Kitchen rallies support as recall effort remains in holding pattern

A group shrouded in mystery failed to deliver on its promise of a political blockbuster on Monday, in the process digging up new questions to pile upon a tall stack of older unanswered ones. After teasing a big announcement late…

Council member fears lawsuits over new ordinance

It’s no secret that on Tuesday, Austin’s city clerk is expected to tell City Council that she has validated at least 20,000 signatures on a petition to change an ordinance governing transportation network companies. And, it’s clear that her announcement will…

ZAP OKs medical offices in South Austin

Competing concerns over facilitating the construction of a medical office and maintaining the character of a quiet area led to a compromise among members of the Zoning and Platting Commission on Jan. 19. The panel voted to recommend rezoning a…

AISD teacher appraisals impetus for possible new salary structure

In a unanimous vote Monday, the Austin Independent School District board of trustees gave the green light to its new teacher appraisal system, which ties teacher appraisals to student performance on standardized tests. Kimiko Krekel, AISD’s executive director of educator quality,…

Unresolved PUD changes spark Council fight

As has been widely reported by now, civility lost its way at last Thursday’s City Council meeting, culminating with a tweet from Council Member Leslie Pool. That tweet, since deleted, read, “So maybe this is the nail in Gallo’s coffin.”…

Displacement fears block recommendation of Montopolis project

Concerns about family displacement and housing affordability prevented the Planning Commission from recommending approval of a proposed apartment complex in the Montopolis neighborhood Tuesday. In two different votes, the commission failed to garner the seven votes necessary to endorse the…

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County's new PID policy touted as victory for both labor and developers

It may have a name only a wonk could love, but Travis County’s brand-new PID policy could have sweeping implications for a large swath of residents whose every thought isn’t consumed with local governance. On Tuesday, the Commissioners Court approved…

Reporter's Notebook: Late nights and postponements

Late meeting, again… Early in its tenure, the new City Council took pains to promise the public that the era of late Council meetings was over. A year later, that promise has not come to fruition, and Thursday some Council…

Austin Monitor Radio: The Palm School

Austin Monitor freelancer Caleb Pritchard joins Travis County Pct. 3 Commissioner Gerald Daugherty to talk about options for the Palm School and the property it sits on. Austin Monitor Radio is made possible by Austin Water.

Kanin on Council: January 29, 2016

Austin Monitor publisher Mike Kanin talks with KUT’s Jimmy Maas about Austin City Council action from Thursday, January 28, 2016. Post is embedded below:

Council stalls mandatory fingerprinting for TNCs, adopts voluntary program instead

City Council on Thursday stalled an ordinance requiring drivers for transportation network companies to pass a fingerprint-based background check and adopted incentives to motivate drivers to voluntarily submit fingerprints. “We’re only deciding whether or not we want to encourage volunteers to get…

Stakeholders to consider digital billboards

Billboard owners are asking City Council for permission to modernize their billboards by making them digital. On Thursday, Council approved a resolution setting up a stakeholder process to try to reach some agreement about whether the city should allow digital…