New SWS director plans to achieve Zero Waste a decade early

If a proposed acceleration in the schedule for the city’s Zero Waste initiative is adopted, 90 percent of the city’s waste stream would be diverted to destinations other than a landfill by 2030, rather than the Council mandated deadline of…

Uncategorized • By Michael Kanin • Jul 20, 2010

Leffingwell leaning against proposed settlement in APD shooting

Mayor Lee Leffingwell said Monday “at this point I’m leaning against” a $750,000 settlement for the family of Nathaniel Sanders. The Sanders family sued the City of Austin and APD Officer Leonardo Quintana alleging wrongful death in the police shooting…

Uncategorized • By Austin Monitor • Jul 20, 2010

City audit report says purchasing office employee risky for city

In response to a request from a City Council member, the city auditor’s office has determined that the reinstatement of a previously terminated Purchasing Office employee presents a risk to the city. That information came out Friday in the form…

Uncategorized • By Josh Rosenblatt • Jul 19, 2010

PUD for lone family on 53 acres gets ZAP approval

The Bull Creek Planned Unit Development is one that city planners have talked about for months as the project wended its way through the approval process.   That wasn’t because Bull Creek was complicated, like the East Avenue PUD on…

Uncategorized • By Kimberly Reeves • Jul 19, 2010

County to tap reserve fund to pay for court-appointed attorneys

The county program that provides legal representation to defendants is short on cash and will receive $600,000 from a reserve fund to help get it through the fiscal year.   Travis County Commissioners approved the transfer on Tuesday to pay…

Uncategorized • By Michelle Jimenez • Jul 16, 2010

Citizens say no to Formula 1 funding, police overtime in online budget survey

Austinites suggestions’ for how to cut the city budget, made in recent weeks in an online survey, range from the practical to the radical. Some of the top suggestions call for cuts in funding festivals and Formula 1 racetracks, while…

Uncategorized • By Michael Kanin • Jul 16, 2010

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City hires recruitment firm to find new animal services officer

The city is now one big step closer to finding its next animal shelter director. Yesterday, city staff introduced the Animal Advisory Commission to the head of the recruitment firm that has been hired to find a replacement for former…

Uncategorized • By Josh Rosenblatt • Jul 15, 2010

Aquifer district may dip into reserves to make budget for coming year

Kirk Holland, general manager of the Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Water Conservation District, gave the board of directors a balanced preliminary budget last week.   The problem? Holland had to look to reserve funds, to the tune of $208,000, to get…

Uncategorized • By Michelle Jimenez • Jul 15, 2010

Details emerge about costs of rail river crossing

The cost of a new bridge connecting downtown and south Austin via urban rail has been budgeted for as much as $36.8 million. If built, such a structure could feature space for rail, bus, and pedestrian and bicycle access.  …

Uncategorized • By Michael Kanin • Jul 15, 2010

Downtown Mixed Use zoning praised in some neighborhoods

Ted Siff of the Austin Original Neighborhood Association assured the Planning Commission last night that downtown mixed-use zoning had saved his neighborhood, not hurt it.   History has tended to teach the members of the Planning Commission that upzoning rarely…

Uncategorized • By Kimberly Reeves • Jul 14, 2010

Hypnotists under consideration by county leaders

Travis County employees who want to kick their smoking habit could get hypnotized, free of cost, under a proposed pilot program with Baylor University.   Dr. Hari Dhir, medical director of the Travis County Employee Wellness and Health Clinic, asked…

Uncategorized • By Michelle Jimenez • Jul 14, 2010

City Manager and others visit California to vet Austin Energy candidate

City Manager Marc Ott was scheduled to spend today in California, along with a group of Austin community members, to visit the utility run by Larry Weis, now Ott’s top pick to head Austin Energy.   According to the city’s…

Uncategorized • By Michelle Jimenez • Jul 14, 2010

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