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City Hall
Council to consider eliminating nonresident library card fees
City Council will consider an item this week directing the city manager to amend the fee and fine ordinance to do away with the nonresident library card fee for residents of the city’s limited-purpose and extraterritorial jurisdictions. Currently, Austin residents…
City Council • By Nina Hernandez • Dec 13, 2023
Planning Commission to allow time donation once again
In a return to prepandemic form, speakers at the Planning Commission will once again be able to donate and amass time in order to allow presentations of up to 10 minutes. As of today, in-person speakers can receive donated time…
City Hall • By Elizabeth Pagano • Dec 12, 2023
Audit shows changes needed at Development Services Department
Nearly a decade after a damning evaluation of the city’s planning and development processes resulted in more than 460 recommended changes, a recent audit of two smaller components of the Development Services Department found some steps left incomplete from a…
City Hall • By Chad Swiatecki • Dec 8, 2023
Audit examines alleged fraud by employee of Forensic Science Department
The former forensic services manager for the city’s Forensic Science Department allegedly misused his city credit card to purchase $3,000 worth of gift cards and firearm accessories for his personal use, according to a report issued by the Office of…
City Hall • By Jo Clifton • Dec 5, 2023
Delay gives city a hard Dec. 14 deadline to end Seaholm special taxing district
City Council will have until its Dec. 14 meeting to close down a taxing district created to revitalize the Seaholm Power Plant property. That deadline comes because of a decision at last week’s meeting not to close down the tax…
City Council • By Chad Swiatecki • Dec 5, 2023
Austin throws $2.6 million more into project converting hotel into housing for elderly people without homes
Lee esta historia en español More money is being poured into a former North Austin hotel that will be converted into housing for elderly people who are exiting homelessness. City Council on Thursday authorized an additional $2.6 million for continued…
City Council • By Luz Moreno-Lozano, KUT • Dec 4, 2023
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Council postpones decision on historic Barton Springs Bridge reconstruction
Although city staff urged City Council to authorize a complete destruction and rebuilding of the historic Barton Springs Bridge, Council postponed action on the item Thursday. Several members of the public urged them not to move forward with the plan…
City Council • By Jo Clifton • Dec 1, 2023
TipSheet: Austin City Council, 11.30.23
City Council will once again convene for a meeting at City Hall today and, as a preview of sorts, we’ve compiled our best guesses as to what might be of interest at the meeting. We’ll note that though Tuesday’s work…
TipSheets • By Elizabeth Pagano • Nov 30, 2023
City splits homeless services into new, separate office
The city has created a dedicated office for homelessness services, in a move intended to let city staff address that area more quickly and decisively. Interim City Manager Jesús Garza informed City Council of the change in a memo released…
City Hall • By Chad Swiatecki • Nov 22, 2023
Disability committee eyes new community census to identify service needs
Local disability advocates appear ready to ask the city to conduct a census or general accounting of the number of local residents with disabilities who may require city services beyond those currently offered locally. Earlier this month, the Mayor’s Committee…
Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • Nov 21, 2023
City releases new telework standards for its employees
Interim City Manager Jesús Garza has issued a telework policy for city employees. In a Friday memo, Garza explained that a new standards will, in general, allow for 50 percent telework within a two-week pay period. All executives will continue…
City Hall • By Elizabeth Pagano • Nov 20, 2023
City Council moves toward enshrining remote work options
City Council recently approved a resolution that initiates amendments to the city’s Climate Equity Plan, Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan and the Austin Strategic Mobility Plan regarding remote work policies for city employees. The amendments – recommended by the Planning Commission…
