Budget amendment means new $150M Austin Energy HQ at Mueller

Austin Energy will move its offices on Barton Springs Road to a new headquarters at the Mueller development in North Austin, a move that is expected to save the city roughly $1 million per year. Last week City Council unanimously…

Old UT Co-op may become medical offices

The former University Co-op building on the corner of Medical Arts and Dean Keeton streets may soon be home to doctors’ offices and banks after City Council voted to rezone the property to allow medical uses and financial services. Following a…

tcad

Action ramps up in appraisal district suit

Action continues to ramp up in the battle between the Travis Central Appraisal District and firms representing property owners seeking hearings to lower the appraised value of their properties. Last month, Texas ProTax Austin, Five Stone Tax Advisors, 46 commercial…

Camelback is back, but this time at the Ethics Review Commission

After so much contention and inflamed passions on both sides, it’s no surprise that the story of the Camelback planned unit development did not end with the Nov. 1 approval by Council. On Dec. 12, the Ethics Review Commission heard…

State transportation performance goals suggest lack of government solutions

Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization’s Transportation Policy Board caught a glimpse of a potentially bleak future in Texas transportation during a routine procedure at the board’s Monday evening meeting. In line with the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st…

Reporters' Notebook: On tacos and cities

Bullish on tacos… Anyone who’s heard Mayor Steve Adler invoke his civic pride at events over the past four years has undoubtedly heard him praise the availability and variety of breakfast tacos as a badge of honor for the city.…

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Council hopes to reduce car use with two initiatives

At its last meeting of the year Thursday, City Council approved two measures aimed at encouraging people to get out of their cars. One item, crafted by Council Member Delia Garza, instructs the city manager to put together a working…

Lawsuit challenging Austin's move to rename Manchaca Road heads to trial

A lawsuit challenging the city of Austin’s decision to rename Manchaca Road will go to trial. The suit, brought by the group Leave Manchaca Alone, alleges the city didn’t properly inform residents and businesses ahead of a City Council vote…

Red-tape mishap causes frustrations at the BoA

For six years, a dock has been jutting out into Lake Austin without technically having the proper permitting to do so in its current form. Since October, Kathleen Huff of 3117 Westlake Drive has been appearing monthly before the Board…

Tourism Commission pushes for broader use of hotel tax dollars

Austin’s Tourism Commission wants to see the city push for more latitude in how to spend local hotel occupancy tax dollars, with an eye toward next year’s session of the state Legislature. At Monday’s meeting, the commission approved a recommendation…

Council ponders ways to make meetings shorter, less confusing

As part of its ongoing efforts to make government more efficient and productive, City Council is discussing potential changes to how meetings are run. The conversation was kicked off by the city’s CFO Elaine Hart, who highlighted a number of…

Travis County bush

County delays decision on criminal district attorney’s office

The Travis County Commissioners Court is considering a merger of the County and District Attorney’s offices into a criminal district attorney office that may considerably lower the number of jail bookings for misdemeanor offenses. County Attorney David Escamilla and District…