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Council digs into hiring process for new city manager
The candidates for Austin’s next city manager will be vetted by nearly a million people. At least, that’s how necessary City Council members and city staff have said public input is to the process of hiring Austin’s newest city manager…
City Hall • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Aug 25, 2016
Spay and neuter proposal continues to simmer
The City Council Health and Human Services Committee took a look at the results of a survey on Tuesday that asked whether a spay/neuter initiative could help reduce animal intake for local shelters, but it is holding off on a…
Austin • By Elizabeth Pagano • Aug 25, 2016
CAMPO proposal could dilute voices of Austin and Travis County
Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt is pushing back against proposed reforms to a key part of regional transportation policy planning that could cost both the county and the city of Austin important seats at the table. At issue is a…
Transportation • By Caleb Pritchard • Aug 25, 2016
Commission split on mixed-use zoning near Lamar
The Planning Commission urged a property owner and his neighbors to try to reach a compromise Tuesday after a hearing in which both sides of a contentious zoning case accused the other of duplicity. “They’re traumatized; I’m traumatized,” said John…
Zoning • By Jack Craver • Aug 25, 2016
Central Health presents its budget, faces criticism over transparency
The Travis County Commissioners Court heard details about Central Health’s proposed budget for 2017 on Tuesday during a lengthy hearing that also featured organized criticism of the county hospital district’s approach to transparency. The court learned that the district is…
Travis County • By Caleb Pritchard • Aug 24, 2016
Austin Energy gradually reforms Customer Assistance Program
For nearly two years, Paul Robbins, a longtime environmental and consumer activist, has been hounding Austin Energy about its operation of the Customer Assistance Program, which is intended to give energy discounts to low-income households. Robbins, who earns groans as…
Energy • By Jack Craver • Aug 24, 2016
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Bastrop's Pine Forest legal fees still rising
The city of Bastrop has paid nearly $652,000 to the attorney representing the city, Bastrop County and the Bastrop Independent School District to wrangle with Robert Leffingwell, the other owners of the Pine Forest Investment Group LLC and the homeowners…
Local Government • By Jo Clifton • Aug 24, 2016
New balcony approved for Ma and Pa Ferguson house
Though it took a reluctant Historic Landmark Commission two votes to approve it last month, the Ma and Pa Ferguson House gets to have a nonhistoric balcony. Again. The home at 1200 Enfield Road was once home to Ma and…
Preservation • By Elizabeth Pagano • Aug 24, 2016
Capital Metro embraces frequency as its future
The Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority unveiled on Tuesday a proposed major overhaul of its entire transit system, and the watchword is “frequency.” The Connections 2025 service plan will be the guiding document for operations at the agency for the next…
Transit • By Caleb Pritchard • Aug 23, 2016
New City Council candidates emerge
There were just two surprise City Council candidates when the filing deadline passed at 5 p.m. Monday – one in District 10 and one in District 4 – for the five seats on the November ballot. There are only 14…
Elections • By Jo Clifton • Aug 23, 2016
Two-year permit puzzle continued at the BoA
It’s back to the drawing board for some Lake Austin homeowners who have yet to move into the home they purchased in 2014. Armbrust & Brown’s Eric DeYoung represented the owners, Stone Park Trust, at the Board of Adjustment meeting…
Land Development Code • By Elizabeth Pagano • Aug 23, 2016
No special exceptions for East Austin special exception
Angry neighbors were no match for strange coincidences at the Board of Adjustment earlier this month. Nanette DiNunzio was seeking a special exception that would allow her to retain her garage, which – because it is in the 5-foot setback…
