The Austin Monitor thanks its sponsors. Become one.

Council to allow ADUs in more places

In response to rising housing costs, last Thursday City Council proposed several changes to allow accessory dwelling units in more neighborhoods and to make them easier to build.  ADUs are set to become legal in Single Family Residence-Large Lot (SF-1)…

Land Development Code • By Jonathan Lee • Dec 15, 2021

Austin continues to explore bus access on the future Lady Bird Bridge

Austin’s Urban Transportation Commission, which advises city departments on transportation-related matters, met last week and continued discussions around the possibility of expanding the modes of transportation accessible on the future Lady Bird Bridge. The topic was also discussed at an…

Transit • By Willow Higgins • Dec 15, 2021

Council opts to pursue settlements in police brutality suits, puts limit on legal spending

City Council has chosen to pursue settlements in two lawsuits stemming from protests last summer outside the Austin Police Department headquarters. Council last week unanimously approved two resolutions to cap legal spending on the cases brought by Justin Howell and…

Courts • By Chad Swiatecki • Dec 14, 2021

Austin ISD will make cuts at Central Office instead of reducing class periods at middle and high schools

The Austin Independent School District said it will not reduce the number of class periods at the middle and high school levels next year – a proposal floated as a way to save money. “I wanted to lower everyone’s anxiety and…

AISD • By Claire McInerny, KUT • Dec 14, 2021

Council debates path forward on paid family leave for emergency services employees

City Council weighed the implications of significantly expanding benefits for emergency services employees this past Thursday in a resolution that calls for a new family leave policy for the city’s EMS, police, and fire departments. The resolution, sponsored by Council…

Public Safety • By Kali Bramble • Dec 14, 2021

Moving encampments off public streets has made it more difficult to provide medical support to Austin’s unhoused 

The camping ban set back years of progress local emergency services made in serving people experiencing homelessness, making it harder and more expensive to respond to an increase in emergency calls, according to a top emergency services official. The ban…

EMS • By Samuel Stark • Dec 14, 2021

Subscribe to our newsletter

Subscribe

Fuel site for airport expansion put on hold to allow for more community input

The city has stepped in to address the concerns of residents who live close to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport and directed city staff to conduct a deeper analysis of the possible effects of a fuel tank farm proposed as part of…

City Council • By Chad Swiatecki • Dec 13, 2021

Amid affordability crisis, Austin will consider studying what it costs to build new housing

Austin City Council members on Thursday asked city staff to look into what it would cost to analyze how much it, well, costs to build new housing. The study, if given the green light early next year, would also focus…

Housing • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Dec 13, 2021

City partners up to monitor particulate matter in the air

Austin has begun working to better monitor the quality of its air. The Clean Air Force of Central Texas is working in partnership with the city of Austin’s Office of Sustainability and the Austin Independent School District to install PurpleAir…

Environment • By Willow Higgins • Dec 13, 2021

Public Safety Commission hears update on police academy after reset

This week the Public Safety Commission heard an update on the Austin Police Department’s first cadet class since pausing cadet training to restructure the curriculum to align with the city’s reimagining public safety process. Dr. Anne Kringen, who joined APD…

Police • By Amy Smith • Dec 10, 2021

After long wait, Toomey Road rezoning wins initial approval

At the urging of Council Member Ann Kitchen, City Council gave first reading approval for rezoning the apartment complex property at the corner of Toomey Road and Sterzing Street close to Zilker Park. Tenants of the complex, which will be…

Zoning • By Jo Clifton • Dec 10, 2021

County irons out details in disaster preparedness plan

The Commissioners Court convened for a work session Thursday to hear a presentation on county preparations for disasters, particularly those in the vein of last February’s Winter Storm Uri. The briefing was a response to a resolution commissioners approved on…

Travis County • By Seth Smalley • Dec 10, 2021

« Previous Page — Next Page »