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Council lays out budget priorities for a lean year

In a nearly three-hour session on Thursday, Mayor Kirk Watson and City Council members offered support for a lengthy variety of amendments to the budget they will vote on next Wednesday, and possibly on Thursday and Friday. With a lengthy…

Budget • By Jo Clifton • Aug 9, 2024

Environmental Commission recommends Council’s adoption of food plan

The Austin Environmental Commission on Wednesday approved a recommendation to City Council to adopt the proposed Austin/Travis County Food Plan and ensure its complete funding over the next four years. The recommended resolution, sponsored by Mariana Krueger and approved unanimously,…

Public Health • By Amy Smith • Aug 9, 2024

A health clinic for low-income residents was supposed to open in Del Valle last year. Where is it?

Nearly four years ago, the Del Valle community was promised a health center that would offer dentistry, primary care, mental health services and a pharmacy. This clinic, a collaboration between Central Health and CommUnityCare, would expand access to health care and serve…

Public Health • By Michelle Tamayo, KUT • Aug 8, 2024

Urban Transportation Commission to seek more action, updates to trails plan

The Urban Transportation Commission has signaled it wants the city to take a more ongoing approach to evaluating how and when to add trail segments that had been long planned but were removed from the 2023 Urban Trails Plan. Commissioners…

Transportation • By Chad Swiatecki • Aug 8, 2024

Message board shows some of Council’s budget wish list

Although Tuesday’s City Council work session focused almost exclusively on gaps in the city’s Fiscal Year 2025 budget for services related to homelessness, Council members have highlighted a variety of needs in their message board posts. Today, Council will once…

Budget • By Jo Clifton • Aug 8, 2024

Planning Commission calls for reorganization at City Hall

Planning Commission members have unanimously approved a series of budget requests aimed at reforming and streamlining the way their commission is run. Most significantly, the recommendations would establish an Office of the Land Use Commissions that would work with the…

City Hall • By Elizabeth Pagano • Aug 8, 2024

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Lisa Davis confirmed as the next head of the Austin Police Department

Lisa Davis is the new head of the Austin Police Department. City Council approved the nomination of the nearly 32-year law enforcement veteran, who comes to Austin from Cincinnati, to take the helm at APD. Davis’ approval comes after a…

Police • By Andrew Weber, KUT • Aug 7, 2024

Budget work session on homelessness spending shows gaps in funding

City Council Member Vanessa Fuentes requested a briefing to help her and other Council members understand the intricacies of funding shelter for Austin’s homeless population. She said it was clear from town hall meetings and budget hearings that Austinites are…

Budget • By Jo Clifton • Aug 7, 2024

Music Commission asks city to find space, assistance for Texas Music Museum

The Music Commission has asked the city to step in quickly to provide storage space for the archives of the Texas Music Museum, with $850,000 sought in the near future to help the nonprofit organization remain viable and secure a…

Budget • By Chad Swiatecki • Aug 7, 2024

Planning Commission OKs affordable Sunset Ridge site plan in District 8

A plan to build affordable housing on Southwest Parkway continues to move forward, despite continued opposition from surrounding neighborhoods and the Save Our Springs Alliance.  “There’s always a reason to stop housing. There’s always an excuse to sue to stop…

Planning • By Elizabeth Pagano • Aug 7, 2024

Rents in Austin are down. But many renters still struggle to find housing they can afford.

When the rent payment on Leigh Vladyka’s Austin apartment comes out of his bank account, he tries to avoid looking. Each month, almost half of his take-home pay goes to rent. Nearly $1,600 gone from the $3,400 deposited. And there…

Housing • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Aug 6, 2024

Ethics complaint alleges mayoral candidates received too much money from outside the city

A former member of the city’s Ethics Review Commission, Betsy Greenberg, has filed ethics complaints against Mayor Kirk Watson and one of his challengers, Doug Greco. In her complaints, Greenberg alleges that both candidates collected more money from outside the…

Elections • By Jo Clifton • Aug 6, 2024

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