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Public Safety
Events ordinance draws criticism
The Austin Center for Events unveiled its revised version of the city’s special event ordinance in front of the Zero Waste Advisory Commission on Wednesday night, drawing both praise and criticism for its new waste management policies. The proposed ordinance…
Development • By Alex Dropkin • Aug 19, 2014
Background checks for dog walkers ?
Fingerprinting and an eight-week wait for a background check … to walk shelter dogs? At Wednesday’s City Council budget work session, Council Member and mayoral candidate Mike Martinez noted that some would-be Austin Animal Center volunteers decide to help elsewhere…
Local Politics • By Jenny Blair • Aug 14, 2014
Hays County poised to call $188M bond election for new jail
Hays County officials say a new jail is needed now, and they want to put the question to voters. The jail, plus a communications facility and law enforcement center, could cost up to $188.5 million, and Hays County Commissioners seemed…
Local Government • By Andy Sevilla • Aug 14, 2014
Council settles officer-involved shooting case for $1.25 million
The Austin City Council opted Thursday to pay $1.25 million to settle a claim related to an officer-involved shooting that took place last summer. Mayor Lee Leffingwell cast the only dissenting vote in the 6-1 decision. The claim alleged that former Austin Police…
Local Politics • By Tyler Whitson • Aug 8, 2014
Public Safety Commission endorses distracted driving ordinance
Public Safety Commissioners got a preview Monday of recommendations to expand the city’s ban on texting while driving. The recommendations from the Distracted Driving Working Group – formed by City Council in January via a resolution – propose banning the…
Public Safety • By Gene Davis • Aug 5, 2014
Energy, water utility rates top Council concerns over 2015 budget
The Austin City Council took on next year’s budget in earnest Thursday. Of the $3.5 billion budget, members’ biggest concerns continued to rest with the city’s water and energy utilities. A proposal from Austin Energy to increase the fuel charge…
Local Politics • By Elizabeth Pagano • Aug 1, 2014
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Austin Interfaith petitions county to aid unaccompanied migrant minors
Austin Interfaith seeks Travis County aid for migrant minors By Beth Cortez-Neavel Members of Austin Interfaith called on Travis County Commissioners Tuesday to provide social and legal services to the thousands of unaccompanied minors crossing the U.S. border from Central…
Local Government • By Beth Cortez-Neavel • Jul 22, 2014
TravCo sees dramatic rise in child welfare cases, associated costs
Travis County spent $2,466,295 in private attorney’s fees during FY 2013 due to the rising number of child abuse and neglect legal cases filed in the region. According to a joint report conducted by the County’s Justice and Public Safety…
Local Government • By Beth Cortez-Neavel • Jul 3, 2014
Council approves funds for buyout of 140 more homes in Onion Creek
Though some relief is on the way for Halloween Flood survivors, the fact that nearly 15 percent of the funds could be spent on consultants raised some eyebrows at City Council Thursday. Council members approved all four items related…
Development • By Elizabeth Pagano • Jun 27, 2014
City in line for flood buyout reimbursements from Corps of Engineers
Austin City Council members got a bit of good news with regard to buyouts in the Onion Creek floodplain. The city’s governmental relations officer, John Hrncir, told Council members during Tuesday’s work session that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers…
Local Politics • By Michael Kanin • Jun 25, 2014
APD offers to cut new officer positions to increase 911 call staff
Council Member Bill Spelman’s annual dive into the city’s public safety budget has prompted the Austin Police Department to offer to shed officer positions in favor of more staff in its 911 communications department. The statement came in response…
