Austin Energy leader insists utility is resilient

While Sidney Jackson, Austin Energy’s deputy general manager and COO, told City Council the “system is resilient,” utility customers who went without power for three days might disagree. By Saturday night, power had been restored to 88 percent of the…

Energy • By Jo Clifton • Jun 2, 2021

Council to increase homestead exemptions, tax rate ceiling

City Council plans to vote this week on three items affecting Austinites’ property taxes. Two measures would give homeowners modest property tax relief through increased homestead exemption rates. The third measure would effectively set a higher maximum property tax rate,…

City Council • By Jonathan Lee • Jun 2, 2021

Council to consider loan for Airport Hilton

When Austin’s airport lost 63 percent of its passengers last year due to Covid-19, the Airport Hilton lost 60 percent of its business. Now, Austin-Bergstrom Landhost Enterprises, or ABLE, the nonprofit corporation that operates the hotel, is asking for City…

Austin • By Jo Clifton • Jun 2, 2021

City staff ask for more time, direction on Austin's plan to set up homeless encampments

A preliminary plan to set up encampments on city-owned land in Austin has hit a snag. City Council directed city staffers to identify land for temporary camps last month after voters reinstated the ban on public encampments. The initial list was met with pushback, so…

City Council • By Andrew Weber, KUT • Jun 2, 2021

Waterloo Greenway seeks alcohol permit before its August debut

A decade after closing for Waller Creek tunnel repairs, Waterloo Park, which once stretched along the shadows of state-owned parking garages, has morphed into the renovated and rebranded Waterloo Greenway, poised to reopen in August. The once no-frills park, home…

Parks • By Amy Smith • Jun 1, 2021

Planning Commission supports latest East Austin VMU rezoning

The Planning Commission last Tuesday recommended approval of a rezoning to allow a 126-unit multifamily building at 1200-1208 Springdale Road. The developer requests Vertical Mixed Use (-V) zoning, which would allow more units, on top of the current Community Commercial-Mixed…

Zoning • By Jonathan Lee • Jun 1, 2021

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Bill penalizing Texas cities that cut funding for police heads to governor's desk

Texas lawmakers on Friday gave final approval to a bill that would financially punish large cities that cut their police budgets, including prohibiting them from raising new property tax revenue. The legislation now heads to Gov. Greg Abbott, who has said…

Public Safety • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Jun 1, 2021

As temporary Healthy Streets close, permanent version prepares to open

As Austin’s Healthy Streets program winds down, with less than four miles of the temporary slow streets remaining, the city is preparing a new pilot program for 10 permanent Healthy Streets. The pilot will “test the application of our Healthy Streets…

Planning • By Jonathan Lee • May 28, 2021

Environmental Commission hears plans for Austin CCC

The Environmental Commission convened May 19 to discuss a variety of topics, among them an overview of the Austin Civilian Conservation Corps program. The Civilian Conservation Corps – or Triple C – was created by a City Council resolution that…

Austin • By Seth Smalley • May 28, 2021

Joint Sustainability Committee looks at trends during flooding and extreme heat

On Wednesday, researchers Patrick Bixler, Diana Joyce Ojeda and Jessica Jones presented an update on sustainability indicators – particularly the effects of flooding and extreme heat in the Austin area – to the Joint Sustainability Committee. The research focuses on…

Austin • By Seth Smalley • May 28, 2021

Taking cues from audit, Austin continues to shore up its wildfire prevention strategy

Thanks to climate change, Austinites can expect to see more storms, floods and fires in their future. This week, City Council’s Audit and Finance Committee heard what steps the Fire Department has taken to address the threat of wildfires following…

Fire • By Elizabeth Pagano • May 28, 2021

Group behind Austin's camping ban revival says it has new plan to put police staffing on the ballot

Save Austin Now, the local political action committee behind the campaign to reinstate rules against camping in public, has started circulating a petition to put a new proposition on the ballot – a mandate that would require certain levels of staffing…

Police • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • May 27, 2021

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