Departing from policy, Council declines to annex

At the urging of City Council Member Ann Kitchen, Council last week rejected annexation of a small area containing about 35 homes. The vote was 7-4, with Council members Greg Casar, Delia Garza and Leslie Pool and Mayor Pro Tem…

Planning • By Jo Clifton • Nov 16, 2016

New city contract: 'death knell' for private dumpster services?

Bob Gregory, CEO of Texas Disposal Systems, and his son Adam Gregory sounded the alarm at Monday’s Electric Utility Commission meeting concerning the pending authorization of a 36-month city contract with Republic Services, or another qualified bidder, to provide dumpster…

Resources • By Joseph Caterine • Nov 16, 2016

County changes oversight rules for Central Health

The Travis County Commissioners Court has voted to beef up the financial policies it uses to maintain oversight of Central Health. Tuesday’s decision capped off another extended discussion about the hospital district and the transparency concerns raised in recent months…

Public Health • By Caleb Pritchard • Nov 16, 2016

Audit critical of city, neighborhood contact teams

The city’s neighborhood planning processes “are inequitable, lack transparency, and may constitute a risk to fair housing choice,” according to an audit conducted by the Office of the City Auditor. Auditors presented their findings to the City Council Audit and…

City Hall • By Jo Clifton • Nov 15, 2016

Central Health critics turn up the heat ahead of decision

Critics of Central Health have renewed their demand for the Travis County Commissioners Court to require an “independent and comprehensive” audit of the hospital district’s spending. A handful of activists gathered outside of Travis County’s downtown headquarters on Monday afternoon…

Budget • By Caleb Pritchard • Nov 15, 2016

Council sacrifices Old West Austin building for park improvements

A fourplex in Old West Austin is likely to be demolished despite a push by Mayor Pro Tem Kathie Tovo to save it in the name of historic preservation. A resolution put forward by Tovo to initiate historic zoning on…

Preservation • By Jack Craver • Nov 15, 2016

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Latest Champions rezoning victorious

As of Thursday, another chapter in the storied history of the Champions tract has been written. The public testimony against the case continued from the previous meeting, where opponents spoke for more than an hour against changing the zoning at…

Planning • By Elizabeth Pagano • Nov 15, 2016

Austin Monitor Radio: Election '16 Wrap

Austin Monitor editor Liz Pagano, politics editor Jo Clifton, and contributor Caleb Pritchard join publisher Mike Kanin to analyze the local results of the 2016 November elections. Audio embedded below.

City Council • By Michael Kanin • Nov 15, 2016

Commissioners Court hears about DNA unit's failures

The Travis County Commissioners Court heard a lengthy briefing last week about a catastrophic failure in how DNA evidence is tested in Austin. The 90-minute discussion was spurred by the closure of the Austin Police Department’s Forensic Services Division DNA…

Austin • By Caleb Pritchard • Nov 14, 2016

Despite law intended to ensure diversity, Travis County grand juries less racially diverse

In the year since Texas lawmakers mandated random selection of grand jurors in place of the controversial “key man” system, grand juries in Travis County have become less racially diverse. “The grand juries are to be selected at random from…

Courts • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Nov 14, 2016

Ethics Commission says voters have given Zimmerman a greater sanction than it ever could

Austin’s Ethics Commission dismissed a complaint against City Council Member Don Zimmerman on Nov. 9, saying there was no sanction it could give him greater than being voted out of office. Commissioners voted 5-3 in favor of the complainant. But,…

City Hall • By Cate Malek • Nov 14, 2016

Reporter's Notebook: Sore losers and sour grapes

Ghosting on reporters… It’s probably never fun to take reporter’s calls after losing an election, but usually candidates are good sports about it. However, former City Council District 7 candidate Natalie Gauldin managed to ignore more than five phone calls throughout…

Reporters' Notebook • By Austin Monitor • Nov 14, 2016

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