The Daily Hustle: 8/30/10

Last week's public hearing on the city budget and rate hikes at Austin Water turned into a one hell of a fun time for council watchers (and plain hell for council), as opponents of Water Treatment Plant No. 4 used the occasion to piss in the pool. We've got some of the action after the jump.

The speakers list truly was a who's-who of local hall watchers, with a heavy emphasis on members of Austin's environmental community (some of whom were understandably testy about the hearings, scheduled for 4pm, starting late in the evening). Paul Robbins, escaping the clutches of the bag monsters, made some trenchant points about Austin's water use:

“Austin had 19 days in August where we reached 100 degrees or above. The highest of these days hit 107 degrees. … Austin's maximum usage was last Sunday, August 22nd. We used 191 million gallons per day. But compared to what? … Our current capacity exceeds 2010 peak use by 49 percent; if Water Treatment Plant Four is added, it will exceed 2010 peak use by 75 percent. This is despite only modest enforcement of the two-day mandatory watering schedule and lackluster conservation programs that have been implemented in the last three years.”

The always amiable Roy Whaley of the Austin Sierra Club also spoke, adding he was there “to talk about budget issues. Today I budgeted some time between four and six o'clock to come down and talk to y'all, and I'm a little over budget. ... My rates will be going up.” Holding a straw, Whaley said “Security has this thing about bringing camels in, so I don't have all of my visual aids with me. But you look at [AW's rate increase, on average] being a mere four dollars a month. Well, this would be the straw I would put on the camel and camel's back would break.”

Tempers flared once Save Our Springs Alliance director Bill Bunch spoke, beginning his address by asking Lee Leffingwell whether WTP4 is part of the proposed budget – a complaint Leffingwell had made earlier about the speakers' dwelling on the plant. “It is remotely a components, yes,” he answered. Bunch then yelled, “A $500 million plant is remotely part of the budget?” to which the mayor responded, “Do you want to control yourself or do you want to be removed from the chamber?” Bunch then said, “I would respectfully ask that you not insult the intelligence of this community by pretending that Water Treatment Plant 4 is not part of the budget and is not germane to this public hearing. It certainly is.”

A fascinating evening, and certainly one we'll return to in print this week.

… Speaking of public works projects, the PR push in favor of the November transpo bond kicks off this morning, with a 10am presser from “Get Austin Moving,” featuring the mayor and others, at City Hall:

This November, Austin voters will have the opportunity to approve Proposition 1, which provides $90 million in bond funds for critical road, sidewalk, trail and bikeway projects that reduce traffic congestion, protect the environment, improve safety and provide more transportation options. On Monday, Get Austin Moving will kickoff the campaign to help ensure passage of this bond and will announce the Get Austin Moving steering committee members that represent diverse community support.

Is it just me, or does it really feel like things are coming to some strange, inexorable head?

What the hell else is happening?

On the city calendar: The Community Action Network's Resource Council meets in the Board and Commission room at City Hall, 310 W. Second, 5:30pm.

A special called meeting of the Library Commission is happening Austin History Center, 810 Guadalupe, 7pm.

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