Though there is a push to increase some parts of Austin Energy’s low-income weatherization program, there is at least one part of that program that no one was clamoring to save at Wednesday’s budget session. Activist Paul Robbins started the conversation about revamping Austin’s low-income weatherization program in the next year, and provided City Council […]
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Posted inLocal Politics, Resources
Council postpones action on hauler ordinance
Following complaints from stakeholders, City Council voted on Thursday to postpone action on a measure known as the “hauler ordinance,” which would amend city code regarding the private solid waste collection program. It also postponed action on amendments to administrative rules associated with that code. Council will reconsider the issue at its Nov. 6 meeting […]
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Austin Monitor Radio, Show 14: Austin Energy
Mike Kanin talks with Austin Energy COO Cheryl Mele about utility operations, rates, just-passed new emissions standards and more. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/166097858″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /]
Posted inLocal Politics, Resources
Few speakers return for delayed budget hearings
Affordability and equity topped the list of concerns that citizens raised Friday during public hearings on the budget, tax rate and utility rates for Fiscal Year 2015. The majority of citizens who had signed up to speak during the hearings were not present, likely because City Council had originally scheduled the hearings for Thursday’s regular […]
Posted inLocal Politics, Resources
Update: Council motion to reconsider fails, business group reacts to new mandate
Late Friday afternoon, Council Member Bill Spelman asked his colleagues to reconsider their actions on a resolution by Council Member Chris Riley that instructs Austin Energy to greatly increase their renewable resources — specifically solar — and work toward eliminating the Decker Creek Power Plant as a result of the city’s concern about greenhouse gas […]
Posted inEnvironment, Local Politics, Resources
Riley resolution passes in chaotic Council finish
Update: An Austin Energy official told the Monitor early Friday morning that they had left Council chambers for home after Council members passed a resolution to recess the meeting until noon today. A twisting, chaotic end to Austin City Council’s Thursday meeting resulted in fast passage of two Austin Energy-related items — one that had […]
Posted inResources
AISD funding situation dire, panel hears
On the second day back in school for students, Austin Independent School District Chief Financial Officer Nicole Conley briefed the Council Audit and Finance Committee on the severe financial challenges the district is facing. Or, as Council Member Laura Morrison put it: “You refer to it as a challenge. But, for me, it seems like […]
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Central Health’s 2015 budget up 8.8 percent
If you think your health care bill is big and confusing, check out the one at Central Health. The Travis County’s health care district brought its Fiscal Year 2015 budget to the Commissioner’s Court Tuesday with an 8.8 percent increase over last year’s budget. The main culprits for the larger amounts are construction of the […]
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AE officials deeply concerned over Riley resolution
Austin Energy General Manager Larry Weis told the Monitor Tuesday morning that a resolution from Council Member Chris Riley would be a negative for the utility. “This IFC speaks to actually acting, to actually carrying out and acting — and this is a real similar set of circumstances that got us into making a decision […]
Posted inResources
Riley, Tovo resolutions push AE energy agenda
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 […]
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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 […]