Austin
Council votes to reduce free parking throughout city
Austin City Council approved an ordinance March 3 to extend parking meter hours throughout the city from 5:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.—including Saturdays—and to midnight throughout downtown.
The city’s transportation department defines the enforced downtown area as Lamar Boulevard to the west, I-35 to the east, 10th Street to the north and Lady Bird Lake to the south.
Councilwoman Laura Morrison voted against the ordinance. She said she favored an ordinance that provided free parking for areas north of Seventh Street.
City transportation head Robert Spillar said the action will create turnover for downtown businesses and alleviate traffic congestion as many people drive around, searching for free parking.
Austin achieves 90 percent live animal outcome; reaches no-kill status
Austin officials announced in March that the city reached no-kill status by achieving a 90 percent live-animal outcome for all animals that enter the Town Lake Animal Center.
Council approved the city’s No-Kill Implementation Plan in March 2010. The plan sought to reduce animal intake and increase live animal outcomes by closing animal night drop-off boxes, adding a full- and part-time veterinarian, enhancing the foster care program and providing a low-cost and free spay-and-neuter program.
The city was at a 77 percent live animal outcome rate in April 2010.
City educates public about deer population in Northwest Hills
The City of Austin has decided not to trap and harvest the growing deer population in Northwest Hills. Instead the city will educate the public and enforce a 2009 citywide ordinance prohibiting people from feeding deer.
The city hired Charles Haynes, who will educate area residents about the consequences of feeding deer. He will have the authority to issue citations to those feeding deer.
The city’s actions are after two public forums for Northwest Hills residents and after the city hired a consultant for $7,500 who gave the initial recommendation to either trap and harvest the deer, or have sharpshooters kill them.
Travis County
County tightens belt ahead of cuts
Travis County officials are projecting a $6.9 million reduction in state grant funds for the 2012 budget year. As a result, department leaders have been asked to shrink their budgets by 5 percent and prioritize programs and state grants. This could result in $20.8 million in savings.
“At the state level, this is not a reduction; this is a shifting of the tax burden to the local level,” Travis County Commissioner Sarah Eckhardt said. “They are not cutting anything. They are just moving it down to us.”
Court addresses bike safety
The commissioners created a joint task force to address bicycle safety on county roads in unincorporated areas. The task force would create a document to address area-specific concerns that would complement the city of Austin’s bicycle plan.
It would then distribute the information to bicycling organizations.
Meetings
Austin City Council
Austin City Hall, 301 W. Second St.
974-2497, www.ci.austin.tx.us/council
April 7, 21 and 28, 10 a.m.
City Council meetings are aired live on cable channel 6 and webcast live at www.ci.austin.tx.us/channel6.
Travis County
Commissioners Court
314 11th St., Austin
854-9425, www.co.travis.tx.us/commissioners_court
Meetings are every Tuesday at 9 a.m.
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