Tag Archives: Austin City Council
Wednesday, April 25, 2018 by Jack Craver
City Council
Despite hurt feelings, Council members embrace electric scooters
Rushing to respond to electric scooters that have taken over downtown, City Council will consider an ordinance on Thursday to establish rules regarding the increasingly popular devices.The proposed ordinance, drafted by city transportation staff, will allow the Transportation Department to…
Monday, April 23, 2018 by Jo Clifton
City Charter
Changes ahead for Planning Commission?
At this week’s meeting, City Council is scheduled to consider changes to how members of the city’s Planning Commission are selected. The city attorney’s office has offered two alternative approaches – one of which could have a radical impact on…
Monday, April 23, 2018 by Chad Swiatecki
Entertainment & Events
Events ordinance approaching completion, with rules TBD
It appears that the city’s ordinance to manage the thriving and lucrative special events industry in Austin is finally about to become a working part of local code.City Council is expected to have a third reading and final approval of…
Monday, April 16, 2018 by Austin Monitor
Reporters' Notebook
Reporter’s Notebook: Collective concerns
No need to bug out… Word hit the street recently that the city was considering a rule that would require all homes to install insect screens. “Proposal would require homeowners to install insect screens,” said a KXAN headline. Buried near…
Thursday, April 12, 2018 by Caleb Pritchard
Transportation
Council revisits draft Corridor Construction Program during work session
Tuesday’s City Council work session featured a swap of information between city staff and Council members regarding the draft Corridor Construction Program.Council delayed a vote on the draft program at its March 22 meeting. That vote set the stage for…
Thursday, April 12, 2018 by Jo Clifton
City Council
Who’s minding the store? Alter
With four people absent, today’s City Council meeting is scheduled to start late and end early. Council Member Alison Alter will chair the meeting, which will start at 11:30 a.m.Mayor Steve Adler, Mayor Pro Tem Kathie Tovo and Council Member…
Thursday, April 12, 2018 by Chad Swiatecki
Bonds & Propositions
Creative ‘hubs’ requests moving forward for $40M bond ask
The questions surrounding a movement to build multiple creative “hubs” – or possibly one single campus – for Austin’s arts and music communities are becoming somewhat clearer as proponents of those groups continue talks ahead of an August decision on…
Wednesday, April 11, 2018 by Jo Clifton
Bonds & Propositions
Task force: Bond decisions up to Council
The city’s 2018 Bond Election Advisory Task Force sent a recommendation to City Council for a November bond ballot of $851 million – more than $200 million above the amount recommended by city staff, and one that is estimated to…
Wednesday, April 11, 2018 by Jack Craver
Austin
How can city government help Austin parents with child care?
The high cost of day care, which can easily run $1,000 per month, is one of a number of expenses that are making the city increasingly inhospitable to working- and middle-class families. City Council is exploring ways to make child care…
Tuesday, April 10, 2018 by Jack Craver
Bonds & Propositions
Housing bond forces tough decisions for Council members
While three City Council members say they want to present an affordable housing bond to voters worth between $250 million and $300 million, it is unclear how many others on the dais are in favor of such a large figure.First,…
Tuesday, April 10, 2018 by Chad Swiatecki
Austin
People’s Plan to combat gentrification headed to Council
Ahead of its planned fall release of recommendations to combat gentrification in Austin, the city’s Anti-Displacement Task Force has endorsed a broad plan created by community organizers.At its meeting last week the task force voted 12-1 to recommend City Council…
Tuesday, April 10, 2018 by Jack Craver
Housing
City proposes ways to reduce permitting costs for homeowners
In November of last year, City Council approved a resolution aimed at making it easier and cheaper for homeowners to repair or renovate their houses.The resolution asked the Development Services Department to consider setting up a separate, simpler permitting process…
Monday, April 9, 2018 by Chad Swiatecki
Preservation
Council approves preservation projects with $5.5M from hotel tax
More than a dozen projects related to the preservation of Austin’s historic buildings will move ahead, with more to follow in coming budget years, using money from the city’s portion of its Hotel Occupancy Tax.Last month City Council approved a…
Friday, April 6, 2018 by Caleb Pritchard
Transportation
Dockless scooter company takes flight in Austin
For the third time in four years, a brand-new technology-enabled transportation company has set up shop on Austin’s streets without seeking the city’s official blessing.On Thursday morning, the California-based company known as Bird released what one company official described as…
Thursday, April 5, 2018 by Jo Clifton
Fire
Lack of fire station pushes some insurance rates up
Some Southeast Austin homeowners have been receiving bad news from their insurance companies – the rates on their homeowners insurance are projected to rise as much as $1,000 this year.District 2 Council Member Delia Garza told her colleagues at Wednesday’s…
Thursday, April 5, 2018 by Jack Craver
Budget
Council braces for another tight budget cycle amid threats from Legislature
City Council will have to raise property taxes by 5 percent in the Fiscal Year 2018-19 budget just to continue funding existing programs, according to a financial forecast prepared by the city budget office.In a presentation to Council members on…
Thursday, April 5, 2018 by Caleb Pritchard
Bicycles
Dockless bike-sharing issues surface at city forum
After more than a yearlong absence, dockless bike-sharing returned to downtown Austin on Wednesday, if only for a few hours.Representatives from nine different firms that dabble in dockless technology brought their wares and their pitches to the new Central Library…
Wednesday, April 4, 2018 by Jack Craver
Housing
Garza, Renteria, Casar unveil Housing Justice Agenda
Three City Council members say they are united to push for a series of aggressive affordable housing measures, including a major increase in housing subsidies and reforms of the land development code.At a panel at the Austin Convention Center Tuesday…
Wednesday, April 4, 2018 by Jo Clifton
Elections
DePalma announces run for District 8
Rich DePalma, a consultant who has worked on numerous environmental efforts, officially threw his hat in the ring Tuesday to represent Austinites who live in District 8. Council Member Ellen Troxclair currently holds the seat and has said she is…
Tuesday, April 3, 2018 by Syeda Hasan
Uncategorized
Council members push for $300M bond to meet Austin’s affordable housing needs
City leaders are weighing the possibility of putting an affordable housing bond on the ballot this November. A city task force is recommending a $161 million bond, but some Austin City Council members want to almost double that amount.Council Members…
