Stories by Seth Smalley
Environmental commissioners review emissions reduction plan
The Environmental Commission fielded discussion Tuesday on the Austin Emissions Reduction Plan. Phoebe Romero, the environmental program coordinator with the Office of Sustainability, presented alongside Christiane Alepuz, the services program coordinator with the Capital Area Council of Governments Regional Planning…
Environment • By Seth Smalley • May 7, 2021
As housing prices soar, corporations exploit legal paths to challenge appraisals
The Travis County Commissioners Court fielded a discussion Tuesday from the Travis Central Appraisal District that touched on a number of issues, from legislative outlook related to property appraisal reform to Austin’s meteoric growth and its effects on the state of…
Housing • By Seth Smalley • May 5, 2021
Capital Metro considers in-house police force
Last year, Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority CEO Randy Clarke asked the American Public Transportation Association to convene a peer review of Capital Metro’s public safety program, one of a variety of services provided by APTA. The methodology of the review…
Transit • By Seth Smalley • May 4, 2021
In Earth Day win, Environmental Commission sides with salamanders over developer
At its April 21 meeting, the Environmental Commission fielded discussion over a wastewater service extension request (SER) from a prospective developer of a property located at FM 620 and Anderson Mill Road. Kaela Champlin, an environmental program coordinator with the…
Planning • By Seth Smalley • Apr 30, 2021
Joint council mulls 'once in a generation' ARPA funding for region
The Commissioners Court joined City Council Tuesday to discuss the allocation of federal funding granted by the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act. Ralph Garboushian, a career municipal consultant, described the level of local funding from ARPA as “once in a…
Local Government • By Seth Smalley • Apr 28, 2021
Travis County Commissioners field 2020 sustainability report
Tom Gleason, sustainability project manager with Transportation and Natural Resources, presented the 2020 annual sustainability report to the Travis County Commissioners Court on Tuesday. While the report has historically focused on solid waste and TNR’s diversion efforts, it has expanded…
Resources • By Seth Smalley • Apr 26, 2021
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County launches Civilian Climate Corps to create green jobs
The Commissioners Court approved a resolution Tuesday to create the Travis County Civilian Climate Corps, sharing the goals of a city initiative created last May, the Austin Civilian Conservation Corps, to create green jobs and redress pandemic-era unemployment. Commissioners Anne…
Resources • By Seth Smalley • Apr 22, 2021
Like Batman, county commissioners waive ethics for greater good
Last Tuesday, the Commissioners Court discussed the prospect of waiving a section of the county ethics policy for the purpose of granting Ascension Seton a contract for the right to aid Travis County in its vaccine distribution efforts. The county…
Travis County • By Seth Smalley • Apr 19, 2021
Capital Metro shifts from 'surviving to thriving' in 2021
At the April 14 meeting of Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board of Directors, members reviewed operations performance statistics over the last year, covering topics ranging from total ridership to vehicle collision rates to promptness of Capital Metro vehicles. (Performance metrics…
Transit • By Seth Smalley • Apr 15, 2021
County prepares to launch emergency rental assistance program
County Executive Sherri Fleming spoke to the Commissioners Court on Tuesday to provide an update on the county’s emergency rental assistance program. She said Health and Human Services intends to begin outreach for the program on April 15. “We have…
Housing • By Seth Smalley • Apr 14, 2021
TxDOT wants to add four lanes to I-35, but a citizen work group is pushing 'BAC'
At the April 5 joint meeting of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory councils (BAC and PAC), members reviewed a Google doc detailing their recommendations to the Texas Department of Transportation regarding the I-35 Capital Express Project. The massive highway project proposes adding…
Roads • By Seth Smalley • Apr 12, 2021
Commissioners approve Road and Bridge Division's 2021 work plan
Following a brief presentation from Assistant Public Works Director David P. Hunter, the Travis County Commissioners Court unanimously passed the request to approve the Road and Bridge Division’s work plan for the 2021 fiscal year. Hunter’s presentation detailed the wide…
