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 […]
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Posted inEnvironment, Resources
New ozone standards may be challenge for Austin
The Austin area has a strong track record for meeting federal ground-level ozone standards, but a proposal to tighten regulations means that the region will likely have to work harder to stay in attainment. Failing to do so could make it more difficult for the city and its neighbors to achieve common transportation goals. That’s […]
Posted inResources, Water
Judges propose rollback in water rate case
A pair of administrative law judges appears to have dealt a major blow to the city of Austin in an ongoing water and wastewater rate case brought by a group of wholesale customers in 2013. The judges, Pratibha Shenoy and Beth Bierman, filed a proposal for decision to the Texas Public Utility Commission on July […]
Posted inParks, Resources
Parks Department sat on Metz Pool repair bid for nearly 6 months
Although the city’s Parks and Recreation Department ordered the repair of an East Austin neighborhood pool in late April, it appears that the department had bids for the work for some time. This, even as department officials initially told residents that the pool would have to be closed for the 2015 summer season and then […]
Posted inEnergy, Resources
Austin Energy projects $1 residential bill increase
According to current forecasts, the average residential Austin Energy customer will see his or her monthly bill increase this fall by 1 percent, or about $1. However, that number may change once the utility figures in cost data for May through July, when residents are likely to consume a lot of power. Austin Energy staff […]
Posted inEnergy, Resources
AE GM responds to AIBA call for demand charge change
Austin Energy General Manager Larry Weis responded on Thursday to Austin Independent Business Alliance Executive Director Rebecca Melançon’s request that the city change the utility’s policies on demand charges. “The policy on demand charges is based on Cost of Service and is consistent with policies of utilities operating under the jurisdiction of the Public Utility […]
Posted inResources, Water
Conservation district passes new guidelines
The Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District Board of Directors unanimously passed updated rules and bylaws governing 170 square miles of freshly annexed territory primarily in Hays County. The move came over objections from an attorney with Houston-based water supplier Electro Purification. “If you look at the rules, there are a number of places where you […]
Posted inParks, Resources
Communication breaks down between city and community over Sunken Garden tree removal
When the city of Austin’s Parks and Recreation Department decided to remove three trees from Sunken Garden, home to one of the three cardinal springs that feed Barton Springs, it did so before seeking community input — and now the feedback isn’t so favorable. Michael Fossum of the Austin Heritage Tree Foundation said it was not […]
Posted inEnergy, Resources
Local small-business alliance proposes energy policy change
Small-business owners often wrestle with financial uncertainty, and some have complained that Austin Energy policies contribute to that challenge. Rebecca Melançon, executive director of the Austin Independent Business Alliance, wrote a letter to City Council and Austin Energy management Monday proposing changes that she believes will improve the situation. Melançon’s primary request is that the […]
Posted inParks, Resources
Should Austin’s small parks be held to different standards?
The Parks and Recreation Department says it does not make sense to create a unique policy addressing pocket parks – small urban parks less than 2 acres in size – despite the challenges faced by locals who say it has taken too long to build one in the Hyde Park neighborhood. Ricardo Soliz, manager of […]
Posted inMonitor News & Media, Radio, Resources, Water
Austin Monitor Radio: Groundwater with BSEACD’s John Dupnik
Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District General Manager John Dupnik joins Monitor publisher Mike Kanin to talk groundwater, groundwater policy, and much more. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/213489751″ 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 inResources
Council wades deeper into drainage-fee issues
As City Council prepares to take action on restructuring the city’s drainage fee today, it is working through several issues that the current proposal presents for residents and property owners. That conversation continued at a special called meeting Tuesday. Council Member Ann Kitchen, who sits on the Public Utilities Committee, made a few suggestions based […]