Stories by Sunny Sone
AURA, UT group want to tear down wall, plant trees
Tear down that (West Campus) wall. The West Campus Wall – which runs along much of the University of Texas’ western edge, separating the campus from Guadalupe Street – has long been a symbol of UT’s isolation from the rest…
Austin • By Sunny Sone • Sep 10, 2015
Public information requests rely on the honor system at City Hall
The city of Austin handles public information requests on the honor system – without oversight to ensure those who are inquiring receive all the information they request. An investigation into how the honor system works found that public information requests to…
City Hall • By Sunny Sone • Aug 18, 2015
Private-party permitting process is a go
After several months without word on progress, a resolution to create a permit process for private parties is moving forward. The resolution, passed last October, was in response to neighborhood complaints about parties in the West Campus area near the…
Music & Entertainment • By Sunny Sone • Jul 3, 2015
Alcohol waiver approved, policy review promised
City Council approved an alcohol waiver for a planned Tiny Boxwoods restaurant on 35th Street at its meeting Thursday but not without giving the subject serious scrutiny and planning a discussion on Council’s larger policy in committee. Council approved the waiver 10-1,…
City Council • By Sunny Sone • Jun 22, 2015
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Closed captioning costs city $10,000 per month
Austin’s switch to a 10-1 government is costing the city money in unexpected areas. At a budget work session Wednesday, the city’s Support Services Department forecasted a $131,000 expenditure increase to fund ATXN, the city’s government access channel, as a result of…
City Council • By Sunny Sone • Jun 11, 2015
Council increases CodeNEXT advisory group, ANC still chagrined
The Land Development Code rewrite team is about to get a lot more voices. City Council voted unanimously Thursday to increase the size of the CodeNEXT Citizen Advisory Group at its regular meeting. This resolution, sponsored by Council Member Greg…
City Council • By Sunny Sone • May 25, 2015
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Property tax system messed up; nobody happy
A property tax appraisal forum hosted by Travis County Commissioner Brigid Shea on Tuesday told two sides of the same story: No one is happy with the property tax system. The forum, Shea’s second, included a panel of city officials…
Austin • By Sunny Sone • May 21, 2015
BBB: UT med school and innovation district recap
A panel consisting of University of Texas Medical School Dean Clay Johnston, Mayor Pro Tem Kathie Tovo, Central Health President and CEO Patricia Young Brown and Civic Analytics’ Brian Kelsey on Tuesday night expressed optimism about and aired concerns for the…
Austin • By Sunny Sone • Apr 29, 2015
Austin Energy bad debt increases (corrected)
Austin Energy’s customer debt is skyrocketinghas risen. From September 2014 to the end of March, the electric utility’sAustin Energy’s bad debt — or bills unlikely to ever be collected — increased more than 300 percent, from $20.8 million to more…
Energy • By Sunny Sone • Apr 24, 2015
Change is focus of Adler's first State of the City
Change was the name of the game at Mayor Steve Adler’s first State of the City address. Adler discussed a wide range of issues but focused on two of Austin’s most prominent problems — mobility and affordability — and floated several…
Austin • By Sunny Sone • Apr 14, 2015
Police to enforce noise ordinance during RoundUp
The Austin Police Department says it will enforce the city’s noise ordinance in the West Campus area during the University of Texas RoundUp festivities, scheduled for this weekend. RoundUp is a nationally known weekend of parties and live performances put…
Austin • By Sunny Sone • Mar 27, 2015
Zimmerman, Clean Air panel clash over EPA letter
After verbal clashes between Austin City Council Member Don Zimmerman and Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt, the Central Texas Clean Air Coalition approved its version of a draft letter to the Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday about possible changes in…
