Stories by Jo Clifton
Habitat for Humanity, Environment Texas weigh in on land code lawsuit
Travis County District Judge Jan Soifer heard arguments Wednesday from attorneys for 19 Austin homeowners who sued the city over the new Land Development Code. The homeowners filed rezoning protests, but the city denied their requests for a hearing. The plaintiffs…
Courts • By Jo Clifton • Mar 12, 2020
Eckhardt resigns, declares for Texas Senate
Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt resigned her position on the Commissioners Court Tuesday, launching her campaign for the Texas Senate seat being vacated by Kirk Watson. Eckhardt wiped away tears as she told her colleagues, “I really love Travis County.…
Elections • By Jo Clifton • Mar 11, 2020
Digital meter reading coming to Austin Water
Austin Water is preparing to roll out digital water meters that will allow the utility, as well as individual customers, to see how much water each customer is using every hour. Ultimately, every single one of the utility’s 240,000 meters…
Water • By Jo Clifton • Mar 6, 2020
Which Republican will Fleck face in HD 47 runoff?
House District 47 Rep. Vikki Goodwin had no opposition in the Democratic primary on Tuesday, but five Republicans were vying for the opportunity to run against her in November. Attorney Jennifer Fleck led the Republican pack with 5,760 votes, more…
Elections • By Jo Clifton • Mar 5, 2020
Garza, Eiserloh in runoff for Travis County Attorney
Longtime county and city lawyer Laurie Eiserloh will face Council Member Delia Garza in a runoff in May to determine who will become Travis County Attorney when David Escamilla retires from the job next January. In the end, Eiserloh had…
Elections • By Jo Clifton • Mar 4, 2020
Petitioners may collect signatures outside libraries
The Austin Public Library has adopted new rules relating to free speech and petitioning at city libraries, according to a memo Library Director Roosevelt Weeks sent to the mayor and Council last week. That memo states that the new rules…
Austin • By Jo Clifton • Mar 3, 2020
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City's waste collection problem solved
According to a memo from Deputy Procurement Officer Shawn Willett, the city of Austin now has three short-term contracts for the disposal of refuse, recycling, brush and compostable materials. The city’s procurement team and members of Austin Resource Recovery scrambled…
Resources • By Jo Clifton • Mar 3, 2020
Travis County seeks a 'Marshall Plan' for east side
Travis County Commissioner Jeff Travillion and Joe Straub, president of Rodeo Austin, started a conversation with members of the City Council Audit & Finance Committee Wednesday. “Let me just say for the record, I did not come to pick a…
Travis County • By Jo Clifton • Feb 28, 2020
Council gives initial OK for Delwau campgrounds
The case of the Delwau campgrounds rezoning – which Council rejected in 2018 – has returned, minus the sales of hard alcohol that doomed its chances the first time. Last Thursday, Council gave first-round approval for the case that would…
City Council • By Jo Clifton • Feb 27, 2020
Council declines to vote on airport lounge contract
What started as an objection from the second-place bidder for a lucrative contract to build and operate a lounge at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport ended with Council rejecting staffers’ recommendation and sending them back to the drawing board at last Thursday’s…
City Council • By Jo Clifton • Feb 26, 2020
Petition would recriminalize homeless camping
Travis County Republican Party Chair Matt Mackowiak began the week taking a shot at local Democrats on the Austin City Council, announcing a petition that seeks to recriminalize camping in public places by the homeless. According to local Republican Party…
Austin • By Jo Clifton • Feb 25, 2020
City asks UT for proposals on Muny, Brackenridge tract
City Council sent a friendly message to the University of Texas on Thursday, asking UT to give the city proposals for how to deal with the historic Lions Municipal Golf Course and the Brackenridge Development Agreement as well as other…
