Council OKs water, wastewater extension to environmentally sensitive property

In a vote of 7-4, City Council on Thursday approved granting water and wastewater service for a proposed multi-family project outside the city limits and within the Drinking Water Protection Zone. The property at 10656 North FM 620 is in…

This session saw legislative wins for child care providers and working parents

Each new Texas legislative session may introduce a new set of battles, but there are always some wins that keep us showing up to fight at the capitol every three years. This year, employers and working families alike saw the…

Focused on real affordability, City Council moves to improve density bonus programs

City Council voted Thursday to initiate a review and potential overhaul of the city’s density bonus programs, signaling a shift toward more flexible and customized incentives to promote affordable housing and community benefits across different parts of the city. The…

Austin food trucks no longer have to move trailers for health and safety inspections

Desnudo Coffee’s East Austin location serves hundreds of cups of coffee each day. But once a year the truck has to shut down for its annual health safety inspection. Closing for even a day can cost the business thousands of…

Former Council Member and dedicated environmentalist Jackie Goodman has died

Jackie Goodman, 79, who served on the Austin City Council for 12 years starting in 1993, passed away on Tuesday. She had been hospitalized but had come home before her death. She served as Mayor Pro Tem for several years…

City saves $2.5M by electrifying fleet with plans to nearly double EV count by 2030

At the Climate, Water, Environment and Parks Committee meeting Monday, Austin officials reported $2.5 million in savings from electrifying the city’s fleet and outlined plans to nearly double the electric vehicle fleet size by 2030 as part of a broader…

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City delays decision on license plate reader program

After a prolonged discussion during Tuesday’s City Council work session, a proposed extension of the city’s Automated License Plate Reader program is no longer under consideration. “Given concerns expressed today, I have decided to withdraw this item from the agenda…

City to postpone UNO vote to consult with UT

A vote on a long-debated plan to allow taller buildings and expanded development in the University Neighborhood Overlay district has been postponed until the fall, pushing back the move to add student housing capacity near the University of Texas. The…

CommUnityCare announces new CEO following leadership conflict with Central Health

CommUnityCare, a chain of clinics that serve low-income Austinites, has a new CEO after a monthslong leadership conflict with its public partner, Central Health. With the hiring announcement, the two organizations signaled they had come to a common understanding of…

Austin Resource Recovery expands waste services and reuse programs

Austin Resource Recovery shared the department’s latest initiatives with the Environmental Commission, detailing expanded waste collection services and sustainability programs aimed at keeping Austin cleaner and advancing the city’s zero-waste goals. Ron Romero, Assistant Director of Austin Resource Recovery, said…

Austin has paid out $27 million to people injured by police during 2020 racial justice protests

Austin has paid out nearly $30 million to settle lawsuits over police conduct during protests following George Floyd’s murder five years ago. Most of the settlements were related to injuries caused by police using shotguns to fire lead-pellet bags at…

Austin’s fight against gun violence: A public health-based strategy in uncertain times

Three years after the tragedy in Uvalde, Austin is doubling down on a different approach to gun violence: treating it like a public health crisis. With the third anniversary of the Robb Elementary School shooting on May 24 and an…