How many years should it take for a concession in city parks to gain legacy status? City staff are proposing 30 years, but some Parks and Recreation Board members say that number is too high. After deliberating whether to recommend lowering the threshold, the board ultimately voted to ask City Council to weigh how women […]
Amy Smith
Posted inEnvironment
Environmental Commission applauds progress on bird-safe buildings
With more than $5.5 billion generated annually in Texas from birdwatching and bird tourism, Austin leaders and community stakeholders want to ensure the safety of the roughly 400 species that reside in or migrate through Travis County each spring and fall. As such, Watershed Protection staff have developed a set of recommended code amendments and […]
Posted inHousing
Council to consider creating fund to save older, affordable apartments
The city of Austin may soon launch a public-private fund to help preserve older apartment complexes at risk of demolition, drawing on philanthropic, financial and corporate contributions. The idea is to give property owners access to capital for repairs and upgrades without forcing them to raise rents to cover the costs. On Thursday, City Council […]
Posted inParks
City could use Hemphill Park as a drainage site to mitigate flooding
Adams Hemphill Neighborhood Park could serve as a detention basin to reduce flood risk in a Central Austin historic neighborhood. The Parks and Recreation Board last month voted for a recommendation to City Council to approve 138,136 square feet of the park for permanent use, and another 11,997 square feet of parkland for temporary use, […]
Posted inParks
Parks board aims to make city ball fields more accessible to community
The Parks and Recreation Board expects to vote later this month on a resolution that calls for greater public access to city-owned baseball, softball and soccer fields. To accomplish the goals outlined in the draft proposal, the city’s Parks and Recreation Department would need to standardize and clarify the contract language with outside organizations that […]
Posted inParks
Council will delay Zilker Café vote to reconsider ban on alcohol sales
Four years after public outcry nixed a proposal to allow alcohol sales at Zilker Café, City Council now appears willing, if not eager, to permit the use. At Tuesday’s work session, Council members questioned whether the vendor up for approval at Thursday’s meeting could generate sufficient revenue without beer and wine sales, which the city […]
Posted inPreservation
Trestle bridge advocates remain hopeful for future rehabilitation
With ownership of the historic trestle bridge on Third Street still unresolved, the city of Austin has hired engineering firm HDR to explore possible options for rehabilitating the century-old structure. The debate over whether the city or Union Pacific controls the bridge has dragged on for years but, by most accounts, the city and its […]
Posted inBudget
Council takes first crack at proposed budget
City Council kicked off its budget process Tuesday with a closer look at the city manager’s proposed $6.3 billion budget and the prospect of a tax rate election in November. Mayor Kirk Watson has already stated that the maximum tax rate the Council sets on July 31 is likely to trigger an election due to […]
Posted inParks
Parks Board recommends vendor for Zilker Café, while voicing concerns about lack of local presence
The Parks and Recreation Board on Monday recommended city approval of a vendor to operate Zilker Café, the long-vacant concession stand located steps from Barton Springs Pool. The vote comes four years after a previous parks board rejected a local vendor over plans to sell alcohol – an idea that drew strong opposition from pool […]
Posted inCity Council
Council reaffirms its commitment to making Austin a more age-friendly city
Austin is getting older, and its growing population of residents aged 65 and up is living proof. In fact, those between 65 and 74 represented the fastest-growing age group between 2010 and 2020, according to city reports. With that demographic shift in mind, City Council recently directed the city manager to take greater steps to […]
Posted inPolice
City delays decision on license plate reader program
After a prolonged discussion during Tuesday’s City Council work session, a proposed extension of the city’s Automated License Plate Reader program is no longer under consideration. “Given concerns expressed today, I have decided to withdraw this item from the agenda at this time to provide more opportunities to address council members’ questions and do our […]
Posted inEnergy
Austin could soon see more rooftop solar power systems on public buildings
If you thought the city of Austin already had a program to install rooftop solar systems on its municipal buildings, you weren’t alone. Many others believed the same, according to Kaiba White of Public Citizen’s Texas office. ‘I don’t know anybody who thinks it’s a bad idea,’ she added, summing up the results of solar […]