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Riverside PUD gains second-round approval

Although a neighboring property owner tried to prevent Thursday’s vote by seeking a postponement of the second and third readings on rezoning of a property at 200 E. Riverside Drive, attorney Richard Suttle convinced City Council to move forward with…

Zoning • By Jo Clifton • Mar 3, 2025

Council sets the stage for more short-term rental regulations, with tax collection to begin in April

​​The city will soon begin requiring platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo to collect and remit Hotel Occupancy Tax revenues on behalf of short-term rental properties, marking the first in a number of expected changes in the industry. The change,…

City Council • By Chad Swiatecki • Feb 28, 2025

Council solidifies transparency in labor talks over APA’s opposition

City Council on Thursday approved a resolution reaffirming the city’s transparency policy in labor negotiations, despite objections from the Austin Police Association president. The one-page resolution, introduced by Ryan Alter, reiterates the city’s policy that meet-and-confer and collective bargaining discussions…

City Council • By Amy Smith • Feb 28, 2025

CapMetro's secret fight to fix a broken fare system

For months, Capital Metro passengers knew something wasn’t right. The QR code scanners they used to pay fares with phones were unreliable, sometimes not working at all. Riders would often board without paying, flagged on by the driver to keep…

Transit • By Nathan Bernier, KUT • Feb 28, 2025

Updates to erosion protections coming to Council

During the inaugural meeting of City Council’s newly formed Climate, Water, Environment, and Parks Committee on Feb. 26, members heard a briefing on a proposed ordinance from the Watershed Protection Department (WPD) to increase erosion protections along the Colorado River.…

Environment • By Mina Shekarchi • Feb 28, 2025

Council will likely delay implementing new STR rules pending legislative action

Austin City Council today will consider an overhaul of the city’s short-term rental regulations but is expected to delay implementing most changes until the summer. At Tuesday’s work session, Mayor Kirk Watson suggested pausing the new rules pending the outcome…

City Council • By Amy Smith • Feb 27, 2025

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Austin opened up police misconduct files. Now, state lawmakers want to lock them back up.

A bill that’s making its way through the Texas Legislature could target Austin’s management of its police department. Now, Senate Bill 781, authored by Republican state Sen. Phil King, could undo years of litigation, a citywide referendum and countless hours of public…

Police • By Andrew Weber, KUT • Feb 27, 2025

Panelists cite city, state programs among positives for health of Austin music scene

Praising attempts by the city and state to offer more support for Austin’s musicians and live music venues, panelists weighing in on the state of the city’s music scene were upbeat Tuesday during a discussion at the LBJ Presidential Library.…

Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • Feb 27, 2025

Parks and Recreation Department contemplates a 2026 bond, two years overdue

Austin Parks and Recreation Department is in the process of developing its 2026 integrated bond, with the last one created eight years ago for a 2018 bond election. These bonds fund capital improvement projects for parks and recreation, including building…

Bonds & Propositions • By Hunter Simmons • Feb 27, 2025

TipSheet: Austin City Council, 2.27.25

Austin City Council will meet today for their regular meeting and, looking over the agenda, it promises to be a shorter meeting, for the most part.  As for the other part, Council is poised to consider, if not adopt, new…

TipSheets • By Elizabeth Pagano • Feb 27, 2025

New convention center design revealed at Council

Trisha Tatro, director of the Austin Convention Center, promised during Tuesday’s City Council work session a “world-class design” and the “first net-zero carbon convention center in the world.” Katy Zamesnik, assistant director of the convention center, told Council that Austin…

Planning • By Jo Clifton • Feb 26, 2025

Austin Transit Partnership presents pedestrian features, changes to stops in revised Project Connect plan

The Mobility Committee of City Council heard an update on plans for the Austin light-rail project that included a proposal for three new pedestrian features along the prospective system, as well as changes to stops, during a meeting on Feb.…

Transit • By Miles Wall • Feb 26, 2025

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