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City Council hears preliminary findings on what went wrong with city response to Winter Storm Mara

As extreme weather in Central Texas becomes more frequent, what is Austin doing to bolster its emergency preparedness? At its work session on Tuesday, City Council heard a preliminary update on the audits examining what broke down in the city’s…

Public Safety • By Nina Hernandez • Apr 13, 2023

TipSheet: Austin City Council, 4.13.23

Today City Council will convene for its regular Thursday meeting. As usual, anyone can read through the agenda, which is posted online, but we’ve done our level best to pick out the most interesting bits to make things a little…

TipSheets • By Elizabeth Pagano • Apr 13, 2023

Memo eyes possible polystyrene ban to curb trash in creeks, streams

The Watershed Protection Department wants city leaders to consider instituting a ban on polystyrene fast-food containers as one of a series of possible steps to reduce the amount of trash in local waterways. An April 10 memo gives City Council…

Water • By Chad Swiatecki • Apr 12, 2023

Sobering center may seek expanded role

The Austin-Travis County Sobering Center, currently in its fifth year of operations, has served more than 8,000 people, according to Jana Ortega, chair of the center’s board of directors. Ortega and Executive Director Laura Elmore addressed City Council at Tuesday’s…

Public Health • By Jo Clifton • Apr 12, 2023

Mobility Committee weighs feedback on new Project Connect options

Following the release of scaled-back plans for Austin’s future in light rail, representatives from the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Austin Transit Partnership (ATP) and the city provided an updated briefing on Project Connect light rail at the City Council Mobility…

Transit • By Ava Garderet • Apr 12, 2023

Far fewer monarch butterflies are migrating through Texas this spring

Lee esta historia en español It’s the time of year when monarch butterflies pass through Texas on their annual migration. But you might not see as many as last spring. One reason? The number of monarchs that spent the winter…

Environment • By Mose Buchele, KUT • Apr 12, 2023

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Environmental Commission recommends Zilker vision plan along with list of conditions

The city’s Environmental Commission voted last week to approve a resolution recommending the Zilker Metropolitan Park Vision Plan – albeit with a lengthy list of recommendations that include further public engagement and environmental monitoring. The resolution notes that the vision…

Parks • By Nina Hernandez • Apr 11, 2023

Arts, music commissions to renew push for short-term rental tax collections

It appears arts and music advocates will likely ask City Council to reach an agreement with short-term rental platforms such as Airbnb and begin receiving millions of dollars in uncollected hotel taxes that could in part benefit the local creative…

Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • Apr 11, 2023

Dell Seton Medical Center will get a $280 million expansion

Dell Seton Medical Center at the University of Texas is set to get a major expansion to the tune of $280 million, the facility’s parent hospital system Ascension Seton announced Monday. The expansion will add 150 beds and more than…

Public Health • By Olivia Aldridge, KUT • Apr 11, 2023

ZAP supports another rezoning in fast-changing Matthews Lane Neighborhood

The Zoning and Platting Commission on Tuesday recommended rezoning a property in South Austin to allow more single-family homes despite opposition from neighbors who say they have been inundated with new development without the infrastructure to support it.  The site…

Zoning • By Jonathan Lee • Apr 11, 2023

City stepping up safety measures to address Rainey Street concerns

City leaders are moving ahead with lighting and other safety measures in the Rainey Street district in response to a pair of recent late-night drownings and growing speculation that nightlife patrons are unsafe in the entertainment district. The Austin Police…

Public Safety • By Chad Swiatecki • Apr 10, 2023

West Downtown on track to receive national historic status

Austin could soon welcome a brand-new historic district into the mix, with an application for the West Downtown National Register District lined up to get the rubber stamp next month. Located west of the Capitol between Seventh and 15th streets,…

Preservation • By Kali Bramble • Apr 10, 2023

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