City Council will vote on two energy resolutions this week that would direct the City Manager to task Austin Energy with starting the process for implementing recommendations from the Austin Generation Resource Planning Task Force’s July report, despite the utility’s reservations about its overall affordability. The items are listed on the addendum to Thursday’s regular City […]
Environment
Posted inResources
AE responds to task force recommendations
Austin Energy has responded to the Austin Generation Resource Planning Task Force’s wish list of carbon emission goals, calling it “not workable” if the utility is to meet City Council’s yearly affordability targets. Austin Energy Deputy General Manager Cheryl Mele made the statement in a memo released Friday, alongside Austin Energy’s preliminary response to the […]
Posted inPublic Safety, Resources
Increasing child abuse/neglect cases strain courts
Representatives of Travis County children and parents involved in legal abuse and neglect cases have only 10-minute judicial hearings to present evidence of their safety and living situations, according to county civil court judges. County attorneys for indigent children and parents say their caseloads are to the point that they must hire private attorneys to help […]
Posted inPremium Types
TipSheet: Travis County Commissioners
The Travis County Commissioners Court meets at 9 a.m. Tuesday. In the interest of space, we’ve decided not to post the entire agenda here. The County Clerk’s office hosts a copy at its website. Items of interest for Commissioners Court include: 23. CONSIDER AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION ON A PROJECT PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT WITH THE U.S. […]
Posted inDevelopment, Environment
The return of the Great Disc Golf Debate
The Pease Park Master Plan has opened old wounds in Austin’s disc golf community. In 2010, the city shut down the park’s disc golf course. Four years later, outrage over its closing persists. A recommendation to keep the course closed was met with vocal opposition at the Environmental Board on Wednesday. On the other side, […]
Posted inPremium Types
TipSheet: Audit and Finance Committee
The Council Audit and Finance Committee meets at 11 am Wednesday. In the interest of space, we’ve decided not to post the entire agenda here. The city hosts a copy at its website. Items of interest for Wednesday’s meeting include: 3. Staff presentations on financial planning for each taxing jurisdiction in the City of Austin […]
Posted inEnvironment, Local Government
LCRA delays vote on water management plan
Despite pleas from stakeholders to take swift action to protect lakes Buchanan and Travis from drought conditions, the Lower Colorado River Authority board of directors voted Wednesday to postpone a decision that would have moved the water management process forward. Board members said they wanted to give the public more time to study the plan. […]
Posted inLocal Politics, Resources
City Council closing in on a final budget
City Council didn’t pull any punches at the start of Tuesday’s budget session, setting next year’s tax rate before anyone’s coffee had time to cool. Council members voted unanimously to adopt the tax rate of 48.09 cents per $100 taxable value, which is in line with the budget proposed by City Manager Marc Ott. The […]
Posted inResources
Council debates Pitch and Putt contract
Though City Council members started out Tuesday intending to talk about the entire Parks and Recreation Department budget, most of their discussion Tuesday centered on the possibility that Butler Park Pitch and Putt could change management in the near future. Parks and Recreation Director Sara Hensley told Council her department will open the city-owned facility’s operating […]
Posted inEnvironment
Environmental Board nixes variance for tram
Though there was some debate, Environmental Board members in the end voted against granting a variance that would have allowed building a tram along Lake Austin. The board had already rejected a request at its previous meeting for a variance from the homeowners at 3961 Westlake Drive that would allow second access to Lake Austin. […]
Posted inResources
Electric Utility Commission approves AE budget
Austin residents can expect higher electric rates in the coming year, but low-income utility customers may get a few more breaks. The Austin Electric Utility Commission met Monday to approve the utility’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2015 and discuss ways to help customers who have defaulted on their payments get out of debt. The city […]
Posted inElections, Resources
No ballot question on Onion Creek buyout
The question of whether Austin should buy out 240 at-risk homes in the Onion Creek floodplain will not go before voters in November. During a special called meeting Friday, Austin City Council voted 5-1 against putting the buyout proposal on the November ballot via public improvement bonds. Council Member Chris Riley said the […]