Stories by Tyler Whitson
Thursday, January 21, 2016 by Tyler Whitson
Resources
Council members react to water meter audit
Although Austin Water and Austin Energy staff said at a City Council Public Utilities Committee meeting Wednesday that recent audits found the city’s water billing system to be accurate, the Council members who sit on that body said they still…
Wednesday, January 20, 2016 by Tyler Whitson
Austin
Zero waste commission endorses sale of city land
In a move that may ultimately help the city create a hub for manufacturing companies that use locally recycled materials, the Zero Waste Advisory Commission has endorsed the sale of a piece of property owned by Austin Resource Recovery. Nine…
Friday, January 15, 2016 by Tyler Whitson
Energy
Prehearing held in Austin Energy rate review
Austin Energy stakeholders provided feedback Thursday in a prehearing on the rules of a legal proceeding that will kick off later this month as part of the utility’s ongoing rate review. Attorney Alfred Herrera, the impartial hearings examiner in the…
Wednesday, January 13, 2016 by Tyler Whitson
Entertainment & Events
City to host “Music Venue Summit” ahead of spring
In preparation for South by Southwest and other spring events, the city’s Music and Entertainment Division will host a two-hour “Music Venue Summit” on Jan. 25 at the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center. The event will include city…
Monday, January 11, 2016 by Tyler Whitson
Entertainment & Events
Music Commission to tackle licensing issues
Although the city’s Music and Entertainment Division is billed as “an economic development accelerator and centralized resource center for Austin’s music industry,” program manager Don Pitts says he spends about 70 percent of his time on permitting issues. Aiming to…
Friday, January 8, 2016 by Tyler Whitson
Energy
Arguments made in consumer advocate hearing
A Thursday afternoon hearing likely brought the city one step closer to hiring an independent consumer advocate for the ongoing Austin Energy rate review. Attorney Stephen Webb, the independent hearings officer for the case, heard arguments from representatives of Oxford…
Thursday, January 7, 2016 by Tyler Whitson
Energy
Consumer advocate hearing to take place today
As Austin Energy moves forward on a rate review, one puzzle piece remains missing – an independent consumer advocate for smaller customers. That piece may soon come closer to falling into place. On Dec. 14, the sole remaining bidder for…
Monday, January 4, 2016 by Tyler Whitson
City Council
Pool looks back at past year, outlines future plans
City Council Member Leslie Pool made the environment, city services and transparency major issues in her 2014 campaign, and based on her look back at the freshman year of Austin’s first 10-1 Council, she remains concerned about those issues. The…
Wednesday, December 30, 2015 by Tyler Whitson
City Council
Kitchen reflects on past year, looks forward to next
City Council Member Ann Kitchen has a long list of what she considers to be the first 10-1 Council’s achievements in its first year, but she also has ambitious plans for what she hopes the body will accomplish next year.…
Monday, December 28, 2015 by Tyler Whitson
City Council
Garza recounts “rookie” year, outlines goals ahead
City Council Member Delia Garza had a busy freshman year on Austin’s first 10-1 Council, working on city issues and serving on bodies with officials from other jurisdictions to take on some of the most pressing issues facing the region.…
Tuesday, December 22, 2015 by Tyler Whitson
Energy
Austin Energy reveals cost-of-service findings
As the city begins to re-examine its electric rate structure for the first time since 2012, Austin Energy staff revealed the preliminary results of its internal cost-of-service analysis at an Electric Utility Commission meeting on Dec. 14. In short, Austin…
Friday, December 18, 2015 by Tyler Whitson
Transportation
Council sets background check penalties for TNCs
The battle over fingerprint background checks for transportation network companies such as Uber and Lyft has taken a turn that may ultimately result in the two companies pausing operations in Austin. City Council passed an ordinance on all three readings…
Friday, December 18, 2015 by Tyler Whitson
Transportation
CTRMA issues notice of default on MoPac project
The Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority issued a notice of default Thursday to CH2M Hill – the contractor that has been working on the MoPac Improvement Project – over delays that have caused work to continue far beyond the $200…
Thursday, December 17, 2015 by Tyler Whitson
Transportation
Council debates concerns about “ward politics”
Inspired by a vote set for today on how to spend the $21.8 million in transportation dollars remaining in the “quarter-cent fund,” City Council debated at a Tuesday work session about whether the proposed approach sets a precedent that could…
Wednesday, December 16, 2015 by Tyler Whitson
City Council
Council talks TNC regulations ahead of vote
After months of deliberation, City Council will consider a slew of new regulations Thursday for transportation network companies including Uber, Lyft and Austin’s newest arrival, Dallas-based Get Me. Council talked through the proposals – including a fingerprint background check requirement…
Friday, December 11, 2015 by Tyler Whitson
City Council
Council narrowly supports COTA tax incentive bid
Following a contentious debate about the nature of tax incentives, a fractured City Council voted Thursday to endorse applications for funds from the Texas Major Events Reimbursement Program for upcoming events at the Circuit of the Americas. Both items –…
Thursday, December 10, 2015 by Tyler Whitson
Police
City releases police body camera solicitation
The Austin Police Department moved closer to kicking off its highly anticipated body camera pilot program on Monday, when the city quietly released a solicitation for contract bids online. The contracts would be for the “purchase, implementation, and support” of…
Friday, December 4, 2015 by Tyler Whitson
Energy
Committee backs low-income energy savings ideas
Low-income Austin Energy customers may receive some additional help in lowering their bills in coming years, based on a recommendation that a City Council committee made on Thursday. The Austin Energy Utility Oversight Committee, which consists of the full Council…
Thursday, December 3, 2015 by Tyler Whitson
Transportation
MoPac South public comment results pour in
Comments from the MoPac South public input period and open house are being tallied, and based on their projected volume, the proposal appears to have galvanized the community. The City Council Mobility Committee discussed the project and preliminary results on…
Wednesday, December 2, 2015 by Tyler Whitson
Development
County ponders first Public Improvement District
The Travis County Commissioners Court held a public hearing on Tuesday about a petition to create the Wildhorse Ranch Public Improvement District, which, if approved, would be the first development of its kind created by the county. Commissioners also provided…
