Newsletter Signup
The Austin Monitor thanks its sponsors. Become one.
-
Most Popular Stories
- Former Council Member and dedicated environmentalist Jackie Goodman has died
- Texas lawmakers finalize bill limiting property owners’ right to protest new homes nearby
- A multi-family rezoning at the rugged edge of Northwest Austin
- City to postpone UNO vote to consult with UT
- City delays decision on license plate reader program
-
-
-
Discover News By District
-
Popular Whispers
Sorry. No data so far.
Video: City Hall public information requests rely on the honor system
Monitor publisher Mike Kanin talks with KXAN’s Sally Hernandez about Sunny Sone’s coverage of how the City of Austin Processes public information requests.
Monitor News & Media • By Michael Kanin • Aug 18, 2015
Public information requests rely on the honor system at City Hall
The city of Austin handles public information requests on the honor system – without oversight to ensure those who are inquiring receive all the information they request. An investigation into how the honor system works found that public information requests to…
City Hall • By Sunny Sone • Aug 18, 2015
Stone cottage demolition leaves confusion behind
Over the weekend, James Retherford was arrested for criminal trespass while trying to stop the demolition of a stone cottage in Bouldin Creek. He was unsuccessful, and the house at 901 Dawson Road is no longer one of the nine…
Preservation • By Elizabeth Pagano • Aug 18, 2015
Council argument about pay raises begins
As Austin’s unemployment rate goes down, the city’s employee turnover rate goes up, Acting Assistant City Manager Mark Washington told City Council at Monday’s budget work session. Currently, Austin’s unemployment rate is about 3.3 percent, and the projected turnover rate…
Budget • By Jo Clifton • Aug 18, 2015
How to change a street name in Austin? It's tricky.
The statue of Confederate President Jefferson Davis will stay put on the University of Texas at Austin campus, for now. While a request for a temporary restraining order is holding up the statue relocation, the original decision to move it…
Austin • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Aug 18, 2015
Council denies landmark designation for Lightsey-Russell House
The yellow-clad neighbors who came out to urge preservation of the Lightsey-Russell House struck a chord with City Council, but not one strong enough to save the 83-year-old home at 1805 Lightsey Road from demolition. With a seemingly heavy heart,…
Preservation • By Jack Craver • Aug 17, 2015
Subscribe to our newsletter
PUC hears arguments in water, wastewater case
The Public Utility Commission of Texas heard oral arguments Friday from attorneys representing the city of Austin as well as those representing a group of wholesale Austin Water utility customers who have challenged post-2012 water and wastewater rate increases. Rather…
Courts • By Tyler Whitson • Aug 17, 2015
BoA delays compromise variance in Travis Heights
Neighborhood support for a plan to preserve a historic home alongside new development wasn’t quite enough to sway the Board of Adjustment on a Travis Heights case at its last meeting. Though some board members seemed inclined to support the…
Preservation • By Elizabeth Pagano • Aug 17, 2015
Reporter's Notebook: Wild Wild West Sixth
Point taken… A briefing about the proposed Austin Police Department budget took an unusual turn Wednesday when City Council Member Don Zimmerman and APD Chief Art Acevedo got into a philosophical exchange about crime on Sixth Street. The debate took…
Austin • By Austin Monitor • Aug 17, 2015
Council committee will consider "parallel" changes to short-term rental ordinance
City staff has been whittling down an assortment of 123 suggested changes to the city’s ordinance on short-term rentals. The result, sent in a memo on Thursday to Mayor Steve Adler and City Council members, is a list of 13…
The Code • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Aug 14, 2015
Planning Commission to take a closer look at neighborhood infill tools
Most members of the Planning Commission appear to believe that something should change about city infill tools attached to neighborhood plans, but none appear certain about what specifically should change. After a half-hour discussion with city staff about how neighborhoods…
The Code • By Jack Craver • Aug 14, 2015
Aging courthouse loses pace with growing county
As Travis County commissioners march forward with a plan to replace the aging Heman Marion Sweatt Courthouse, denizens of that historic building are pulling no punches in their description of it. “It’s awful. It’s terrible. It’s undignified,” was the way…
