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- Austin ISD eliminating jobs at its central office to reduce budget deficit
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Environment
Commission resolution aims to slow down sale of district chilling system
City Council is scheduled to consider hiring J.P. Morgan Securities LLC to advise on the potential sale of Austin Energy’s district cooling system, but not everyone thinks that is a good idea. The Resource Management Commission will likely ask Council…
Energy • By Jo Clifton • Jul 12, 2024
City to consider selling its district cooling system
City Manager T.C. Broadnax has notified City Council that staff will be seeking approval during the July 18 meeting to hire J.P. Morgan Securities LLC to provide “strategic advice about the potential sale of Austin Energy’s district cooling system.” The…
Energy • By Jo Clifton • Jul 9, 2024
Austin Water tees up to propose rate increases to Council
Austinites can prepare to add their water bill to the list of services getting increasingly more expensive, as a proposal for hikes in utility rates makes its way through City Council’s pipeline. The proposal, which Austin Water unveiled early last…
Water • By Kali Bramble • Jul 8, 2024
Mayor Kirk Watson slows timing for climate bond election
City Council members have been taking sides on the City Council Message Board over competing timelines for a climate bond election, and on Wednesday the proposal for a longer lead-up was left standing. The back-and-forth on the message board –…
Bonds & Propositions • By Amy Smith • Jul 5, 2024
After lake drownings, safety upgrades come to Rainey Street trailhead
Lee esta historia en español More than a year after community members called for better lighting and safety measures along a portion of Lady Bird Lake near Rainey Street, permanent upgrades are finally nearing completion. The pleas and demands came…
Parks • By Luz Moreno-Lozano, KUT • Jul 2, 2024
Parks Board hears from the public on the next (and former) PARD director
The Parks and Recreation Board got an earful of public testimony earlier this month regarding the city’s national search to replace former parks director Kimberly McNeeley. McNeeley recently left the Parks and Recreation Department after accepting the position of CEO…
City Hall • By Amy Smith • Jul 2, 2024
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Joint Sustainability Committee voices support for climate fee proposal
Members of the city’s Joint Sustainability Committee expressed support Wednesday for a proposal to establish a climate fee to fund green initiatives. A resolution calling on City Council to pursue a climate fee to help fill funding gaps in the…
Environment • By Dylan Ebs • Jul 1, 2024
Austin adds more than a dozen shade structures to recreation areas. Here's where to find them.
In an effort to beat the heat, several shade structures are going up at public parks, playgrounds and pools around town. Austin dedicated $4 million to provide more shade in public places. City officials said it has become necessary as…
Parks • By Luz Moreno-Lozano, KUT • Jun 28, 2024
Resource Management Commission sets sights on natural gas utilities in bid to expand oversight
As the city prepares to renegotiate its contract with Texas Gas Service, Austin’s Resource Management Commission is vying for a seat at the table, with a proposal to expand its purview to include the utility’s oversight on its way to…
Energy • By Kali Bramble • Jun 26, 2024
Meadows Center receives $500,000 to study link between climate change and polluted beaches
If you’re considering a trip to the coast this summer, maybe think again: Texas beaches have a poo problem. In 2021, Environment Texas published a study that found 90 percent of the state’s beaches contained dangerous pathogens found in fecal…
Environment • By Lina Fisher • Jun 21, 2024
City launches free swim pilot program, eliminating fees at Walnut Creek Pool this summer
Austin is moving forward with a pilot program aimed at reducing pool fees as a way of increasing access this summer. The city will eliminate fees entirely at Walnut Creek Pool in North Austin and offer two free days at…
Parks • By Elizabeth Pagano • Jun 20, 2024
Austin Energy on track on its goals for assisting low-income customers
A year and a half into Austin Energy’s campaign to expand its Customer Assistance Program, the utility says it’s on track to enroll 90 percent of eligible ratepayers by June of next year. The enrollment target dates back to December…
