Tag Archives: Austin City Council
Tuesday, January 8, 2019 by Jack Craver
City Council
Adler calls on Council to do ‘big things,’ Garza elected mayor pro tem
Mayor Steve Adler began his new four-year term on an optimistic note, saying that the city is “poised to get some really big things done” when it comes to addressing Austin’s major challenges, notably housing and transportation.Adler, along with two…
Thursday, December 20, 2018 by Jimmy Maas
Entertainment & Events
Major League Soccer and Precourt Sports sign lease for stadium site in North Austin
Precourt Sports Ventures signed a lease with the city of Austin today for 24 acres in North Austin to build a Major League Soccer stadium.“Bringing major league sports to Austin will help bring all parts of our diverse city together,…
Wednesday, December 19, 2018 by Jack Craver
Zoning
Council gives initial approval for plan to transform Sekrit Theater
At its Dec. 13 meeting, City Council unanimously approved a zoning change that will transform Sekrit Theater into a community of small, eclectic houses.“I just want to be creative and build something I can be proud of and that my…
Tuesday, December 18, 2018 by Andrew Weber
Austin
Gus Garcia, the first elected Hispanic mayor of Austin, dies at 84
Gustavo “Gus” Garcia, a former Austin school board trustee, City Council member and the first elected Hispanic mayor of Austin, died early Monday surrounded by his family. He was 84.At a memorial service at Gus Garcia Young Men’s Leadership Academy,…
Tuesday, December 18, 2018 by Chad Swiatecki
City Hall
Budget amendment means new $150M Austin Energy HQ at Mueller
Austin Energy will move its offices on Barton Springs Road to a new headquarters at the Mueller development in North Austin, a move that is expected to save the city roughly $1 million per year.Last week City Council unanimously approved…
Friday, December 14, 2018 by Jack Craver
Transportation
Council hopes to reduce car use with two initiatives
At its last meeting of the year Thursday, City Council approved two measures aimed at encouraging people to get out of their cars.One item, crafted by Council Member Delia Garza, instructs the city manager to put together a working group…
Friday, December 14, 2018 by Andrew Weber
Courts
Lawsuit challenging Austin’s move to rename Manchaca Road heads to trial
A lawsuit challenging the city of Austin’s decision to rename Manchaca Road will go to trial.The suit, brought by the group Leave Manchaca Alone, alleges the city didn’t properly inform residents and businesses ahead of a City Council vote to…
Thursday, December 13, 2018 by Jack Craver
City Council
Council ponders ways to make meetings shorter, less confusing
As part of its ongoing efforts to make government more efficient and productive, City Council is discussing potential changes to how meetings are run.The conversation was kicked off by the city’s CFO Elaine Hart, who highlighted a number of ways…
Thursday, December 13, 2018 by Jo Clifton
City Council
City’s federal housing funds in jeopardy
The city of Austin could lose a significant amount of federal funding if President Trump follows through on his threat to shut down the federal government on Dec. 21. Various national publications reported Trump making the threat if Congress refuses…
Wednesday, December 12, 2018 by Mose Buchele
Water
Austin Water report shows big impact of boil order was conservation
Austin Water delivered an “after action” report to City Council yesterday on the weeklong boil-water order enacted during severe flooding in October. The presentation shed more light on what happened to bring about the emergency and what the city might…
Friday, December 7, 2018 by Jo Clifton
City Hall
Transportation Dept. faulted in right-of-way audit
When Austinites are asked for their top complaints about the city, one of the most frequent responses relates to traffic. The central city is particularly congested and contractors working in the right-of-way exacerbate the problem.According to a report released by…
Thursday, December 6, 2018 by Chad Swiatecki
Budget
Local pols examine impacts, options in state school funding debate
Leaders from all levels of government in Central Texas, plus most of the area’s school districts, learned Wednesday that they could be in for budgetary hits if state lawmakers pass limits on local property tax increases without restructuring the state’s…
Tuesday, December 4, 2018 by Jo Clifton
Zoning
Asian center zoning change moves forward
On Thursday, Council Member Alison Alter offered a zoning solution to satisfy the needs of the Asian American Cultural Center at 11713 Jollyville Road, yet placate neighbors fearful of increased traffic and apartment buildings looming over their single-family neighborhoods.Amy Wong…
Monday, December 3, 2018 by Chad Swiatecki
Elections
D1 forum looks at city’s role in affordability, health care, displacement
The runoff election to fill the seat of District 1 Council Member Ora Houston may well hinge on the approaches candidates Natasha Harper-Madison and Mariana Salazar take to persistent East Austin issues such as housing affordability, health care access and…
Monday, December 3, 2018 by Austin Monitor
Reporters' Notebook
Reporter’s Notebook: Lord of the files
Pig-headed politics… At a recent City Council work session, Council members were discussing proposed changes to the ordinance that dictates the extent to which people can exercise their First Amendment rights on library grounds. Specifically, what limits, if any, should…
Friday, November 30, 2018 by Jack Craver
Water
Council approves 100-year water conservation road map
On Thursday, City Council unanimously adopted a plan to guide Austin’s water use for the next century.“This is a tremendous moment for Austin,” said David Foster, director of Texas Clean Water Action. “If we pass this plan, Austin will become…
Friday, November 30, 2018 by Andrew Weber
Courts
Manchaca is (again) still Manchaca – for now
A Travis County district judge has hit pause on the city’s attempt to change Manchaca Road to Menchaca – again.Business owners from the group Leave Manchaca Alone sued to block the Austin City Council’s October decision to change the name…
Friday, November 30, 2018 by Chad Swiatecki
Elections
Renteria, Almanza show stark differences in D3 runoff forum
A recent forum between District 3 City Council candidates Pio Renteria and Susana Almanza – who are siblings – showed that the runoff election may center on how much one of Austin’s fastest-growing areas should change in the years to…
Thursday, November 29, 2018 by Ryan Thornton
Transit
Weeks before Project Connect vote, city talks community engagement
The Dec. 17 Capital Metro Board of Directors vote on the Project Connect vision plan is quickly approaching. Austin residents are being asked by the transportation agency and City Council representatives to take the time this holiday season to attend…
Wednesday, November 28, 2018 by Jack Craver
Housing
Council members offer mixed reviews of displacement task force recommendations
City Council took its first look Tuesday at a long list of recommendations from a task force focused on reducing displacement of Austin’s low- and middle-income populations.The report that was unanimously approved by the Anti-Displacement Task Force includes 107 ideas…
