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Affordable housing manuever loses at City Hall

Though it earned the respect of some Planning commissioners, an attempt to leverage a site plan extension for more affordable housing on the near-east side didn’t pay off last week. At last week’s Planning Commission meeting, Nikki Hoelter, who works…

Development • By Elizabeth Pagano • Mar 28, 2016

Council votes to retain vacant positions, for now

How big of a problem is an unfilled position in city government? Is it even a problem at all? A brief City Council debate on Thursday illustrated some strong differences of opinion among city leaders on the issue. Prompting the…

City Council • By Jack Craver • Mar 28, 2016

Reporter's Notebook: You should see the other guy

CodeNEXT, now… Though in the background (for some people), the CodeNEXT Land Development Code rewrite continues to chug along. And this month: a new milestone! The city has released its draft “Natural and Built Environment Code Prescription” (found in its…

Reporters' Notebook • By Elizabeth Pagano • Mar 28, 2016

Austin Monitor Radio: Matt Mackowiak

Travis County GOP Vice Chair Matt Mackowiak joins Austin Monitor publisher Mike Kanin to talk about the organization’s controversial new chair, and the question of how it could remove him. Show is embedded below. Sponsored by Austin Water.

Elections • By Michael Kanin • Mar 28, 2016

Kanin on Council: anti-discrimination, fair hiring ordinances passed in labor-focused meeting

The Austin Monitor‘s Michael Kanin speaks with KUT’s Jennifer Stayton about the Austin City Council’s passage of two labor-centric items – one to bolster anti-discrimination in the workplace and another that would prevent employers from asking prospective employees about their…

City Council • By Michael Kanin • Mar 27, 2016

Austin competes for $50 million Smart City grant

A broad coalition of Austin’s political and business leaders is excited about the prospect of the city being awarded $50 million to put in place a variety of groundbreaking “smart” transit technologies. In a presentation to City Council on Thursday,…

Transportation • By Jack Craver • Mar 25, 2016

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Nursery owner fears city will force closure

The website for the Dawson Neighborhood Group warns in bold letters, “Dawson Neighborhood Poised to Lose Another Beloved Business! Help the Great Outdoors!” The site urges readers to contact the offices of Mayor Steve Adler and City Council Member Pio…

The Code • By Jo Clifton • Mar 25, 2016

Council extends living wage to subcontractors

City subcontractors – such as airport food vendors and construction workers – will now be paid $13.03 an hour after City Council extended the city’s living wage requirements on Thursday to everyone working on a city contract. Two ordinances that…

City Council • By Eva Ruth Moravec • Mar 25, 2016

County ponders partnership with city on one-stop justice shop

With a pair of aging courthouses between them, Travis County and the city of Austin could find a solution to their problems through mutual cooperation. That idea was part of the focus of a Thursday afternoon work session at Travis…

Travis County • By Caleb Pritchard • Mar 25, 2016

New study envisions major changes around Barton Springs Pool

Austin’s rapid population growth and development, along with Zilker Park’s aging facilities, are threatening Barton Springs, the pool and its bathhouse. In a presentation to the Parks and Recreation Board on Tuesday, city staff and members of the Barton Spring…

Parks • By Vicky Garza • Mar 24, 2016

23 groups get involved in Austin Energy rate review

Austin Energy is assuring the public that new electricity rates will be determined with plenty of input from stakeholders. Twenty-three individuals and groups representing the interests of various segments of the utility’s customer base have signed on as “intervenors” in…

Energy • By Jack Craver • Mar 24, 2016

City looks to change neighborhood plan process

The Planning Commission has unanimously endorsed a new approach to the development of neighborhood plans that could shrink the process to six months, down from two to three years. Mark Walters, who is with the city’s Planning and Zoning Department,…

Planning • By Elizabeth Pagano • Mar 24, 2016

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