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Scientists discover three new species of salamander in Central Texas

A team of biologists announced this week they’d found three new species of rare salamanders in Central Texas. The discovery of any new species is big news in science, but in Texas – where the fate of salamanders and people…

Environment • By Mose Buchele, KUT • Jan 16, 2019

Board of Adjustment rules: A private boat dock may not block public waters

Houses along Lake Austin are coveted pieces of property whose main focal point is the water. Some homes are even lucky enough to have inlet coves creep into their properties for their near-private use. However, when a home has a…

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

Conley to resign as CAMPO chairman

Before adjourning Monday’s meeting of the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, chair Will Conley, who has held the chairmanship since first being elected in January 2012, announced his intention to resign from the Transportation Policy Board in the coming weeks.…

Transportation • By Ryan Thornton • Jan 16, 2019

Disability committee wants study to bring attention, dollars to issues

The Mayor’s Committee for People With Disabilities has asked city staff to begin gathering information on how to commission a comprehensive report on the quality of life of and prominent issues facing the city’s disabled community. The committee voted unanimously…

City Hall • By Chad Swiatecki • Jan 15, 2019

Legal questions swirl around soccer stadium petition

The organizers of an initiative aimed at stopping the construction of a Major League Soccer stadium in North Central Austin say that the city must hold an election on the matter in May, despite contrary claims from city attorneys. Last…

Music & Entertainment • By Jack Craver • Jan 15, 2019

As shutdown drags on, low-income housing providers in Austin worry funding for rent could run out

Prak Property Management Inc. has been digging into savings to keep some of its low-income properties in Austin running. “It’s like a savings account that every month we are required to put a certain amount of dollars into for things…

Housing • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Jan 15, 2019

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'Valid' ethics complaint dismissed for being unconstitutional

Last October, Mayor Steve Adler’s campaign manager, James Wick, filed an ethics complaint against Megaphone GPAC, a general purpose political action committee opposing the mayor’s re-election. At the time, several attorneys opined that the complaint would be dismissed due to…

Elections • By Jessi Devenyns • Jan 15, 2019

Neighborhood planning poised to change

The Planning Commission was recently briefed on the future of small area planning by Planning and Zoning staff. Austin has focused its small area planning around the neighborhood planning strategy since a 1997 City Council resolution. But subsequent to a…

Planning • By Alyx Wilson • Jan 14, 2019

Music commission pushes for action on 'agent of change'

Members of the city’s Music Commission are pushing staff for action to produce an “agent of change” ordinance that City Council can vote on to bring some clarity to friction between entertainment venues and nearby hotels and residences. At last…

Music & Entertainment • By Chad Swiatecki • Jan 14, 2019

Gómez acknowledges challenges ahead, says county is equipped to handle them

Looking back on 2018 and at the year ahead, Travis County Commissioner Margaret Gómez says she is feeling pretty good. The past year brought some frustrations for the commissioner with the time-consuming necessity of briefing new county employees and residents…

Travis County • By Ryan Thornton • Jan 14, 2019

Reporter’s Notebook: The bonus no one wanted

Violations that make lawyers giggle… On Jan. 9, the Ethics Review Commission heard the preliminary case of DeShawn Scott, an administrative specialist in the Public Works Department, who used his city computer for purposes related to his own outside businesses: Texas…

Reporters' Notebook • By Austin Monitor • Jan 14, 2019

City proposes new demolition rules

In response to an audit last year that identified a number of problems in the city’s demolition permitting process, the Development Services Department has recommended a number of changes aimed at streamlining the process and ensuring safety. The recommendations were…

The Code • By Jack Craver • Jan 11, 2019

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