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Most Popular Stories
- Former Council Member and dedicated environmentalist Jackie Goodman has died
- A multi-family rezoning at the rugged edge of Northwest Austin
- Texas lawmakers finalize bill limiting property owners’ right to protest new homes nearby
- As Acacia Cliffs rezoning is approved, Critics say Council has sold out on its affordability commitments
- City delays decision on license plate reader program
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Effort to move buses faster stalls at Urban Transportation Commission
Top local transportation planners on Tuesday tapped the brakes on an activist-crafted effort aimed at increasing transit use. At the monthly Urban Transportation Commission meeting, Transportation Director Rob Spillar, Corridor Program Implementation Office Director Mike Trimble and Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority…
Transportation • By Caleb Pritchard • May 12, 2017
Council outlaws vaping, postpones demolition case
At its abbreviated meeting on Thursday, City Council directed the city manager to make changes to the city’s smoking ordinance to clarify that “smoking” includes electronic smoking devices as well as regular cigarettes, so that vaping will no longer be…
City Council • By Jo Clifton • May 12, 2017
Commission on Immigrant Affairs responds to SB 4
As the sky crumbled above them, the city’s Commission on Immigrant Affairs scrambled to pick up the pieces Monday night in response to Gov. Greg Abbott’s signing of Senate Bill 4 over the weekend. Slated to become law September 1,…
Public Safety • By Joseph Caterine • May 11, 2017
Council ponders how to pay for golf
Most of Austin’s Parks and Recreation Department programs operate on money from the city’s General Fund, but at some point in the past City Council designated golf as an enterprise fund. City staff reported to Council at last week’s budget…
City Council • By Jo Clifton • May 11, 2017
Council Member Flannigan seeks to revise Austin's drainage fee system
For much of her life as a homeowner, Joan Reames never noticed the drainage charge on her monthly utility bill. That was until the city revised the system in 2015. Reames said the monthly fee for her condo complex suddenly…
City Council • By Syeda Hasan • May 11, 2017
Environmental Commission holds off on water quality requirements (again)
Despite the Environmental Commission’s efforts to remove controversial amendments to the Watershed Protection Ordinance at previous meetings, the commission was unable to resolve an amendment relating to water quality control at its regular meeting May 3. Andrea Bates, the environmental…
Environment • By Sommer Brugal • May 11, 2017
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Key justice programs survive fight between county, governor
Crucial county programs that lost funding over a row with Gov. Greg Abbott will be able to stay online through at least October thanks to some deep budgetary scouring. On Tuesday, the Travis County Commissioners Court approved a proposed package…
Travis County • By Caleb Pritchard • May 10, 2017
Is Austin's 'economic segregation' here to stay?
“Today you are going to find out that we are really not quite as good as we claim to be.” On that ominous note, Austin Board of Realtors CEO Paul Hilgers opened Tuesday’s luncheon hosted by the Real Estate Council…
Austin • By Elizabeth Pagano • May 10, 2017
Music venue owners see holes in 'imperfect' proposals to protect them
Music venue operators from many parts of Austin have reservations about a pair of proposals created to address friction between increasing residential development and entertainment-oriented businesses. At a summit for local music venues on Monday, operators from venues in East…
Music & Entertainment • By Chad Swiatecki • May 10, 2017
Austin's Visitor Impact Task Force nearing deadline to report to City Council
For the past several months, Austin’s Visitor Impact Task Force has been exploring new uses for the millions of tax dollars brought in by the city’s hotels. The group also has to contend with a host of state and local…
Austin • By Syeda Hasan • May 10, 2017
Zoning and Platting looks to pinpoint gentrification
As the only major growth city in the U.S. with a declining African-American population, Austin knows it has a gentrification problem, and the Zoning and Platting Commission took a step toward addressing it on May 2. Commissioners unanimously passed a…
Land Development Code • By Joseph Caterine • May 9, 2017
Texas sues Austin, Travis County over 'sanctuary city' law
Texas is preemptively suing the city of Austin, Travis County and the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund to enforce the state’s newly minted “sanctuary city” law, Senate Bill 4. The suit, filed on Monday, asks a federal court…
