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Tree removal permitting to change in October

Sometimes trees have the most powerful voices in our city. At the Sept. 5 meeting of the Environmental Commission, Max Elliott, who is a resident of the Govalle neighborhood, alerted the commission that recently a builder removed five heritage trees…

Environment • By Jessi Devenyns • Sep 12, 2018

Don't expect harmony from groups attached to $128M push for creative, culture centers

While the city’s cultural centers and the disparate arts and music communities will win or lose collectively in November when voters decide whether to approve $128 million in bond funding, it appears those groups will be working separately to campaign…

Bonds & Propositions • By Chad Swiatecki • Sep 12, 2018

Austin skyline

With hotel tax money in play, Tourism Commission meetings grow heated

The second meeting of the city’s new Tourism Commission saw the group vote down a possible $3 million marketing campaign for local live music, while also dusting off the long-running debate about public safety expenses for the South by Southwest…

Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • Sep 11, 2018

Austin City Hall front

Council endorsement dances have begun

Political season has truly begun, with groups large and small hosting candidate forums and making endorsements. Last Friday, enough supporters of both incumbent District 3 Council Member Pio Renteria and his sister, Susana Almanza, came out to vote at the…

Elections • By Jo Clifton • Sep 11, 2018

Plans for Colony District Park permit move forward

The Zoning and Platting Commission had a few questions before unanimously approving a conditional use permit for additional amenities to Colony District Park last Tuesday. The park, which is located at 7201 Colony Loop Drive, is home to Overton Elementary…

Planning • By Alyx Wilson • Sep 11, 2018

Austin Monitor Radio: City Music

In this week’s show, Austin Monitor freelancer Caleb Pritchard takes you on a musical journey through the world of urban mobility. From David Bowie to Shonen Knife, these are the tunes that inspire us as we write about cars, trains,…

Radio • By Elizabeth Pagano • Sep 11, 2018

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band playing at mohawk

Music groups take aim at the ballot box with new nonprofit

Two months before the November midterm elections, a consortium of businesses and nonprofits involved in Austin’s music industry have banded together with the goal of having a greater influence at the ballot box. The new Music Moves Austin 501(c)(4) nonprofit…

Elections • By Chad Swiatecki • Sep 10, 2018

Rowers on the dock

City doesn't want Austin Rowing Club's special deal to be too sweet

City Council voted in June to grant the Austin Rowing Club the unusual privilege of negotiating a contract renewal with the city without going through the typical bidding process. ARC and Council members argued that the special deal was warranted…

Parks • By Jack Craver • Sep 10, 2018

heritage tree

Citing historical lessons, Environmental Commission opts for mitigation rather than preservation

It’s not often that a variance to remove heritage trees comes before the Environmental Commission. But when it does, the decision is no walk in the park. “Trees like this are one of the challenging cases for us,” City Arborist Keith…

Austin • By Jessi Devenyns • Sep 10, 2018

Reporter's Notebook: Eyes wide open

Four-eyed and proud… On Aug. 28, the Parks and Recreation Board considered the Camelback PUD, a proposed mixed-use development on Lake Austin being led by Jonathan Coon, the founder of 1-800 Contacts, a contact lens company that he sold for…

Reporters' Notebook • By Austin Monitor • Sep 10, 2018

Austin City Hall front

Mental health team faces funding crisis

Mental health professionals accompany police officers to all SWAT calls in Houston and Seattle, but Austin’s Mobile Crisis Outreach Team, which operates alongside the Austin Police Department, does not accompany officers on high-risk calls, such as when a weapon is…

Budget • By Jo Clifton • Sep 7, 2018

Camelback tract

One part of Camelback PUD isn't controversial: A big new park

The Parks and Recreation Board couldn’t find anything bad to say about the parkland proposed as part of the Camelback PUD, a proposed mixed-use development on a 145-acre plot of land that fronts Lake Austin just west of Loop 360.…

Parks • By Jack Craver • Sep 7, 2018

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