Council weighs homestead exemption equity

City Council is facing an array of difficult choices as it attempts to balance potential increases in the city’s homestead exemption tax with its upcoming budget needs. Following a Wednesday budget work session, Council members can add possible impacts on…

Budget • By Tyler Whitson • May 14, 2015

Council to delay Red Bluff Hotel variance hearing

Although City Council members are scheduled to hear an appeal today on a variance granted by the Planning Commission to allow construction of a new hotel on Red Bluff Road in East Austin, staff will likely seek a postponement to…

Development • By Jo Clifton • May 14, 2015

Expanded health insurance may cost too much

A memorandum prepared by City of Austin staff reveals that a potential plan to expand health insurance coverage to temporary and contract employees could cost close to $13 million. Human Resources and Civil Service Director Mark Washington sent the memo…

Budget • By Caleb Pritchard • May 14, 2015

Council debates city's state legislative policies

With the 84th session of the Texas Legislature set to end June 1, the city’s Government Relations Office has kicked its lobbying efforts into overdrive. At the same time, City Council has opened a discussion about how the city determines…

City Council • By Tyler Whitson • May 13, 2015

Council to consider Crestview valid petition case

On Thursday, City Council will be considering its first valid petition case in which the neighborhood opposes any zoning change for the property in question. Developer David Kahn is proposing to build a project of just under 70,000 square feet,…

Development • By Jo Clifton • May 13, 2015

City's 2014 heritage tree results a mixed bag

Austin’s heritage tree ordinance is effectively protecting the city’s healthy historical trees, though last year saw the loss of a considerable number of them due to poor health and related issues. That sums up what Keith Mars, environmental coordinator for…

Environment • By Tyler Whitson • May 13, 2015

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Metz and Mabel Davis pools to remain open

This summer, the Parks and Recreation Department plans to keep open both Metz Neighborhood Pool and Mabel Davis Municipal Pool. Late last month, the department announced its intention to close the District 3 pools. Last summer, Mabel Davis lost 25,561…

Parks • By Elizabeth Pagano • May 13, 2015

AISD remains hopeful about school finance bill

Austin Independent School District trustees received good news Monday: A state bill restructuring school finance, House Bill 1759, still has wind in its sails. In the hour-plus monthly meeting with staff, AISD Intergovernmental Relations Committee members heard updates on several…

AISD • By Courtney Griffin • May 13, 2015

Audio: Kanin talks Zim with KUT's Jennifer Stayton

Here’s the tape from this morning’s discussion between KUT’s Jennifer Stayton and Monitor publisher Mike Kanin about Council Member Don Zimmerman’s appointments, and the impact they’ve had on Council deliberations. This post has been updated to reflect the accurate spelling…

Austin • By Michael Kanin • May 12, 2015

CAMPO adopts 2040 Regional Transportation Plan

Austin’s history of doubling its population every 25 years or so presents a huge challenge to regional elected officials trying to predict the area’s future transportation needs. Despite this issue, the Transportation Policy Board of the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning…

Roads • By Tyler Whitson • May 12, 2015

Decker Golf gets first positive sign from committee

The City Council Committee on Economic Development gave supporters of a proposal for a PGA-style golf course at Walter E. Long Metropolitan Park their first victory Monday. The four-member committee voted unanimously to approve a framework for additional benefits for…

Development • By Jo Clifton • May 12, 2015

City, firefighters reach tentative agreement

After years of strife, the City of Austin and the Austin Firefighters Association successfully concluded the collective bargaining process Monday. Last November, City Council agreed to settle a lawsuit with the U.S. Department of Justice over alleged discrimination in the…

City Hall • By Elizabeth Pagano • May 12, 2015

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