Morrison calls Austin Energy governance debate top 2013 issue

Though, in her estimation, it “wasn’t so much an event as it was a long, drawn out conversation,” Council Member Laura Morrison puts the Austin Energy governance discussions toward the top of her list of major 2013 events.   She…

Local Politics • By Jo Clifton • Jan 7, 2014

Tovo puts affordability issues at top of her 2013 list of successes

For Council Member Kathie Tovo, a lot of the successes in the past year have to do with affordability.   “I think we are hearing from the community that they are very overwhelmed by taxes and by other increases, and…

Local Politics • By Jo Clifton • Jan 7, 2014

Spelman wants to leave city in good shape for new 10-1 Council

For his part, Council Member Bill Spelman likes Council Member Chris Riley’s “clearing the decks” metaphor for the past year in Council activity. “I like the frame of clearing the decks,” he began. “It’s something that’s been on my mind…

Local Politics • By Michael Kanin • Jan 7, 2014

Riley cites heavy lifting in 2013 to get ready for 10-1 Council

Council Member Chris Riley offers a broad frame for the 2013 Austin City Council. “Trying to look at it from a perspective of how this year will be viewed historically, I think the most notable thing about it may well…

Local Politics • By Michael Kanin • Jan 7, 2014

Remembering highlights of 2013

As we begin 2014, the Austin Monitor is taking a look back at 2013 in the thoughts and words of City Council members and City Manager Marc Ott. For most of them, 2013 was an important year with many major…

Local Politics • By Austin Monitor • Jan 7, 2014

Austin’s continuing success biggest story for Leffingwell

Mayor Lee Leffingwell likes to point out that Austin, by most measures, has an extremely successful economy, gets high marks for job creation and has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the nation—4.7 percent, according to numbers released late…

Development • By Jo Clifton • Jan 6, 2014

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Cole cites affordable housing bonds’ approval as major event of 2013

Mayor Pro Tem Sheryl Cole lists a set of familiar responses as milestones for her 2013 Council year. And though she clearly sees the importance of such items as the start of the Land Development Code rewrite, wage floors, and…

Development • By Michael Kanin • Jan 6, 2014

Martinez sees 10-1 Council Districts as 2013’s biggest event

For Council Member Mike Martinez, one of the most important things to happen in city government in 2013 didn’t have anything to do with the current City Council.   “If you want to ask me what I think was one…

Elections • By Elizabeth Pagano • Jan 6, 2014

Looking back at 2013

No doubt one of the most significant events over the past year was the drawing of Austin’s first geographically-based single-member City Council districts. In November 2012, Austin voters approved a charter amendment to create 10 single-member districts in the city.…

Development • By Elizabeth Pagano • Jan 6, 2014

Environmental Board worries about subdivision above Barton Springs

The Environmental Board has taken the unusual step of weighing in on a case not formally before them, letting the city know exactly what its members think about a subdivision planned to sit on Little Zilker Creek. The board, though…

Development • By Elizabeth Pagano • Jan 6, 2014

Previously denied fence variance back before Board of Adjustment

A contentious request for a variance on an East Cesar Chavez fence is back before the Board of Adjustment, even though the board had denied the same variance a year ago.   Agent Phil Moncada last represented Michael Kleinman a…

Development • By Elizabeth Pagano • Dec 20, 2013

Newly formed Civil Service Commission still developing rules

Austin’s newly formed Municipal Civil Service Commission continued to work at answering a number of fundamental questions aimed at developing a set of operating rules at its meeting Tuesday night at City Hall.   Voters approved a civil service system…

Local Politics • By Jimmy Maas • Dec 19, 2013

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