City and county news

Pets are available either at the Austin Animal Center, 7201 Levander Loop, or at Town Lake Animal Center, 1156 W. Cesar Chavez St. All pets available for adoption or lost pets can be viewed at www.austinanimalcenter.org.

On April 5, the city's Animal Services Office kicked off a citywide program offering free pet ID tags and microchips aimed at keeping pets out of the animal shelter system.

Austin Independent Business Alliance launches manifesto

On April 4, the Austin Independent Business Alliance launched April 4 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.

Austin City Councilwoman Laura Morrison said the document's ideas include creating a city government incentive program for small businesses.

Council approves new pedicab regulations, staging areas

The Austin City Council passed two ordinances April 12 relating to pedicabs in downtown Austin, including updating regulations and establishing staging areas to pick up passengers.

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

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

The first seven areas are located either on or near East Fifth, Sixth and Seventh streets between Brazos and Sabine streets, and were scheduled to be put in place April 22.

Sunset Valley news

Utility subsidies now allowed after council changes policy

As of April 17, Sunset Valley's practice of subsidizing utilities is no longer in conflict with its policy requiring the utility fund to be self-sufficient.

At the Finance Committee's recommendation, the Sunset Valley City Council voted 4–0 to change its financial policies.

The policy now reads that the city can charge operating, personnel and capital costs to enterprise funds. The City Council will determine what to fund each year.