Based on comments that a few City Council members made at Thursday’s budget work session, it appears that a proposed citywide, curbside organics collection rollout could get transformed into an opt-in program – if it remains in the forthcoming city budget at all. “I think it’s great for people who want to use it,” said […]
Tyler Whitson
Posted inEnergy
Council committee asks for ambitious solar plan
Solar advocates have scored a minor victory in their push for Austin to invest heavily in solar energy and to do it fast. The Austin Energy Utility Oversight Committee recommended Thursday that City Council direct staff to bring a plan forward for Council consideration by October that would involve the city investing in 600 megawatts […]
Posted inEnergy
Pressure mounts to change demand charge policy
As City Council comes closer to adopting the budget for the upcoming fiscal year, members of the public are stepping up their requests for amendments. One such push reached a turning point last week when the Electric Utility Commission passed a resolution recommending that Council change Austin Energy’s demand charge policies for small businesses in […]
Posted inResources
Citywide compost pickup may be on the way
The blue recycling bin that many Austinites leave on their curbs may soon have a counterpart – a green organics collection bin. While a citywide compost pickup program boasts obvious environmental benefits, it would come at a cost to taxpayers, and that is a conflict that City Council will be wrestling with as it prepares […]
Posted inTransit
Cap Metro delays hiring service plan consultant
After hearing conflicting advice on which firm to choose, the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority board of directors voted unanimously Monday to postpone selecting a consultant to head up the development of the organization’s 10-year service plan. The board will take up the issue again at a meeting on Sept. 14. The plan, which is updated […]
Posted inBudget
Minorities, low-income residents top budget amendment requests
With city budget season in full swing, dozens of Austinites took to the podium at City Hall during a public hearing Thursday to ask City Council to amend the proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year to include more services that benefit minorities, children and low-income residents. Common requests included increasing investments in health and […]
Posted inWhispers
Travis County, AISD will likely keep drainage charge exemptions this year
Travis County and Austin Independent School District representatives concerned about losing their city drainage charge exemptions likely breathed a sigh of relief on Wednesday when the City Council Public Utilities Committee dropped an unofficial proposal to remove the exemptions for counties, school districts and tax-exempt religious organizations with property in the city. After hearing from […]
Posted inWhispers
Anti-fluoridation resolution dies before reaching Council
A push to end community water fluoridation in Austin ended Wednesday at a joint meeting of the City Council Public Utilities Committee and Health and Human Services Committee. After hearing arguments from fluoridation advocates and opponents, Council Member Don Zimmerman, a member of the Public Utilities Committee, questioned evidence that fluoridation provides dental benefits and […]
Posted inEMS
City may shorten ambulance provider workweeks
Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services ambulance providers are under a lot of strain as they try to keep up with population growth and an increasing number of special events, but a new proposal could reduce some of that pressure. On Aug. 12, City Council discussed the possibility of amending the proposed Fiscal Year 2015-16 budget […]
Posted inWhispers
Springdale Farm debate likely back at Council this week
Prior to taking their first stab at the long-running conflict over outdoor entertainment at Springdale Farm, several City Council members indicated in a work session Tuesday that they will likely deny a request to postpone Thursday’s public hearing and will also likely shorten public comment. “I think the public should know that, one, my sense […]
Posted inCourts
PUC hears arguments in water, wastewater case
The Public Utility Commission of Texas heard oral arguments Friday from attorneys representing the city of Austin as well as those representing a group of wholesale Austin Water utility customers who have challenged post-2012 water and wastewater rate increases. Rather than take action, the commissioners opted to take some additional time to digest the details […]
Posted inBudget
Council scrutinizes proposed police officer increase
City Council members spent over an hour Wednesday grilling Austin Police Department Chief Art Acevedo and other APD staff on the department’s proposed Fiscal Year 2015-16 budget, zeroing in on a plan to add 82 sworn police officers to the force at a cost of $6.6 million. Several Council members appeared hesitant about the costs […]