Travis County considers task force to study living wage for projects

Discussions are underway at Travis County to form a new Workers Task Force.   The creation of the task force would move forward a discussion that started when County Commissioners passed an economic incentives policy in November 2012. It would…

Divided Council approves new definition of amphitheaters

Amphitheaters are no longer a matter of speculation in Austin. As of last Thursday, the city has a definition for the venues. On Thursday, City Council voted 7-0 to approve an ordinance that defines amphitheaters and requires that their approval…

10-1 plan backers call redistricting commission process a success

Members of the group behind the push for 10 geographically elected Austin City Council districts touted Monday what they consider to be the initial success of early steps toward that arrangement.   “We have over 500 applicants for the Independent…

Council backs ordinance to eliminate downtown parking requirements

City Council took a step towards eliminating downtown parking requirements last week. Though there was a lengthy discussion surrounding the details of such a change, in the end the measure passed on first reading with very little conflict.   Planner…

Collecting Hotel Occupancy Tax remains problem for city

City officials continue to struggle with their ability to fully collect Austin’s Hotel Occupancy Tax.   The office of City Auditor Ken Mory reports that all five of the anonymous hotels examined in a February 2013 audit were delinquent on…

Compromise reached for re-zoning Burnet Road tract for bar

Last week, Mayor Pro Tem Sheryl Cole brokered a final compromise on conditions around the re-zoning for a proposed Little Woodrow’s on Burnet Road, but the agreed-to concessions were not enough to bring Council Members Laura Morrison and Kathie Tovo…

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Council OKs AE rate case settlement

Key Austin Energy rate settlement points:   ·       The utility agrees to reduce its revenue requirement for out-of-city ratepayers by $5.75 million. ·       $4.3 million of the reduction will come from energy charges, $1.2 million will come from reductions in…

Council backs project to keep affordable housing units in Bouldin

City Council unanimously approved funding for an innovative affordable housing project in the Bouldin neighborhood (previously mis-identified as Travis Heights) yesterday.   Though contingent on state funding, Council committed $2 million to the project, which proposes a mix of affordable…

Council postpones action on Project Duration Ordinance to March 21

Austin City Council members Thursday delayed for three weeks a vote on a sweeping change in the city’s Project Duration Ordinance. The break will allow members of the city’s Planning Commission to review the move, and hold a public hearing…

Spelman questions proposed incentives for National Instruments

An economic development agreement with National Instruments could bring the City of Austin 1,000 new jobs, a net fiscal profit of $7.6 million, and the creation of a pipeline project to create the next generation of local engineers.   Still,…

Coalition proposes LCRA buy out rice farmers’ rights

A Highland Lakes interest group is pushing for Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) officials to acquire rice-farming rights from downstream agricultural interests.   The Central Texas Water Coalition suggests that the move would be far more cost effective than the…

Planning Commission rejects variances to Barton Springs plan

Much to the delight of those gathered to denounce the plans, the Planning Commission withheld its endorsement of proposed variances to the Barton Springs Pool plan on Tuesday night.   “For me, it makes much more sense to actually move…