The Austin Monitor thanks its sponsors. Become one.

City Council makes plans for City Hall return

In news that will be welcomed by those who have grown tired of staring at digital grids of local officials, City Council members have begun to make plans to hold in-person meetings again. Though there is no firm date, and…

City Council • By Elizabeth Pagano • Jun 7, 2021

Mitigation pilot set to tackle harmful algae in Lady Bird Lake

Most pet owners in Austin recall the fateful summer of 2019, when a spate of dog deaths was traced back to contact with toxic algae in Lady Bird Lake. Since that time the blue-green algae, or cyanobacteria, has been identified…

Environment • By Amy Smith • Jun 7, 2021

Neighbors delay Council’s recommendation of tax credits for affordable housing project 

Due to neighborhood concerns, Fox Hollow, an affordable housing project at 2117 Brandt Road in Southeast Austin, will have to wait two more months for City Council to recommend the project for the state’s Low Income Housing Tax Credit program.…

Housing • By Jonathan Lee • Jun 4, 2021

Last residential house on Rainey cleared for demolition by landmark commission

In 2019, a KUT report introduced Austinites to John Contreras, then known as “The Last Man on Rainey Street.” Rainey Street, historically a residential neighborhood, has become one of the city’s most prominent centers for nightlife and large-scale development. Contreras’…

Preservation • By Sean Saldaña • Jun 4, 2021

With Council approval, DSD to add 41 new workers

City Council on Thursday approved a staff request to hire 41 new reviewers and inspectors in the Development Services Department starting in July, with a goal of having those new employees trained and ready to work by the end of…

Budget • By Jo Clifton • Jun 4, 2021

E-bikes, pandemic boost MetroBike ridership

MetroBike, the city’s rebranded bike share service, saw two consecutive months of record ridership this year, driven by a pandemic-era bike boom and a new fleet of e-bikes.  “This year, we hit record numbers for the past few years,” Chad…

Bicycles • By Jonathan Lee • Jun 4, 2021

Subscribe to our newsletter

Subscribe

Development Services seeking more staff this summer

The Development Services Department, which conducts inspections and approves permits for new housing, remodeling and commercial construction, is facing an ever-increasing volume of work, as Assistant City Manager Rodney Gonzales and department Director Denise Lucas explained at Tuesday’s City Council…

Budget • By Jo Clifton • Jun 3, 2021

Bill that would have revived Land Development Code dies in session

It wasn’t on the city’s legislative agenda, but a bill that would have empowered City Council to move forward with a final vote on a revised Land Development Code died in a House committee, giving neighborhood advocates another victory over…

Land Development Code • By Amy Smith • Jun 3, 2021

Board member asked to resign after tempers flare over creek project

Council Member Pio Renteria has requested the resignation of his appointee to the Parks and Recreation Board, citing her lack of decorum during a tense discussion about the proposed Central Williamson Creek Greenway at the board’s May 25 meeting. The…

City Hall • By Amy Smith • Jun 3, 2021

County budget office weighs up new correctional complex

At their May 27 work session, Travis County commissioners fielded a presentation on the 20-year road map for the Travis County Correctional Complex. Representatives from the Planning and Budget Office, the Travis County Sheriff’s Office, and the Justice Planning Department…

Public Safety • By Seth Smalley • Jun 3, 2021

Austin Energy leader insists utility is resilient

While Sidney Jackson, Austin Energy’s deputy general manager and COO, told City Council the “system is resilient,” utility customers who went without power for three days might disagree. By Saturday night, power had been restored to 88 percent of the…

Energy • By Jo Clifton • Jun 2, 2021

Council to increase homestead exemptions, tax rate ceiling

City Council plans to vote this week on three items affecting Austinites’ property taxes. Two measures would give homeowners modest property tax relief through increased homestead exemption rates. The third measure would effectively set a higher maximum property tax rate,…

City Council • By Jonathan Lee • Jun 2, 2021

« Previous Page — Next Page »