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New reports show PACs at work in Austin Council races

As everyone is keenly aware, there’s an important election coming up next week. Not just the federal contest, but also City Council races. The candidates have now turned in their final campaign finance reports before the Nov. 5 election. These…

Elections • By Jo Clifton • Oct 31, 2024

Austin and Travis County fund diversion program for indigent youth facing low-level DWIs

Travis County continued its commitment to diverting people charged with low-level offenses from the criminal justice system at its meeting Tuesday, extending its DWI court diversion programs to September 2025. Those programs, which include treatment and pre-trial diversion for minor…

Public Safety • By Lina Fisher • Oct 31, 2024

Parks and Recreation Board recommends audit of contracts governing city sports fields

The Austin Parks and Recreation Board unanimously voted to recommend that City Council conduct a comprehensive audit of all contracts related to dozens of city-owned baseball and soccer fields.  The Austin Parks and Recreation Department frequently contracts with outside organizations…

Parks • By Madeline de Figueiredo • Oct 31, 2024

Report finds slashed site plan review times, with further improvements on tap

An analysis of the city’s ongoing work to improve its widely criticized permitting process for building within the city shows substantial improvements in turnaround times for the main types of reviews, with further gains expected as the city moves forward…

City Hall • By Chad Swiatecki • Oct 30, 2024

Report shows more ways for city to help residents become homeowners

Although the city of Austin offers help for low-income residents who wish to become homeowners, that assistance is limited to buyers who earn at or below 80 percent of the local Median Family Income, or MFI, which is currently $97,800…

Housing • By Jo Clifton • Oct 30, 2024

Auditor examines city's shifting funding, expectations for Cultural Arts grants

A recent report from the City Auditor highlights a recurring state of flux for Cultural Arts funding in recent years, which has fed into the ongoing debate over how the city manages those grant programs. The audit, which was requested…

City Hall • By Chad Swiatecki • Oct 30, 2024

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Cap Metro to build second set of train tracks in East Austin

Capital Metro is planning to build a second set of train tracks along the Red Line in East Austin along with new sidewalks, pedestrian crossings and another platform at Plaza Saltillo Station. A second set of tracks – known as…

Transit • By Nathan Bernier, KUT • Oct 30, 2024

New zoning would allow huge building on South Congress

At the last meeting before the Nov. 5 election, City Council spent more than 11 hours in chambers, with most of their time being devoted to the contract with the Austin Police Association, which they approved. But with a barely…

Zoning • By Jo Clifton • Oct 29, 2024

City shares update on parks-nonprofit relationships

During a special called meeting of City Council’s Audit and Finance Committee on Oct. 9, three speakers stated their concerns about the relationship between the Parks Department and its nonprofit partners, specifically regarding special events and the Trail of Lights.…

Parks • By Mina Shekarchi • Oct 29, 2024

EPA's Low Embodied Carbon Construction Materials Program funds research at UT-Austin

The Joint Sustainability Committee heard a presentation on the Environmental Protection Agency’s Low Embodied Carbon Construction Materials Program at its most recent meeting on Oct. 23. The briefing was an opportunity for committee members to learn about the program, which…

Environment • By Hunter Simmons • Oct 29, 2024

City Council moves to complete purchase of combined public safety headquarters

The city is moving ahead with the planned purchase of a combined public safety campus located in four existing office buildings on South MoPac Expressway in District 8. Late during Thursday’s City Council meeting, after several hours of public comment…

City Council • By Chad Swiatecki • Oct 28, 2024

Council approves initiative that aims to protect renters from hidden fees

Over opposition from the Austin Apartment Association, City Council passed a resolution Thursday designed to protect renters from unexpected fees tied to lease agreements. The agenda item, sponsored by Council Member Ryan Alter, directs the city manager to work with…

Housing • By Amy Smith • Oct 28, 2024

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