Animal Advisory Commission debates citywide microchip mandate

Members of Austin’s Animal Advisory Commission butted heads this past Monday over a proposal that would mandate the use of microchips for all pet owners in the city. Following a study by volunteer researchers at UT Austin, the commission’s microchip…

Austin • By Kali Bramble • Feb 16, 2022

Planning Commission OKs latest northwest downtown rezoning

The Planning Commission recommended approval last Tuesday of a rezoning to allow an office and residential building at 815 W. 11th St., adding to a list of developments planned for a sleepy, historic part of downtown. The change from Limited…

Zoning • By Jonathan Lee • Feb 15, 2022

Eureka Holdings right-of-way acquisition moves forward despite neighborhood objections

Homewood Heights residents took an unusual approach to resist development this past Tuesday, requesting that the Urban Transportation Commission reject a right-of-way vacation on an unmaintained and unused street. Despite concerns the vacation would reinforce hazardous traffic conditions, the commission…

Planning • By Kali Bramble • Feb 15, 2022

Tree division seeks to make enviro manual more user-friendly

The Environmental Criteria Manual, a book of rules used to help implement the city’s Land Development Code, hasn’t had a significant update in the past decade. But best practices for urban forestry have changed since then, and the manual is…

The Code • By Willow Higgins • Feb 15, 2022

Austin ISD paid hundreds of millions more than other districts in Texas' 'recapture' program

Lee esta historia en español. The Austin Independent School District is sending more taxpayer dollars than any other school system to the state’s so-called recapture program, a new study finds. The decades-old system, known commonly as Robin Hood, is meant to balance…

AISD • By Andrew Weber, KUT • Feb 15, 2022

City anticipates legal challenges to race-based grants, including Live Music Fund

The city may need to roll back or adjust race-based considerations in some of its grant programs over concerns that the U.S. Supreme Court and lower federal courts may in the coming months rule against the use of such criteria.…

City Hall • By Chad Swiatecki • Feb 14, 2022

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Cold weather shelters kept hundreds warm in cold snap

On the rare occasions when the weather in Austin gets uncomfortably cold, Austin Public Health, the Homeless Strategy Division and the Parks and Recreation Department work together to activate the city’s cold weather shelters. In January, the shelters were put to…

Public Health • By Willow Higgins • Feb 14, 2022

Director of Austin Water resigns after three-day boil-water notice caused by 'employee error'

Lee esta historia en español. The head of Austin’s public water utility has resigned after an employee mistake at a water treatment facility resulted in residents having to boil their water for three days to ensure it was safe to…

City Hall • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Feb 14, 2022

Statesman PUD wins unanimous support from Planning Commission

A massive mixed-use development planned for the former Austin American-Statesman site moved one step closer to approval Tuesday, receiving the unanimous recommendation of the Planning Commission – but not before commissioners spent several hours debating changes they would like to see…

Zoning • By Jonathan Lee • Feb 11, 2022

EMS interim chief optimistic about future of the department

With 124 vacancies that need filling to round out the medic force, Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services is applying a variety of methods to try to close the gaps, interim Chief Jasper Brown told the City Council Public Safety Committee…

EMS • By Amy Smith • Feb 11, 2022

Transit planners study allowing buses on light-rail bridge over Lady Bird Lake

Facing pushback over plans to allow only light rail and pedestrians on a new bridge over Lady Bird Lake, officials overseeing Project Connect, Austin’s $7.1 billion transit expansion, are taking a closer look at whether to design the bridge so…

Transit • By Nathan Bernier, KUT • Feb 11, 2022

MACC board wants questions answered before approving expansion plan

Leaders from the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center want the public to have more input on plans to expand the Rainey Street facility, because of concerns early planning documents don’t provide enough details about public access and how…

Planning • By Chad Swiatecki • Feb 11, 2022

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