Planning Commission punts controversial Thornton Road project to Council

Neighborhood activists appeared to score a partial victory Tuesday when the Planning Commission voted to forward a controversial proposal for a major development on Thornton Road to City Council without a recommendation. Although a majority of commissioners present voted to…

Development • By Jack Craver • Jan 14, 2016

Commissioners Court discusses PID policy

The Travis County Commissioners Court waded deep into the weeds of a policy marsh on Tuesday and emerged on the other side a little closer to an agreement that could have significant rewards for construction workers and the affordable housing…

Planning • By Caleb Pritchard • Jan 14, 2016

Disparate treatment of women comes back into focus at City Hall

Last spring, Austin found itself in the national spotlight when news broke about a training session held with the intent of helping city staff cope with a female-majority City Council. Though the repercussions were quick for then-assistant City Manager Anthony…

City Hall • By Elizabeth Pagano • Jan 13, 2016

Commissioners Court retains firearms ban for employees

A political shootout at Travis County Commissioners Court ended with victory for proponents of tougher gun restrictions on Tuesday. The court voted 4-1 to update Travis County Code to include language that forbids employees of departments that report to the…

Travis County • By Caleb Pritchard • Jan 13, 2016

City to host "Music Venue Summit" ahead of spring

In preparation for South by Southwest and other spring events, the city’s Music and Entertainment Division will host a two-hour “Music Venue Summit” on Jan. 25 at the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center. The event will include city…

Music & Entertainment • By Tyler Whitson • Jan 13, 2016

Shrinking AISD enrollment could be new normal

Trustees for the Austin Independent School District are asking district staff to let them know what variables they have control over after hearing grim student enrollment projections. At Monday’s workshop meeting, board members heard the results of an annual demographics report…

AISD • By Courtney Griffin • Jan 13, 2016

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Eckhardt issues public challenge on transit, affordability, justice reform

Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt on Monday challenged the public to get involved and help achieve a broad set of policy goals in 2016. In her first press conference of the year, Eckhardt stood before a line of cameras and…

Travis County • By Caleb Pritchard • Jan 12, 2016

Disparities persist within city's contracting

The city of Austin continues to disfavor minority- and women-owned businesses in its contracting, a 750-page study finds. Jon Wainwright, a senior vice president with NERA Economic Consulting, which authored the study, spoke to City Council’s Economic Opportunity Committee on…

City Hall • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Jan 12, 2016

Council transition committee still working

City Council Member Ann Kitchen, chair of the Council Transition Committee – often called the committee on committees – is hoping that the other four members of her committee will show up at this morning’s 8 a.m. meeting but that…

City Council • By Jo Clifton • Jan 12, 2016

Planning Commission OKs porch change

There were a lot of long discussions at the most recent meeting of the Planning Commission, but the discussion about changing the city’s Land Development Code in order to allow a more liberal approach to porches wasn’t one of them.…

The Code • By Elizabeth Pagano • Jan 12, 2016

Commissioners Court adjusts its aim on gun policy

Travis County Commissioners Court will resume a debate over guns at its regular Tuesday voting session, but it won’t exactly be picking up where it left off late last year. In the three weeks since County Judge Sarah Eckhardt postponed…

Travis County • By Caleb Pritchard • Jan 11, 2016

Music Commission to tackle licensing issues

Although the city’s Music and Entertainment Division is billed as “an economic development accelerator and centralized resource center for Austin’s music industry,” program manager Don Pitts says he spends about 70 percent of his time on permitting issues. Aiming to…

Music & Entertainment • By Tyler Whitson • Jan 11, 2016

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