Stories by Michelle Jimenez
Hypnotists under consideration by county leaders
Travis County employees who want to kick their smoking habit could get hypnotized, free of cost, under a proposed pilot program with Baylor University. Dr. Hari Dhir, medical director of the Travis County Employee Wellness and Health Clinic, asked…
Uncategorized • By Michelle Jimenez • Jul 14, 2010
City Manager and others visit California to vet Austin Energy candidate
City Manager Marc Ott was scheduled to spend today in California, along with a group of Austin community members, to visit the utility run by Larry Weis, now Ott’s top pick to head Austin Energy. According to the city’s…
Uncategorized • By Michelle Jimenez • Jul 14, 2010
Ott tells Council that Weis is his choice to run Austin Energy
City Manager Marc Ott has decided Larry Weis is the best fit to become Austin Energy’s next general manager. He told City Council members and others in e-mail late Friday, “I have concluded that Larry Weis, from the Turlock…
Uncategorized • By Michelle Jimenez • Jul 13, 2010
Travis County’s financial limitations mean shortened budget process
With little room in the budget for new spending next year, Travis County Commissioners have directed staff to again significantly shorten the 2011 budget process. Instead of seven days of hearings, during which departments can plead their case for…
Uncategorized • By Michelle Jimenez • Jul 12, 2010
Efficient lighting coming to 60 city buildings through stimulus money
The city is making the Palmer Events Center a greener place thanks to $7.5 million in federal stimulus money that officials are using to make municipal buildings more energy efficient. The city announced this week that it has begun…
Uncategorized • By Michelle Jimenez • Jul 8, 2010
County development decisions delayed by commissioners
Questions about who should manage the renovations to the first two floors of a newly acquired high-rise were among the issues that led Travis County commissioners to hold off on a decision about the project on Tuesday. The county…
Uncategorized • By Michelle Jimenez • Jul 7, 2010
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Business, environmental panels split over Austin Energy candidates
Depending on the interest group, the two finalists for the job of general manager of Austin Energy either are experienced candidates who can lead the utility through future growing pains or aren’t qualified enough to play in the big leagues…
Uncategorized • By Michelle Jimenez • Jul 2, 2010
Public meets Austin Energy candidates
More than 100 people packed a room at Austin Energy headquarters Wednesday evening to meet and ask questions of the two remaining finalists in competition to become the city-owned utility’s next general manager. Larry Weis, general manager and chief…
Uncategorized • By Michelle Jimenez • Jul 1, 2010
County plans downtown campus design
It’s a given that Travis County officials will consider cost when selecting one of three potential designs for a central downtown campus. But there are a host of other factors county commissioners will take into account in the coming…
Uncategorized • By Michelle Jimenez • Jul 1, 2010
Partnership with YMCA reflects future for Parks Department
If the city can ink an agreement with the YMCA, North Austin residents will get a bigger, better recreation center than originally planned in 2006, when voters approved issuing bonds for the project. That’s the way city staff members…
Uncategorized • By Michelle Jimenez • Jun 30, 2010
Candidate withdraws from Austin Energy interviews; more meetings set
Ronald Davis, one of three candidates named as a finalist for Austin Energy’s general manager position, has withdrawn his candidacy, the recruitment firm handling the selection process confirmed Monday afternoon. City Manager Marc Ott alerted Mayor Lee Leffingwell and…
Uncategorized • By Michelle Jimenez • Jun 29, 2010
One of three finalists for utility general manager steps out of ring
Ronald Davis, one of three finalists for Austin Energy’s general manager position has withdrawn his candidacy, the recruitment firm handling the selection process confirmed Monday afternoon. Davis is general manager of Burbank Water and Power, a community-owned utility that…
