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Ethics complaints filed against CTRMA board members

Three top officials at the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority are facing formal complaints that they failed to properly disclose pertinent business interests. The director of the nonprofit watchdog group Texans for Public Justice filed three complaints with the Texas…

Fire Department says it needs more fire stations

The Public Safety Commission unanimously recommended a resolution Monday that would require the city manager to submit an annual report to City Council identifying areas of the city most in need of fire stations. If approved by Council, staff will…

Not enough historic value in getting plastered, says commission

Despite a last-minute push to preserve its unique exterior, the fate of a Central Austin home was sealed by the Historic Landmark Commission at its last meeting. The home at 3108 Grandview St. was originally brick before being covered with…

Council shoots down Thornton Road Studios rezoning

A group of artists, musicians and small business owners in South Austin was granted a stay of execution related to its work spaces last Thursday night, when City Council denied a zoning change that would have transformed the property into…

Council enacts changes to committee system

Just before the close of its meeting Thursday night, City Council made changes to its committee system. City Council voted 8-3 in favor of Council Member Greg Casar’s resolution, which was intended to streamline the sometimes cumbersome committee system adopted…

Reporter's Notebook: Same as it ever was

Sharing information… An Austin Monitor reporter received a call Friday from a polling firm conducting a survey on the ongoing debate in Austin over ride-hailing services Uber and Lyft. During a six-minute call, the caller asked a series of questions…

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Austin Monitor Radio: Urban Transportation Commissioner JD Gins

Urban Transportation Commissioner JD Gins joins Austin Monitor publisher Mike Kanin to talk about options ahead of a potential 2016 City of Austin transportation bond. Sponsored by Austin Water. Show is embedded below.

Updated: Petition to Recall Council Member Kitchen Deemed 'Insufficient'

From KUT News: A petition submitted by a political action committee attempting to recall Austin City Council member Ann Kitchen has been deemed “insufficient” by the City Clerk. The PAC Austin4All failed to get the petition notarized, which was required…

Kanin on Council: Pilot Knob revisited

The Austin Monitor‘s Michael Kanin speaks to KUT’s Jimmy Maas about the Austin City Council’s decision to revisit an affordable housing deal that passed in December known as Pilot Knob and what the second go-round could mean for Austinites.

Council starts Pilot Knob amendments

City Council voted 10-1 Thursday to start the amendment process on the affordable housing portion of the zoning ordinance that created the Pilot Knob planned unit development in Southeast Travis County. Council Member Don Zimmerman voted no. Council initiated the…

Occupancy limits made permanent

City Council on Thursday eliminated an expiration date from the occupancy-limits ordinance, making permanent a cap on occupancy in new single-family homes. Council voted to amend the ordinance in a 9-1-1 vote, with Council Member Ellen Troxclair opposed and Council…

How should Austin fund its transportation needs?

The City Council Mobility Committee largely steered clear of discussing a potential bond election during a meeting Wednesday focused on how the city can finance its looming transportation needs. A bond election, said Council Member Ann Kitchen, who chairs the…