Austin City Council Meets June 7 and 9 at 10 a.m. and June 14 and 16 at 9:30 a.m. 301 W. Second St., Austin www.austintexas.gov/ austin-city-council Travis County Commissioners Court Meets May 24, 26 and June 7, 9, 14 and 21 at 9 a.m. 700 Lavaca St., Austin www.traviscountytx.gov/ commissionerscourt Dripping Springs City Council Meets June 7 and 21 at 6 p.m. 511 Mercer St., Dripping Springs www.cityofdrippingsprings.com MEETINGS WE COVER HIGHLIGHTS DRIPPING SPRINGS Officials announced an initiative to update Dripping Springs’ comprehensive plan, a framework for guiding long- range development and identifying new land-use priorities on April 18. Residents and business owners will have opportunities to provide feedback throughout the planning process, which is expected to last into 2023, according to the city. AUSTIN After a three-month pause, Austin Resource Recovery has restarted bulk and large bush pickup services. ARR paused the services in February due to staffing shortages and vacancies. The service resumed May 2. ARR is still experiencing driver shortages; however, it is working with a contractor for the bulk services. TRAVIS COUNTY On May 3, commissioners approved a policy providing eight weeks of parental leave for Travis County employees. The program is expected to start in June. Employees will be eligible for the program after six months of working for the county. TRAVIS COUNTY The county medical examiner released a report on May 11 showing drug deaths were the leading cause of accidental death in 2021.
South Terminal rejects city buyout
AIRPORT EXPANSION DEBATE The city aims to close the South Terminal to make room for other expansions. However, the Longhorn Management Group is pushing back.
AUSTIN Lonestar Airport Holdings rejected an offer from the city of Austin to buy out the remainder of its 40-year lease for $1.95 million. The city plans to close and demolish the South Terminal before its lease is up to make way for improvements on the main terminal. Representatives for the Lonestar group called the city’s offer “objec- tively offensive.” In a letter sent to the city April 27, Lonestar’s representatives said the offer is less than the company has invested into the South Terminal. BY DARCY SPRAGUE AND BEN THOMPSON
The company began operating the terminal, which is home to low-cost airlines, in 2016 and opened it to the public in 2017. In a statement, an Austin spokes- person said closure of the terminal is necessary for the airport’s growth. Austin-Bergstrom International Airport CEO Jaqueline Yaft said the city’s next steps will be to send a final offer letter to the tenant as required by the Texas eminent domain statutes. In the letter, Lonestar’s represen- tatives said the company would be willing to take the case to court.
Main Terminal South Terminal
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Travis County pauses legal aid pilot program
RISING WATER BILLS
Current rate New rate
In-city residents minimum Out-of-city residents minimum
$35
$39
BY DARCY SPRAGUE
ABOUT 10%
increase in customers’ water bills
$42
TRAVIS COUNTY On April 26, Travis County paused a program due to staffing shortages that would provide some defen- dants with legal representation shortly after being arrested. It was funded through an agreement with Texas A&M Public Policy Research Institute in partnership with Arnold Ventures to study the effects of providing arrested individuals with public defend- ers before pretrial services. Less than two weeks after kicking off the program, Sheriff Sally Hernandez said it would not be possible at the planned pace due to staffing shortages. Most speakers on the issue, including attorneys, advocates, prosecutors and judges, urged the court not to allow the pause to last too long.
$46
SOURCE: CITY OF DRIPPING SPRINGS/COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
Dripping Springs raises wastewater rates
BY GLORIE MARTINEZ DRIPPING SPRINGS City Council members approved an ordinance that will increase wastewater rates by about 10% for residents living in both the Dripping Springs city limits and the extraterritorial jurisdiction, or ETJ, at its April 19 meeting. In-city residents pay a monthly minimum of $35 per month for wastewater service,
while out-of-city residents pay $42 per month. Service costs for residents outside the city limits start at a rate 20% higher than in-city residents. New monthly minimum rates will be roughly $39 for in-city and $46 for ETJ residents. The new rates will be reflected on May utility bills. Nearby, Austin Energy is also eyeing rate hikes.
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