat Preserve in Southwest Travis County. SOS…
Development • By Jo Clifton • Nov 21, 2024
Austin Energy proposes gas peaker units, not larger combined cycle plant
Austin Energy has been working for more than a year – collaborating with stakeholders and looking at a variety of technologies, “including energy efficiency, demand response, batteries, rooftop solar expansion and natural gas peaker units or combined-cycle generation and more”…
Energy • By Jo Clifton • Nov 20, 2024
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Austin Energy looking forward to using geothermal energy
While some environmentalists continue to argue against a new gas plant that would serve Austin Energy’s customers when the prices of electricity are at their peak, Mike Enger, the utility’s vice president for energy markets and resource planning, is looking…
Energy • By Jo Clifton • Nov 19, 2024
Winding, narrow Thornton Road to get more housing
After two unsuccessful attempts to update the zoning on some commercial property on a narrow South Austin street, the owners succeeded in getting City Council approval to rezone the property at 2313, 2315, 2401 and 2413 Thornton Road at the…
Zoning • By Jo Clifton • Nov 19, 2024
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Council gives first reading OK to major development on tiny slice of land
On a vote of 8-3, City Council last week approved on first reading a major change for a small sliver of property at 1209 W. Fifth St. The change would allow the developer to build up to 120 feet, a…
Zoning • By Jo Clifton • Nov 13, 2024
Jesús Garza disputes allegation that he violated city ethics rule
Consultants hired to investigate an ethics complaint against former interim City Manager Jesús Garza have concluded that he violated a city ethics regulation when engaging the services of former city employees Joe Canales and Laura Huffman without consulting City Council.…
City Hall • By Jo Clifton • Nov 12, 2024
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Legal questions cause delay in considering changes to petition rules
At Thursday’s City Council meeting, after hearing complaints from two attorneys that a proposed ordinance would violate state law and the city charter, Mayor Kirk Watson announced that the item would be withdrawn. The proposed ordinance would govern petitions for…
City Council • By Jo Clifton • Nov 8, 2024
Duchen clinches narrow win in District 10 election
Although the race was extremely close, at the end of Tuesday night Marc Duchen could claim victory in the District 10 City Council contest over his only opponent, Ashika Ganguly. Duchen finished with 20,731 votes to Ganguly’s 20,227, with only…
Elections • By Jo Clifton • Nov 5, 2024
Incumbents have fundraising edge in districts 2 and 4
Looking at fundraising in the final two City Council races not considered in previous reporting in the Austin Monitor, we see two reasonably popular incumbents with every reason to be optimistic about Tuesday’s election. Regardless of policies, an incumbent almost…
Elections • By Jo Clifton • Nov 1, 2024
New reports show PACs at work in Austin Council races
As everyone is keenly aware, there’s an important election coming up next week. Not just the federal contest, but also City Council races. The candidates have now turned in their final campaign finance reports before the Nov. 5 election. These…
Elections • By Jo Clifton • Oct 31, 2024
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