The Travis County Commissioners Court meets at 9 a.m. Tuesday. In the interest of space, we’ve decided not to post the entire agenda here. The County Clerk’s office posts a copy at its website. Items of interest for Commissioners Court include: 13. CONSIDER AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION ON THE PROPOSED CHAPTER 48, RULES OF TRAVIS […]
Elections
Posted inAustin, City Council, Development, Local Politics
Chapter 380 won’t stop firms from tax protests
City Council Member Kathie Tovo’s attempt to prevent companies that enter into Chapter 380 economic development agreements with the city from appealing their property tax appraisals ended with something considerably less than that Thursday, after Council members heard from a Samsung representative about how such an effort might backfire. Catherine Morse, general counsel and director […]
Posted inAustin, Local Government, Local Politics, Transit, Transportation
Council OKs changes to Lone Star Rail agreement
Austin City Council members Thursday approved a set of amendments to an interlocal agreement with the Lone Star Rail District. The action clears the way for rail district officials to count the city — and funding derived from special taxing districts around eight potential Austin stops — among its support as it moves forward with […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Politics, Transit, Transportation
Council scales back Riley’s quarter-cent proposal
Austin City Council members Thursday declined to solely commit $20.4 million derived from Capital Metro quarter-cent funds to projects along the Airport Boulevard corridor. Instead, they opted to commit $2 million for various short-term improvements in the region. The $20.4 million in question is the last of $139.4 million raised as part of an agreement […]
Posted inAustin, Local Politics, Radio
Austin Monitor Radio: Mayor Lee Leffingwell
Retiring Austin Mayor Lee Leffingwell joins Monitor Publisher Mike Kanin and Political Editor Jo Clifton to look back at his terms and look ahead to the new era in Austin politics. The show is posted below: [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/181020746″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /]
Posted inAustin, Elections, Local Politics
Austin politics joins world of shadowy PAC action
Even though some political action committees have made a bigger splash in terms of negative messaging during this City Council election season, the Austin Firefighters Association, which has two political committees helping candidates, has spent the most money. Bob Nicks, president of the association, confirmed Wednesday that his two committees have spent close to $250,000 […]
Posted inAustin, Courts, Development, Housing, Local Politics
Council may amend source-of-income ordinance
Austin City Council members, set to finalize an ordinance that would ban housing discrimination based on one’s source of income, will consider a language change that would bring their version of the rule in line with state and federal codes. Council Member Laura Morrison raised the issue at Tuesday’s work session. “There is a state […]
Posted inAustin, Local Politics, Transit, Transportation
Riley plan for quarter-cent funds raises concerns
City Council Member Chris Riley ran into concerns from both Austin city management and his Council colleagues over a plan to use $20.4 million in funds raised through a Capital Metro one-quarter-cent tax agreement for transportation infrastructure improvements along Airport Boulevard. If approved, Riley’s proposal would use the money — the remainder of $139.4 million […]
Posted inCity Council, City Hall, Local Politics
Council braces for a long Thursday meeting
With a final agenda that has more than 230 items on it so far, Austin’s last at-large City Council looks determined to go out with a bang, and a really long meeting. On Tuesday, members discussed how to best deal with their last meeting, which will take place this Thursday. “It would be ironic, in […]
Posted inAustin, Elections
Mayoral, Council candidates still spending money
(This report was written by Monitor reporters Jo Clifton and Elizabeth Pagano.) There seems little doubt that the 2014 campaign for mayor will end up being the most expensive in the city’s history. Both Steve Adler and Mike Martinez, as well as political action committees supporting and opposing them, have filled the airwaves with television […]
Posted inAustin, Elections, Local Politics
Adler, Martinez highlight differences in forum
Just 10 days away from the Dec. 16 runoff election, mayoral candidates Steve Adler and Mike Martinez worked hard Sunday to put some daylight between their positions on a number of key issues, including affordability, transportation, taxes and budgets. KUT, KLRU and the Austin Monitor co-hosted a debate Sunday between Martinez and Adler. KUT Morning […]
Posted inAustin, City Hall, Energy, Local Politics
Council mulls future of Austin Energy Committee
City Council members and Austin Energy staff had a candid discussion about the future of the Council Committee on Austin Energy at its last meeting with current membership, with both parties agreeing that the meetings have been very beneficial to the city. Council Member Bill Spelman pointed out that an item on the topic was […]