Facing financial losses, Austin Water considers 15.2 percent rate hike

With the Austin Water Utility projected to lose another $27 million this fiscal year, David Anders, the utility’s assistant director of finance and business services, said customers could potentially see a 15.2 percent rate hike in their water service bills…

Resources • By Gene Davis • May 1, 2014

Lawsuit says sheriff’s office, phone vendor violating inmates’ rights

A federal lawsuit filed Tuesday accuses several local law enforcement agencies with violating defendants’ constitutional rights by listening in on conversations between inmates at the Travis County jail and their lawyers and using that information to gain a conviction.  …

Local Government • By Mark Richardson • Apr 30, 2014

Ethics commission balks, files no charges against former commissioner

The Austin Ethics Review Commission will take no action against former Zero Waste Advisory Commission member Daniela Ochoa Gonzalez for alleged ethics violations.   City Auditor Kenneth Mory released an April 18 report accusing Ochoa Gonzalez of violating conflict of…

Local Politics • By Kara Nuzback • Apr 30, 2014

Council hears Transit Bond election’s effect on future tax rates

Amid questions revolving around a potential multimillion-dollar November 2014 Transit Bond election, city staff Tuesday laid out the city’s bonding capacity picture for Council members.   Though the fact that a tax increase would be required to accommodate any amount…

Local Politics • By Michael Kanin • Apr 30, 2014

Council members push plan for AE to recover cost of line extensions

A resolution from Council Members Kathie Tovo, Laura Morrison, and Mike Martinez on Thursday’s Council agenda would instruct City Manager Marc Ott to “plan for full cost recovery of (Austin Energy) line extensions” beginning Oct. 1.   Though the Council…

Local Politics • By Michael Kanin • Apr 30, 2014

Commission denies commercial zoning for resident’s garage

An attempt to rezone a North Austin property from single-family to residential simply to increase the impervious cover on the lot found no friends at the Planning Commission last week.   Minh-Tu Ngoc Doan explained that he had no intention…

Development • By Elizabeth Pagano • Apr 29, 2014

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Planning Commission OKs increased FAR for downtown high-rise

The Planning Commission heard its first Downtown Density Bonus Program case last week. And, while there will be a contribution to the city’s affordable housing trust fund, developers were also asking for entitlements greater than those offered under the Downtown…

Development • By Elizabeth Pagano • Apr 29, 2014

Board of Adjustment postpones variance to enclose South Austin carport

A request for a garage in South Austin spiraled into a late-night philosophical discussion at the Board of Adjustment.   Allison Marshall was seeking a variance that would allow her to decrease her front yard setback so that she could…

Development • By Elizabeth Pagano • Apr 28, 2014

Vested Rights Ordinance headed back for Council vote this week

A revised Vested Rights Ordinance is headed back to City Council again this Thursday.   The ordinance is intended to fill the hole left when Council repealed Austin’s Project Duration Ordinance in March 2013, after an opinion from Attorney General…

Development • By Elizabeth Pagano • Apr 28, 2014

2015 budget rollout shows Austin economy poised for more growth

Like a pep rally before the big game, the Austin City Council’s FY2015 Budget Report started with a glowing report from Texas Perspective’s Jon Hockenyos that has become the norm in recent years, and built to a crescendo of cheers…

Development • By Elizabeth Pagano • Apr 25, 2014

Martinez proposes that city issue debt to buy out flooded homes

Austin City Council Member Mike Martinez will announce a proposal at 10 a.m. today that would have the potential of greatly accelerating buyouts for homeowners whose houses were damaged or destroyed in last year’s Halloween floods on Onion Creek.  …

Development • By Michael Kanin • Apr 25, 2014

City plan to replace Barton Springs Bridge runs into complications

The process is barely underway, but the city’s plan to replace the historic Barton Springs Bridge is already generating pushback from the historic preservation community.   Last week’s Public Works Request for Qualifications for a design consultant to replace the…

Development • By Elizabeth Pagano • Apr 24, 2014

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