Stories by Jack Craver
Council will soon interview city manager candidates
In the next month, City Council will likely interview six to eight finalists to be the next city manager during two meetings that will be closed to the public. In a Tuesday discussion with Steve Newton of Russell Reynolds Associates,…
City Hall • By Jack Craver • Oct 4, 2017
Firefighters union touts increased diversity
Austin is far from having a fire department that reflects the diversity of the city, but it’s made significant strides since the U.S. Department of Justice sued the Austin Fire Department over its hiring practices. Days after clashing with a…
Fire • By Jack Craver • Oct 3, 2017
Council voices concerns over Visit Austin spending on alcohol, events
A report that the Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau (known as Visit Austin) has spent hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars on jewelry, alcohol and meals at fancy restaurants prompted City Council to delay approval of the nonprofit agency’s marketing…
Austin • By Jack Craver • Sep 29, 2017
Austin risking federal sanctions over ozone levels
Despite a rapidly rising population, Austin’s air is significantly less polluted than it was 20 years ago. In a presentation to the Electric Utility Commission on Monday, Andrew Hoekzema, director of regional services at the Capital Area Council of Governments,…
Environment • By Jack Craver • Sep 22, 2017
How much do Council members spend on travel?
Late last Wednesday, as City Council neared the end of its wrangling over the Fiscal Year 2017-18 budget, Council Member Ellen Troxclair made what she framed as a modest request of her colleagues. The budget presented by staff included a…
Budget • By Jack Craver • Sep 20, 2017
Council approves $3.9 billion budget
Twelve hours after kicking off its final day of budget deliberations, City Council gave approval to a roughly $3.9 billion budget, including approximately $1 billion of General Fund spending. Council approved a 7.9 percent tax rate increase, just below the…
Budget • By Jack Craver • Sep 14, 2017
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Council faces hard choices on final budget day
City Council went through another meandering, confusing and at times tense all-day budget discussion Tuesday and still has tough decisions left to make today, when it is scheduled to give final approval to the Fiscal Year 2017-2018 budget. The Council…
Budget • By Jack Craver • Sep 13, 2017
Austin explores a new approach to helping the homeless
Austin leaders are considering whether to try out a simple strategy for helping the homeless: give them jobs. The idea is based on a program in Albuquerque, New Mexico, that has gained national attention and been credited with connecting homeless…
City Council • By Jack Craver • Sep 11, 2017
Council members concerned about fees for ADUs
Council Member Delia Garza is worried that proposed increases in building fees are going to hit middle-income homeowners who are seeking to build accessory dwelling units the hardest. At a Thursday City Council meeting over the proposed budget for the…
Housing • By Jack Craver • Sep 8, 2017
Austin sales tax revenue lower than expected
City Council has known for months that it would struggle to come up with the money needed to cover many of the programs its members hope to put in place in the coming year. However, the most recent data on…
Budget • By Jack Craver • Sep 6, 2017
Council supports reducing HOT funds for convention center, visitors bureau
After a lengthy public hearing featuring scores of public speakers on all sides of the issue, City Council unanimously adopted a resolution Thursday night in support of diverting millions of dollars generated by hotel occupancy taxes from the Austin Convention…
City Council • By Jack Craver • Sep 1, 2017
Council delves into liquor politics
A proposed liquor store in Northwest Austin still faces long odds due to intense opposition from surrounding neighbors, but it won a key procedural victory Thursday when City Council voted to give the property owner another chance to make his…
