Stories by Josh Rosenblatt
Commission may recommend charter revision for Austin Energy
Longtime Electric Utility Commissioner Shudde Fath is pushing for a charter revision election this November to allow Austin Energy to emulate San Antonio’s municipally owned CPS Energy. As part of their June 7 vote on the electric rate increase, Council…
Uncategorized • By Josh Rosenblatt • Jun 20, 2012
Council still looking for better wheelchair-accessible taxi service
Austin’s three major taxi companies are not serving the needs of the city’s disabled citizens, and it appears the only way they’re going to do so is if the city changes the criteria for handing out special permits and sets…
Uncategorized • By Josh Rosenblatt • Jun 19, 2012
Imagine Austin pushes Council deep into the night
Final edition: Council unanimously voted to adopt the Imagine Austin Plan shortly after 1am this morning. The Council rejected staff’s suggestion that they retain SH45SW as a dotted line to indicate that it may be built, signaling Austin’s continued opposition…
Uncategorized • By Josh Rosenblatt • Jun 15, 2012
Redrawing of Trail West development raises neighbors’ suspicions
The redrawing of boundaries for a proposed single-family development in the Oak Hill area has only increased skepticism between the developer and a local homeowners’ association. The property, a 12.5-acre stretch of unspoiled green space in the city’s southwest corner…
Uncategorized • By Josh Rosenblatt • Jun 14, 2012
Council members present first single-member plans
Mayor Lee Leffingwell and Council Member Mike Martinez presented proposals on Tuesday to change the city’s election system to adopt a geographic representation model. During the City Council work session they said they plan to bring the competing proposals to…
Uncategorized • By Josh Rosenblatt • Jun 13, 2012
Divided Council OKs rules for short-term rentals
Just after midnight, after nearly four hours of public input, Council voted 5-2 to approve on first reading a compromise plan to regulate short-term property rentals. Council Members Laura Morrison and Kathie Tovo voted no. The plan, put forth by…
Uncategorized • By Josh Rosenblatt • Jun 8, 2012
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Tovo: Could changing Seaholm parking save Green trees?
The battle to save seven large trees facing destruction as part of the development of what once was the Green Water Treatment Plant spilled into the debate over the future of the neighboring Seaholm Power Plant at Tuesday’s City Council…
Uncategorized • By Josh Rosenblatt • Jun 6, 2012
Conservation success, more rain could ease water restrictions
A presentation of the Austin Water Utility’s FY13 financial forecast during Council’s budget work session this week became a discussion about the possibility of easing watering restrictions. Austin is currently under Stage 2 drought restrictions, the consequence of the 2011…
Uncategorized • By Josh Rosenblatt • May 11, 2012
Council debates community-benefit standards for development deals
Highlighted by major economic development deals with Apple Inc. and U.S. Farathane, FY2012 was a big year for the city’s Economic Growth and Redevelopment Services Office. At yesterday’s budget forecast presentation, City Council members wanted to make sure FY2013 is…
Uncategorized • By Josh Rosenblatt • May 10, 2012
Audit points out problems with how HHS handles contracts
An audit of HIV grant contracts with the Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services from the last three years has turned up numerous inconsistencies, weaknesses, and failures, not to mention misunderstandings between city departments concerning proper adherence to the city’s…
Uncategorized • By Josh Rosenblatt • May 7, 2012
HHS requesting $2.1 million to satisfy commitments in FY2013
After a year spent dealing with reduced federal funds and a new competitive-bid social service contract process, the Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department is heading into FY2013 requesting more than $2 million to address unmet needs and slightly…
Uncategorized • By Josh Rosenblatt • May 3, 2012
Council OKs restricting where ‘payday lenders’ can do business
Council members took another big step forward in the regulation of controversial payday lending institutions at their meeting last week, unanimously approving the kind of geographic dispersal guidelines critics claim are needed to reduce dependency on the businesses in working-class…
