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Travis County Judge-elect Sarah Eckhardt joins Monitor publisher Mike Kanin for a look ahead to her tenure on Commissioners Court. Topics include Secure Communities, SH45, video-conferenced jail visits and much more. Program is below.
As the City of Austin looks back on the unprecedented election season that was, questions remain about whether established vetting that worked under an at-large system — such as forums and lengthy questionnaires — is still effective or appropriate. Endorsements, however, appear…
Since City Council approved an ordinance in mid-October that would legalize transportation network companies like Uber and Lyft, city staff has been hard at work. Not only are they drafting contracts that authorize these companies to operate under the ordinance,…
Despite repeated objections from Austin City Council Member Chris Riley, the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization Transportation Policy Board voted Monday to soften a policy that directs federal funds toward bicycle and pedestrian projects under a proposed long-range plan. The…
With the likelihood of a complete pass from the city fading, one South Austin homeowner will be looking for creative solutions for the problems triggered by a garage door this month. Though some members of the Board of Adjustment appeared…
Town Lake Animal Center continues to operate in disrepair, and a recent state inspection has the Animal Services Department and Austin Pets Alive! scrambling for temporary fixes. Susan Monger, DVM, conducted the inspection this year. That inspection found that the…
With a swift, unanimous approval, City Council members amended the transit requirements for the city’s SMART Housing program last week. SMART stands for Safe, Mixed-income, Accessible and Reasonably-priced Transit-oriented housing. Last week, Council tweaked the “T” to require that SMART…
A proposed medical center skybridge continued to provoke discussion Monday, when the City Council’s Comprehensive Planning and Transportation Committee took its turn questioning the need for a pedestrian walkway. The pedestrian bridge, to be located at 15th and Red River…
Election Day is always something of a high-water mark for your Monitor team. Each cycle we pour resources into coverage of the campaigns. This year, of course, was multiplied by two major factors: the switch to 10-1 and the amount…
City Council approved an ordinance Thursday that subjects large-scale outdoor music events on city parkland, such as the Austin City Limits festival, to more comprehensive sound permitting requirements. The ordinance amends city code to require that applicants seeking outdoor amplified…
Questions from City Council Member Katie Tovo about a proposed Family Business Loan led to an illuminating discussion at Thursday’s Council meeting about what the word “local” really means. Tovo said she was surprised to find out that the program…
Though no one seemed particularly taken with the house up for demolition, concerns about the looming loss of neighborhood character in Cherrywood were enough to win a postponement at the Historic Landmark Commission’s last meeting. Pecan Valley Homes was seeking…
