Austin-Bergstrom International Airport has announced new flights starting this month while anticipating capacity cuts with the softening economy’s effect on travel demand. Jason Alexander, Austin’s deputy chief of airport affairs, gave a briefing on air service updates to the Airport Advisory Commission at its regularly scheduled meeting on April 9. “We are anticipating quite a […]
Hunter Simmons
Hunter is a practicing attorney and freelance reporter who relocated to Austin from his home state of Arkansas. He most enjoys covering the intersection of business, politics, environmental issues and entertainment. Prior to joining the Austin Monitor, he reported for the Sidney Herald in Montana. Send tips to huntr.simms@gmail.com or follow him on Instagram at @hunto_simmo.
Posted inFire
Two bills compete to reform firefighters retirement fund
Two competing bills in the Texas Legislature aim to tackle the issue of reforming the funding structure of the Austin Firefighters Retirement Fund. In a message on the City Council Message Board (posted by the mayor’s chief of staff, Colleen Pate), Mayor Kirk Watson said: “AFRF has been on the Texas Pension Review Board watchlist […]
Posted inWhispers
Zero Waste Advisory Commission unanimously passes budget resolution
The Zero Waste Advisory Commission held a special called meeting on March 20 with a single action item – to approve the commission’s recommendations for Fiscal Year 2026 and 2027 budget goals. The commission unanimously passed a resolution containing the following recommendations: Initiate adequate reserve funding for the support of daily waste, recycling, heavy brush […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
Austin Animal Services Office begins developing bond package for 2026 vote
The Austin Animal Services Office is in early stages of developing its future bond package. The complete package for all participating city departments will be presented to voters in 2026. In the meantime, the department is working through a process that will determine how its bond requests take shape. Each department participating in the bond […]
Posted inDevelopment
Austin Energy Green Building program logs 21,573 projects since its creation
In 1991, Austin Energy Green Building developed the first rating system in the country to evaluate the sustainability of buildings, creating a model for other cities and the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification system. Heidi Kasper, energy efficiency services director at Green Building EVET, gave an overview of the […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
Parks and Recreation Department contemplates a 2026 bond, two years overdue
Austin Parks and Recreation Department is in the process of developing its 2026 integrated bond, with the last one created eight years ago for a 2018 bond election. These bonds fund capital improvement projects for parks and recreation, including building new parks, improving existing parks, and acquiring land. The Parks and Recreation Board heard a […]
Posted inFire
Austin ranks fifth in nation for cities most at risk for wildfires
According to a CoreLogic Wildfire Risk Report conducted in 2024, Austin ranks fifth in the nation for cities most at risk for wildfires. The top four cities are all located in California. David Bock, senior wildfire mitigation specialist at the Austin Fire Department, gave a presentation to the Environmental Commission at its regular meeting on […]
Posted inAustin
Austin Animal Services Office releases fiscal year statistical report and waives adoption fees
Due to consistent overcrowding, the Austin Animal Center has waived adoption fees for the foreseeable future. Numbers from the Austin Animal Services Office’s statistical report for Fiscal Year 2025 show a continued need for adoptions. Austin Animal Services Office released a statistical report spanning the months of October 2024 through January 2025. In total, the […]
Posted inElections
Austin’s Ethics Review Commission dismisses complaints against Siegel and Faddis without prejudice
Two complaints about alleged campaign finance violations were dropped at a special called meeting of the city’s Ethics Review Commission, but they could be filed again in the future. Adam Haynes, a former member of the Planning Commission, filed the complaints, the first of which was against Mike Siegel, the recently elected City Council member […]
Posted inPreservation
Documentary film highlights the history of an 1870s-era home and the story of Clarksville
Everyone involved in the making of “Haskell House and the Story of Clarksville,” a documentary short film about the oldest documented residence within the Clarksville National Register historic district, was recognized by the Austin Parks and Recreation Board at its regular meeting this past Monday. “The Haskell House holds an invaluable piece of our City’s […]
Posted inAustin
Joint Sustainability Committee looks at agricultural land acquisition and preservation
The Austin-Travis County Food Policy Board is looking for support for a plan to preserve and acquire agricultural land in the region, and it’s turned to the Joint Sustainability Committee for help and recommendations. The recommendations are a next step for the goals of the Austin-Travis County Food Plan, which was passed by City Council […]
Posted inCity Hall
Animal Services Office releases strategic plan draft
The city’s Animal Services Office released a draft of its 2025-2030 strategic plan on Jan. 8. Enumerated in the draft is the office’s vision “to provide services and resources that allow people and animals to thrive in the city of Austin.” The Animal Advisory Commission was presented the strategic plan at its regular meeting on […]