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Most Popular Stories
- Former Council Member and dedicated environmentalist Jackie Goodman has died
- A multi-family rezoning at the rugged edge of Northwest Austin
- Texas lawmakers finalize bill limiting property owners’ right to protest new homes nearby
- City to postpone UNO vote to consult with UT
- Council OKs water, wastewater extension to environmentally sensitive property
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As voters weigh higher tax rate for Austin public schools, group of former trustees raises concerns
Voters are deciding whether to approve a tax rate increase that would generate new revenue for Central Texas’ largest public school district as it grapples with a $119 million budget deficit. Austin Independent School District officials have said that shortfall…
Bonds & Propositions • By Becky Fogel, KUT • Oct 28, 2024
Austin City Council passes new police contract
Austin City Council approved a five-year, $218 million contract with the city’s police union Thursday. The deal passed on a 10-1 vote. The approval came after hours of impassioned testimony from scores of Austinites. Supporters argued the contract is necessary…
Police • By Andrew Weber, KUT • Oct 25, 2024
New scenarios for HealthSouth site could revive redevelopment push from Council
A pair of new scenarios for redeveloping the former HealthSouth properties downtown could revive the city’s efforts to use the sites to provide hundreds of units of affordable housing. A memo released last week from Mandy DeMayo, interim director of…
Housing • By Chad Swiatecki • Oct 25, 2024
West Travis County Public Utility Agency postpones vote on controversial pipeline for luxury resort
After years of speculation, Dallas billionaire Steve Winn is pursuing his dream of bringing luxury to the Hill Country, with plans to develop a sprawling upscale resort on 1,400 acres just south of Hamilton Pool. But given the backlash it…
Development • By Kali Bramble • Oct 25, 2024
Planning Commission postpones commercial rezoning of East Austin church
Though the Planning Commission voted at its most recent meeting to recommend commercial rezoning for the Alpha Seventh Day Adventist Church property on 51st Street, a posting error means that vote will need to take place again. The church community…
Zoning • By Madeline de Figueiredo • Oct 25, 2024
With backing from a Parkland survivor, Travis County begins hospital-based gun violence prevention program
Back in 2022, the Travis County Commissioners Court passed the Safer Travis County resolution, aimed at reducing gun violence, at the time – and still – the leading cause of non-accidental death in the county. The resolution included two pilot…
Public Health • By Lina Fisher • Oct 24, 2024
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Convention center rebuild loses proposed hotel, housing projects due to 2029 reopening
Leaders of the Austin Convention Center have eliminated the possibility of a new hotel or market-rate housing as a portion of the $1 billion-plus project, which is set to begin a four-year teardown and rebuild next April. A memo released…
Development • By Chad Swiatecki • Oct 24, 2024
Transportation and Public Works Department gears up for mobility projects with EPA funding
The city’s Transportation and Public Works Department is teeing up a series of mobility hub projects and educational programs to combat greenhouse gas emissions with funding from a $48 million federal grant. Today, City Council will formally amend the department’s…
Transportation • By Amy Smith • Oct 24, 2024
Watson questions affordable housing in Airport Overlay
Mayor Kirk Watson has expressed serious concerns about a proposed affordable housing project within the flight path of Austin’s airport and has suggested changes that will prevent such development in the future. In a post on the City Council Message…
Housing • By Jo Clifton • Oct 24, 2024
TipSheet: Austin City Council, 10.24.24
Austin City Council will convene today for a regular voting meeting at City Hall. To prepare, we’ve read through the agenda (which is available in its entirety here) and highlighted what is of the most interest to us and, hopefully,…
TipSheets • By Elizabeth Pagano • Oct 24, 2024
Public lines up to oppose police contract
The Austin City Council sat through hours of speeches from the public on Tuesday, mostly from citizens who oppose the proposed five-year contract with the city’s police union. A few spoke in support, but the vast majority of the 236…
Police • By Jo Clifton • Oct 23, 2024
City looks to reduce lead time on approved bond projects ahead of expected 2026 proposals
City staffers hope to dramatically shorten the early lag in approved bond projects that typically add a year to construction and acquisition schedules, which can also increase costs or reduce the scope for proposed projects. Last week’s meeting of the…
