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Quote of the Day
“It’s a shovel-ready, for-rent multifamily development.. And if you’re wondering if we’ll be on it… Well, I shouldn’t say this, but we’ll be on it like a tick on a dog when it comes to enforcing that restrictive covenant.”
— OWANA President Steve Amos, from West Sixth Street neighbors endorse industrial zoning.
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Legislature watchers report to Council
From Jo Clifton:
Rogers highlighted “serveral overarching issues” that could be a concern to local governments. These include attempts to preempt the authority of Texas cities when it comes to things like regulating guns or raising taxes and securing funds through debt instruments.
In a memo to mayor and Council, Rogers also noted that items of special concern during this legislative session relate to funding for critical infrastructure. For example. Legislature watchers noted that some bills would look at all city funding as a whole, as opposed to separating taxes from user fees for electricity, water and airport operations.
West Sixth Street neighbors endorse industrial zoning
From Miles Wall:
The proposed zoning change would see a cluster of addresses on that corner currently developed under commercial mixed-use zoning updated to a zoning of LI-PDA, or “limited industrial service-planned development area” zoning, in service of a development slated to consist of around 297 units and 21,000 square feet of retail space.
As part of that deal, the broad latitude for development offered by the zoning would be tempered by a private restrictive covenant between the developer and the Old West Austin Neighborhood Association. The agreement imposes requirements for either 10 percent of units at 50 percent of the Median Family Income or 12 percent at 60 percent MFI and a number of other conditions related to the design and use of any resulting development.
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Questions Arise About Increased Deaths in Shelter’s Care
An average of 25 animals die per month in Austin Animal Center’s care, but until this point AAC has been able to maintain Austin’s 95 percent live release rate commitment.
The rate is calculated annually, not monthly – but for the last two months in a row the rate has been under 95 percent. In June, 40 animals died in AAC’s care, lowering that number to 89 perecnt.
At the Animal Advisory Commission meeting, Shelley Lieberman, a cat volunteer at AAC, posited some theories as to why these deaths have been increasing: “How many deaths could have been prevented if we had enough vet techs? Could we have prevented suffering by performing humane euthanasia? 23 of the 54 were adult cats, so almost half of this number can’t be attributed to neonatal kittens. These numbers are just very concerning to me.”
AAC staff responded during the meeting that the pattern of deaths is cyclical – usually in the late spring, early summer, more animals are coming to the shelter, and in addition, AAC is no longer open intake due to capacity issues, and is thus more likely to be taking only high-risk emergency cases.
— Lina Fisher
Austin Launches Marketing Campaign to Boost Foster Participation
Elizabeth Ferrer, Austin Animal Center’s public information and marketing manager, outlined a new communications framework, which is part of a three-year PR plan that is intended to support their 2025 strategic plan. The plan involves improving internal communications with staff and volunteers, emphasizing getting info out to people who speaking languages other than English, and improving communication with the public to “help pet owners find resources to hopefully keep their animal or help us find another person that can take care of that animal before it comes into the shelter,” said Rolando Fernandez, Interim Chief Animal Services Officer.
“We also have all these wonderful services that we’re providing behind the scenes that people aren’t aware of,” Ferrer explained. “For quite a while, we’ve kind of been in a defensive posture, and that, although that has served a need, we also have some great things to be proud of.”
— Lina Fisher
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Elsewhere in the News
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport continues to look for solutions to ongoing staffing issues.
Downtown Austin Alliance has a new app
Axios warns of ongoing dangers in local lakes, post-flooding.
And KUT ponders a world where there’s swimming in Lady Bird Lake
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