Council member, mayor pro tem resigns
Sunset Valley | Jeff Burdett, City of Sunset Valley mayor pro tem and city Council member, resigned from his seat June 29.
Burdett could not fulfill the remainder of his elected term because of changes with his employment, according to his letter of resignation.
City Council accepted Burdett’s resignation and chose Council member Marc Bruner as mayor pro tem July 19.
City OKs increased homestead exemption
Austin | Taxpayers will find more relief after Austin City Council approved increasing the homestead exemption from 6 percent to 8 percent during a June 29 special meeting.
The increase applies to the tax year starting Jan. 1, 2016, and will cost the city $3.8 million.
Those opposed to the increase said it would hurt lower-income residents and that the city could fund other much-needed services with $3.8 million.
“We know, for example, these after-school programs are running out because 21st-century grants are running out at some of our schools,” District 4 Council Member Greg Casar said. “I think the city would be an appropriate person to take up funding some of those critical after-school programs.”
Those in favor of the increased homestead exemption say they intend to remain committed to achieving a 20 percent homestead exemption in four years, as supported in 2015.
“Just on Thursday night at one council meeting, we authorized the spending of $29 million,” District 10 Council Member Sheri Gallo said. “I think we are able, and I think we can be able to find resources to fund this.”
City selects vendor for body cameras
Austin | City Council selected a vendor June 23 to supply body cameras for Austin Police Department officers after several council members considered moving the decision to August.
The city will contract with Taser International Inc. to supply and support about 1,700 wearable cameras for up to seven years for a total maximum cost of about $12.2 million, according to city documents.
Cameras will be able to record data such as dates, times and officer identification, according to documents.
Some residents who offered testimony on the issue June 23 raised concerns about privacy and the ability of APD staff to handle public information requests for camera footage.
TNC penalties set for new regulations
Austin | Beginning Feb. 1, transportation network companies, or TNCs, that fail to reach 99 percent compliance with city regulations for three consecutive months will be required to suspend operations after City Council’s June 23 vote.
The council approved an ordinance in December that set several regulations—including fingerprint-based background checks—for TNCs, such as Uber and Lyft, but did not pass an enforcement mechanism. The June 23 ordinance clarified that enforcement.
Mayor Steve Adler voted against the measure, saying he would rather incentivize TNCs to enforce driver fingerprinting than penalize companies that do not comply.
Animal center gets approval for expansion
Austin | On June 23, Austin City Council approved a contractor to construct an expansion of the Austin Animal Center at a cost of up to $6.7 million.
The center, located off Levander Loop near US 183 in East Austin, is at full capacity, and its overflow space at the Town Lake Animal Center is no longer a viable option after the Town Lake location failed health inspections, according to city documents.
The expansion—which is expected to begin in October and take about a year to complete—will include the construction of a new kennel building, additional parking, storm drainage improvements and landscaping, according to city documents.
“This is addressing a key issue for us,” said Kristen Auerbach, deputy chief animal services officer. “We generally have 50-60 dogs housed at the [Town Lake location], and this reconstruction project is to address that. It’s going to mean all of our animals are kept here on-site.”
Ellen Jefferson, executive director of Austin Pets Alive—which accepts animals from the city shelter’s euthanasia list and prepares them for adoption—said the new kennels will prevent an additional burden being placed on local animal rescue groups.
“We know the city needs a certain capacity to maintain ‘no-kill’ [status], so what that new building does is ensure we don’t lose capacity to save dogs’ lives,” Jefferson said. “They have to have a safe place to be where they’re not in danger of being killed because they ran out of time.”
Jefferson said animal rescue groups are facing high demand because of breed, weight and age restrictions in place at many housing complexes within the city as well as a seasonal surge of pets in need.
County burn ban in effect through Aug. 10
Travis County | On July 12, commissioners unanimously approved a burn ban, which means no outdoor burning is allowed, that is expected to last until Aug. 10.
The vote for a burn ban had appeared on the Commissioners Court agenda for weeks, but no action was taken prior to July 12. County Judge Sarah Eckhardt said in past Commissioners Court meetings that action would not take place at that time because of the late-May rain and ensure wet conditions, but a burn ban in the future may be expected as conditions dry.
Commissioners may vote to extend the burn ban past its Aug. 10 expiration at a future Commissioners Court meeting.
As of July 12, 48 counties in Texas have enacted a burn ban.
