Tag Archives: Austin City Council
Monday, November 19, 2018 by Austin Monitor
Reporters' Notebook
Reporter’s Notebook: Carrying on
A bump in the road… As long expected, the state’s Austin-based 3rd Court of Appeals voided the city’s paid sick leave ordinance on Friday. The 24-page opinion by the three-judge panel found that the ordinance – which was passed in…
Friday, November 16, 2018 by Jack Craver
City Council
Minimum lot sizes: A roadblock for affordable housing?
Last week, Austin voters approved a record-busting $250 million for affordable housing, but a discussion during Thursday’s City Council meeting showed that building new housing isn’t simply a matter of having enough money.At issue is a small piece of vacant…
Wednesday, November 14, 2018 by Jack Craver
Water
To conserve water amid warming climate, city envisions major underground storage system
For four years, volunteer members of the Integrated Water Resource Task Force have been crafting a plan to conserve Austin’s water supply over the next century.While experts have long warned that a warming climate, coupled with a growing population, poses…
Wednesday, November 14, 2018 by Andrew Weber
Courts
Locals sue to stop Austin from renaming Manchaca Road
A group of property owners and businesses along what’s called (for now) Manchaca Road is challenging the city’s move to change the South Austin road’s name before the name change goes into effect Thursday.The Austin City Council passed an ordinance Oct.…
Wednesday, November 14, 2018 by Jo Clifton
City Council
Ellis picks up important endorsements
Paige Ellis, the top vote-getter in the Nov. 6 race for City Council District 8, announced Tuesday that her two Democratic opponents in the race, Rich DePalma and Bobby Levinski, had endorsed her. Ellis will face Republican Frank Ward in…
Wednesday, November 7, 2018 by Audrey McGlinchy
Elections
Adler cruises to second term as Austin mayor
In a landslide victory, Steve Adler won his re-election as mayor of Austin on Tuesday and will serve another four years in office.With voters coming out in record numbers in Travis County, Adler earned 61 percent of the vote, overpowering…
Tuesday, November 6, 2018 by Jack Craver
Preservation
Property owners who forfeit landmark status will have to pay more
Owning a property that has been designated a historic landmark has its benefits and its drawbacks.The city of Austin, Travis County and the Austin Independent School District all offer hefty property tax exemptions for landmark properties – with the expectation…
Monday, November 5, 2018 by Chad Swiatecki
Planning
Justin Lane parcel primed for parks, affordable housing, creative space and more
The five-acre North Austin parcel known as the Justin Lane tract looks to be the home of a variety of new uses in the near future, including affordable housing, creative space, parkland and mixed-use development.At Thursday’s City Council meeting, a…
Friday, November 2, 2018 by Jessi Devenyns
Planning
Camelback PUD project receives final approval from Council
When it comes to approving a highly visible planned unit development on an iconic piece of Austin property, it’s not going to be an easy decision. After all, the devil is in the details.On Thursday night, after several hours of…
Friday, November 2, 2018 by Jack Craver
City Hall
At long last, Council approves biosolids contract
On Thursday, City Council put an end to two and a half years of squabbling over a lucrative contract to manage biosolid waste generated by the city water utility.Council voted 10-1 to award the contract to Synagro of Texas-CDR Inc.,…
Friday, November 2, 2018 by Jo Clifton
Zoning
Despite road plans, Council OKs zoning
Council rejected recommendations of the city’s zoning and transportation staff and the Zoning and Platting Commission at Thursday’s meeting, granting on first reading a request for commercial and mixed-use zoning on a northeast Austin property at 9100 Brown Lane. The…
Thursday, November 1, 2018 by Chad Swiatecki
Planning
Long road to expo center revamp could begin Thursday
Thursday’s City Council meeting is expected to see the first moves toward a long-off ballot initiative that will eventually lead to an ambitious rehabilitation of the Travis County Expo Center.The resolution, which is expected to pass on consent, will direct…
Thursday, November 1, 2018 by Jack Craver
City Hall
Council: What to do about boards and commissions?
City Council members seem to all agree that something should be done to make the city’s dozens of citizen boards and commissions more efficient and effective.At a Council work session Tuesday, Council members discussed whether the city should embark on…
Wednesday, October 31, 2018 by Jo Clifton
City Council
Council seems ready to OK biosolids contract
The latest chapter in the city’s quest to sign a new contract for handling biosolids at the Hornsby Bend Biosolids Management Plant appears to be nearing its end after two and half years of struggle. With Council Member Alison Alter…
Tuesday, October 30, 2018 by Jessi Devenyns
City Hall
Council plans additional post-mortem review of water crisis
Although last week’s crisis has passed and Austinites once again have clean drinking water in their homes and offices, City Council still has much work to do.In anticipation of the questions that would arrive in the aftermath of the boil…
Monday, October 29, 2018 by Chad Swiatecki
Austin
Anti-displacement recommendations take broad approach to combat gentrification
The task force convened late last year by City Council to study strategies for reversing Austin’s growing affordability and displacement problem has released its initial set of recommendations. Those recommendations include a mix of taxing mechanisms, social services and bond…
Monday, October 29, 2018 by Elizabeth Pagano
Reporters' Notebook
Reporter’s Notebook: The more you know
Today in unsurprising news… The Circuit of the Americas has issued a statement on its position and involvement in the ongoing petition drive that could impact the city’s ability to complete a deal to build a soccer stadium on a…
Thursday, October 25, 2018 by Jo Clifton
City Hall
Report highlights flaws in city contracting
City auditors found major flaws in how the city manages its contracts, with many of those weaknesses persisting citywide for several years, according to a special report issued this week.Audit Manager Katie Houston told the City Council Audit and Finance…
Wednesday, October 24, 2018 by Chad Swiatecki
Elections
Mayoral candidates stress leadership on familiar Austin concerns
While common topics such as Austin’s transportation issues and the fate of the city’s CodeNEXT rewrite have been talking points at all recent forums for the four contested City Council seats, at Monday’s forum for the two most prominent candidates…
Tuesday, October 23, 2018 by Chad Swiatecki
Entertainment & Events
Noise enforcement called key to new push for ‘agent of change’ ordinance
The city is making another attempt to find peace and common ground between music and entertainment venues and high-rise hotels or residences as those two land uses becoming increasingly intermixed while Austin continues to grow. A resolution passed under consent…
