Council OKs variance to build home in the floodplain

After hearing from the city’s floodplain administrator and the owner of an east side property, City Council unanimously approved two variances to the city’s floodplain regulations on Thursday. Their action will allow property owner Luc Pham to build a house…

Planning • By Jo Clifton • Jan 22, 2024

Tovo announces run for mayor

Former City Council Member Kathie Tovo announced Thursday that she is running for mayor this year, a move that will inject a little adrenaline into the race featuring incumbent Mayor Kirk Watson. Tovo served as an at-large council member from…

Elections • By Jo Clifton • Jan 19, 2024

DAA, Urban Alchemy partner to improve outreach, services for downtown homeless population

Downtown Austin Alliance hopes its new pilot program will help to provide more services and housing opportunities to the homeless people clustered throughout the city’s central business district. On Thursday, the DAA announced its Homeless Engagement Assistance Response Team (HEART),…

Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • Jan 19, 2024

City Council approves 2024 Heritage Preservation Grants

On Thursday, City Council approved a list of Heritage Preservation Grants funded by $3.59 million in Hotel Occupancy Tax dollars. The 23 applicants will receive anywhere from $15,000 to $250,000 to fund their proposals, which range from concrete repair projects…

Preservation • By Kali Bramble • Jan 19, 2024

bus stop

Cap Metro to increase security guard presence at transit centers, Republic Square

The Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board of Directors’ operations, planning and safety committee at its Wednesday meeting heard an update on the system’s Public Safety Program. The program, approved by the board in 2021, is based on a three-prong approach…

Transit • By Nina Hernandez • Jan 19, 2024

CEO of Austin-based BookPeople 'ecstatic' over decision blocking law that restricts library books

The CEO of BookPeople said she is “ecstatic” the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday blocked a Texas law that sought to restrict which books are available in school libraries. “I’m so, so happy that they upheld the lower court’s…

Courts • By Becky Fogel, KUT • Jan 18, 2024

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City seeks McKinsey's $2M analysis of programs to address homelessness

Consulting giant McKinsey & Company could take up another study of the city, specifically how four local bodies including Central Health are working to address homelessness throughout the Austin area. At its meeting today, City Council will consider two items…

City Council • By Chad Swiatecki • Jan 18, 2024

Busy Council day includes a call for cease-fire in Gaza

City Council will hear once again from a coalition asking Council as a whole to call for a cease-fire in the Israel-Palestinian conflict. Council members Vanessa Fuentes, Zo Qadri and José Velásquez last month issued a statement in support of…

City Council • By Jo Clifton • Jan 18, 2024

Cap Metro conducts partial audit of methods for tracking and reporting greenhouse gas emissions

Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority is working toward a goal of reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040. Last fall, Capital Metro partnered with University of Texas graduate students on an audit of its current methods for tracking and reporting…

Transit • By Nina Hernandez • Jan 18, 2024

TipSheet: Austin City Council, 1.18.24

Today marks the first official City Council meeting of 2024, and despite an extremely abbreviated work session, there are a few things that we’ll be keeping our eye on. As usual, this TipSheet is just a collection of best guesses…

TipSheets • By Elizabeth Pagano • Jan 18, 2024

Austin Energy fine-tuning plans for reliable, carbon-free power by 2035

Austin Energy leaders have prioritized reliability of the utility’s power generation at all times as one of the most important components of its next resource generation plan, which is expected to come before City Council for approval in March. During…

Energy • By Chad Swiatecki • Jan 17, 2024

Garza appoints new CEO at Austin airport

Interim City Manager Jesús Garza has announced the appointment of Ghizlane Badawi as the interim chief executive officer for Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. Badawi has worked in a variety of leadership roles at ABIA over the past 15 years. She has…

City Hall • By Jo Clifton • Jan 17, 2024

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