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- Council approves grant award to replace Barton Springs Road Bridge
- Rite of spring: Dog-killing algae makes an early appearance in Austin waterways
- Firefighters, city reach agreement on retirement fund
- Homelessness strategy plan calls for $101M in spending from city, partner groups
- TipSheet: Austin City Council 4.24.25
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Austin
Legislature cuts farmers market fees, costing city
Passage of a little-known bill, Senate Bill 932, which establishes a $100 maximum fee for food sales permits at farmers markets, will cost the Austin Public Health Department about $4,000 in the current fiscal year and an estimated $41,485 in…
Austin • By Jo Clifton • Aug 8, 2019
Showdown over hotel tax increases could put city and county at odds
A week after the Travis County Commissioners Court voted to explore tapping a 2 percent increase in the local Hotel Occupancy Tax for its own uses, Austin City Council appears set to claim the same tax increase to fund an…
Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • Aug 7, 2019
ECHO has a new leader
The Ending Community Homelessness Coalition, one of the leading organizations involved in addressing Austin’s homelessness problem, will have a new top executive today as the group’s co-founder, Ann Howard, steps down to focus on her campaign for a seat on…
Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • Aug 5, 2019
Travis County, city of Austin ramp up census efforts
Travis County and the city of Austin are mounting an aggressive effort to make sure the 2020 U.S. census count is as complete and accurate as possible. The county and city are collaborating by jointly funding a temporary position “to…
Austin • By Jack Craver • Aug 5, 2019
Amid criticism, Travis County DA resigns from state sexual assault task force
Travis County District Attorney Margaret Moore resigned from the state’s Sexual Assault Survivors’ Task Force on Friday. Her appointment was cut short after critics, including survivors suing over Moore’s record of handling sexual assaults, expressed concern. The task force was…
Austin • By Nadia Hamdan • Jul 30, 2019
Council, neighbors plan meetings on how to manage South Austin shelter
City leaders and residents are planning a series of meetings in the coming weeks to help them move forward and provide some clarity on efforts to manage the city’s growing homeless population. The Aug. 8 City Council meeting – the…
Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • Jul 29, 2019
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Packed homelessness forum calls for more shelters, support: 'We are dealing with human beings here'
As the city adjusts to new rules for panhandling, camping or sitting or lying in public, the Downtown Austin Alliance hosted a forum Tuesday to discuss the road ahead for dealing with homelessness and plans to expand emergency shelter access…
Austin • By Andrew Weber, KUT • Jul 24, 2019
By decriminalizing homelessness, Austin stumbles into legalized busking
The city’s recent changes to ordinances intended to decriminalize homelessness may have, in a roundabout way, provided a new way for Austin musicians to earn money while also ending a years-long legal stalemate. The issue in question centers around busking,…
Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • Jul 12, 2019
Camping rules continue to stoke arguments
City Council’s decision to revise ordinances related to where homeless people may camp, sit or lie down continues to cause controversy in the city, with some claiming the changes are making things worse for everyone, particularly law enforcement. Mayor Steve…
Austin • By Jo Clifton • Jul 11, 2019
Texas' strong economy is making it harder for officials to hire part-time census workers
The U.S. Census Bureau is having a tough time hiring workers in Texas for the 2020 census because the unemployment rate is so low – which means nonprofits and local governments may have to step in to make sure there’s…
Austin • By Ashley Lopez, KUT • Jul 11, 2019
Eckhardt proposes land swap with city for Palm School
Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt is willing to give the city of Austin the historic Palm School building. But she wants a lot in return. In a July 3 letter addressed to Mayor Steve Adler and City Council, Eckhardt proposed…
Austin • By Jack Craver • Jul 10, 2019
Merck withdraws from economic incentive plans
Pharmaceutical giant Merck has notified City Manager Spencer Cronk that it is terminating its incentive agreement with the city effective June 23. As a result, Merck will not have to comply with the terms of the agreement, which included an…
