Vision plan authors hope for a more sustainable future for Zilker

The current state of Zilker Park, from an ecological perspective, is about what you would expect for a 100-plus-year-old metropolitan park in a city with a population just shy of 1 million. With 2.6 million visitors enjoying nature and amenities…

Parks • By Nina Hernandez • Dec 21, 2022

Ethics commission sends Ellis letter on campaign finance violations

The city’s Ethics Review Commission has issued a letter of notification to City Council Member Paige Ellis, documenting a handful of campaign contributions that exceeded campaign finance rules and were not returned to donors in a timely fashion. Last week…

Elections • By Chad Swiatecki • Dec 21, 2022

Environmental groups, neighbors rally against proposed concert venue

A coalition of environmental groups last week announced its opposition to a proposed 5,000-seat concert venue at 14820 Fitzhugh Road, near Dripping Springs. The coalition, Stop Fitzhugh Concert Venue, says it’s concerned about negative impacts the venue might bring to…

Hays County • By Jonathan Lee • Dec 21, 2022

Fire risk is heightened during holiday season

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are peak days for home fires and injuries from inattentive cooking, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Travis County’s fire marshal’s office, the U.S. Fire Administration and NFPA are partnering up for the holidays…

Public Safety • By Seth Smalley • Dec 21, 2022

Judge denies motions to dismiss in Mike Ramos civil suit

In a Sunday ruling denying qualified immunity to the Austin police officer who fatally shot Mike Ramos, U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman sharply criticized the city’s handling of excessive force incidents. The ruling stems from the civil suit filed against…

Police • By Nina Hernandez • Dec 20, 2022

Audit shows flaws in city’s plans for cold weather shelters

An audit presented to the City Council Audit & Finance committee last week says the city is not keeping up with planning for cold weather shelters and that city staff have not received sufficient training in dealing with people seeking…

Public Health • By Jo Clifton • Dec 20, 2022

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City moving forward with new floodplain maps from Atlas 14 rainfall study

The city is moving forward with its effort to update its floodplain maps, in anticipation of an expected increase in dramatic rainfall and flooding events caused by climate change over the next decade. Earlier this month, the Watershed Protection Department…

Land Development Code • By Chad Swiatecki • Dec 20, 2022

Downtown Alliance praises 'transformation' of ARCH under new management

Just months after the management switch-up at the Austin Resource Center for the Homeless, the Downtown Austin Alliance is praising what it calls “transformational change” at the downtown men’s shelter. The alliance’s safety and hospitality committee toured the facility in…

Public Health • By Nina Hernandez • Dec 20, 2022

CapMetro police force coming to North Austin office park

Capital Metro has secured the location of its first police department headquarters – a nondescript building in a North Austin office park – and is ready to spend millions on rent and renovations to expand the transit agency’s mission into…

Transit • By Nathan Bernier, KUT • Dec 19, 2022

Three finalists make a splash as they vie for position of Aquatic Division manager

Last Thursday, the Parks and Recreation Department held a public meeting to introduce the three remaining candidates in the running to become Austin’s next Aquatic Division manager, who the department expects to name in early January. The Aquatic Division manager…

Parks • By Nina Hernandez • Dec 19, 2022

Development leaders see public-private partnerships as cure for 'lazy' public dirt

State Sen. Sarah Eckhardt created a new branding term for proponents of public-private partnerships at Urban Land Institute Austin’s monthly breakfast panel last week. “Something I’ve discovered after 20 years in local government is governments have a tendency to have…

Development • By Chad Swiatecki • Dec 19, 2022

After years of negotiation, renovations begin on Austin’s oldest publicly owned homes

Alexis Henderson stands in the kitchen of her former home at Rosewood Courts in East Austin. The place is abandoned now, save for a couple of items. A rag on the stairwell. A video game decal on the bedroom wall.…

Housing • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Dec 16, 2022

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