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Travis County bush

Many parents at risk of losing their children look to Travis County's Office of Parental Representation

Low-income criminal defendants aren’t the only people Travis County is required to provide with legal representation. Parents at risk of losing custody of their children are also afforded assistance at no cost from the county Office of Parental Representation. OPR,…

Travis County • By Jack Craver • May 17, 2019

power lines

Austin Energy says Decker employees will be prepared for transition

Belated plans to decommission two aging steam turbines at Decker Creek Power Station have brought into question the futures of the estimated 39 employees who will be out of work when the last steam unit shuts down in late 2021.…

Energy • By Ryan Thornton • May 17, 2019

map of the area

Planning Commission fails to recommend zoning change, citing proximity to hazardous materials

Abutting the Cypress Semiconductor manufacturing plant is an undeveloped 1.63-acre tract of land that is currently zoned commercial. This transition property connects the industrial tract to the east with residential developments closer to town. On May 14, Ferris Clements, an…

Zoning • By Jessi Devenyns • May 17, 2019

BoA postpones case to better understand 10-foot setback implications

After combining two plots of land in the West Austin Sweetbrush neighborhood in January and agreeing to conform to city of Austin ordinances in the process, the owners of 2404 Sweetbrush Drive came before the Board of Adjustment on May…

Land Development Code • By Jessi Devenyns • May 17, 2019

Palm school

City eyes Palm School, bigger convention center

City Council Member Kathie Tovo, with assistance from Mayor Steve Adler, has produced a 23-page resolution outlining Council’s desire to create a plan for the southeast part of downtown, including use of the Palm School for cultural programming and expansion…

Planning • By Jo Clifton • May 16, 2019

Austin City Hall front

Cronk names team, spells out process for land use code rewrite

City Manager Spencer Cronk has selected the team that will handle the creation and adoption of the city’s new land use code, with the goal of completing the process by the end of 2019. In a memo issued Tuesday, Cronk…

Land Development Code • By Chad Swiatecki • May 16, 2019

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getting towed

APD makes case for increased tow fee

The Austin Police Department says the city tow rate is due for an update. According to the department’s calculations, the current fee has fallen behind market rates and should be adjusted as soon as possible. While the city’s police tow…

Transportation • By Ryan Thornton • May 16, 2019

swimming pool

Mis-measured fence must come down to size, according to BoA

City code considers a swimming pool to be a backyard hazard that should be securely encircled by a solid fence – sometimes a fence that is higher than the 6-foot standard. However, a fence of increased height is only permitted…

Land Development Code • By Jessi Devenyns • May 16, 2019

Auditor says Austin Energy employee accepted utility poles from vendor

Investigators in the Office of the City Auditor have released a report showing that an Austin Energy supervisor asked for and received favors from a city vendor early last year. In the report, which was released Monday, an investigation found…

City Hall • By Chad Swiatecki • May 15, 2019

Council asks city staff for ideas on local Green New Deal, EVs

City Council unanimously approved its own Green New Deal resolution last week in response to the devastating consequences of the climate crisis, from record temperatures to the historic flooding seen in Austin and Central Texas over the last decade. Council…

City Council • By Ryan Thornton • May 15, 2019

More than just a toll roads agency: CTRMA touts transit, bike and walking infrastructure

The Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority’s ability to build new toll roads may be temporarily stymied by opposition from state leaders, but the agency is keeping busy with major ongoing projects. While the great majority of its spending is on…

Roads • By Jack Craver • May 15, 2019

BoA says expanded parking at Travis County Tax Office is insufficient

For years, the Travis County Clerk’s Office and the Tax Office at 5501 Airport Blvd. have used the vacant lot next door to accommodate the perpetual parking overflow from Austinites seeking a variety of services. Now, as Austin continues to…

City Hall • By Jessi Devenyns • May 15, 2019

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