Tag Archives: Austin City Council
Wednesday, January 22, 2020 by Jo Clifton
Austin
Austin may get an economic development corp.
City Council appears to be moving cautiously toward creation of a local economic development corporation that would be totally separate from the city but governed by a Council-appointed board of directors. People unfamiliar with such entities may naturally wonder why…
Thursday, January 16, 2020 by Elizabeth Pagano
Elections
City Council candidates tally their six-week fundraising totals
This November, candidates will compete for City Council seats in Districts 2, 4, 6, 7, and 10. Mayor Pro Tem Delia Garza has already announced that she will not be seeking reelection in District 2; instead she is running for…
Wednesday, January 15, 2020 by Ryan Thornton
Transit
City considers new funding sources for light rail transit investment
On Tuesday, in the fifth of seven planned joint work sessions, City Council and the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority discussed the need for innovative funding sources to operate and maintain a regional transit system that may involve the city’s first…
Tuesday, January 14, 2020 by Chad Swiatecki
Housing
State empowerment zones seen as wrong tool for city to preserve affordable housing
The city’s Neighborhood Housing & Community Development Department has opted not to use a state statute created to encourage infill development as a method for preserving affordable housing stock, instead choosing to enter into direct partnerships with developers using city…
Monday, January 13, 2020 by Chad Swiatecki
City Council
Council may move forward with study of minority business contracting disparities
City Council will decide at its Jan. 23 meeting whether to approve a study – first requested in late 2018 – examining how well small businesses owned by women and minorities are represented in the city’s contract procurement process. The…
Monday, January 13, 2020 by Austin Monitor
Reporters' Notebook
Reporter’s Notebook: Reverse correlations
Reports of sexual assault down in 2019 for Austin and the country… Juliana Gonzales, the senior director of sexual assault services at the SAFE Alliance, came to give her monthly update to the Public Safety Commission on Jan. 6. She…
Thursday, January 9, 2020 by Samuel King
Transportation
Austin proposes a new angle for cyclist and pedestrian safety at railroad crossings
The Austin Transportation Department has identified several railroad crossings in need of safety improvements for cyclists and pedestrians. The findings come after a citywide review requested by City Council in September based on recommendations from the city’s pedestrian and bicycle…
Wednesday, January 8, 2020 by Jack Craver
Austin
County sets up new committee to put pressure on city leaders over Expo Center
Travis County leaders want to put pressure on the city of Austin to help them rebuild the aging exposition center.On Tuesday the Commissioners Court voted unanimously to set up a nine-member committee tasked with “engaging and educating Travis County residents…
Thursday, December 12, 2019 by Ryan Thornton
Land Development Code
Draft Land Development Code approved on first reading
Wrapping up a three-day effort, City Council approved the draft Land Development Code text and map on first reading in a 7-4 vote Wednesday afternoon.In accordance with Council direction, the code revision team will now work to compile and publish…
Thursday, December 12, 2019 by Ryan Thornton
Zoning
Tarrytown food truck approved with change to neighborhood plan
City Council gave final approval to a Tarrytown zoning case on Thursday that also necessitated an amendment to the Central West Austin Combined Neighborhood Plan.Ideally, Council Member Alison Alter said, the applicant’s request – to make room for a food…
Wednesday, December 11, 2019 by Chad Swiatecki
Courts
Council looks at legal options after appeals court throws out housing voucher challenge
Members of City Council have criticized a recent decision by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to throw out the city’s lawsuit against state Attorney General Ken Paxton over a state law passed in 2015 that prevents cities from…
Wednesday, December 11, 2019 by Jo Clifton
Planning
Industrial lot wins mixed-use zoning on second reading
Although Council Member Pio Renteria pushed for more affordable housing on a Southeast Austin site that is currently industrial, he made the motion to approve the compromise offered by attorney David Hartman at last week’s Council meeting.Before the vote, Jerry…
Tuesday, December 10, 2019 by Ryan Thornton
Land Development Code
Council sets off on long journey to code adoption
City Council took its first go at a first reading of the draft Land Development Code on Monday. Due both to the scope of the issue and scheduling conflicts, that attempt will now be spread out over today and Wednesday,…
Tuesday, December 10, 2019 by Jo Clifton
Politics
Lawyer says Garza should follow city finance rules
Within hours of signing up to run in the March Democratic primary for Travis County Attorney, Delia Garza had an opponent whose name will not be appearing on the 2020 ballot. Bill Aleshire, who retired from his job as county…
Monday, December 9, 2019 by Audrey McGlinchy
Land Development Code
White homeowners dominate input over Austin’s land code rewrite. One group is trying to change that.
More than 100 people sat in Austin City Hall chambers just past 10 a.m. on Saturday, gearing up to share their thoughts about the city’s rewrite of its Land Development Code. Council Member Alison Alter, who represents part of Northwest…
Friday, December 6, 2019 by Audrey McGlinchy
Police
Austin orders sweeping probe of alleged racism, bigotry among police, including social media audit
The city of Austin will conduct a department-wide investigation of discrimination in the Austin Police Department, following accusations of racism and homophobia among the highest ranks.“There comes a time in everybody’s existence to have to do something really hard because…
Friday, December 6, 2019 by Jo Clifton
Fire
Council OKs amended emergency mutual aid pact
Council gave final approval Thursday to a mutual automatic aid agreement designed to ensure that 19 fire and rescue departments throughout Travis and Williamson counties will assist each other in far-flung parts of Austin and the included counties.The city has…
Wednesday, December 4, 2019 by Ryan Thornton
Land Development Code
Chief appraiser says market will determine whether code rewrite changes property values
City Council got some clarity Tuesday on the issue of property valuations under the Land Development Code rewrite.Chief Appraiser Marya Crigler of the Travis Central Appraisal District joined Council’s work session to offer context to a conversation Council members began…
Wednesday, December 4, 2019 by Andrew Weber
City Council
Council members support using hotels to house homeless, but are wary of locations and quick timeline
Austin City Council members say they’re concerned about the timeline, placement and funding strategy for a plan to expand efforts to buy and retrofit hotels to house homeless Austinites.Last month, Council OK’d a plan to buy the Rodeway Inn near…
Wednesday, December 4, 2019 by Jo Clifton
Fire
AFD, union still at odds over interlocal agreement
Bob Nicks, president of the Austin Firefighters Association, and Austin Fire Chief Joel Baker are locked in a battle over whether the city should sign on to a new mutual aid agreement with emergency services districts in both Travis and…
