Ex-Travis County auditor urges more study before creating new courts

Just two months after she was fired as Travis County’s auditor, Susan Spataro made her return to the Travis County Commissioners Court on Tuesday.   This time, Spataro appeared as a taxpayer and resident in opposition to a request by…

Commissioners approve permit for ‘Formula Run’ 5-K

Travis County Commissioners approved a Mass Gatherings Permit on Tuesday for a five-kilometer foot race at the soon-to-be-opened Circuit of the Americas complex, an event that could attract up to 10,000 participants and serve as an open house and observational…

First Lake Austin Task Force meeting devoted to hydrilla, erosion

The latest proliferation of hydrilla and lakeside erosion topped the discussion at the Lake Austin Task Force’s first hearing on Monday night.   The task force will have two hearings, one fall and one spring, to take feedback from Lake…

Study: Austin needs to revamp facilities

A study presented Thursday to members of the Austin City Council suggests major changes in the way the city manages its infrastructure and operational standing. Key findings from the lengthy report include recommendations to renovate the One Texas Center building…

Council OKs divisive affordable-housing apartment complex

Despite a valid petition and an outcry of neighborhood opposition, the Austin City Council moved forward with a divisive Montopolis rezoning last week, making way for a 252-unit affordable housing community.           The California-based Cesar Chavez Foundation would own and…

Leffingwell urges Austinites to cast ballots as early voting begins

With today the first day of early voting for the Nov. 6 election, Austin Mayor Lee Leffingwell wants to make sure City of Austin voters are aware of the long list of key items on the tail-end of this year’s…

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Council approves six story development at Riverside RunTex site

Austin City Council approved on Thursday the rezoning of a large property on the northeast corner of Riverside Drive and South 1st Street to allow for the construction of a six story mixed-use building that will include 9,000 square feet…

Council says city can’t give Cap Metro money to ESD 11

Questions about the legality of a proposed tax-sharing deal between Travis County Emergency Services District (ESD) 11 and the City of Austin emerged late Thursday evening during a public hearing on the city’s planned annexation of the Circuit of the…

Council overhauls new short-term rental ordinance

Less than three weeks after their new short-term rental ordinance went into effect, the Austin City Council returned to the drawing board to reduce fees and look into further changes down the road.   The Council passed two short-term rental…

Council OKs design to redevelop Waller Creek into a series of parks

Members of the Austin City Council Thursday OK’d a design for the long-awaited re-imagining of the green spaces along Waller Creek.   A panel of jurors picked the winning team, headlined by New York- and Massachusetts-based Michael Van Valkenburgh &…

Open meetings saga winding down without prosecutions

Six current members of the Austin City Council and one former member have signed or are in the process of signing agreements with County Attorney David Escamilla that will end Escamilla’s pursuit of allegations related to possible violations of the…

Battle of single-member district plans raises plenty of questions

A bout between advocates of competing proposals to revise the City of Austin charter to create single-member City Council districts was on the menu Wednesday at a luncheon panel discussion.   But if those attending expected a knock-down fight they…