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City Charter

Ethics Review Commission weighs in on potential charter changes

In the midst of discussions about soccer stadiums, CodeNEXT and the 2018 bond, the Charter Review Commission is asking citizens to consider one more thing: changes to the city charter. At its June 13 meeting, members of the Ethics Review…

Changes ahead for Planning Commission?

At this week’s meeting, City Council is scheduled to consider changes to how members of the city’s Planning Commission are selected. The city attorney’s office has offered two alternative approaches – one of which could have a radical impact on…

front of City Hall

Should the auditor’s office be exempt from municipal civil service?

Having an independent auditor’s office is integral to running a city where checks and balances fulfill their intended function. Independence, however, is not always easy to maintain, and in Austin, the Office of the City Auditor is working to balance…

Post Prop 1, city begins community conversations about citizen petitions

In a dark room usually reserved for musical performances in South Austin’s Strange Brew coffee shop, four Austin residents met on Monday to talk about the process of citizen petitions — the most recent of which resulted in Proposition 1…

Too many land-use professionals?

At Monday’s City Council Audit and Finance Committee meeting, Council members rejected the idea of allowing the Environmental Commission to have five land-use professionals among its 11 members. The current rules governing membership on the Environmental Commission allow for only…

Austin Monitor Radio: Council Member Don Zimmerman

Austin City Council Member Don Zimmerman joins Austin Monitor publisher Mike Kanin to talk about abstentions, annexation, and the rest of his term-so-far. Sponsored by Austin Water. Post is embedded below.

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Austin Monitor Radio: The (early) impact of 10-1

Khotan Shabazi-Harmon of Leadership Austin’s 2015 Essential Class joins Austin Monitor publisher Mike Kanin to talk about her impressions of the City of Austin’s new 10-1 system and the Leadership Austin report on geographic representation. The program is embedded below.

Austin Monitor Radio: Council Member Greg Casar

Austin City Council Member Greg Casar looks back at his first months in office, including his efforts as chair of Council’s Planning and Neighborhood Committee. The program is embedded below:

Casar proposes ADU policy revision timeline

Amid a public outcry for more available housing, City Council is reconsidering restrictions on accessory dwelling units such as granny flats and garage apartments. Council Member Greg Casar has proposed an approach to that review that considers related issues, including…

Council to decide on X Games funding application

The Austin City Council is considering whether to endorse the application of the Circuit of the Americas for funding from the Texas Major Event Trust Fund for the summer X Games this year and in 2016 and 2017. The Major…

For Austin's City Manager, change is a constant

This week, Marc Ott celebrates his seventh anniversary as Austin’s city manager. The Austin Monitor sat down with him to talk about his tenure, the future and how his office is tackling the myriad changes proposed by the new City…

For Martinez, 10-1 dominated 2014

Council Member Mike Martinez is fresh off a campaign for mayor, one where he did his level best to bring up big-picture issues. Indeed, as many have reported, affordability and transportation became key notes in the campaign. Still, when he…

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