Austin homeowners hoping to build accessory dwelling units on their properties now have a better chance of being able to do so, based on new rules that City Council passed on Thursday. The measure reducing restrictions on accessory dwelling units, or ADUs, in the Land Development Code passed on a 7-4 vote. Mayor Pro Tem […]
Tyler Whitson
Posted inWhispers
Council to consider new food truck fee
City Council discussed a new $50 registration fee for “central preparation facilities” for food trucks and other mobile food vendors at a work session on Tuesday ahead of a vote scheduled for Thursday. Council Member Ora Houston, who chairs the Council Health and Human Services Committee, noted that the body recommended the new fee in […]
Posted inWhispers
Council to consider Rocky Mountain Institute agreement
At today’s meeting, City Council will consider authorizing a co-development agreement with the nonprofit Rocky Mountain Institute to carry out a “mobility transformation” program to combat Austin’s traffic problems. Greg Rucks, a principal with the organization, said at a Monday meeting of the Council Mobility Committee that, within the next year, he hopes to have […]
Posted inWhispers
LCRA approves downstream reservoir contract
In response to the ongoing drought that has created friction between Central Texas cities and rice farmers in the Lower Colorado River Basin, the Lower Colorado River Authority has signed a $174 million contract to build its first major reservoir since the first half of the 20th century. The organization’s board of directors approved the […]
Posted inWater
LCRA lowers water rate for cities, municipalities
The Lower Colorado River Authority is “making it rain” – savings, that is. The river authority’s board of directors approved a proposal on Wednesday to lower water rates for “firm” customers, typically cities and municipalities in Central Texas, starting in January. The measure will undo this year’s drought-related increase, dropping rates from $175 to $145 […]
Posted inLand Development Code
Council mulls granny flats, garage apartments
Ahead of a Thursday vote that could loosen rules for building accessory dwelling units such as granny flats and garage apartments, City Council debated the potential benefits and risks of the move at a work session on Tuesday. Council Member Greg Casar, who chairs the Planning and Neighborhoods Committee and has recently led the effort […]
Posted inWhispers
Committee recommends $21.8 million mobility plan
After hearing staff’s recommendations on how the city could best spend the remaining $21.8 million in mobility dollars left in the quarter-cent fund collected from the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the City Council Mobility Committee recommended on Monday that Council move forward with splitting up most of the money by district. The committee passed a […]
Posted inEnergy
Consultant endorses gas plant after study
Navigant Consulting, which the city hired to review the 500 megawatt natural gas plant proposed in the Austin Energy generation plan, has recommended the project. Dan Bradley and Matt Tanner, two of the report’s authors, presented the results at an Electric Utility Commission meeting on Monday evening, a few hours after Austin Energy released the […]
Posted inTransportation
List of proposed Uber, Lyft rules gets longer
In the midst of a heated debate about requirements for fingerprint background checks and fees for transportation network companies such as Uber and Lyft, the City Council Mobility Committee has tossed a slew of additional proposals into the pot. The committee recommended the Austin Transportation Department proposals to Council in front of a packed house […]
Posted inWhispers
Austin receives bicycle-friendly city award
The League of American Bicyclists has awarded Austin with a gold “Bicycle Friendly Community” award in recognition of the city’s efforts to make bicycling a more accessible transportation option to people of all ages and comfort levels. The city will hold a press conference this morning at 8:30 a.m. with remarks from Mayor Steve Adler, […]
Posted inEnergy
Samsung, Freescale reject new energy tariff terms
Samsung Austin Semiconductor and Freescale Semiconductor – Austin Energy’s largest customers – have rejected the contract terms of a new tariff that City Council unanimously passed on Thursday. Catherine Morse and John Holmes, representing Samsung and Freescale, respectively, issued a statement on Friday. “After several hours in executive session and without public debate, our Council […]
Posted inWhispers
Council approves special energy rate for largest customers
Following a lengthy closed meeting, City Council adopted a new tariff Thursday that applies to Austin Energy’s largest industrial customers, with little discussion on the dais. “I understand, now, the staff’s rationale for creating this particular tariff for these customers, and I believe there are good policy reasons for doing so,” said Mayor Pro Tem […]