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Austin can now access a database dedicated to the effects of development on trees

The City Arborist Program has just released a new, interactive tool where everyone has access to all active tree permits at any given time online. Not all trees are being tracked on this dashboard. The city arborist only reviews and protects…

Capital Metro votes on paratransit provider contracts

The Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s board of directors voted Monday afternoon to put the agency’s paratransit operations in the hands of a single contractor. The pair of votes to authorize agency CEO and President Randy Clarke to negotiate agreements with…

Changes ahead for Planning Commission?

At this week’s meeting, City Council is scheduled to consider changes to how members of the city’s Planning Commission are selected. The city attorney’s office has offered two alternative approaches – one of which could have a radical impact on…

Events ordinance approaching completion, with rules TBD

It appears that the city’s ordinance to manage the thriving and lucrative special events industry in Austin is finally about to become a working part of local code. City Council is expected to have a third reading and final approval…

Commissioners Court delays action on worker safety recommendations

The Travis County Commissioners Court will put off for several weeks a decision on a package of proposals aimed at strengthening protections for construction workers on county projects. Last Tuesday, the court discussed 10 recommendations set forth by Purchasing Office…

Reporter's Notebook: Scoot on

Much ado about scooting… As best as we can tell, the Scooter Wars hyped up on social media have largely been playing out as a sitzkrieg. Absent thus far is the oppressive sidewalk clutter – dubbed “mobility spam” by one…

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Chamber conference tackles pains (and gains) of Austin businesses

Business owners and leaders gathered Thursday for the Austin Chamber of Commerce’s State of Talent conference sounded a common refrain: Life in a bustling and fast-growing population center doesn’t guarantee easy days of cash registers that ring by themselves. Rather,…

Austin Energy troubled by hiring concerns

City jobs are notorious for having a prolonged hiring process. However, at Austin Energy, the process has become excruciatingly long, even by its own standards, and it’s starting to have repercussions. At the April 16 Electric Utility Commission meeting, Mark Dombroski,…

What's the story behind the different tags on trees around Austin?

You can’t not notice the trees that line the paths on Austin’s many hike and bike trails. But have you ever noticed a fair amount of them are numbered? They’re on small metal tags nailed to the trunks. Writer Will…

Commission votes to allow residential buffer between neighborhood and small business development

At its April 17 meeting, the Zoning and Platting Commission approved a rezoning on Ferguson Lane and Sansom Road, despite strong urges to reject the proposal from the residents of Walnut Place Neighborhood Association. The agreed-upon motion includes a residential…

Without final rules in place, Austin closes two fair chance hiring complaints

When Lewis Conway Jr. was released from prison in 2000 after serving time for manslaughter, the state required him to wear an electronic monitoring device. But nothing fit his ankles. “So they put the electronic monitor on my wrist,” said…

front of City Hall

Mobility Committee doesn't not want Council to add Project Connect to November bond

After some brief dais drama on Tuesday, City Council’s Mobility Committee unanimously endorsed the idea of at least talking about putting $15 million in Project Connect seed money on the November ballot. The 4-0 vote nudged forward a request made…