In what Travis County Commissioner Ron Davis called the largest brick-and-mortar initiative referendum in the history of Travis County, the court approved setting the bond for construction of the planned Civil and Family Courthouse project at $291.6 million. Voters will weigh in on the bond in the November election. Commissioners set the $291.6 million bond […]
Gene Davis
Posted inElections, Local Politics
Travis County talks appraisals, city business
In a discussion on state legislative proposals aimed at increasing fairness in property tax appraisals for homeowners, several Travis County commissioners called out City of Austin leaders for not implementing a 20 percent homestead exemption for property taxes. Commissioner Gerald Daugherty said that while the proposed citywide exemption “was an easy deal to run on,” […]
Posted inAustin, EMS, Public Safety, Travis County
Suicides highlight rift between EMS staff, managers
A second suicide by an Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services first responder within the past seven months has heightened visible tensions between the department’s leadership and its employees. And while multiple EMS first responders took to Facebook earlier this month to blast the departmental leadership following the suicide of a medic, Austin-Travis County EMS Association […]
Posted inAustin, Local Government, Transit, Transportation
Lone Star Rail kicks off environmental study
A decade-old project to build a passenger rail line between the San Antonio and Austin areas picked up steam Wednesday with a public meeting of the Lone Star Rail Project. The meeting served as the kickoff to the project’s environmental impact study, which Lone Star Rail Director Joe Black called a “major, major point in […]
Posted inAustin, Development
Yogurt shop variance request frozen for now
The Board of Adjustment gave an overall warm reception to a parking variance request sought for a new frozen yogurt shop on East Sixth Street. However, instead of granting the variance request, several BOA members said they thought the Development Assistance Center could potentially waive the parking requirement for the building located at 1105 E. […]
Posted inAustin, Development
Sign Board postpones confounding variance case
After calling the plan “confusing” and “difficult to follow,” the Sign Review Board voted unanimously Monday to postpone consideration on a variance package to allow larger signs at an Austin hospital. The sign plan sought multiple variances for four signs at St. David’s North Austin Medical Center, 12221 N. MoPac Blvd. However, after discussing the […]
Posted inAustin, City Council, Local Politics
Source of Income ordinance blocked, for now
A federal judge Tuesday temporarily blocked the implementation of a city ordinance that aims to expand housing options for low-income residents who use housing vouchers. The so-called Source of Income Ordinance was scheduled to go into effect Jan. 12. However, U.S. District Judge Sam Sparks stayed the implementation of the ordinance until he holds a […]
Posted inAustin, Hays County, Local Government, Transit, Transportation, Travis County, Williamson County
CAMPO board OKs list of future transit projects
The Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization Transportation Policy Board approved a recommended list of regional transit projects Monday, including a commuter rail line from Elgin to Austin and multiple new MetroRapid Bus routes, to prioritize for potential funding under its draft long-range plan. The board also approved a recommended list of roadway projects in Travis, […]
Posted inLocal Government, Resources, Water
LCRA seeks more limits on downstream release
With an analysis predicting the possibility of record low storage levels in lakes Buchanan and Travis early next year, the Lower Colorado River Authority board of directors voted 11-2 Wednesday to ask the state for a fourth year to limit the release of water from the Highland Lakes to agricultural interests downstream. The board also […]
Posted inEnergy, Environment, Resources
AE proposes rate change to improve value of solar
At Monday’s Electric Utility Commission meeting, Austin Energy officials presented a rate change that promises to create greater stability in the compensation of residential customers for the value of electricity generated by their solar units. The rate change is part of a broader effort by the utility to help meet the ambitious solar energy goals […]
Posted inAustin, Bicycles, Hays County, Local Government, Transportation, Travis County, Williamson County
CAMPO weakens bicycle, pedestrian funding
Despite repeated objections from Austin City Council Member Chris Riley, the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization Transportation Policy Board voted Monday to soften a policy that directs federal funds toward bicycle and pedestrian projects under a proposed long-range plan. The CAMPO board voted to amend a long-standing policy in the 2040 Regional Transportation Plan that […]
Posted inDevelopment, Zoning
BoA changes designation for two CrossFit facilities
During a dramatic, packed-beyond-capacity special meeting, the Board of Adjustment voted to reverse a previous staff decision and change the land use designation for two CrossFit locations in Brentwood. The new land use designation could potentially put CrossFit Central, 6205 Burnet Road, and BVM CrossFit, 6711 Burnet Lane, out of business at their current locations. […]