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Whispers
Tuesday, May 19, 2015 by Elizabeth Pagano
Leave your motorboats home on Memorial Day
This Memorial Day weekend, the Austin Police Department Lake Patrol Unit will reenact its annual ban of personal watercraft, wet bikes, motorized surfboards and similar devices on Lake Austin. According to a press release, “The annual ban of personal watercraft is necessary to ensure the safety of the large number of people that make use of the lake and parks over the Memorial Day holiday weekend. This ban only applies to Lake Austin.” Non-motorized water vehicles such as kayaks, canoes and paddleboards will be allowed. The ban begins Friday, May 22, at sunset and continues until Tuesday, May 26, at sunrise.
Monday, May 18, 2015 by Elizabeth Pagano
Zim questions city raises
Arguing that “it does not make sense to raise all base wages in City government by more than 3.5 times the prevailing median wage increases in this region, especially when 70% of the current municipal jobs are at, or above, market rates already,” City Council Member Don Zimmerman put forth a proposition to instead increase the pay of nonsworn city employees by 0.801 percent, not 3.5 percent. You can read his resolution, which does not appear to have any co-sponsors, here.
Monday, May 18, 2015 by Elizabeth Pagano
Ethics Review Commission wants lobbying input
On June 3, a working group of the Ethics Review Commission will host a public meeting at 6:30 p.m. at Austin City Hall, Room 1029, to get input on the regulation of lobbyists as outlined in City Code. To that end, the group will take public feedback on the topic. According to a statement from the group, it is most interested in hearing from the public about:
- who should be required to register as a lobbyist;
- lobbyist registration procedures;
- lobbyist accountability;
- enforcement and monitoring of lobbyist regulations; and
- lobbyist guidelines.
More information about the current city regulations about lobbyists can be found on the city’s website.
Monday, May 18, 2015 by Elizabeth Pagano
Buckle up!
Starting today, the Austin Police Department will be cracking down on drivers not wearing their seat belts. The “Click It or Ticket” initiative begins Monday, May 18 and ends Saturday, May 30. Additional officers will be on patrol, educating the public in the use of occupant restraint devices and writing citations and warnings to unbuckled drivers and passengers.
Monday, May 18, 2015 by Elizabeth Pagano
City bans watercraft due to rain
The City of Austin Fire Department has instituted a watercraft ban on Barton Creek and Lady Bird Lake through noon today, May 18. The ban was declared due to unsafe conditions created by heavy rains and flooding. It applies to all commercial and navigational boating as well as recreational usage. Watercraft operating illegally in the Flood Ban Area are subject to impoundment. According to a statement, anyone wishing to secure property in the Flood Ban Area should contact Austin Police Headquarters at 715 E. 8th St. during business hours. Proof of ownership or occupancy is required.
Friday, May 15, 2015 by Elizabeth Pagano
Waller on Swede Hill case postponed
Despite urging from the neighborhood to proceed, City Council granted a developer’s request to postpone the Waller on Swede Hill rezoning case. Louisa Brinsmade, secretary of the Swede Hill Neighborhood Association, asked Council to either move forward or hear it at next week’s meeting. She said Council has been dealing with the case since August 2013, and that it has seen “multiple delays and postponements” during that time. Peter Cesaro, representing developer Wes Peoples, explained that his client is working to address the concerns of the neighborhood, and needed to postpone to continue that. He suggested postponing the case to September 10. Though the meeting is not currently scheduled, Council Member Greg Casar suggested the case could move to the May 28 meeting, since next week’s Council meeting is not a zoning meeting and September is months away. There was a push from some Council members not to postpone the case at all, despite it being the first postponement request from Peoples. Mayor Steve Adler pointed out that Council members should be clear that they would not be granting one postponement to each side without question, as had been the practice of previous City Councils. They did not clarify their position, but did vote to postpone the case to the May 28 meeting.
Friday, May 15, 2015 by Mark Richardson
Storms fill animal shelters beyond capacity
City officials say that since recent rainstorms, more than 200 animals have entered the already over-capacity Austin Animal Center. The city has a shortage of 68 kennels for large dogs at its Levander Loop location and no more space at the overflow kennels at Town Lake Animal Center. Officials are encouraging anyone who has lost a pet to come to the shelter as soon as possible to reclaim their animal. There will be no fee for people looking to find their pet. The center will also provide free identification tags, collars and microchips for reclaimed animals. Officials say that when a pet is lost, owners should visit the shelter or call 3-1-1 immediately. The shelter also lists lost-and-found pets on its website. The Austin Animal Center, 7201 Levander Loop, is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. Town Lake Animal Center, 1156 W. Cesar Chavez St., also is open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. For more information, go here.
Friday, May 15, 2015 by Mark Richardson
Recycling, reuse generates $720 million
Austin’s Recycling and Reuse Industries generated $720 million in economic impact to the city in 2014, according to a new study. The recycling and reuse industries also support over 2,600 jobs, according to a newly released study commissioned by the City of Austin’s Recycling Economic Development Program. In addition, the sector has the potential to grow more than 50 percent to over $1 billion and 4,200 jobs. In 2011, City Council adopted the Austin Resource Recovery Master Plan, which called for the creation of economic development initiatives to support the city’s zero waste goal of 90 percent landfill diversion by 2040. The full report is available for download here.
Friday, May 15, 2015 by Mark Richardson
Video available of ADU panel discussion
A video recording of a city-sponsored panel discussion on secondary dwelling units (also called accessory dwelling units or ADUs) and their potential impact on affordability in Austin is now available online. Panelists included Marya Crigler, head appraiser, Travis Central Appraisal District; Mark Rogers, executive director, Guadalupe Neighborhood Development Corporation; Jake Wegmann, professor, University of Texas Community and Regional Planning Program; and Mary Ingle, president, Austin Neighborhoods Council. Approximately 100 people attended and posed questions to the panel on topics ranging from tax exemptions and assessments to the effects of ADUs on surrounding neighborhoods. The video of the panel is available here.
Thursday, May 14, 2015 by Mark Richardson
EMS to celebrate CPR, bystander assistance
The city’s Emergency Medical Services branch is pointing to a recent incident as evidence that preparedness can save lives. EMS officials say a 59-year-old man participating in a downtown cycle spin class suffered cardiac arrest during the class. A fellow class participant, who happened to be a Seton Emergency Room nurse, performed CPR and used an Automated External Defibrillator, or AED, that was stationed at the gym and successfully restored his pulse. Austin-Travis County EMS continued treatment and transported the patient to the cardiac catheterization lab at the University Medical Center Brackenridge, where he was diagnosed with a heart blockage. Doctors cleared the blockage and the patient was discharged the following day. In honor of this incident and others like it, Austin EMS officials are holding a survivor meet-and-greet at 10 a.m. today in the third floor conference room at the University Medical Center Brackenridge, 601 E 15th St. EMS will celebrate this CPR save through the use of a public AED device and promote the value of bystander CPR with public AED use for rapid responses to people suffering heart attacks.
Thursday, May 14, 2015 by Mark Richardson
TCSO sergeant to run for sheriff
Don Rios, a sergeant with the Travis County Sheriff’s Office, has officially announced his candidacy for Travis County Sheriff. Rios is a 23-year veteran of the Travis County Sheriff’s office, having worked in the county jail, as a training and evaluation officer, in the warrants unit, as a SWAT team member, on the child protection team and currently the special operations west command. Rios said, “I look forward to bringing my 23-year law enforcement experience to the Sheriff’s Office.” Current Travis County Sheriff Greg Hamilton has held the office since 2004 and was last re-elected in November 2012. Hamilton has not said whether he plans to run again in 2016.
Thursday, May 14, 2015 by Mark Richardson
Honor Flight set this weekend
On Friday, an Honor Flight will depart Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, transporting 50 Vietnam War veterans from the Austin area to Washington, D.C., to visit the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. This is the 24th Honor Flight Austin trip, the third of this year and the first for Vietnam vets. There will be a welcome-home event at approximately 8:30 p.m. Saturday on the balcony overlooking baggage claim between American and Southwest airlines’ ticket counters. The flight is operated and sponsored by Southwest. The Hilton Austin Airport is also a sponsor of Honor Flight Austin. Trips on Honor Flight are free for veterans and paid for through donations. Honor Flight Austin is a nonprofit organization created to honor veterans by transporting them to visit and reflect at their respective war memorials. To support Honor Flight Austin or learn more, go here.