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Most Popular Stories
- Audit: Economic official granted arts, music funding against city code
- Dozens of city music grants stalled over missing final reports
- City leaders evaluate surprising ideas for water conservation
- Parks Board recommends vendor for Zilker Café, while voicing concerns about lack of local presence
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Advocacy orgs target compatibility, parking requirements in VMU2
As City Council discusses VMU2, a proposal to allow taller buildings on sites zoned Vertical Mixed-Use in exchange for more affordable housing, advocacy groups have rallied to scrap what they say are VMU2’s biggest shortcomings: compatibility and parking requirements. “Eliminating…
Land Development Code • By Jonathan Lee • Apr 25, 2022
Construction material shortages are delaying TxDOT projects and driving up their costs
A shortage of building materials like steel and concrete is driving up costs for Texas Department of Transportation road projects and could delay some construction contracts. “We have also seen significant increases (over 100 percent in some cases) in some…
Roads • By Nathan Bernier, KUT • Apr 25, 2022
Downtown Commission wants private developer proposals for convention center expansion
The Downtown Commission wants the city to solicit proposals from private developers to pay for a portion of the expansion and reconstruction of the Austin Convention Center. At last week’s meeting, the commission approved a recommendation asking City Council to…
Planning • By Chad Swiatecki • Apr 25, 2022
City wins digital billboard battle at Supreme Court
On a vote of 6-3, the U.S. Supreme Court decided Thursday that the city of Austin’s regulations prohibiting digital billboards and other off-premises digital signs are content-neutral and therefore do not violate the First Amendment. Reagan National Advertising and Lamar…
Courts • By Jo Clifton • Apr 22, 2022
Austin postpones vote on pilot program to provide basic income to struggling families
Elected officials in Austin decided Thursday to delay a vote on a program that would have sent a monthly stipend to low-income families, no strings attached. City Council Member Mackenzie Kelly, who represents far Northwest Austin, first called for a postponement.…
City Council • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Apr 22, 2022
How the Watershed Protection Department removes obstructions from Austin creeks
Austin, a city known for the rivers, creeks and springs that run through it, is also prone to flooding. The city’s Watershed Protection Department shoulders the responsibility of managing Austin’s waterways and reducing the impact of flooding, erosion and pollution…
Environment • By Willow Higgins • Apr 22, 2022
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Community groups push for safety, public services in $73.5M budget request
More than 30 community groups and service organizations have created a list of recommendations for the next city budget, with 16 proposed expenditures focused around safety and public health totaling $73.5 million. Details on the Community Investment Budget were released…
Budget • By Chad Swiatecki • Apr 21, 2022
Landlord misinterpretation prompts proposed amendment to help displaced renters
District 4 Council Member Chito Vela’s staff recently learned that renters in his Northeast Austin district were denied protections afforded to them under the Tenant Relocation Ordinance. Passed in 2016, the law established notification requirements for anyone seeking demolition permits,…
City Council • By Emma Freer • Apr 21, 2022
Iron Bear demolition paused as landmark commission considers historic designation
With its fate far from certain, the proposed demolition of the warehouse that is home to Austin’s Iron Bear has been put on hold after the city’s Historic Landmark Commission initiated historic zoning on the structure. An outpouring of support…
Preservation • By Elizabeth Pagano • Apr 21, 2022
TipSheet: Austin City Council, 4.21.22
Welcome to another edition of the Austin Monitor’s TipSheet! As usual, this is a rough guide to some of the things that will be up at City Council today, with our best guesses at what will be most interesting. Those with…
TipSheets • By Elizabeth Pagano • Apr 21, 2022
VMU changes not happening anytime soon
Without taking a vote, City Council members decided during Tuesday’s work session that they would postpone Thursday’s vote on the most recent proposals to enhance affordability options within the zoning category known as Vertical Mixed Use, or VMU, and the…
Land Development Code • By Jo Clifton • Apr 20, 2022
Austin Energy wants to raise its rates. Here's how you can give feedback.
Residential customers could see a nearly $16 bump in their monthly electric bills under a rate hike proposed by Austin Energy. But before it can raise base rates, the city-owned utility must first go through a public input process. Austin…
