Tag Archives: Austin City Council
Wednesday, September 23, 2020 by Ryan Thornton
City Council
Demolition permitting process redesign delayed again
City Council was scheduled to vote on two separate items Thursday as part of a multi-year effort to update the city’s demolition permitting process, but a number of potential flaws surfaced during Council’s discussions over the resolution and ordinance last…
Tuesday, September 22, 2020 by Ryan Thornton
City Hall
City finds fault with potential Downtown Community Court locations, sticks with east side alternative
In the continued search for a new home for the Downtown Austin Community Court, the Office of Real Estate Services has encountered serious constraints against moving the court into the first floor of the John H. Faulk Library or the…
Tuesday, September 22, 2020 by Daniel Salazar
Housing
Affordable housing proposals advance after outcry over gentrification, institutional racism
Charges of institutional racism and bias in housing policy engulfed a pair of votes at the Austin Housing Finance Corporation Board of Directors meeting Thursday.The board, which is made up of all of the members of the Austin City Council,…
Monday, September 21, 2020 by Jo Clifton
Planning
Schlotzsky’s PUD wins first round approval
City Council voted 7-4 on first reading last week to approve zoning that would allow a 96-foot tower on the property at 218 S. Lamar, the home of a closed Schlotzsky’s restaurant. Leading the dissent was District 5 Council Member…
Friday, September 18, 2020 by Ryan Thornton
City Council
Council approves SAVES resolution to rescue vital businesses
City Council unanimously approved a resolution Thursday night directing the city manager to bring back viable funding options by Oct. 1 to help sustain the city’s service sector through the ongoing economic pressures of Covid-19.All the Council members, Mayor Pro…
Friday, September 18, 2020 by Jo Clifton
City Council
Convention center expansion moves forward
After a long day considering various different topics, City Council voted 10-0-1, with Council Member Leslie Pool abstaining, to authorize staff to move forward with negotiations to purchase two expensive blocks to the west of the Austin Convention Center for…
Thursday, September 17, 2020 by Andrew Weber
Entertainment & Events
‘We deserve to be saved’: Austin music venues rally for city-backed relief fund
Austin’s music community rallied at City Hall Wednesday to support a measure to bolster the ecosystem around live music in the face of the pandemic.The rally included everyone in that ecosystem, from the folks who help keep the scene alive…
Thursday, September 17, 2020 by Jo Clifton
Politics
Your minute is up, new recall group says
A new political action committee is aimed at recalling Mayor Steve Adler and Council members Pio Renteria, Ann Kitchen and Paige Ellis. Anyone who has participated in or watched City Council meetings will recognize the group’s name: Your Minute Is…
Wednesday, September 16, 2020 by Ryan Thornton
Austin
Council members consider funding to save local service economy
Without significant intervention, economists are predicting a “K-shaped” Covid-19 recovery trajectory, a scenario where “high-skill” professionals thrive while the service sector continues in a rapid decline.City Council hopes to prevent the further demise of our local music and arts venues,…
Wednesday, September 16, 2020 by Jo Clifton
City Council
Negotiations in the works on convention center expansion
Although the Covid-19 pandemic will continue to have serious economic impacts on the Austin Convention Center for several years, people will still want to gather for face-to-face meetings, according to an expert hired to advise City Council on the planned…
Tuesday, September 15, 2020 by Savana Dunning
Budget
Animal Advisory Commission asks Council to unfreeze hiring for animal protection officers
The Animal Advisory Commission unanimously approved a recommendation for City Council to unfreeze hiring for certain Animal Services staff Monday.Currently, 12 full-time positions that had been budgeted for in the 2020 budget remain vacant in the Animal Services Department. Four…
Tuesday, September 15, 2020 by Matt Largey
Elections
Who’s running for Austin City Council? Join us for a series of forums to hear from the candidates.
Five seats on the Austin City Council are up for election this November.What do you want the candidates to be talking about as they try to earn your vote?We’re teaming up with KUT News for a series of virtual City…
Monday, September 14, 2020 by Savana Dunning
Austin
Economic Development Department outlines plans for $12M creative space bond, creation of Austin EDC
The Economic Development Department outlined its plan for a $12 million creative space bond and a city-owned economic development corporation that could help it along at a joint meeting of the arts and music commissions Friday. The city launched a request…
Thursday, September 10, 2020 by Ryan Thornton
City Charter
Coalition publishes draft amendments for modified local democracy
In a city where an appointed city manager administers policy, midterm mayoral elections are decided by a wealthier and whiter electorate, costly runoff elections draw a fraction of eligible voters, and nearly 70 percent of all City Council campaign contributions…
Thursday, September 10, 2020 by Savana Dunning
City Council
New RISE 2.0 relief program offers $10M to individuals in Austin, Travis County
The city of Austin has expanded its original Covid-19 relief program and will be distributing a total of $10 million to individuals experiencing hardships in Austin and Travis County.Applications open Sept. 14 online and over the phone for the new Relief…
Wednesday, September 9, 2020 by Daniel Salazar
Housing
Thousands of potential units in projects certified so far under Affordability Unlocked program
A city bonus program to spur more affordable housing has already played a role in several income-restricted projects across Austin.Neighborhood Housing and Community Development Department staff and affordable housing developers provided an update on the Affordability Unlocked program to City…
Tuesday, September 8, 2020 by Ryan Thornton
City Council
City hopes fewer Covid cases and cooler temps will boost open-air business pilot
Austin’s Covid-era pilot for safe outdoor shopping and dining has been running since June 15, but not many local shops and restaurants have sought to take advantage of the program so far. During the first 10 weeks of Shop the…
Friday, September 4, 2020 by Ryan Thornton
City Council
Council approves $23 million in partial purchases for Corridor Construction Program
City Council has authorized the Office of Real Estate Services to start negotiations with landowners for $23 million in real estate acquisitions from a number of properties along the nine segments of the Corridor Construction Program.Mike Trimble, director of the…
Friday, September 4, 2020 by Jo Clifton
City Council
Council approves funding for isolation hotel
After a brief discussion about the need to continue the search for temporary and permanent housing for Austinites experiencing homelessness, City Council unanimously approved an agreement with the owner of the La Quinta Inn at 5812 N. Interstate 35 Thursday.The…
Thursday, September 3, 2020 by Andrew Weber
Police
Austin could ‘decouple’ victim services from APD. Here’s what that would look like.
Twenty years ago, trombones were echoing in Courtney Santana’s ears – trombones like the ones in Charlie Brown cartoons.There she was, crumpled on parking lot asphalt. Austin police officers were holding her two kids, including her 8-month-old son, who had…
