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Amid affordability crisis, Austin could hike hourly minimum wage for city employees to $22
Low-wage city employees could see their pay go up to $22 an hour in October. City Council on Thursday unanimously approved raising the minimum wage for city workers as Austin’s affordability crisis worsens. “$22 is not a lot,” Council Member Vanessa…
City Council • By Skye Seipp, KUT • Jun 17, 2022
Police union proposes pay raises of up to 20% as part of contract negotiation
The Austin Police Association has proposed raises of up to 20 percent over four years as part of its ongoing labor contract negotiation with the city, citing the police department’s long-standing staffing shortages as well as rising housing costs and…
Police • By Emma Freer • Jun 17, 2022
Council approves legal action to close South Terminal
City Council on Thursday authorized city’s legal staff to move forward with eminent domain proceedings against the owner of the South Terminal at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. No Council member commented on the item, but the vote was unanimous. Before the…
Transportation • By Jo Clifton • Jun 17, 2022
Cap Metro courtesy-stop pilot program likely to be codified
After a successful trial run, Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority hopes to extend the expanded version of its courtesy stop pilot program, which was started earlier this year. Capital Metro first implemented the initiative to help riders with mobility impairments deboard…
Transit • By Samuel Stark • Jun 17, 2022
Council votes to replace destroyed pedestrian bridge in Roy G. Guerrero Park
In a popular East Austin park, a sidewalk leads off a cliff down a steep, rocky bank. Across the ravine, the sidewalk continues as if it were daring people to make an impossible leap. A pedestrian bridge used to connect…
Transportation • By Nathan Bernier, KUT • Jun 16, 2022
As employees return, complaints of fraud increase
Allegations of fraud, waste and abuse by city employees declined during 2020 and 2021 as a large number of employees worked from home. Brian Molloy, chief of the integrity unit at the Office of the City Auditor, told City Council’s…
City Hall • By Jo Clifton • Jun 16, 2022
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Cap Metro makes progress with equitable transit-oriented development project
Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority updated the Urban Transportation Commission last Wednesday on the progress it has made on the equitable transit-oriented development project. The eTOD project uses $1.65 million in federally awarded grant money to study ways to reduce gentrification and…
Planning • By Samuel Stark • Jun 16, 2022
Four hundred apartments planned for South Lamar PUD
The property owners of 517 S. Lamar, currently home to Trek Bicycle Lamar and CareNow emergency medical services, are proposing a planned unit development with about 400 multifamily residential units, about 10,000 square feet of retail and/or restaurant space, and…
Planning • By Jo Clifton • Jun 16, 2022
TipSheet: Austin City Council, 6.16.22
Today Austin City Council members will meet for the last time prior to their annual summer break. Because they won’t have a regular meeting again until July 28, there’s a lot of pressure to get things done, which usually translates…
TipSheets • By Elizabeth Pagano • Jun 16, 2022
Sixth Street reboot gets first Council OK to raise building heights
In one of the most significant moves to remake the city’s downtown entertainment district along East Sixth Street, a Dallas developer has received the first OK aimed at raising mixed-use buildings up to 140 feet high to the area. Last…
Land Development Code • By Chad Swiatecki • Jun 15, 2022
Council likely to tweak rules for public speakers
City Council informally decided during Tuesday’s work session to change one of the rules for City Council meeting speakers. Starting at the July 28 meeting, speakers who sign up to address Council remotely about non-zoning items will be allowed to…
City Council • By Jo Clifton • Jun 15, 2022
Austin ISD school board selects Anthony Mays for interim superintendent
Lee esta historia in español. The Austin ISD Board of Trustees has chosen Anthony Mays, the district’s chief of schools since October 2020, to be interim superintendent. He makes history as the first Black man to serve as AISD superintendent.…
