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City Council
Council fires City Manager Spencer Cronk in wake of winter storm response
Austin City Council members have fired City Manager Spencer Cronk, the city’s chief executive. The vote Wednesday followed criticism of his leadership during an ice storm that left hundreds of thousands without power earlier this month. “I ran (for mayor)…
City Council • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Feb 16, 2023
Council members signal they could fire City Manager Spencer Cronk
Austin City Manager Spencer Cronk could be on his way out. City Council is slated to vote on the employment and a possible severance package for Cronk at its meeting on Feb. 15. Council initially planned the Wednesday meeting to discuss the city’s contract…
City Council • By Andrew Weber, KUT • Feb 13, 2023
Council OKs tree trimming audit in lieu of larger study
In response to complaints from the public about Austin Energy’s response to the extreme ice storm that knocked out electric power for at least 173,000 AE customers, City Council Member Mackenzie Kelly asked her colleagues Thursday to approve a resolution…
City Council • By Jo Clifton • Feb 10, 2023
Council to make zoning variances more accessible to low-income homeowners
City Council passed a resolution Thursday to make it easier for low-income Austinites to seek zoning variances from the Board of Adjustment. The proposed program would help low-income and other qualifying residents put together an application and pay application fees.…
City Council • By Jonathan Lee • Feb 10, 2023
Ice storm communication sparks emergency performance review of city manager
The breakdown in the city’s communication to residents and employees during last week’s disastrous ice storm appears to be the main motivation behind City Council’s push to evaluate the performance of City Manager Spencer Cronk. Mayor Kirk Watson added the…
City Council • By Chad Swiatecki • Feb 7, 2023
Ice storm damage to get Council attention at Tuesday work session
Tuesday’s City Council work session looks like it will be heavily focused on discussion about the impact of last week’s ice storm, which disrupted power to more than 250,000 people at some point during the three-day freeze. The city and…
City Council • By Chad Swiatecki • Feb 6, 2023
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Makeup of City Council committees slated for change
In addition to their work on City Council, Council members also serve on a variety of special committees, both within the city and with members from other entities, such as Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the Travis County Commissioners Court.…
City Council • By Jo Clifton • Jan 18, 2023
Mayor Watson and others reveal staff appointments
Mayor Kirk Watson told the Austin Monitor Monday that he has hired his chief of staff as well as a number of other new employees. Colleen Pate, who left her position as chief of staff for the Austin Chamber of…
City Council • By Jo Clifton • Jan 10, 2023
New Council begins tenure with challenges
Addressing a standing-room-only crowd at City Hall Friday night, newly installed Mayor Kirk Watson pledged to pursue unity, in contrast to the national picture depicted by the Trump insurrection of Jan. 6. Even as Watson was speaking, members of the…
City Council • By Jo Clifton • Jan 9, 2023
Who’s working at City Hall these days?
With today’s swearing in, Austin have a new mayor and three new City Council members, and those city leaders will have staff members helping them to steer the often turbulent waters of city policy. And active citizens will have new…
City Council • By Jo Clifton • Jan 6, 2023
Kelly, Guerrero allege Adler broke law in endorsements
Council Member Mackenzie Kelly and former City Council candidate Linda Guerrero have filed complaints with the Texas Ethics Commission and Travis County Attorney Delia Garza alleging that Mayor Steve Adler broke the law when he endorsed Zo Qadri and José…
City Council • By Jo Clifton • Jan 5, 2023
In final year as mayor, Adler reviews highlights of eight years in office
The city of Austin has faced big challenges in the past eight years, weathered mighty storms – both literal and metaphorical – and continued to grow, even as some longtime residents lamented the many changes taking place across the city.…
