The Austin Monitor thanks its sponsors. Become one.
Memo supports mobile community court pilot ahead of $1.5M budget request
A pilot program to make the Downtown Austin Community Court more accessible to those needing help clearing up misdemeanor offenses and receiving social services has been ruled a success, with organizers pushing to make the expansion permanent. A memo released…
City Hall • By Chad Swiatecki • Apr 2, 2024
New scooter rules are in effect now
As of this month, new regulations dictate how scooters operate in Austin. “I think it might be one of the biggest complaints we get in the office,” said Council Member Zo Qadri, who represents downtown. “For me, it’s not as…
Transportation • By Elizabeth Pagano • Apr 2, 2024
City seeks input on area food plan that highlights fragility for farms, restaurants
The Office of Sustainability has published the draft of its long-in-development food plan for Austin and Travis County, which seeks to balance pressures of development and land use against the need to feed a fast-growing metro area. Released last month…
Planning • By Chad Swiatecki • Apr 1, 2024
Travis County approves tax breaks for child care providers
On Tuesday, the Travis County Commissioners Court unanimously approved a 100 percent property tax break to qualifying child care centers in the county. The decision comes close on the city of Austin’s heels; the city passed a similar break in…
Travis County • By Nick Erichson • Apr 1, 2024
Arguments to continue in lawsuit over deed restrictions
Although Travis County District Judge Madeleine Connor ruled in favor of homeowners fighting to keep a developer from building more than two houses per lot in their subdivision last week, that victory may be marred by further decisions in the…
Courts • By Jo Clifton • Apr 1, 2024
T.C. Broadnax is Austin's next city manager. Here's why he was picked.
Austin announced Tuesday night that it will offer the city manager job to T.C. Broadnax, the outgoing city manager in Dallas. Upon his arrival later this year, he will have a full plate of duties and projects to oversee. Broadnax is joining…
City Hall • By Luz Moreno-Lozano, KUT • Mar 29, 2024
Subscribe to our newsletter
Land acquisition, leaving Fayette power plant among environmentalists' priorities for Council plan
With City Council set to consider a host of green infrastructure projects later this spring, environmental proponents want the city to commit to green space acquisition, curbing motorized vehicle use and converting all municipal energy generation away from carbon fuels.…
Environment • By Chad Swiatecki • Mar 29, 2024
Fleet department works to electrify city’s many vehicles
Austin’s Fleet Mobility Services Department wants to lead the way in the use of battery electric vehicles, following the Austin Climate Equity Plan to cut communitywide greenhouse gas emissions to net-zero by 2040. According to a report from the fleet…
City Hall • By Jo Clifton • Mar 29, 2024
Animal Services working to fix problems revealed by audit
Last September, the city’s Office of the City Auditor released an audit highly critical of the city’s animal shelter operations, saying there was a conflict between its priorities of providing humane care, operating as an open intake shelter and maintaining…
City Hall • By Jo Clifton • Mar 28, 2024
Downtown Commission revisits funding bid for anti-graffiti policy
Downtown Commissioners are once again asking City Council to address Austin’s ongoing battle against vandalism, with the hope of seeing funding for a dedicated anti-graffiti task force on the budget this August. The proposal dates back to March of last…
Austin • By Kali Bramble • Mar 28, 2024
Report offers city, developers strategies to reduce parking downtown
A new report from public policy and real estate leaders in Austin recommends a variety of approaches the city can take to reduce the presence and impact of multilevel parking decks in new developments in the downtown core and beyond.…
Planning • By Chad Swiatecki • Mar 28, 2024
Austin to offer city manager job to T.C. Broadnax, mayor says
City Council is recommending T.C. Broadnax as the next city manager. Mayor Kirk Watson said Tuesday that Council will finalize his hiring April 4. Broadnax resigned as city manager of Dallas last month after calls from a majority of that city’s…
