Report: Ex-AE employee misused city resources, lied to auditors

An investigation by the Office of the City Auditor found that a former utility accounts specialist at Austin Energy misused his city computer and email to benefit his secondary employment and failed to do work assigned to him, forcing the…

City Hall • By Jo Clifton • Jul 15, 2021

Austin's downtown rail plans shifted after bill allowing transit under parks failed to pass

The crown jewel of Austin’s $7 billion transit expansion is the city’s first-ever underground light rail system through the middle of downtown, a state-of-the-art transit corridor down Fourth Street bookended by Republic Square Park on the west and Brush Square…

Transit • By Nathan Bernier, KUT • Jul 14, 2021

Firefighters' leader says department needs more funds

When City Manager Spencer Cronk presented the Fiscal Year 2021-22 budget to City Council last week, he noted that the new Loop 360 fire/EMS station would be opening in the coming fiscal year. According to the manager’s budget document, the…

Fire • By Jo Clifton • Jul 14, 2021

Housing Authority withdraws removal notice for Oak Valley residents

On Tuesday, the Travis County Commissioners Court heard from some of the 85 families who were abruptly given notice last week that they would have to leave their homes at the Rosemont at Oak Valley apartment complex by the end of the…

Housing • By Seth Smalley • Jul 14, 2021

City staffers propose Great Streets fees-in-lieu

City staffers have recommended new fees-in-lieu for the Great Streets requirement of the Downtown Density Bonus program, as City Council directed last year. On June 28, they presented their recommendations to the Design Commission.  Establishing fees-in-lieu for Great Streets is…

Development • By Jonathan Lee • Jul 14, 2021

City budget proposal gives taxpayers a break

Despite a pandemic that still ravages parts of the country and in the face of hostile legislation from the state, Austin “has come through the many challenges of the past year in as good or better shape than any big…

Budget • By Jo Clifton • Jul 13, 2021

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Vision plan takes on mobility woes at Zilker Park

Last month, the Parks and Recreation Department held its first community meeting for the Zilker Metropolitan Park Vision Plan, an ambitious effort to develop a framework for the park’s future. The department calls it the “first comprehensive planning effort in…

Planning • By Sean Saldaña • Jul 13, 2021

ZAP lacks votes in contentious 3M property rezoning

The Zoning and Platting Commission last Tuesday failed to recommend rezoning part of 3M Company’s former campus in Northwest Austin, falling short of the six votes required for a motion to pass. The case now goes to City Council without…

Zoning • By Jonathan Lee • Jul 13, 2021

What will happen to all the plexiglass barriers Austin businesses set up during the pandemic?

From grocery stores to banks, clear plastic barriers have become an everyday sight over the last year. Large acrylic sheets, or plexiglass, have been set up in front of cash registers and reception desks to reduce the risk of transmitting…

Austin • By Sangita Menon, KUT • Jul 13, 2021

Tax break proposal prompts call for changes to county's public-private partnerships

The Travis County Commissioners Court may consider changes to the county’s affordable housing program to encourage apartment developers to provide more meaningful rent reductions in exchange for property tax abatements. Commissioner Brigid Shea suggested future changes as commissioners deliberated two…

Development • By Amy Smith • Jul 12, 2021

West Campus sign variance remains on hold after illuminating discussion

Once again, an accidental ban on illuminated signs has forced developers to seek a variance from an unintentional city statute.  Current city code prohibits illuminated signs in the University Neighborhood Overlay (UNO). While the prohibition was made in error, it…

Land Development Code • By Elizabeth Pagano • Jul 12, 2021

BoA postpones parking variance for want of a better hardship

Parking requirements could threaten the affordability of a North Central Austin apartment complex. But finding no hardship – aside from the Land Development Code itself – Board of Adjustment members have asked for more information to better consider a variance…

Land Development Code • By Elizabeth Pagano • Jul 12, 2021

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