City and county news — April 2012

Austin Independent Business Alliance launches manifesto

On April 4, the Austin Independent Business Alliance launched its Local Business Manifesto aimed at addressing and providing solutions to obstacles facing local businesses.

AIBA Executive Director Rebecca Melanon said AIBA—a nonprofit advocacy group for local businesses—formed a leadership circle in 2011 comprising 10 local business owners tasked with writing the manifesto. She said the statement is the result of a year of research and includes three goals and several programs to achieve these goals.

CORE Health Foundation receives grant for fishing pier

The CORE Health Foundation, an Austin-area disability advocacy organization, received a $150,000 grant from the City of Austin Neighborhood Partnering Program to help fund a wheelchair-accessible fishing pier on Lady Bird Lake.

In a statement, Howard Lazarus, City of Austin Department of Public Works director, said the project shows what partnering can achieve.

Council approves new pedicab regulations, staging areas

The Austin City Council passed ordinances April 12 relating to pedicabs in downtown Austin.

Councilman Chris Riley said work was done with stakeholders on several new regulations, rules of the road and basic safety measures, such as requiring insurance.

A second ordinance calls for designating areas downtown where pedicabs will be allowed to stage for rides aimed at making boarding safer and simpler.

The first seven areas are located either on or near East Fifth, Sixth and Seventh streets between Brazos and Sabine streets.

According to Robert Spillar, City of Austin Transportation Department director, there are 341 pedicab permits registered and 60 recently requested. There will be a six-month moratorium on permits issued when the new regulations go into effect.

Travis County news

Vote centers considered for November general election

On April 17, the Travis County Commissioners Court heard public comment on an option to use vote centers for the November general election.

Vote centers allow registered voters to cast their ballots at any participating location in the county, not just at their assigned precinct.

In a letter to the court, County Clerk Dana DeBeauvoir wrote that during the county's trial run, 32 percent of Election Day voters, or 9,516 people, voted outside of their precinct.