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Most Popular Stories
- A plan to end night swimming at Barton Springs is over before it ever began
- Austin moves forward with plan for parks over I-35
- External review finds data inconsistencies in APD reporting on use of force
- Downtown report: Office vacancies up, infrastructure growth continues
- Council looks to change the ‘unhappy experience’ of DB90
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Task force releases initial recommendations on reopening Central Texas
Last week, the Austin Chamber of Commerce sent Mayor Steve Adler and Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt the initial recommendations of the Opening Central Texas for Business Task Force. The task force, which is made up of 125 members representing…
Austin • By Nina Hernandez • May 11, 2020
Committee IDs employment, accessibility among priorities for next budget
The city board overseeing services for the disabled wants funding for better accessibility at City Hall, improved street crossings and more employment opportunities included in the next city budget. Last week the Mayor’s Committee for People With Disabilities moved forward…
Budget • By Chad Swiatecki • May 11, 2020
Scarbrough Building narrowly avoids losing tax relief status
The historic Scarbrough Building had a close call with its tax abatement status when the Historic Landmark Commission voted unanimously at its April 27 meeting to remove its eligibility status. When the Velvet Taco restaurant opened a new outdoor seating…
Preservation • By Jessi Devenyns • May 11, 2020
Council approves Healthy Streets program to ease crowding on sidewalks, trails
The coronavirus pandemic has alleviated Austin’s chronic traffic congestion and brought another issue into the foreground: the immediate need for space to walk, bicycle, use a wheelchair or push a stroller at a safe distance from others and from car…
Transportation • By Ryan Thornton • May 8, 2020
Council wants plan for how to spend $170M in federal aid for Covid-19 relief
Later this month City Council will get the first estimate of how the city can best use just over $170 million in federal funds dedicated to relief from the Covid-19 pandemic. As part of the consent agenda Thursday, Council approved…
City Council • By Chad Swiatecki • May 8, 2020
Council rejects Texas Gas Service rate hike
City Council voted unanimously Thursday to reject new rates proposed by Texas Gas Service. The vote came as no surprise. The decision had strong support from a group of environmental and consumer advocates who wrote a letter to Council last…
Resources • By Jo Clifton • May 8, 2020
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Public Safety Commission postpones budget recommendation, calls emergency meeting
Budget recommendations from boards and commissions are due to city departments at the end of May. However, the Public Safety Commission did not feel there was ample review time since its April meeting was canceled, so commissioners postponed their recommendation…
Police • By Jessi Devenyns • May 8, 2020
Capital Metro adds new light rail line to Project Connect recommendation
An update to regional population estimates has prompted the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority to make a major change to its proposal for Project Connect. In a memo posted Wednesday, CEO Randy Clarke and Assistant City Manager Gina Fiandaca said the…
Transit • By Ryan Thornton • May 7, 2020
County plans to spend $968K to prepare for voting in 2020
Travis County will spend $968,000 to expand ballot-by-mail voting and introduce new safety precautions at voting sites in preparation for the July runoff election and the November general elections. Already, Travis County Clerk Dana DeBeauvoir told the Commissioners Court on…
Elections • By Jessi Devenyns • May 7, 2020
Resolution seeks help to make Austin more resilient
Austin has long been recognized as a leader in green energy and environmental sustainability. Now, under a resolution sponsored by Council Member Leslie Pool, Mayor Steve Adler and Council members Kathie Tovo, Natasha Harper-Madison and Alison Alter, Council is asking…
City Council • By Jo Clifton • May 7, 2020
City taking steps toward $1,000 grants for musicians impacted by Covid-19
The city is preparing to give grants of up to $1,000 to musicians who have lost income and are facing severe economic hardships due to the shutdown of music-related businesses as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. At Wednesday’s meeting…
Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • May 7, 2020
City and county consider long-term telecommuting strategy
When the city and county issued Stay Home-Work Safe orders on March 24, Austin became a community of teleworkers virtually overnight. Although there was minimal preparation for the change in work environment, the effort has been sufficiently successful to prompt…
