Tag Archives: Austin City Council
Friday, February 26, 2021 by Jonathan Lee
City Council
Council critiques Uri response – and looks ahead to future disasters
On Thursday, City Council launched a wide-ranging review of the city’s response to the devastation wrought by winter storm Uri, beginning the long, complex work of preparing for the next storm – even as the current crisis persists for many.…
Friday, February 26, 2021 by Jo Clifton
City Council
City says fix the leak now, get the permit later
In an effort to assist residents dealing with the aftereffects of prolonged freezing temperatures, heavy snow and freezing rain, City Council approved an ordinance Thursday waiving residential permitting and development fees for repairing or rebuilding structures and removing downed trees.…
Thursday, February 25, 2021 by Jo Clifton
Courts
Court rejects bid to overturn ballot language
Today’s City Council agenda contains resolutions and emergency ordinances waiving fees and regulations to help Austinites deal with the aftermath of prolonged freezing temperatures and the loss of power and water. The final item on the agenda is entirely different.…
Tuesday, February 23, 2021 by Jo Clifton
Energy
Austin Energy customers need not worry about skyrocketing bills
Austin Energy customers, like the customers of other utilities throughout the state, experienced power outages and water shortages caused by winter storm Uri. But unlike customers of other utilities, Austin Energy customers will not be facing a huge spike in…
Monday, February 22, 2021 by Chad Swiatecki
City Hall
Council members criticize Cronk’s silence on call for food assistance
Members of City Council have criticized City Manager Spencer Cronk for what they characterize as a poor response to their call last week to have the city set up a food assistance program for residents without food or water in…
Monday, February 22, 2021 by Jo Clifton
Courts
Save Austin Now sues city over ballot language
Three Austin voters who signed a petition to put a public camping ban on the May 1 ballot have filed suit against the city to force a change in the ballot language. Linda Durnin, Eric Krohn and Michael Lovins allege…
Friday, February 19, 2021 by Chad Swiatecki
City Council
City’s power, water committees begin looking at post-storm improvements
City Council members closely tied to Austin’s energy and water utilities have started mapping out their priorities for determining what led to this week’s massive infrastructure failures and what can be done in the future to prevent hundreds of thousands…
Thursday, February 18, 2021 by Chad Swiatecki
Austin
With energy, water recovery slow, Austin leaders look for answers
With the city’s energy and water utility systems vastly over capacity, local leaders are pushing for immediate solutions to improve residents’ safety and looking at how the state can prevent a similar statewide failure in the future. As of Wednesday…
Friday, February 12, 2021 by Jo Clifton
City Council
Council rejects meeting to consider adding ballot measure
After a majority of Council members told City Attorney Anne Morgan they did not believe a special called meeting on Friday night was necessary, Morgan advised Mayor Steve Adler that the mayor would not have a quorum to consider the…
Thursday, February 11, 2021 by Jo Clifton
Bonds & Propositions
Council to consider proposition fix at Friday night meeting
City Council is scheduled to meet once again this Friday night to consider one more possible ordinance to place on the May 1 ballot. On Tuesday night, after a long day of making decisions about how to word eight proposed…
Wednesday, February 10, 2021 by Jo Clifton
Elections
Camping ban, strong-mayor proposal set for May 1 ballot
Austin voters who go to the polls on May 1 will have no candidates to vote for. Instead, they will have numerous questions to answer about how Austin’s government should be run and whether to reinstate the ban on camping, sitting…
Wednesday, February 10, 2021 by Jonathan Lee
Zoning
By opposing North Austin rezoning, Kelly sets tone for future zoning cases
At last week’s City Council meeting, new member Mackenzie Kelly offered a first glimpse of her approach to zoning cases: respect for neighborhood opposition. Kelly cast the lone dissenting vote in a request to allow multifamily housing on a North…
Monday, February 8, 2021 by Jo Clifton
Public Safety
After OK by Austin, ESD vote goes to Travis County
City Council voted unanimously Thursday to allow voters in the city’s extraterritorial jurisdiction within Emergency Services District 2 to vote on whether to create Travis County Emergency Services District 17. If approved by voters, the vote would authorize creation of…
Monday, February 8, 2021 by Mose Buchele
City Council
Austin approves $23M to help prevent gentrification near new transit hubs
Austin City Council has put $23 million toward projects to stop people from getting priced out of their neighborhoods. It’s the first use of money from a larger anti-displacement fund set up to soften the gentrifying effects of planned rail…
Friday, February 5, 2021 by Jonathan Lee
City Council
Council passes HEAL resolution to connect homeless to housing, address camping
Those experiencing homelessness and camping in four areas around Austin may soon find permanent homes. By passing the Housing-Focused Homeless Encampment Assistance Link resolution (HEAL) on Thursday, City Council set in motion a plan to move people from places that…
Friday, February 5, 2021 by Jo Clifton
City Council
Council approves District 6 hotel purchase for homeless
After hearing from scores of citizens, both in favor of and opposed to the purchase, City Council voted 10-1 Thursday to buy a hotel in far Northwest Austin for conversion to permanent supportive housing for people experiencing chronic homelessness. The…
Friday, February 5, 2021 by Audrey McGlinchy
City Council
Austin officially moves forensics lab out from under police department
In a move long advocated for by survivors of sexual assault, the Austin City Council voted Thursday to officially transfer its forensics bureau out from under the police department. It will now function as an independent entity. “This move is…
Thursday, February 4, 2021 by Jonathan Lee
City Council
Council to move forensics department from APD
City Council is set to create a new Forensic Science Department this week as part of its plan to move some civilian operations out of police control. Council members say the reshuffling will make the department more accountable and allow…
Wednesday, February 3, 2021 by Jo Clifton
City Charter
What we could be seeing on a May ballot
Austin voters will likely have a lot to think about before going to the polls on May 1. City Clerk Jannette Goodall has already certified two petitions – one from Austinites for Progressive Reform and another from the Austin Firefighters Association…
Wednesday, February 3, 2021 by Jonathan Lee
City Council
Council likely to pass amended HEAL resolution
City Council is almost certain to adopt an updated version of the HEAL resolution, a measure to address homeless camping around the city. Six Council members now sponsor the item after Council Member Alison Alter added her name Friday in…
