Michael Kanin

After listening to testimony Thursday, the Council voted to extend the franchise agreements of Austin Cab and Yellow Cab Company for another five years—overruling recommendations of staff and the Urban Transportation Commission. As part of the action, Mayor Pro Tem Mike Martinez attached an extension for Lone Star Cab, which would lengthen that firm’s agreement […]

A proposal from the City of Austin’s Health and Human Services Department (HHSD) could dramatically alter the way the city’s growing mobile food vendor industry operates. If enacted, the set of regulations pitched by HHSD and other city departments would add several layers of new permitting processes and nearly double the price for setting up […]

The City Council got a less-than-rosy picture of the projected state of the city’s budget at yesterday’s Financial Forecast presentation. But there was hope on the horizon, with clear indications that the worst of the recession may be behind us and that the city of Austin may have escaped with fewer bruises than other municipalities […]

Texas Disposal Systems’ (TDS) roundabout bid to take part in the City of Austin’s effort to construct a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) just won’t die. Despite denials of a rebirth for TDS’ proposal from City Hall, at least one insider believes that the controversial pitch is still generating some level of interest.    “I know […]

The recently hired director of Austin’s Solid Waste Services department, Bob Gedert, would like to turn the city into a Silicon Valley for green industry. He presented his vision, which calls for a comprehensive local support system for eco-industrial development that could produce a host of employment options for Austinites, to the Council Committee for […]

The updated proposal for a so-dubbed bicycle boulevard that would be located in downtown Austin took hits from all sides as it made its debut before the city’s Urban Transportation Commission (UTC) on Tuesday. Though the happy middle did make itself heard at the hearing, speakers from both the League of Bicycling Voters  (LOBV) and […]

A battle over a West Campus construction project has exposed lingering issues in city staff’s interpretation of rules meant to govern home remodeling. The conflict, which pits developer Mitch Ely against the Original West University Neighborhood Association, seems destined for an eventual Council debate — and perhaps a court date.   All this action comes […]

An update of Austin Energy’s Resource, Generation, and Climate Protection Plan will include a few changes as the utility’s roadmap to 2020 heads for an April 22 City Council vote. Austin Energy Interim General Manager Robert Goode told Council Members on Thursday that these would include adjustments to his department’s forecasts for system load and […]

For some time, residents living near Airport Boulevard between the I-35 interchange and Lamar Boulevard have been calling for denser development. According to city officials, one development option for the corridor is a building code enshrining process known as “form-based code.” If completed, such a redesign could result in a much different feel for the […]

According to the testimony of federal, state, and local officials, the City of Austin has more than 2,000 gang members and is being used as a command and control center for drug organizations. On top of that, Travis County has been designated as a High Intensity Drug Area (HIDA) by the office of National Drug […]

Advocates for the disabled remain concerned that the construction of 350 affordable housing units through the city’s bond program could result in institution-like conditions for a portion of that community. Their apprehension comes despite a February report that aimed to address two of their major concerns.   Prepared by the Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH), […]

As In Fact Daily first reported this morning, the City of Austin has confirmed that Austin Water Utility (AWU) Deputy Director Perwez Moheet has been placed on administrative leave. The action appears to be the result of a botched process in appointing seven officials in AWU’s Pipeline Operations Division.   Those placements and the circumstances […]