In a rare joint meeting, three land use commissions frustrated by an unwelcome move from City Hall grilled city staff last Monday about why meetings will soon be held in the new Permitting and Development Center. The staffers, after hearing a litany of questions and concerns, did not budge. “This was an administrative decision going […]
City Hall
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Council approves creation of civil rights office
The city has created an office to handle civil rights issues tied to existing ordinances covering fair chance hiring, sexual harassment and protections against discrimination. City Council voted unanimously Thursday to create the Office of Civil Rights, with Council Member Mackenzie Kelly abstaining from the vote. The office will have broad options to investigate and […]
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Cultural trust hopes to build pipeline of future creative space projects
The city’s new economic development corporation expects to begin its investment in a half-dozen venues and creative space projects by late spring, with $16.9 million in play to help combat the displacement of arts-focused businesses and organizations. The money will be available to a handful of applicants who submit to a recently opened request for […]
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Safer Sixth Street push includes call to rezone portions of entertainment district
City staffers expect to deliver recommendations early next month for a pilot program intended to make the Sixth Street entertainment district safer by gradually changing the mix of business and cultural activities there. A recent news report revealed some details of the pilot, saying it would target the 200 and 500 blocks of East Sixth […]
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Austin economy seeing ‘growth surge’ coming out of pandemic
Driven by strong job growth, in-migration and the ongoing supply of federal stimulus funds, the Austin area is experiencing a “growth surge” that economists expect to continue for the foreseeable future. That was the main message at a recent economic forecast presentation organized by the Austin Chamber, where the vital statistics of the national and […]
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Long Center seeks to act as administrative hub for new creative consortium
Executives with the Long Center for the Performing Arts want the facility to serve as an administrative hub for local arts groups, providing shared services that could lower costs and eventually bring in major corporate donations to benefit member organizations. At this month’s Arts Commission meeting, Cory Baker, CEO of the Long Center, presented the […]
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Council moves forward with arts funding plan, promising relief for nonprofit grant applicants
Following the recommendations of the Arts Commission, City Council has approved funding for cultural arts programs with plans to significantly expand its nonprofit relief grant program. That’s good news for the program’s applicants, who can all expect to see checks by the end of the year. Continuing its effort to support institutions impacted by Covid-19, […]
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Council questions need for Municipal Court marshal program
During Tuesday’s work session, City Council had numerous questions about a plan to establish a city marshal office as a division of the Austin Municipal Court and seemed ready to postpone taking action on the item on today’s agenda. The mayor and several Council members seemed surprised to learn that they had authorized creation of […]
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City starts second phase of homeless housing plan
The city’s push to move at least 200 people out of homeless encampments and into permanent housing began earlier this week, with 15 people living in the Slaughter Creek floodplain in South Austin receiving assistance and temporary housing. The effort marks the kickoff of the second phase of the city’s Homeless Encampment Assistance Link, or […]
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TipSheet: City Council, 11.18.21
All signs indicate that today’s City Council meeting will be on the lighter side, which is reflected in this week’s TipSheet. As usual, we’ve gathered up the agenda items that are most likely to strike our fancy – readers who prefer a deep dive might want to look through the agenda themselves, which is posted […]
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Land use commissions face uphill battle to stay at City Hall
When City Council approved plans for a new Permitting and Development Center in 2017, the idea was that all land use commissions would eventually hold meetings there as part of a “one-stop shop” for all things development. But now that the building is finished, the commissions don’t want to move. In recent weeks, the Planning […]
Posted inAustin
Audit praises city’s Covid assistance efforts, with rental payment results mixed
An audit found mixed results in the execution of some of the city’s programs created with federal money to provide assistance with the many impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic. A report last week from the Office of the City Auditor found that four programs administered by the Economic Development Department performed well according to city […]