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Public Safety
Union reps address Council on employment issues
City Council listened to representatives of the firefighters, police and EMS unions Thursday. Bob Nicks, president of the Austin Firefighters Association, and his attorney took the lion’s share of the time to complain about the city’s failure to listen to…
Austin • By Jo Clifton • Jan 23, 2015
Austin firefighters to again seek input on hiring
The Austin Firefighters Association will have an opportunity at this morning’s City Council meeting to voice concerns to the new Council about its lack of input on a new process for hiring fire cadets. The firefighters’ hope is that this Council…
Austin • By Jo Clifton • Jan 22, 2015
Travis County revives Bicycle Safety Task Force
Travis County is looking to revive its Bicycle Safety Task Force, which has been dormant since before voters approved funding for bicycle safety projecta in a 2011 bond election. The task force — which is getting several new stakeholders and…
Bicycles • By Mark Richardson • Jan 22, 2015
GOP wants to restore Secure Communities program
A recent agreement between the City of Austin and Travis County over booking services at the county jail could be in jeopardy if congressional Republicans succeed in reversing President Obama’s executive orders on immigration policy. House Republicans voted out a…
Local Politics • By Mark Richardson • Jan 16, 2015
Watershed Protection touts wildfire plan progress
Watershed Protection Department staff told the Environmental Board on Wednesday that they have begun to implement an intergovernmental plan designed to help prevent catastrophic wildfires in the future. Senior Environmental Compliance Specialist Ryan Hebrink stressed that the Austin/Travis County Community…
Austin • By Tyler Whitson • Jan 13, 2015
City considers big tow change
If approved later this month, the Austin Police Department will have a new way to manage some of the 30,000-odd tows it handles every year. Detective Robert Loosier presented the plan for a new managed towing program to the Public…
Austin • By Elizabeth Pagano • Jan 13, 2015
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Court looks to limit rise in TravCo health care costs
With annual cost overruns projected to be more than $7 million this fiscal year, Travis County Commissioners are looking at ways to curb the skyrocketing cost of providing health care for employees and retirees. According to figures prepared by county staff, health…
Austin • By Mark Richardson • Jan 12, 2015
2014: An Austin Monitor review
This past year was a dynamic one in Austin, and though the future promises to be just as interesting, at the close of 2014 we invite you to take a trip back over the past 12 months. Though a lot…
Austin • By Michael Kanin • Dec 29, 2014
Prosecutors ask for extra staff to meet regulations
Told by the County Attorney David Escamilla and District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg that Travis County’s judicial system is in a crisis, County Commissioners Tuesday approved advertising for additional paralegals to help prosecutors comply with the Michael Morton Act. The Michael…
Local Government • By Mark Richardson • Dec 17, 2014
Council backs new social service contract metric
Austin City Council members Thursday approved a resolution from Council members Mike Martinez, Laura Morrison and Chris Riley that instructs City Manager Marc Ott to tie the city’s social service contract spending to the Consumer Price Index. The action, approved…
Austin • By Michael Kanin • Dec 16, 2014
HHS panel studies how HB2 affects Austinites
Last week, the Council Public Health and Human Services Committee took a closer look at the local impacts of Texas House Bill 2. After local outcry and international attention last year, the bill passed during a special session of the…
Austin • By Elizabeth Pagano • Dec 8, 2014
Central Health board reappointment stirs passions
The reappointment of Katrina Daniel to the Central Health board of managers turned unexpectedly heated at last week’s Council Public Health and Human Services Committee meeting. Ultimately, committee members unanimously recommended Daniel’s reappointment. The full City Council will consider the…
