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Most Popular Stories
- Former Council Member and dedicated environmentalist Jackie Goodman has died
- Despite safety concerns, Council OKs new buildings above Shoal Creek
- A multi-family rezoning at the rugged edge of Northwest Austin
- Texas lawmakers finalize bill limiting property owners’ right to protest new homes nearby
- As Acacia Cliffs rezoning is approved, Critics say Council has sold out on its affordability commitments
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Ora Houston recalls challenging but rewarding year
In an interview with the Austin Monitor, City Council Member Ora Houston called her first year on Council “extremely rewarding” but said that the job had a “steep learning curve.” In addition, the changes to city government that 10-1 promised…
City Council • By Jack Craver • Dec 28, 2015
Austin Monitor Radio: TravCo 2015 Wrap
Austin Monitor TravCo reporter Caleb Pritchard joins publisher Mike Kanin to talk about the year in Travis County government and politics.
Local Government • By Michael Kanin • Dec 28, 2015
Commissioners Court holds fire on gun policy update
Travis County Commissioners Court will get off to a quick start in 2016. On Tuesday, County Judge Sarah Eckhardt reset until Jan. 12 an item that contained a controversial revision to the county’s firearms policy. The proposal would bring the…
Travis County • By Caleb Pritchard • Dec 23, 2015
Council delays decision on EMS staffing issues
City Council heard two competing narratives over a staffing shortage in the City of Austin/Travis County Emergency Medical Services communications and dispatch section of its discussion last week, as department management urged Council to approve an ordinance that would eliminate…
EMS • By Jack Craver • Dec 23, 2015
ZAP postpones project over pipeline concerns
The Zoning and Platting Commission postponed a decision on a proposed project at its Dec. 15 meeting over concerns relating to a nearby gas pipeline. In the course of the discussion, commissioners suggested that current city regulations do not require…
Development • By Jack Craver • Dec 23, 2015
Addition delayed to allow neighbors research time
A plan to expand a 1910 house in an area of town known as “Gypsy Grove” has some neighbors unsettled, but they will have at least one more month to come up with a solution, or reconcile themselves with the…
Preservation • By Elizabeth Pagano • Dec 23, 2015
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Austin Energy reveals cost-of-service findings
As the city begins to re-examine its electric rate structure for the first time since 2012, Austin Energy staff revealed the preliminary results of its internal cost-of-service analysis at an Electric Utility Commission meeting on Dec. 14. In short, Austin…
Energy • By Tyler Whitson • Dec 22, 2015
African American Advisory Commission membership raises questions at Audit and Finance
The Audit and Finance Committee spent just under an hour trying to resolve a dispute over membership on the African American Resource Advisory Commission at its Dec. 14 meeting. At issue were the six seats on the 17-member commission reserved…
City Hall • By Jack Craver • Dec 22, 2015
Austin police emphasize mental health training
The Austin Police Department has altered its training and procedures in response to a growing consensus among experts that much of crime is linked to untreated mental illness. As a result, all new cadets in the Austin police academy receive…
Police • By Jack Craver • Dec 22, 2015
Zoning commission OKs northwest SMART homes
A speech by a neighbor denouncing a proposed SMART housing complex as dangerous and poorly planned didn’t stop the Zoning and Platting Commission from unanimously approving it at its meeting last Tuesday. The site plan for a 120-unit apartment complex…
Housing • By Jack Craver • Dec 22, 2015
Politics clash with process over quarter-cent fund
The idea of dividing Capital Metro’s quarter-cent fund among Austin’s districts based on community recommendations has strong support from City Council. But just how to go about doing that raised some serious questions about process on Thursday. In June, Council…
City Council • By Elizabeth Pagano • Dec 21, 2015
Despite consensus, park dedication fees delayed
To the apparent disappointment of all sides, a long-lingering proposal to change the city’s Parkland Dedication Fees was postponed by City Council on Thursday. Council Member Leslie Pool pushed for the postponement of the changes and explained that she needed…
