Stories by Jack Craver
Council approves workforce training audit
It took a while for City Council to wrap its collective head around the concept, but after an hour and a half of discussion it overwhelmingly approved a study that will try to assess the effectiveness of some area workforce…
City Council • By Jack Craver • Jul 5, 2017
CodeNEXT likely to ditch transect zones
One of the key concepts underpinning the proposed revamp of the city’s land development code will likely not be included in the next draft of the proposal, city staff informed City Council members Wednesday. The team responsible for drafting the…
Land Development Code • By Jack Craver • Jun 30, 2017
Council approves composting contract despite Texas Disposal Systems objections
City Council approved a contract Thursday to dramatically expand the city’s curbside organics collection and composting program. The new contract builds upon the pilot program that has been in place for nearly four years. Under that program, Organics By Gosh,…
Resources • By Jack Craver • Jun 23, 2017
CodeNEXT proposes new program to bolster affordable housing
CodeNEXT, the proposed overhaul of the city’s Land Development Code, dramatically expands an existing city program that offers developers incentives to build housing reserved for low- and middle-income buyers and renters. In a presentation to City Council members on Wednesday,…
Land Development Code • By Jack Craver • Jun 22, 2017
Evolve Austin wants to make the case for density
A coalition of businesses and nonprofits hopes to mobilize people to support a new Land Development Code that will make Austin more compact and connected. On Monday, Evolve Austin announced its plans for a yearlong grassroots campaign fueled by volunteer…
Land Development Code • By Jack Craver • Jun 20, 2017
Council narrowly approves controversial Central Health board nominee
By a one-vote margin, City Council approved the appointment of a new member to the Central Health Board of Managers after complaints about the nominee’s potential conflicts of interest. Council voted 6-5 to assign Julie Oliver, a division controller for…
Public Health • By Jack Craver • Jun 16, 2017
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What businesses are coming to your neighborhood under CodeNEXT?
Mayor Steve Adler continues to assure the public that City Council still has ample time to “calibrate” CodeNEXT. The reassurance is in response to myriad concerns about how the proposed overhaul of the city’s Land Development Code will impact neighborhoods.…
Land Development Code • By Jack Craver • Jun 14, 2017
Special event parking near Zilker might not be that bad
City officials involved in crafting a new special event parking permit program are urging people to relax. A proposal to limit parking in neighborhoods near Zilker Park during major events, notably Austin City Limits Festival, ABC Kite Festival and the…
Music & Entertainment • By Jack Craver • Jun 13, 2017
Council rejects gun rights advocate for commission
City Council took the rare move Thursday of rejecting a nomination to a citizen commission over the nominee’s controversial statements. Only two of the nine members of Council present voted to support appointing Michael Cargill, the founder of Central Texas…
City Council • By Jack Craver • Jun 9, 2017
Public Safety Commission has a HOT debate
As the city of Austin scrounges for money to hire more police officers, firefighters and paramedics, it shouldn’t look to the tourism industry for help. That was the message delivered to the Public Safety Commission Monday by Bill Worsham, a…
Police • By Jack Craver • Jun 8, 2017
Council digests CodeNEXT compatibility standards
City Council members don’t know quite what to make of the new design and compatibility standards offered in the current draft of CodeNEXT, the proposed overhaul of the city’s Land Development Code. During a Council work session Wednesday, a number…
Land Development Code • By Jack Craver • Jun 8, 2017
Public safety agencies envision big staff increases
In presentations to the Public Safety Commission Monday, leaders of the Police Department, Fire Department and Emergency Management Services called for significantly boosting staff in the coming years, both to make up for existing shortages and to keep up with…
