City task force weighs new uses for hotel occupancy tax

With more tourists coming to Austin each year, the city’s hotels are generating more and more revenue. Some of that funding is set aside to support Austin’s tourism industry, and as the number of guests and hotels grow, so does…

Austin • By Syeda Hasan • Mar 1, 2017

Capital Metro approves Connections 2025

It’s all systems go for Connections 2025. On Monday afternoon, the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s board of directors unanimously approved the framework that will guide the agency’s bus operations for the next decade. “This could be a watershed for Capital…

Transit • By Caleb Pritchard • Feb 28, 2017

Democrats urged to join fight against SB 4

Matt Simpson, policy strategist for the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas, told members of the Central Texas Democratic Forum on Monday that Senate Bill 4, the so-called sanctuary cities bill, throws out policies created by sheriffs and police departments…

Austin • By Jo Clifton • Feb 28, 2017

Affordability plan before Council emphasizes housing needs

City Council members are hoping to make good on promises to create a more affordable Austin. Or, at the very least, ratify a plan to. Council members will vote on an “affordability action plan” at their regular meeting Thursday. The…

Housing • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Feb 28, 2017

Board of Adjustment considers a fee change

After more than a year of discussion and drafting, the Board of Adjustment continues to move forward with a request to change its fees. Board Member Bryan King read his proposal for a change to the fees charged for interpretation…

City Hall • By Elizabeth Pagano • Feb 28, 2017

Homelessness in D4 spurs residents looking to marshal housing resources

Residents in the North Austin area focused in District 4 are looking to assemble a network of local service groups and government resources to respond to what’s believed to be an increase in the homeless population there. There’s no official…

Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • Feb 27, 2017

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Austin to take over some county firefighting

On Feb. 16, City Council unanimously approved negotiation of a contract with Travis County Emergency Services District 4 to transfer firefighting duties to Austin firefighters within the ESD’s area in eastern Travis County. The parties will have to come back…

Fire • By Jo Clifton • Feb 27, 2017

Planning Commission plays Historic Landmark Commission in demolition appeal case

In the first case of its kind, the Planning Commission, acting in place of the Historic Landmark Commission, denied an appeal of demolition permits released in July. Property owner D & L Rent Properties LP originally filed for demolition of…

Preservation • By Joseph Caterine • Feb 27, 2017

Reporter's Notebook: More on Agenda 21

Alternative facts? In our media? It’s more likely than you think… Over the weekend, Zoning and Platting Commissioner Jim Duncan seized the rhetorical zeitgeist in a letter to City Council members, wherein he warned them that the commission had not, as…

Reporters' Notebook • By Austin Monitor • Feb 27, 2017

Now approaching: A final vote on Connections 2025

After months of delay, the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority board of directors is prepared to take a final vote on the agency’s proposed five-year service plan. The board held one final work session last week to discuss Connections 2025, the…

Transportation • By Caleb Pritchard • Feb 24, 2017

New campaign finance rules in the works

Two City Council members, Ellen Troxclair and Jimmy Flannigan, are collecting campaign funds in anticipation of re-election campaigns that seem far in the future. Troxclair is likely to run for re-election in November 2018 for her District 8 seat, but…

City Council • By Jo Clifton • Feb 24, 2017

Local interest groups gear up for a year of CodeNEXT talk

At the rear of the Terrazas Branch of the Austin Public Library on E. Cesar Chavez Street, roughly 10 people gather in a meeting room. It looks like any classroom. There’s a white board at the back, unflattering lighting above,…

Planning • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Feb 24, 2017

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