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Most Popular Stories
- Council approves grant award to replace Barton Springs Road Bridge
- Austin Independent School district buys more time for plan to address Dobie Middle School, but prepares for seismic shifts
- Homelessness strategy plan calls for $101M in spending from city, partner groups
- Rite of spring: Dog-killing algae makes an early appearance in Austin waterways
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City Hall
SXSW panel looks at national housing shortage – and how Austin is responding
Cities across the nation are facing the same housing crunch that Austin has spent recent years trying to correct, with a new report from Realtor.com showing a gap of 3.8 million houses and apartment units across the country. Those findings…
City Council • By Chad Swiatecki • Mar 11, 2025
Technology Commission approves FY 26 budget recommendations to address digital equity
Austin’s Technology Commission unanimously approved five recommendations for the Fiscal Year 2026 budget, based on a digital needs assessment, to address digital equity in Austin including funding for affordable devices, expanded public internet access and increased digital skills training for…
Budget • By Madeline de Figueiredo • Mar 11, 2025
Watson warns of Austin's 'budget asteroids' in speech to real estate council
At last week’s annual address to the Real Estate Council of Austin, Mayor Kirk Watson stressed a number of “budget asteroids” the city could face as a result of upcoming state and federal policy decisions. Along with the potential impact…
Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • Mar 10, 2025
Prompted by convention center controversy, Council seeks changes to public art program
In response to increasing scrutiny over Austin’s handling of public art, City Council voted Thursday to modernize the Art in Public Places program by updating policies to prevent mishandlings like the controversial deaccessioning of artwork at the Austin Convention Center.…
City Council • By Chad Swiatecki • Mar 7, 2025
Following Trump's lead, Abbott orders state workers to return to offices
Gov. Greg Abbott’s office has quietly directed heads of state agencies to phase out hybrid-work schedules and require all employees to return to the office five days a week “as soon as practicable” under state law, according to multiple accounts…
Austin • By Andrew Weber, KUT • Mar 6, 2025
TipSheet: Austin City Council, 3.6.25
The Austin City Council will meet today to vote on an abbreviated agenda – just 48 items – but we managed to find a few things to dive into nonetheless. As usual, the entire agenda and backup is also available…
TipSheets • By Elizabeth Pagano • Mar 6, 2025
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Council sets the stage for more short-term rental regulations, with tax collection to begin in April
The city will soon begin requiring platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo to collect and remit Hotel Occupancy Tax revenues on behalf of short-term rental properties, marking the first in a number of expected changes in the industry. The change,…
City Council • By Chad Swiatecki • Feb 28, 2025
Council solidifies transparency in labor talks over APA’s opposition
City Council on Thursday approved a resolution reaffirming the city’s transparency policy in labor negotiations, despite objections from the Austin Police Association president. The one-page resolution, introduced by Ryan Alter, reiterates the city’s policy that meet-and-confer and collective bargaining discussions…
City Council • By Amy Smith • Feb 28, 2025
Council will likely delay implementing new STR rules pending legislative action
Austin City Council today will consider an overhaul of the city’s short-term rental regulations but is expected to delay implementing most changes until the summer. At Tuesday’s work session, Mayor Kirk Watson suggested pausing the new rules pending the outcome…
City Council • By Amy Smith • Feb 27, 2025
Panelists cite city, state programs among positives for health of Austin music scene
Praising attempts by the city and state to offer more support for Austin’s musicians and live music venues, panelists weighing in on the state of the city’s music scene were upbeat Tuesday during a discussion at the LBJ Presidential Library.…
Austin • By Chad Swiatecki • Feb 27, 2025
TipSheet: Austin City Council, 2.27.25
Austin City Council will meet today for their regular meeting and, looking over the agenda, it promises to be a shorter meeting, for the most part. As for the other part, Council is poised to consider, if not adopt, new…
TipSheets • By Elizabeth Pagano • Feb 27, 2025
December Parks and Recreation Department report identifies needs for senior and recreation facilities
Last week, Jesús Aguirre, the new director of Austin Parks and Recreation Department (PARD), sent a memo summarizing the findings of the department’s Recreation and Senior Center Facility Assessment and Gap Analysis Report. The report, released in December, identified priority…
