Eastside Discontent

In other council business, the theme this week was closure, as a couple of long-hovering issues were finally resolved. "We built bridges in World War II that weren't fought over as much as this," noted one observer as the council approved the "double helix" version of a bridge that will cross Town Lake roughly at Palmer Auditorium/City Coliseum complex and the Seaholm Power Plant. The vote ended a long, hot battle over how to get pedestrians and bicyclists safely across the river at Lamar Street Bridge, which is said to be as historically significant as it is unsafe to traverse (outside of the steel confines of an automobile, anyway). Last Wednesday's council work session saw several hours of debate about whether a cantilevered (read: attached) hike and bike trail, or an entirely separate structure would best preserve the aesthetics and historical importance of the bridge.

Fiercely contested was the possible position of the Texas Historical Commission, which can withhold its blessing from the project, thereby causing the city to forfeit almost $1 million in federal highway funds. This Tuesday, the commission came out against the cantilever as an option that would substantially damage the historical character of the bridge. So the council went with "option four," a design proposed by city staff that would run parallel to the bridge, about 200 yards to the east. Though the bridge concept is settled, expect more controversy as the specifics unfold.

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Big Budget, Little Fete

And with shockingly little fanfare, the council passed the city budget for the 1998-99 fiscal year. They were all there, in their bureaucratic glory: Everyone's favorite type of budget got its moment in the sun. Due to the city's current financial winning streak, cash was plentiful and the rancorous debates of previous budget discussions were nowhere in evidence. One of the most contentious issues: Whether Austin Energy utility customers who live outside the city limits should get free library cards. (The result: a limited number of free library cards will be available, on a first-come, first-served basis.)

The budget changed only marginally from the draft submitted by the city manager earlier this summer. The bottom line: The property tax rate went down 51.42 cents per $100 valuation, while city fees in several departments went up.

The only dissenter from the tax rate decrease was Councilmember Lewis, who counseled the council toward a smaller tax cut that would provide cash for addressing the maintenance backlog in the transportation and parks departments. "We need to do exactly the opposite of what the council did in the Eighties, when they decreased the tax rate and deferred the maintenance. I hope I don't have to tell the next council, or two councils from now, 'Look, I told 'em so.'"

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This Week in Council:After more than a month of marathon meetings, the council (and this column) will take a two-week break.