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Most Popular Stories
- Despite safety concerns, Council OKs new buildings above Shoal Creek
- 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
- A multi-family rezoning at the rugged edge of Northwest Austin
- City eyes fund to preserve affordable housing, capitalize on overbuilt apartment market
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Library offers lean budget now in hopes of increase in future years
City Council members heard a humble request from the Library Department last week. ThoughLibrary Director Brenda Branch is requesting an increase of 4.4 percent in next year’s operating budget, her presentation to City Council noted that that increase did…
Local Politics • By Elizabeth Pagano • May 12, 2014
Mayor criticizes use of Austin Water funds to pay for general fund expenses
The Austin Water Utility came under scrutiny at last week’s budget session, as City Council members took a closer look at rate increases proposed by the utility. In fact, Mayor Lee Leffingwell called for “truth in budgeting,” telling AWU officials…
Local Politics • By Elizabeth Pagano • May 12, 2014
Attorneys protest Travis County Jail’s cooperation with ICE
Pressure is growing for the Travis County Jail to halt its participation in a federal program to put immigration holds on certain inmates for possible deportation, as a group of more than 100 attorneys and law professors are calling the…
Local Government • By Mark Richardson • May 9, 2014
Committee debates options for rate increase for water customers
Leaders at Austin Water Utility are pushing back on the recommendations of a committee tasked with finding alternatives to a water rate increase of more than 10 percent. The Joint Committee on Austin Water Utility’s Financial Plan met May…
Resources • By Kara Nuzback • May 9, 2014
Austin Fire Chief explains to Council why she can’t expand service
Ranks of the Austin Fire Department are down by 76 members and that number is growing every month as veterans retire, according to Fire Chief Rhoda Mae Kerr. Kerr says at that rate, the department would have around 100 vacancies…
Local Politics • By Heydn Ericson • May 9, 2014
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Council members surprised by changed format for budget process
Several City Council members expressed surprise Thursday about not being provided with budget presentations from city departments as part of their FY2015 budget deliberations. Members also said they were concerned over a decline in the amount of information delivered by…
Local Politics • By Michael Kanin • May 9, 2014
Ironic twist in development regulations could scuttle condo project
Neighbors and developers showed up at Citizens Communication en masse at last Thursday’s City Council meeting to speak out against city staff’s rejection of the Weekly Homes’ Harper Park site plan. It seems playing by the rules could keep a…
Development • By Elizabeth Pagano • May 8, 2014
Task Force recommends major changes to some city commissions
The Boards and Commissions Transition Task Force issued its final report last week, recommending the elimination of up to 19 city commissions, mostly through combining the duties of two or more current panels. The Austin City Council gave the…
Local Politics • By Elizabeth Pagano • May 8, 2014
City pulls RFQ to replace Barton Springs Bridge after public outcry
Plans to replace the Barton Springs Bridge at the entrance to Zilker Park are already being reworked, with staff pulling back its original Request for Qualifications in light of numerous concerns expressed by the public. Currently, plans for replacing…
Development • By Elizabeth Pagano • May 7, 2014
Extra cost stops commissioners from changing employee paydays
What started out a few weeks ago as a routine request to change the frequency of paychecks to Travis County employees turned into a major disagreement among Commissioners Tuesday over the cost of making such a change. In the end,…
