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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

activists in support of paid sick leave ordinance

Austin to appeal state court's hold on paid sick leave ordinance

The city of Austin is appealing a state court’s decision to put on hold the city’s paid sick leave ordinance, which was set to go into effect Oct. 1. A state appeals court ruled last month that the law couldn’t…

Courts • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Sep 7, 2018

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fairmont hotel construction

Development Services preliminary budget asks for 50 new employees

According to the 2017 customer satisfaction poll by the Development Services Department, the time it takes to complete the inspection process was ranked as the most important component but had the lowest satisfaction rating. In an effort to change that…

Development • By Jessi Devenyns • Sep 7, 2018

Council members talk about the budget

As City Council begins its final work session on the budget this morning in preparation for next week’s budget setting meetings, the Austin Monitor asked Council members to tell us the most important aspects of the Fiscal Year 2018-19 budget.…

Budget • By Jo Clifton • Sep 6, 2018

For juveniles, no more curfew tickets does not mean more crime

Last September, City Council unanimously voted to end the late-night curfew for minors that had been on the books for 27 years. Those who made the case to nix the ordinance argued with data that showed that curfews do not…

Public Safety • By Jessi Devenyns • Sep 6, 2018

Austin Energy shifts money away from apartment weatherization program

Every year, Austin Energy pays contractors to make apartment buildings more energy-efficient. They put in place new duct sealant, solar screens and attic insulation, which helps tenants reduce their energy consumption and lower their utility bills. This year, however, the…

Energy • By Jack Craver • Sep 6, 2018

Fewer Austin residents are burdened by housing costs, but many still struggle

Austin is slowly making progress toward becoming a more affordable city, according to a new analysis, but many residents are still finding it difficult to pay for housing. The report released Wednesday by the nonprofit HousingWorks Austin finds that compared…

Housing • By Syeda Hasan • Sep 6, 2018

Office of the Police Monitor looks to revamp complaint process

According to a recent study by the Office of the Police Monitor, for many in Austin, being seen is being heard. At the Sept. 4 special called meeting of the Public Safety Commission, Police Monitor Farah Muscadin explained that many…

Police • By Jessi Devenyns • Sep 5, 2018

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