Last week, members of the Public Safety Commission heard from Intergovernmental Relations Deputy Officer Rick Ramirez about bills the city helped pass and those the city opposed during the regular session of the state Legislature. Among those important to Austin and its public safety employees was one making changes to the firefighters’ pension fund. Under […]
Jo Clifton
Jo Clifton is the Politics Editor for the Austin Monitor.
Posted inTexas State Legislature
Legislature watchers report to Council
Austin’s Intergovernmental Relations Officer Carrie Rogers briefed Council Tuesday and expressed optimism about what might happen in the current special session of the Texas Legislature, which started on Monday. She told Council it was very important to their success as a team to reach out to a bill’s author “to let them know what our […]
Posted inCity Council
Former Council Member Bill Spelman has passed away
Former Council Member Bill Spelman died last Thursday at the age of 68 after a series of illnesses including Covid, according to his wife, Niyanta. Spelman, who served on the Austin City Council from 1997 to 2000 and then served again from 2009 to the end of 2014, was well known as the teacher on […]
Posted inElections
Campaign finance reports show incumbents gathering funds
With the exception of District 1 Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison, incumbents who may run for re-election in 2026 have been gathering funds for possible races. That includes Council Members Ryan Alter (District 5), Zo Qadri (District 9) and Paige Ellis (District 8). Ellis has already indicated that she will be gathering signatures to put her […]
Posted inBudget
City looks to cut some costs on police, fire budgetsÂ
City budget planners had to make some tough decisions in proposing a budget for the upcoming fiscal year and the following year. As part of the proposal laid out by City Manager T.C. Broadnax and Budget Officer Kerri Lang at Tuesday’s Council work session, staff is proposing a $9 million decrease in the Police Department […]
Posted inFire
Firefighters to seek firing of Chief Baker
Austin Firefighters Association President Bob Nicks will hold a press conference today to discuss the removal of Fire Chief Joel Baker from his position. Nicks told the Austin Monitor that Baker issued a standing order on June 6 that prevented Austin firefighters from deploying to assist those working to rescue people during the catastrophic 4th […]
Posted inCity Hall
Complaint against former manager Garza fails at ethics commission
After a lengthy hearing which ended shortly after midnight last Thursday, the city’s Ethics Review Commission dismissed a complaint against former Interim City Manager Jesús Garza. A motion aimed at dismissing the complaint failed, as did a motion to move forward to a final hearing. As a result, the complaint was dismissed. Adam Materne, the […]
Posted inZoning
Despite safety concerns, Council OKs new buildings above Shoal Creek
Austin City Council last week approved adding the Vertical Mixed Use “V” to the property located from 1501 to 1603 Shoal Creek Boulevard, after a hearing that featured considerable discussion about the geologically sensitive area. Council Member Paige Ellis abstained, citing the fact that the area had already suffered from collapses in the past. The […]
Posted inWater
Council OKs water, wastewater extension to environmentally sensitive property
In a vote of 7-4, City Council on Thursday approved granting water and wastewater service for a proposed multi-family project outside the city limits and within the Drinking Water Protection Zone. The property at 10656 North FM 620 is in the North Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone, upstream from habitat for the Jollyville Plateau salamander, which […]
Posted inAustin
Former Council Member and dedicated environmentalist Jackie Goodman has died
Jackie Goodman, 79, who served on the Austin City Council for 12 years starting in 1993, passed away on Tuesday. She had been hospitalized but had come home before her death. She served as Mayor Pro Tem for several years starting in 1998. She is survived by her sisters, Janis Morgan of Austin and Joann […]
Posted inCity Hall
Audit cites city failures to address discrimination, harassment
The city has made some progress in handling discrimination, harassment and retaliation complaints by city employees, but some investigations still fail to follow basic rules for conducting such inquiries, according to an audit conducted by the City Auditor’s Office. Members of the City Council Audit & Finance Committee heard about the audit, which followed up […]
Posted inWhispers
SOS, Endeavor, City of Austin face off in court
In a lawsuit over regulations related to development of the Statesman PUD, the plaintiff Save Our Springs Alliance, the defendant City of Austin, and the Intervenor property owner all asked Travis County District Judge Jan Soifer to rule in their favor on Thursday. After nearly 3 hours of arguments, the judge told the lawyers she […]