ICRC continues hearing on preliminary 10-1 Council Districts map

As a deadline for establishing Austin’s first single-member districts looms, the Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission continued to listen to citizens over the weekend.   The commission is currently on a whirlwind tour of the four Travis County Commissioner precincts. This…

Austin • By Elizabeth Pagano • Oct 28, 2013

Fleet Services says it needs more staff, bays to service vehicles

The head of the city’s Fleet Services Department told members on the Council Audit and Finance Committee last week that his department has numerous unmet needs, noting that department is short 60-80 repair bays for the city’s vehicles, including nearly…

Local Politics • By Michael Kanin • Oct 28, 2013

Council OKs prevailing wage as part of economic development deals

The City Council on Thursday voted to make Austin the second city in Texas to mandate prevailing wages for construction workers as part of its economic development process. Mayor Lee Leffingwell was the only Council member to oppose the measure.…

Development • By Michael Kanin • Oct 25, 2013

Council reluctantly votes to end overnight access to bicycle trails

City Council members voted Thursday to end the pilot program that had opened portions of the city’s urban trails to bikes overnight, though many members expressed frustration about the position the issue put them in.   Council members had the…

Local Politics • By Elizabeth Pagano • Oct 25, 2013

Council votes to raise water impact fees to near maximum rate

Austin City Council members Thursday approved an immediate increase of impact fees for public infrastructure to just below the maximum allowable rate. Those are the fees that the Austin Water Utility assesses to help offset the cost of extending water and…

Local Politics • By Michael Kanin • Oct 25, 2013

Final vote on Special Events Ordinance may wait until January

Though Council members unanimously approved the pending on first reading Thursday, that action came with anticipation of the creation of a Council subcommittee that would deal with lingering issues about the matter. Chief ordinance sponsor Council Member Mike Martineztold his…

Local Politics • By Michael Kanin • Oct 25, 2013

Subscribe to our newsletter

Subscribe

Council scrutinizes details of proposed Special Events Ordinance

Austin City Council members will have the opportunity to take action tonight on what Council Member Laura Morrison on Tuesday called the “much discussed, monster ordinance on special events.”   At the work session, Council discussion focused on a host…

Local Politics • By Michael Kanin • Oct 24, 2013

Council to hear proposals linking wage rules to development deals

Council members remain at work on potential amendments to a proposal from Council Members Mike Martinez, Kathie Tovo, and Laura Morrison that would link wage requirements to city economic incentive deals. It was unclear as of Wednesday afternoon just what…

Development • By Michael Kanin • Oct 24, 2013

Second Council district map emerges as critics pan ICRC’s first effort

A preliminary map drawn by the members of Austin‘s charter election-born Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission is now not the only proposed single-member district Council outline drawing criticism. A map dubbed by its architects as a “Compact District Map” emerged over…

Austin • By Michael Kanin • Oct 24, 2013

Council members concerned over funding issues for Lone Star Rail

Austin City Council members are calling for more in-depth discussion about a potential interlocal agreement with the Lone Star Rail District. The agreement, if approved, would govern the partnership between the city and a potential rail agency for a line…

Local Politics • By Michael Kanin • Oct 23, 2013

Consultant says doubling city’s solar goal do-able but expensive

Should Austin double its already ambitious solar energy goal?   It’s a question that has begun to get renewed attention from solar advocates, environmentalists, utility officials and others following a year-old recommendation by the City Council-appointed Local Solar Advisory Committee…

Resources • By Bill McCann • Oct 23, 2013

Travis Commissioners finally endorse SH45 SW

Many of the same Austinites made the same arguments they’ve made for decades, but this time, the result was different. At the behest of Pct. 3’s Gerald Daugherty, the Travis County Commissioners Court on Tuesday endorsed construction of the controversial…

Development • By Mark Richardson • Oct 23, 2013

« Previous Page — Next Page »